The Institutes of Akbar 330.1

330.1

The Iqbalnamah, according to the Maasir, says, he belonged to the Ahisawat Sayyids; but this is extraordinary, because the Bukhari Sayyid’s trace their descent to Sayyid Jalal i Bukhari, seventh descendant of Imam Ali Naqi Alhadi. The fourth ancestor of Shaikh Farid was Shaikh ’Abdulghaffar of Dihli, who when dying desired his family to give up depending on Sayurghal tenures, but rather to enter the military service of the kings. This they seem to have done. Shaikh Farid was born at Dihli (Tuzuk, p. 68). He entered Akbar’s service early. In the 28th year, when M. ’Aziz (No. 21) resigned from ill-health the command of the Bihar army, S. F. accompanied Vazir Khan (No. 41) to the neighbourhood of Bardwan, where Qutlu of Orisa had collected his Afghans. Qutlu having made proposals of peace, S. F. was ordered to meet him. In doing so he nearly perished through Qutlu’s treachery (vide Stewart’s Bengal). In the 30th year, he was made a Commander of 700, and gradually rose, till the 40th year, to a command of 1500. He was also appointed Mir Bakhshi, and had also for some time the Daftar i Tan in his charge, i. e., he had to settle all matters relating to the grants of Jagir holders.