Riyaz al-salatin 53: USURPATION OF RAJAH KANS ZAMINDAR.

The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 53

Language: English

USURPATION OF RAJAH KANS ZAMINDAR.

53.1

When Sultan Shamsu-d-din died, Rajah Kans a Hindu Zamindar, subjugating the whole kingdom of Bengal, seated himself on the throne, and commenced oppressions, and seeking to destroy the Musalmans, slew many of their learned and holy men. His aim was to extirpate Islam from his dominions. It is said one day Shaikh Badrul Islam, father of Shaikh Muinu-d-din 'Abbas, sat down before that wretch, without saluting him. Thereupon he said : " Shaikh, why did you not salute me ? " The Shaikh said : " It is not becoming for the learned to salute infidels, especially a cruel and blood-shedding infidel, like thee, who has shed the blood of Musalmans." On hearing this, that unholy infidel kept silent, and, calling like the serpent, aimed at killing him. One day he sat in a house which had a low and narrow entrance, and summoned in the Shaikh. When the Shaikh arrived, he guessed the Rajah's object, so he first put out his legs inside, and afterwards not bending the head, entered. That infidel flew into rage, and ordered that the Shaikh should be placed in a line with his brothers. Immediately, the Shaikh was killed, and the rest of the learned that very day were placed on a boat and drowned in the river. The Saint Nūr Qutbu-l-'Ālam becoming impatient by reason of the oppressions of that infidel and his slaughter of the Musalmans, wrote as follows to Sultan Ibrahim Sharqi who ruled at that time up to the limits of Behar: "The ruler of this country, named Kans, is an infidel.

53.2

He is committing oppressions, and shedding blood. He has killed many of the learned and holy men, and destroyed them. At present, he is aiming to kill the remainder of the Musalmans, and to extirpate Islam from this country. Since to help and protect Musalmans, is a duty incumbent on Musalman sovereigns, accordingly I intrude on your valuable time with these few lines. I pray for your auspicious arrival here, for the sake of the residents of this country, and also in order to oblige me, so that Musalmans may be rescued from the oppressive load of this tyrant. Peace be on you." When this letter reached Sultan Ibrahim, the latter opened it with great respect, and read it. Qazi Shahabu-d-din Jaunpuri who was one of the scholars of the time, and the chief of the body of the learned men, and who was highly respected by Sultan Ibrahim who used to seat him on a silver chair on auspicious occasions, also used his great persuasions and said : "You ought to set out quickly ; for in this invasion both worldly and religious benefits are to be obtained, namely the country of Bengal will be subjugated, and you would also meet the Saint Shaikh Nur Qutbu-l-'Alam, who is the fountain-head of both worldly and eternal boons, and you would also be doing a pious deed by avenging the oppression of Muhammadans." Sultan Ibrahim pitching out his tents struck the kettle-drum of march, and making forced marches, in a short time, with a powerful army reached Bengal, and encamped at Firuzpur.

53.3

Rajah Kans, on hearing this news, was confounded, and hastened to wait on the Saint Qutbu-l-'Alam. Showing submissiveness and humility, and weeping, the Rajah said : "Pray, draw the pen of forgiveness across the page of the offences of this sinner, and dissuade Sultan Ibrahim from subjugating this country." The Saint replied : "In order to intercede on behalf of an oppressive infidel, I cannot stand in the way of a Musalman sovereign, especially of one who has come out at my desire and request." In despair, Kans prostrated his head on the feet of the Saint, and added, "Whatever the Saint may bid, I am willing to submit thereto." The Saint said : "So long as thou dost not embrace the Musalman religion, I cannot intercede for thee." Kans assented to this condition, but his wife casting that misguided man into the well of misguidance, prevented his conversion to Islam. At length, Kans brought to the presence of the Saint his son named Jadu who was twelve years old, and said : "I have become old, and desire to retire from the world. You may convert to Islam this son of mine, and then bestow on him the kingdom of Bengal." The saint Qutbu-l-'Alam taking out from his own mouth some chewed betel, put it into Jadu's mouth, and making him pronounce the creed of the Musalman faith, converted him to Islam, and naming him Jalalu-d-din, had the fact proclaimed in the city, and caused the Khutba of the kingdom to be recited after his name.

