The Institutes of Akbar 3: SHAIKH ’ABDURRAHMAN AFZAL KHAN.
The Áín i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett) 3
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He was born on the 12th Sha’ban, 979, and received from his grandfather the Sunni name of ’Abdurrahman. In the 35th year of Akbar’s reign, when twenty years of age, Akbar married him to the daughter of Sa’ádat Yar Kokah’s brother. By her Abdurrahman had a son, to whom Akbar gave the name of Bishotan.
When Abul Fazl was in command of the army in the Dak’hin, ’Abdurrahman was, what the Persians call, the tír i ru tarkash i u, ‘the arrow at hand at the top of the quiver’, ever ready to perform duties from which others shrank, and wisely and courageously settling matters of importance. He especially distinguished himself in Talinganah. When Malik ’Ambar, in the 46th year, had caught ’Ali Mardán Bahadur (p. 496) and had taken possession of the country, Abul Fazl despatched ’Abdurrahmán and Sher Khwajah (p. 459) to oppose the enemy. They crossed the Godavari near Nander, and defeated 'Ambar at the Manjara.
Jahangir did not transfer to the son the hatred which he had felt for the father, made him a commander of two thousand horse, gave him the title of Afzal Khan, and appointed him, in the third year of his reign, governor of Bihar, vice Islam Khan (the husband of Abul Fazl's sister), who was sent to Bengal. 'Abdurrahman also received Gorakhpur as jagir. As governor of Bihar, he had his head-quarters at Patna.
Once during his absence from Patna, a dervish of the name of Qutbuddin appeared in the district of Bhojpur, which belonged to the then very troublesome Ujjainiyah Rajahs, and gave out that he was Prince Khusrau, whom his rebellion and imprisonment by Jahangir had made the favorite of the people. Collecting a large number of men, he marched on Patna, occupied the fort which Shaikh Banarasi and Ghiyas, 'Abdurrahman's officers, cowardly gave up, and plundered Afzal Khan's property and the Imperial treasury. 'Abdurrahman returned from Gorakhpur as soon as he heard of the rebellion. The pretender fortified Patna, and drew up his army at the Pun Pun River. 'Abdurrahman charged at once, and after a short fight dispersed the enemy. Qutb now retreated to the fort, followed by 'Abdurrahman, who succeeded in capturing him. He executed the man at once, and sent his head to Court, together with the two cowardly officers. Jahangir, who was always minute in his punishments, had their heads shaved and women's veils put over the faces; they were then tied to donkeys, with their heads to the tails, and paraded through the towns (tashhir) as a warning to others.
Not long after this affair, 'Abdurrahman took ill, and went to Court, where he was well received. He lingered for a time, and died of an abscess, in the 8th year of Jahangir's reign (A. H. 1022), or eleven years after his father's murder.