تحقيق ما للهند (Al-Biruni's India — Sachau edition, BnF)

The new king marched to the capital, Ghazna, arriving there after forty days, around June 9.

His brother Mas'ûd, who was then far away in Ispahan and of a similar age to Muḥammad, claimed the succession in the western half of the empire. He wrote to Muḥammad to this effect but received a rude refusal.

In order to settle the dispute, Muḥammad set out from Ghazna with his army toward Herat, arriving on the first of Ramadan (September 2) at a place called Takinabad. He remained there during the month of fasting. However, on the 3rd of Shawwal (October 4), while drinking and carousing, he was attacked by his own soldiers and taken prisoner. The leaders of the conspiracy were his uncle, Prince Yûsuf, a brother of his father Maḥmûd, and 'Alî Khêshâvand, a favorite officer of Maḥmûd. The conspirators hastened to meet Mas'ûd and deliver the prisoner into his hands.

Mas'ûd, after settling his dispute regarding Ispahan, marched to Rai, Nîshâpûr, and Herat. In the latter town, he found the conspirators, and they met their doom. 'Alî Khêshâvand was killed immediately, his uncle Yûsuf was thrown into prison, and his brother Muḥammad was blinded.

In the month of Dhul-Qi'dah (October 31–November 29), Mas'ûd received general homage as the undisputed successor of his father. He spent the winter north of the Hindu Kush, stayed for a time in Balkh, and then entered the capital of Ghazna on June 3, 1031. Mas'ûd is the same king to whom Alberuni later dedicated the greatest work of his life, the Al-Kânûn Al-Mas'ûdî Canon of Mas'ûd.

When news of these events reached our author in his study, it did not seem to produce a favorable impression. He does not write in a cheerful mood. He is rather gloomy and despondent, inclined not to view doubtful matters with optimism. Was it sorrow over the sudden end of a glorious reign, one of the most significant periods in Eastern history? Was it anxiety over the pending contest between the two rival princes, or forebodings of coming evils that cast a shadow over Alberuni's mind? Perhaps so. We cannot judge with certainty, as he remains focused on his subject throughout the book without looking aside. Only in rare instances does he provide side glances into contemporary history, which we shall try to explain elsewhere. He was 58 years old when he wrote the Indica. During the thirteen years from 1017 to 1030 AD, he had been a witness to the unparalleled career of the great Maḥmûd, whose exploits opened a new chapter in the history of Islam and, particularly, of India.

Alberuni calls the year in which he writes "our year," in conformity with the general usage of the Arabic language.