Muntakhab al-tawarikh 137.3

137.3

Now Shaikh Musa, after all the years which he has spent in piety, devotion, holy endeavour, and saintliness, has become a secular follower of the Emperor, has adopted the profession of arms, and, having resigned his former service, has now become a commander of five hundred horse. This is similar to the story of a man who became a Musalman, to whom one said, “You have done well, there were too few Musalmans without you!” So long as Shaikh Musa was with the Emperor he would, at the stated times for prayer, whether he were in the public or the private hall of audience, himself utter the call to prayer, and would then lead the congregational prayers in the presence of the Khalifah of the age, and none could gainsay him. When news was brought to Shaikh ‘Abdu-’l-Qadir of his brother’s new rank at Court, he said, ‘He well deserves the command of a thousand horse. Why did he not enter the imperial service before, and receive a jāgīr in Multān instead of causelessly quarrelling for so long?’ Shaikh ‘Abdu-’l-Qādir, well content with the honour and high place which he has gained through holy poverty, follows the rule of his noble ancestors, and sitting as their successor, employs himself in guiding and teaching the people, and spends his precious time in worship, in the practice of severe austerities, and in holy endeavour, so that his leadership in the religious world is established. Couplet.