Appointment
to the vice-Chair’s office in the
Council of Merw
Merw
is the place where the Sultanate is, where the official flag waves, and
where Allah’s grace and support embraces the Seljuk generation.
Therefore, attention should be paid so that it is different from and
more organized than other parts of the country. Our citizens who are far
away from the centre and its periphery, and those under our
administration will always benefit from our mercy and compassion. We
appoint our councils’ trustworthy, skilled, successful and experienced
members who know much about the details of the taxation matters of the
region and who were examined by us for the offices that need to be
filled. The chair of that city’s council was the famous scientist
Zeyneddin Se_it for a long time. By Allah’s will and after his
re-election to this office, we encumbered him with this duty again. We
had confidence in his courage, his foresight, his skills and kind
manners, his high level of scholarship and piety. He is an exceptional
talent with all these qualities. So many and great are the services he
rendered to his nation that no reward could be proper for him, for he
deserves more than anything that could be granted to him. His excellent
poems and prose praising the state and used as adornment in many books
will live forever. They are such valuable pieces that they are beyond
comparison. A man with such qualities will never lose his dignity. The
office of the chair of the financial institutions was always assumed by
his deputies. Zeyneddin (May Allah grant him more) was always at our
disposal and he was responsible for the fulfilment of a very important
task in the palace. But we were informed of the fact at a time of
Zeyneddin’s absence (May Allah grant him more power) that the supreme governor
and his family were being made certain payments regarding some of their
private property and securities and estates in a way that would not
please the council and that would not provide comfort for the subjects.
And following Zeyneddin’s report, and in consideration of what was
told to us, we ordered Zeyneddin (May Allah give him power) to deal with
the case and to organize matters. Although our palace and council was
devoid of the honour they would have had in the presence of Zeyneddin,
we gave priority to the fulfilment of this task, and gave him (May Allah
protect him) the responsibilities relating to the taxation matters
regarding the city of Merw and its vicinities, our property and other
affairs of the year 43 together with the collection of production tax.
We authorized him to pursue this task confidently and in a safe way, and
to assess duly the former and recent payment relating to the previous
governor’s private property, securities and estates. He will send
just, considerate, pious, and religiously observant collectors
everywhere, and every collector will keep books in a proper way through
following the true path, will determine payments to be made and submit
the books to the council in a timely and tidy form, and inform the
council of the course of events. We ordered Zeyneddin (May Allah help
him always) to calculate the expenses that would be required for the
allocations to seyyids (May Allah increase their number) and to find the
rest of the taxes, and to fix the resources to be transferred to other
famous people, and to find the administrative fees (relating to the
permanent retirement pay of public officials and religious leaders). He
will appoint a man in whom he has confidence to take care of the
spending of these resources. If part of the fees or taxes are spent
elsewhere, they should be returned and restored to their former status,
they should be included within the amounts allocated for famous men
and restored to their previous condition. He should know everything
about tax-related issues. He should provide information as to who
recently started collecting taxes and the amount of tax and the debts to
be paid by particular individuals. He should keep a record of those
taxes and fees, review former accounts; should he notice that certain
matters were not recorded and there were betrayals, then he will know
that he has to correct these mistakes.
All
representatives should pay due respect to Zeyneddin (May Allah elevate
him in rank). He should be provided with the principles regarding the
resolution of tax-related matters and guiding the collectors in how to
approach the taxpayers: All collectors of the higher inspection board
should report to him with respect to income taxes and fees that were
deducted from calculations; he will then review these diligently, and
later use them in the course of his duties. The representatives of the
governor (May Allah help them) should continue respecting Zeyneddin and
give him the necessary means with a view to helping him succeed in his
office. The acting chairs (May Allah protect them) will give him all the
due support they can, they will reach agreement with him in every
respect, and convey to him and his staff their demands in line with the
needs of his representatives. All deputies, savings personnel and public
relations officers, aliens, subjects and others (May Allah protect them
all) recognize him as the highest of the representatives. He will be
given a monthly wage, and he will not be objected to in any respect, as
indicated in the order and documents. The reputable and famous scientist
Nasyheddin (May Allah help him) will use all available means with
respect to the realization of this decree. Show respect to Zeyneddin,
have confidence in what he issues, and help him gain personal comfort.
By Allah’s will obey him absolutely.”
