Public Documents from Sinnar

Document 38: Charter of Muhammad b. `Adlan b. Muhammad Abu Likaylik

DOCUMENT 38 Document 38 is an originating charter issued by Mul}.ammad b. 'Adlan b. Mul}.ammad Abu Likaylik to Faqih Mul}.ammad 'Ali walad al-'Abbas on 10 Mul}.arram 1228/13 January 1813. The text is based upon a copy preserved in the papers of A.J. Arkell.1 The charter conveys rights to land near the modern village of Wad al-'Abbas, in the southern territories of the Walad 'Ajib between the Blue Nile and the Dinder about fIfteen miles north of the capital. The Regent I:lusayn confrrmed this grant through the issue of Doc. 39 a few days later. The two charters reflect the relatively tranquil conditions in the vicinity of the capital following the restoration of order by the Great Miinjil Mul}.ammad 'Adlan in 1808, under the titular regency of l:lusayn.2 For an unnecessary controversy concerning the date of these two documents, see the introduction to Doc. 39. Many witnesses to Doc. 38 are military offIcers; several are slaves who identify themselves as "sons of the house.,,3 .., .uJ ~I ~)I 0-)1 .uJ1 ,..-. r'~ l: .:.1-.4 I ~LU..... ~.., 0JY"" 6.)!.A I rL,SJ1 .JJI J-J f~ ~ fW' .., O)LJI J l...:;-I.lJII.II~I~·-1I L~..I.o.I~1 L..J.,o~ ° wLU.....~ ~ 0 '..).J""" J _. o. J_. ° 'J" ~ _ . .., ~~4.., !.A~~.., ~I~.., ~I:i.., ~I .illl.. I ~..,.:.. (.rll.., ~..,.:.. ~JJ r-'J 214 DOCUMENT 38 215 J""; J ~ J""; J ¥ J.s- ":"'.rJ1 ~ .:r J :J~ / .JJJ J ~I J"'; ~I ~ .:r J / ~ ..::.1.,,; J"'; J O ..)J:J .JJJ ~ J O.JJ:J .JJJ V::!.JJI ....ip 0.J..,.s-111 ).JJI .::.).... J :JJJ.>JI ~I .:Jla ~ .JJJ ~ ):J J .J"'; ):J J"'; J w..;.:J J .j li.r=U J lir J lSl. V"~I .JJJ if- ..I.-.. ~ ~..,wl / lA:JJ~ yA J ~ .:r J ~.J~I ..lJ1 .!J.J:! .$> / .!J)~ JI .!J.J~ .:r ~~.J'r.! w..;,) ...::.....;,) ~ .:r / U-. ~.J.L... ~~ ~ .j ~.A ~ J tiL:.. ~ ~j~ ~ ~).,JI ..r.:> '1 J ~.J ~ J ~t.. 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In the name of God, the MerCiful, the Compassionate. Praise be to God, and prayers and peace upon the seal of the eminent messengers of God. A sultanic charter written and approved in the Funj territories in the divinely guarded and protected city of Sinnar, may God Most High exalt her, in the presence of her warden, the son of her warden, master of her reins, her far places and near, her sedentaries and pastoralists, the governor at the present time of those over her and within her, who inspires awe in men, and on the day of war and battle heroes quail at his assault. He who trusts in God the Judge, Shaykh Mul).ammad, son of the late wazir Shaykh 'Adliin. May God grant him viCtory. Amen. To the presence of all who read this document and see the truth therein. Thereafter: The divinely protected, pious, diVinely assisted and victorious Shaykh Mul).ammad has bestowed as alms upon Faqih Mul).ammad 'Ali walad al-'Abbas an estate from the cultivable land of [the Walad] 'Ajib, virgin rainland. It is a gift of alms for God and His messenger, for a day in which neither wealth nor sons suffice, unless one comes to God with a secure heart. The location and boundaries of the estate are known. Its boundary on the eastern side is the estate of Shaykh al-Turayfi walad al-Shaykh Yusuf; on the north above al-Tanaqib and Walad Mal).mud; on the west 'Idd Mulayl).a and above Jannin, Sharaf al-Din walad Dawra, I:lusayn walad Dawra, and the rain pool of Sharnmim; on the south above the estates of the Fur and of Khamis walad Janqal. There the boundaries end. The said estate, its boundaries known, has become the property, possession, and usufruct of Faqih Mul).ammad 'Ali walad al-'Abbas, his descendants, and his descendants' descendants. They shall bequeath it from heir to heir until God inherits the earth and those upon it, and He is the Best of Heirs. Let no challenger challenge him concerning it. Let no troublemaker trouble him concerning it. It is completely free from all shurur, subul, and maq,arr. It is not subject to jusara, khusara, 'a?m, 'ana, raghm, zariba, q,iyafa, /:lasab, damm, nar, quwwar, nuzul, mukhla, maturat, kaliqa, qill, or jill. We command you peremptorily, all you 218 DOCUMENT 38 shaykhs and muqaddams, especially I:Iassiin and his followers, and whoever may come after him, you and your jarai, and whoever may come after you until the hour of resurrection. Let no one of you trouble Faqih MUQammad 'Ali concerning this, and let no one of you trouble his descendants or his descendants' descendants. He who troubles him after my words and this my document has exposed himself to destruction. Beware, then beware of disobedience, and let the disobedient blame none but himself. Farewell. There were present and witnessed to it: Shaykh AQmad walad al-Nur, shaykh [al-quwwariya]4 Shaykh 'Adlan walad ShanbUl, Shaykh of Arbaji Arbab Qasim walad al-Shaykh MUQamrnad Arbab Na~r, his brother Arbab IOOs walad Badi Arbab Musa, his brother Arbab MUQamrnad walad I:Iusayn Arbab I:Iasan, his brother Arbab MUQamrnad walad IOOs Arbab 'Ali, his brother Arbab I:Iasan walad Rajab Arbab Ibrahim, his brother Arbab Na~ir walad al-Arbab Rajab Arbab IOOs, Arbab Ibrahim, Arbab I:Iasan, Arbab 'Isawi, and Arbab 'Ali, sons of the late wazir Shaykh 'Adlan Arbab Daf Allah Al:1mad Arbab Daf Allah MUQamrnad Arbab Ibrahim 'Uway<;la Arbab 'Ali liyas Arbab 'Ali walad MUQarnmad DOCUMENT 38 Arbab AJ:!mad b. al-J:Iiijj Sulayman Arbiib Khojali walad Khiilid I:Iasan walad 'AwaQ Allah l:!usayn, his brother Shaykh Faraj Allah Shaykh Tayfara Arbab 'Abd Allah walad Sukut Arbab MuJ:iammad walad Jamil Allah Arbab MuJ:!ammad walad Kab Mankarukan Bakhit Mankarukan Kariima 'Ali Abu Zuwayyir 'Adlan walad MaJ:!jub Fac;1l Karan Dus 'Abd al-RaQi, son of the house 'rd, son of the house l:!iimid, son of the house Al}.mad walad al-Baqara the scribe, AJ:!mad al-Makki 219 With God, two witnesses suffice. That took place on Thursday, on the tenth day of God's month of MuJ:!arram in the year 1228, one thousand two hundred twenty-eight from the hijra of the lord of the messengers. May God bless him and grant him peace. May God be pleased with all his companions. Farewell. ISchool of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Arkell Papers, Box 1, File 5, Piece 72. A photocopy and English translation have been published in Holt, "Land-Charters," Plate III and pp. 107-108. 2Spauldlng, Heroic Age, pp. 439-451. 3Ibid.• pp. 217-218. ...