On the 13th of Rabiʿ al-Awwal of this year, Abū'l-Ḥasan Aḥmad b. Būwayh al-Daylamī passed away. He was called Muʿizzü'd-Devle. He had openly expressed Rafīḍī (a Shīʿī sectarian) beliefs. He died due to a stomach illness. Nothing he ate or drank remained in his stomach. When he sensed his death approaching, he repented and turned to the Mighty and Majestic Allah. He regretted most of the injustices he had committed. He returned the usurped goods and rights to their owners. He gave a large amount of charity from his wealth. He freed most of his slaves. He also appointed his son Baḥtiyār as ʿIzzü'd-Devle, his heir.
He had consulted a scholar. The scholar spoke to him about the sunnah and said that Ḥadrat ʿAlī had married his daughter Umm Kulthūm to Ḥadrat ʿUmar. Muʿizzü'd-Devle said, "By God, I have never heard this before," and returned to the sunnah. He adhered to the sunnah. When the time for prayer came and the scholar was about to leave, Muʿizzü'd-Devle asked him:
- Where are you going?
- I am going to pray.
- Why don’t you pray here?
- No.
- Why?
- Because this house was the property of others and you usurped it!
Muʿizzü'd-Devle found this answer of his pleasing.
Muʿizzü'd-Devle was gentle, noble, and intelligent. One of his hands was amputated. He was the first statesman to employ fast-running couriers who ran much to communicate quickly with his brother Ruknü'd-Devle in Shiraz and to establish this postal system. These couriers became almost his favorites. In Baghdad, he had two master and fast-running couriers with him, one named Faḍl and the other Barghush. Faḍl was followed by the Ahl al-Sunnah, and Barghush by the Shīʿīs. They were of various usefulness.
When Muʿizzü'd-Devle died, he was buried in Babü't-Tīn, where the Quraysh cemetery is located. His son sat for condolences, but during these three days, rains continued without interruption. ʿIzzü'd-Devle sent large amounts of wealth and money to the heads of the emirs during this period so that the state officials would not unite in opposition against him until he was given the bayʿah and his authority was established. This was a sign of his astuteness.
Muʿizzü'd-Devle lived fifty-three years. He ruled for twenty-one years, eleven months, and two days. During his reign, he had an announcement made that the surplus wealth and money from inheritance accounts should be given to the ẓawīʿ al-ḥamā before the bayt al-māl.
On the night Muʿizzü'd-Devle died, someone from the people heard a voice from the unseen saying:
"When you conveyed the desires and wishes of your nafs (the lower self) to Abū'l-Ḥusayn, and when you were certain of the events of the nights and acquired proofs against calamities and proofs against proofs,
The hand of the lowly one reached out to you and pulled you out from among the ranks of the dignitaries."
After Muʿizzü'd-Devle died and his son ʿIzzü'd-Devle succeeded him, ʿIzzü'd-Devle turned to play and entertainment. He was excessively occupied with women. Thus, order was disrupted. Voices of opposition against him began to rise. The governor of Khorasan, Manṣūr b. Nūḥ al-Samānī, in this situation, set his sights on the domains of the Būwayhid sons. A large military force under the command of Washmgīr was sent against ʿIzzü'd-Devle.
When Ruknü'd-Devle b. Būwayh learned this, he sent word to his son ʿAdūdü'd-Devle and his nephew ʿIzzü'd-Devle to oppose Washmgīr and to provide him with military support in this matter. They also sent a large number of soldiers against Washmgīr. Ruknü'd-Devle also took action against Washmgīr. However, Washmgīr sent threatening messages to him and said, "If I capture you, I will do such and such to you and your men!" Ruknü'd-Devle replied in a letter he sent: "But if I capture you, I will show you kindness and forgive your offenses." In the end, Ruknü'd-Devle was victorious, and Allah removed the evil of Washmgīr from him. It happened that Washmgīr, riding a rebellious horse, went out hunting. When a wild boar charged at him, the horse was frightened and fled, throwing Washmgīr to the ground. Blood flowed from Washmgīr's ears, and he died at that moment. His soldiers also dispersed.
Washmgīr's son sent word to Ruknü'd-Devle asking for amān (safe conduct). He also sent wealth and men. Ruknü'd-Devle truly fulfilled the kindness and favors he had promised. He fulfilled his promise. Allah thwarted the plots of the Samānīs and saved him. This was because Ruknü'd-Devle's intention was pure and good. Allah knows best.