Muntakhab al-tawarikh 123.1

123.1

He was the pupil of Miyan ‘Azizu-’llah of Talamba. Taking him in all he had no equal in this generation as a sage versed both in those branches of knowledge which demand the exercise of the reasoning faculty, and in those which demand the exercise of the memory, but especially in scholastic theology, (Quranic) exegesis, practical theology, and Arabic literature. It used to be said that he had, in the course of teaching, gone through the commentary on the Miftah and the Mutawwal from the ba of Bismi-’llah to the ta of “tammata” nearly forty times, and that he had gone through all other advanced works (on theology) as often. He used to tell Makhdumu-’l Mulk that he had no rival in disputation. When Mulla ‘Ala’u-’d din Lari took to the Miyan, with the greatest assurance, his notes on the commentary on the ‘Aqa’id-i Nasafi, the Miyan, after perusing them, discussed the matter with such minuteness of detail that Mulla ‘Ala’u-’d din was unable to answer him. In scholastic theology the greatest of the Imams (on him be the mercy of God !) was inferior to the Miyan. The Miyan was an ascetic and strove much in the way of holiness, and was pious and devout, although he sat in the seat of honour and dignity, exercising absolute authority.