53.4

The ordinances of the sacred Muhammadan law from that day were again put in force. After this, the saint Qutbu-l-'Alam went to meet Sultan Ibrahim, and after making apologies, prayed that the latter might withdraw. The Sultan was annoyed at this request, and turned his face towards Qazi Shahabu-d-din. The Qazi said : " Saint, the king has come here at your requisition ; and now you yourself siding with Kans, appear as his agent ; what is your aim ? " The Saint said : " At that time (when I made the requisition) an oppressive ruler was tyrannising over the Musalmans ; now owing to the auspicious arrival of the Sultan, he has embraced the Muhammadan faith. The Jihad (or holy war) is enjoined against infidels, not against Musalmans." The Qazi, finding no answer, kept quiet. But as the Sultan's temper was irritated, in order to soothe the Sultan, the Qazi commenced testing the learning and miracles of the saint, and was discomfited. After much questions and answers, the Saint said : " To view with contempt saints and to try to test them, ends in nothing but discomfiture. Before long, thou shalt die in a wretched plight." And the saint at the same time cast an angry glance towards the Sultan. In short, the Sultan, annoyed and vexed, returned to Jaunpur. It is said that shortly after Sultan Ibrahim and Qazi Shahabu-d-din Jaunpuri died. ' Whoever quarrels with saints, suffers.'

53.5

Rajah Kans hearing that Sultan Ibrahim had died, displaced Sultan Jalalu-d-din, and himself re-ascended the throne. According to the injunctions of his false creed, the Rajah prepared several gold-figures of cows, shoved in Jalalu-d-din through their mouths, and pulled him out from their buttock-sides, and then distributed the gold of those cow-figures among the Brahmans, and thus re-perverted his son to his own creed. As Jalalu-d-din, however, had been converted by the Saint Qutbu-l-'Alam, he did not abandon his faith in Islam, and the persuasions of the infidels had no effect on his heart. And Rajah Kans again unfurling the standard of misbehaviour, attempted to destroy and extirpate Muhammadans. When his cruelties passed all bounds, one day Shaikh Anwar, son of the Saint Qutbu-l-'Alam, complained to his father of the oppressions of that tyrant, and said : " It is a matter of regret that in spite of such a holy saint of the time as yourself, Musalmans should be oppressed and ground down by the hand of this infidel." The saint at that time was absorbed in prayer and devotion. On hearing this utterance of his son, the saint was enraged, and replied : " This tyranny shall cease only, when thy blood shall be shed on the earth." Shaikh Anwar knew full well that whatever fell from the lips of his holy father, was sure to come to pass, and so after a moment, said : "What you have said about me, is meet and proper ; but in respect of my nephew, Shaikh Zahid, what is your will ?

53.6

" The saint said : " The drum of the virtues of Zahid shall resound till resurrection-day." In short, Rajah Kans extending more than before his oppressions and cruelties, gradually oppressed the servants and dependants of the saint himself, plundered their effects and chattels, imprisoned Shaikh Anwar and Shaikh Zahid. As he had heard the Saints' prophecy about Shaikh Zahid, not daring to kill him, he banished both to Sunargaon, and sent orders to his agents there, that after ascertaining from them the whereabouts of the hidden treasures of their fathers and grandfathers, they should slay both. And on the Shaikh's arrival at Sunargaon, they perpetrated many cruelties, yet not finding any clue to the hidden treasures which did not exist, first they murdered Shaikh Anwar, and when they attempted to take the life of Shaikh Zahid, the latter stated that in a certain village a large cauldron was hidden. When they dug it up, they found a large chatty, but did not find more than one gold coin in it. They enquired, " What has become of the rest ?" Zahid said : " Apparently some one has stolen it." And this affair was the outcome of a miracle. It is said that on the very day and at the very moment when Anwar was murdered at Sunargaon, and his sacred blood shed on the earth, Rajah Kans passed away from his sovereignty to hell. According to some accounts, his son, Jalalu-d-din, who was in prison leagued with his father's servants, and slew him.

53.7

The rule and tyranny of that heathen lasted seven years.