The Institutes of Akbar 310.8

310.8

Shahbaz was proverbial for his rigid piety and his enormous wealth. His opposition to Akbar’s ‘Divine Faith’ has been mentioned above (p. 188). He would neither remove his beard to please the emperor, nor put the word murid (disciple) on his signet. His Sunni zeal, no doubt, retarded his promotion as much as his arrogance; for other less deserving officers held higher commands. He observed with great strictness the five daily prayers, and was never seen without the rosary in his hand. One day the emperor took a walk along the tank at Fathpur and seized Shahbaz’s hand to accompany him. It was near the time of the ‘açr, or afternoon prayer, and Sh. was restless and often looked up to the sun, not to miss the proper time. Hakim Abul Fath (No. 112) saw it from a distance, and said to Hakim ’Ali who stood near him, “I shall indeed call Shahbaz a pious man, if he insists on saying the prayer, alone as he is with the emperor;” (for the prayer had been abolished by Akbar at Court). When the time of prayer had come, Sh. mentioned it to the emperor. “Oh,” replied Akbar, “you can pray another time, and make amends for this omission.” But Sh. drew away his hand from the grasp of the emperor, spread his dupattah shawl on the ground, and said not only his prayer, but also his vird (voluntary daily religious exercise), Akbar slapping all the while his head, saying, ‘Get up!’ Abul Fath stepped up, and interceded for Shahbaz, whose persistency he admired.