Muntakhab al-tawarikh 20: Abu-l Fazl's second introduction to Akbar.

20

[Text, vol. ii. p. 198.] In 982 Abu-l Fazl, now styled 'Allami or "very learned," came a second time to Court. He set the world in flames, and "lighted up the lamp of the Sabahis"—a proverbial way of saying he lighted his lamp by daylight. In accord with the saying, "He who contends gains his object," he set himself in opposition to all sects, and bound the girdle of reform about his loins. He presented a commentary on the Ayatu-l kursi, which treated on the nice points and subtleties of the Kuran. People say that his father wrote it, but he presented it, and got much praise. The words "tafsir-i Akbari" give the date of its composition. The Emperor received him graciously, and (in order to humiliate the arrogance of the proud mullahs) looked upon him more favourably than he did upon me. The reason of Abu-l Fazl's antagonism and rancour was that at the time of the persecution and massacre of heretics like Mir Habshi and others, Shaikh 'Abdu-n Nabi, Makhdumu-l Mulk, and the learned in general took counsel together, and with one accord they represented that Shaikh Mubarak Mahdawi also was a heretic, who was lost himself, and led others to perdition. Having got tacit permission to repress and remove him, they sent officers to apprehend him; but as the Shaikh had absconded with his sons, they broke the pulpit of his mosque. He then sought the protection of Shaikh Salim Chishti in Fathpur, who was then at the height of his prosperity and eminence. Shaikh Sahai sent him something for his expenses, and recommended him to leave the country, and fly to Gujarat. As he obtained nothing in this quarter, he went to Mirza 'Aziz Koka, who represented to the King, that Shaikh Mubarak was a learned and indigent man, that his children were clever, that he held no land in in'am, and inquired what was the advantage of persecuting a worthy man. So the Emperor gave up the intention of hurting him, and in a short time everything went on to his heart's content. Shaikh Abu-l Fazl ingratiated himself with His Majesty by his unremitting devotion to the King's service, by his temporizing disposition, by his duplicity, by his study of the King's temper and sentiments, and by his boundless flattery. When he at last obtained the opportunity, he took his revenge upon that sect whose works and efforts have met with so little reward. He was the cause not only of the destruction of these old labourers, but of the disasters which fell upon all God's wise and holy servants, upon the infirm and upon orphans, by the resumption of their allowances in money and rent-free lands. * * When trouble and misery fell upon them, he used frequently to quote this quatrain: — "I have set fire to my barn with my own hands, As I am the incendiary, how can I complain of my enemy? No one is my enemy but myself, Woe is me! I have torn my garment with my own hands." If any one, while remonstrating, cited the precepts of religious men, he would say in reply, that the precept quoted was the composition of such and such a grocer, such and such a cobbler, such and such a carrier, for he thought proper to reject all the wise sayings of Muhammadan Shaikhs and Doctors.