Riyaz al-salatin 66: THE REIGN OF NASRAT SHAH, SON OF 'ALAU-D-DIN HUSAIN SHAH.

66

When Sultan 'Alau-d-din Husain Shah died, the adherents of the kingdom and the members of the government placed on the throne his eldest son, named Nasrat Shah, commonly known as Nasib Shah, who was wise and just, and well-behaved, and in affairs of administration was more proficient than his other brothers. The most laudable work that he performed was that, instead of imprisoning his brothers, he doubled the offices which had been conferred on the latter by their father. And capturing the Rajah of Tirhut, he killed him. And he set two officers named 'Alau-d-din and Makhdum 'Alim, otherwise known as Shah 'Alim, and who were sons-in-law of Husain Shah, for the conquest of the limits of Tirhut and Hajipur, and posted them there. And when Emperor Babar, killing Sultan Ibrahim, son of Sultan Sikandar Lodi, conquered the great empire of Hindustan, many of the Afghan Omra escaping, sought refuge with Nasrat Shah. And at length, Sultan Mahmud, brother of Sultan Ibrahim, being expelled from his kingdom, came to Bengal. Nasrat Shah showing kindness to every one, bestowed on all pargannahs and villages, in accordance with their respective rank and condition, and consistently with the resources of his kingdom. And he married Sultan Ibrahim's daughter, who had also come to Bengal. And planning the subjugation of the Mughal forces, he despatched Qutb Khan with a large force towards the environs of Bharaich. And the latter fought several battles with the Mughals, and for a period the contending forces were bivouacked there, fighting. But Khan Zaman, son-in-law of Emperor Babar, had conquered up to Jaunpur, and when in the year 930 A.H., Emperor Babar came to Jaunpur, and brought to his subjugation all its limits and environs, and planned to march to Bengal and to bring it also under his domination, Nasrat Shah, foreseeing the result, sent valuable presents and gifts in charge of wise envoys, and offered submission. Emperor Babar, in view of the exigencies of the times, made peace with Nasrat Shah, and retired. When Emperor Babar died on the 5th of the month of Jamadiu-l-Awal 937 A.H., and Emperor Humayun ascended the throne of Delhi, it was rumoured that the Emperor of Delhi was planning the conquest of Bengal. Consequently, Nasrat Shah in the year 939 A.H., in view of demonstrating his sincerity and friendship, sent rare presents in charge of Malik Marjan, the eunuch, to Sultan Bahadur Gujrati. Malik Marjan met Sultan Bahadur in the fort of Mandu, and became the recipient of a special Khill'at. In the meantime, Nasrat Shah, in spite of his being a Syed, indulged in dissipations and sundry oppressions, to detail which would be to harrow the feelings of all. And a world was grinding under his tyranny. In that interval, Nasrat Shah rode to Aknakah, in the city of Gaur, in order to visit the tomb of his father. As will would have it, there he punished an eunuch for some fault. From fear of life, this eunuch leagued with other eunuchs, and murdered Nasrat Shah on his return to the palace, in the year 913 A.H. His reign lasted 16 years, and according to some, 13 years, and according to others, less than 13 years.—The foundations of the building of Qadam Rasul in the year 939, and the Golden mosque commonly called the Sona Musjid in the year 932 A.H., were laid by him, and these with their shattered doors and walls exist to this day, amongst the buildings of Nasrat Shah, son of Sultan 'Alau-d-din Husain Shah, amidst the ruins of Gaur. And the foundation of the luminous shrine of the saint Makhdum Akhi Siraju-d-din at Sadu-l-lahpur is also amongst the noble relics of that monarch.
[Note by the author, Salim: In all the inscriptions that engraved on stones exist to this time, the king's name is mentioned as Nasrat, Shah, son of Sultan 'Alau-d-din Husain Shah. In histories, his name is mentioned as Nasib Shah. Apparently, this is a corruption or a mistake, in that there is no room for mistake in the inscriptions engraved on stones.]