[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) › 137 # Muntakhab al-tawarikh 137: XVI. Shaikh 'Abdu-'l-Qádir. Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 137 - **Language:** English ### XVI. Shaikh 'Abdu-'l-Qádir. ### [137.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.137.1) He was an inhabitant of Uchh, and was the delight of the heart and the apple of the eye of his holiness Shaikh Hámid-i-Qádirí, may God make his tomb fragrant. At the time when that holy man (may God the most High have mercy upon him!) was in Ágra, in the days when Bairám Khán, the Khánkhánán, was in power, I was a student, but I had not the good fortune of waiting on him. When Bairám Khán, owing to the machinations of malevolent and perverse persons, the chief of whom was Shaikh Gadá-í, became puffed up with pride on account of his transient high position, he began to regard the holy Shaikh with disfavour, and summoned him from Uchh. The Shaikh was much displeased, and declared that the order augured ill for his persecutor, and then happened to Bairám Khán what did happen. But Shaikh Muhammad Ghaus used to attribute the subsequent confusion in the affairs of Bairám Khán to his own journey to Court (in obedience to a summons). When the holy Shaikh Hámid returned to Multán, his soul, now resting on high, conveyed itself in the sacred shrine to the neighbourhood of the attendants of the sublime court of heaven, and his pure body was committed to the ground in the village of Hándpúr, a dependency of Multán. There had been for many years a dispute between Shaikh 'Abdu-'l-Qádir and his younger brother Shaikh Músá regarding the title to the Shaikhdom, and Shaikh Músá consequently spent most of his time at Court. ### [137.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.137.2) One night when the Shaikh Abdu-l-Qadir was at Fathpur oil of poppies was offered to him, and he declared the use of it to be unlawful. The Emperor was displeased with him on account of what he said on this occasion, and one day in the hall of audience at Fathpur, after the congregational prayers had been recited, the Shaikh busied himself with his supererogatory devotions. The Emperor said, “Shaikh, perform your supererogatory devotions in your own house.” The Shaikh replied, “Sire, in this kingdom your commands have no force.” The Emperor was much displeased and said, “What an ignorant fellow is this Shaikh.” He then said, “Since you do not desire what my power can give you, remain no longer in my kingdom.” The Shaikh immediately left the assembly, resigned his madad-i-ma'ash, and ceased to prosecute his case against his younger brother. He retired to Uchh, the burial place of his revered predecessors, and, in Shaikh Musa’s absence, removed the bones of the holy Shaikh Hamid to Uchh, and followed the sublime and laudable rule of his predecessors. He now walks, with the footsteps of resignation, in the way of holy poverty, and receives so much in the way of alms that he has no need of any madad-i-ma‘ash. ### [137.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.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. ### [137.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.137.4) We will not deprive ourselves of the honour of holy poverty and contentment. Tell the king that our daily bread has been appointed for us by God. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.137](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.137) · Pramāṇa