[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Muntakhab al-tawārīkh](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh) › [Muntakhabu-t-tawarikh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig) › 115 # Muntakhab al-tawarikh 115: XXXIII. Shaikh ‘Arif-i-Husaini. Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 115 - **Language:** English ### XXXIII. Shaikh ‘Arif-i-Husaini. ### [115.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.115.1) He is one of the grandsons of Shah Isma'il-i-Safavi. He is a great master of exorcism, practises many austerities and strives much in the path of holiness, breaking his fast always with some coarse burnt barley bread and bitter herbs, which none but himself can bear to eat. He walks steadfastly in the straight path of the holy law, and recites the azan at the five times of prayer, in the very portico of Shaikh Abu-’l-Fazl, at the Imperial Court, fearing nobody. Many miracles are related of him, one of them being as follows. He will throw a round piece of paper into a chafing-dish, with the fire burning therein, and will take out of the chafing-dish coined ashrafis and distribute them to the company, how many soever they be. They say that he will come out of a locked room, just as bodies are transported from place to place, and will appear elsewhere. On one occasion he came from Gujarat to the city of Lahore and gave to the people winter fruits in the summer time and summer fruits in the winter time. The ‘ulama of the Panjab, the chief of whom was Makhdumu-’l-Mulk, raised objections to what he was doing, and said, “It is evident that this fruit comes from some people’s orchards, and that he has possessed himself of it without the owners' permission, and to eat it is unlawful.' As he was not well received in that country, he went to Kashmir, and ‘Ali Khan, the ruler of that land believed firmly in him, and gave him his daughter in marriage; ### [115.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.115.2) but, when he discovered that Shaikh ‘Arif was setting up some claim or another, he demanded his daughter's dowry back again, and took a deed of divorce from her husband; and the Shah went thence to Tibat, and there also, they say, he performed many miracles, one of them being that he shook a tree, and quantities of dirhams and dinars fell from it. In this manner he exhibited great supernatural power, in Gujarat, Hindustan, Kashmir and Tibat, and wherever he went attempts were made on his life, and he travelled from country to country. On the first occasion on which the Emperor made a tour from Kashmir to Kabul the Shah came to see him in the course of that journey, and the Emperor appointed persons to have charge of him, who should not let him go out of their sight. And sometimes, when he came into the Emperor’s presence, his Majesty would place musk, and camphor, and other perfumes in a golden cup, and present it to the Shaikh as a gift; but however much he said “Accept from me some gold, or some land,” the Shaikh would reply, “Bestow the gold upon your Ahadis, for they are in sorry case. ### [115.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.115.3) What should I do with it?” When I saw the Shah in company with Qalij Khan, in the portico of Shaikh Abu-’l-Fazl, under whose protection the Shah was, standing on the parapet of a roof which overlooked his cell, he had his face covered with a veil, and was writing, and was saying to one who was with him, “It was this Qalij Khan who said, ‘I am Qalij, your slave and servant.’” It is probable that the Shaikh had been accustomed to veil his face for a long time, and it was said that he possibly did so to avoid being recognized when he travelled from place to place—but God knows the truth. I heard from a trusted and intimate associate of the Shaikh that one day in Kashmir the Emperor sent Shaikh Abu-‘l-Fazl and Hakim Abu-’l-Fath to wait upon the Shah, and one of them, agreeably to the Emperor’s order, said, “Shah, how would it be if you were to raise your veil, so that I might see your comeliness?” He would not comply and said, “I am a poor beggar; let me alone, and vex me no more.” The Hakim, with his usual impudence and insolence, stretched forth his hand, and endeavoured to pull off the veil. The Shah objected, and becoming angry said, “God forbid! I am not leprous or deformed; behold! ### [115.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.115.4) See my face!” and he rent the collar of his garment and threw the veil from his face on to the ground, and said, “Hakim, you have now seen my face, but, please God, the Honoured One, you shall, in the space of a fortnight, see what the outcome of this matter will be.” Fifteen days had not passed when the Hakim, in the course of that very journey, died of the complaint of hepatic diarrhoea. And countless other miracles of this sort are related of the Shaikh. One day the Emperor said to him: “Shah, either become like me, or make me like yourself.” He answered, “How can we, who have abandoned worldly objects, become like you? If you will come and sit beside us, in order that you may become even as us.” --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.115](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.115) · Pramāṇa