Muntakhab al-tawarikh 123.2

123.2

When I, in the time of Bairam Khan, the Khan-Khanan, re-entered the service of the Miyan in Agra, after an interval of five years, I delivered to him a request for a decision on a point of theology from Shaikh Mubarak of Nagor, from whom I was at that time receiving instruction. After inquiring of me how I had done during the time of my separation from him, the Miyan said, “What sort of a religious teacher is Shaikh Mubarak?” I told him what I knew of the Shaikh's conduct as a Mulla, of his piety, his poverty, his striving in the path of holiness, and his commands and prohibitions in religious matters which in those days he took upon himself to issue, declaring them to be binding. He replied, “Yes, indeed. I also have heard him well spoken of, but they say that he holds the Mahdawi doctrines. Is this true?” I said, “He believes Mir Sayyid Muhammad of Jaunpur (may his tomb be sanctified!) to have been a great saint, but does not believe him to have been the Mahdi.” He replied, “What doubt can there be regarding the perfections of the Mir?” Mir Sayyid Muhammad, Mir-i-‘Adl, now deceased and pardoned, who was a pupil of the Miyan, was also present; and he said, “Why do they call Mir Sayyid Muhammad of Jaunpur the Mahdi?” I told him that it was on account of his assumption of the authority to issue authoritative orders and prohibitions in religious matters.