[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) › 77.6 # Muntakhab al-tawarikh 77.6 Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 77.6 - **Language:** English ### [77.6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.1) In this year Jamal Khan, a ghulam of \[the late\] ‘Adali, who had become possessed of Chunar, sent a representative to court, to intimate that if they could send a man fitted to be trusted with the affair he would surrender to him the fortress, on which the Khan Khanan sent back, in company with Jamal Khan’s representative, Mihr ‘Ali Beg Silduz, (who afterwards attained the rank of Khan, and was made governor of the fortress of Chitor), with a farman containing friendly terms. And in those days I left home and, going from Basawar to Agra with the intention of pursuing my studies, made acquaintance with Mihr ‘Ali Beg, and remained at his house. And he greatly importuned my late teacher Shaikh Mubarak of Nagor (the mercy of God be upon him!), and my deceased father Shaikh Mulukshah (may he rest in peace!), to allow me to be his travelling companion, and carried the matter to such a pitch that he declared that he would lay aside the business of his journey, if I could not go with him. And both of these valued persons, whom I have named, in their generous friendship towards me, thinking it best for me to go, would take no refusal. So I, to gratify my teacher, although it was the height of the rainy season, and I was an inexperienced traveller, abandoning my studies, mounted the dangers of the journey. And passing through Kanouj, Lak’hnou, (P. ### [77.6.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.2) 33), Jounpur, and Benares, having seen the wonders of the world, and having been in the company of some of the great Shaikhs and Doctors of that part of the country, after crossing the river Ganges I came to Chunar in a month Zi-l-qa‘dah in the year nine hundred and sixty-six (966). Jamal Khan sent some of his people to meet Mihr ‘Ali, and bring him to his house. There he received him with fitting hospitality and shewed him the palaces of Sher Shah and Salim Shah, and all the defensive munitions of the fort. But when the farman of conciliation, containing a grant of five pargannas in the neighbourhood of Jounpur in exchange for the fortress of Chunar, was read, Jamal Khan showed that he had further expectations, and proposing the most impossible terms endeavoured to detain Mihr ‘Ali in inactivity until an answer to his representation should arrive from the court. Meanwhile he artfully held communication both with Khan Zaman and Fath Khan Afghan Tabni (?) who with all his force was at the fortress of Rohtas, holding out to them separately promises of the fortress. Then Mihr ‘Ali, when he became aware of the treachery and perfidy of Jamal Khan, and when also a suspicion as to Fath Khan’s fidelity found way into his mind, fearing lest they should league together for his injury, left the fort unattended, on the pretext of taking exercise. So leaving me in the fortress, he crossed the Ganges in the greatest perturbation. ### [77.6.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.3) Then insinuating myself into Jamal Khan’s good graces, and promising him to bring back Mihr ‘Ali, and restore peace and quiet, in the evening I got into a boat with the intention of crossing the river. It happened that my boat fell into a terrible whirlpool at the foot of the hill which adjoins the wall of the fortress, and a dreadful hurricane arose, which made the boat shake in every timber, and if the mercy of the Creator of land and sea had not been my shelter, the bark of my (P. 34) hope in that whirlpool of calamity would have been dashed to atoms on the hill to death:— “I came into a sea whose waves were man-devouring, No boat in that sea, no sailor, it is wonderful!” And in the jungle at the foot of the Chunâr hill I came to the dwelling and abode of Shaikh Muhammad Ghous, one of the great Shaikhs of India, and a man of prayer. One of his followers met me, and showed me a cave where the Shaikh had lived for twelve years as a hermit, subsisting on the leaves, and fruit of the desert trees. So celebrated had he become for the fulfilment of his blessings, that even powerful and absolute monarchs used to bow the head of sincerity and courtesy in his honour. After that Mihr ‘Alî returned to Agra, Fatū a ghulām of ‘Adalī got into his possession the fortress of Chunār. ### [77.6.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.4) In 966 A. H. the aforenamed Shaikh with disciples and followers arrived with state and pomp at Agra, coming from Gujrāt. The Emperor received him with frank confidence. But his arrival was displeasing to Shaikh Gadā-ī who on account of jealousy, hypocrisy, and envy (which to the saints of Hindūstān, in their feelings towards one another, are the very necessaries of life), looked on his arrival as a case of opening a shop in the story above his own shop:— “The truth of this proverb wisdom will see, That, ‘Two of a trade can never agree.’” ### [77.6.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.5) And the Khān Khānān, on account of the influence which Shaikh Gadā-ī exercised over his mind, did not receive Shaikh Muhammad in such a friendly manner as he ought to have done. On the contrary he held many preconcerted conversaziones, in which he brought forward the Shaikh to be a butt for the arrows of contumely, by bringing on the tapis a treatise of his, in which, describing the circumstances of his own exaltation, he says that in his waking moments he had had an interview and conversation with the Lord of Glory (glorious is His Majesty!), who assigned to him a superiority over the Repository of Prophecy, (may (P. 35) God bless him, and his family, and give him peace !), and which contained other such follies equally contemptible and reprehensible both in thought and expression. So the Shaikh much chagrined retired to Gwalyar, and occupied himself in the pursuits of his holy calling, contenting himself with a jagir which yielded a million sterling ! ### [77.6.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.6) In this year Bahadur Khan, brother of the Khan Zaman, with the intention of subjugating the country of Malwah, which Baz Bahadur, son of Suzawal Khan at that time held, had advanced as far as the town of Sipri, when the Khan Khanan’s troubles came about, so he turned back, and with the Khan Khanan’s leave came, and attached himself to the Court. In the same year Husain Khan came from Andari to Agra, and going with some of the gallant Commanders towards Rantambhor performed some brilliant exploits at Supar, and thence he carried his operations to the castle of Rantambhor, and defeated Rai Surjan in battle and compelled him to shut himself up in that fortress. Against him he acquitted himself well ; but on account of the confusion which reigned in the circles of the Khan Khanan, he left his circle of investment incomplete, and went to Gwalyar. And when thence he was making for Malwah, the Khan Khanan recalled him to Agra. ### [77.6.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.7) On the 20th of Jumada-s-sani in the year 967 the Emperor crossed the river Jumna on a hunting expedition. And some malevolent speakers, who were jealous of the absolute authority which the Khan Khanan enjoyed as the Vakil, and especially Adham Khan (who on account of his being the son of Mahum Anka held the post nearest to his person), and Sadiq Muhammad Khan and others, seized the opportunity of misrepresenting to the Emperor certain words of the Khan Khanan. And in fact the Emperor himself (because he had not absolute power in his own kingdom, and sometimes (P. 36) had no voice in some of the transactions relating to expenses of the Exchequer, and because there was no privy purse at all, and the servants of the Emperor had but poor fiefs, and were kept in the depths of poverty, while the Khan Khanan’s were in ease and luxury) wished that the circle about him should be put on a different footing. But he had no power to accomplish this, until, in accordance with the saying “When God wills a thing, its causes are at hand”, circumstances combined to bring about the desired result : — “When the subject-matter is collected, Then the act of verse-making is easy.” ### [77.6.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.8) Close by Sikandrah-rao which is \[more than\] half-way to Dihli Mahum Ankah represented to His Highness, that the Queen Dowager, who was at Dihli, had fallen suddenly ill, and impressed upon him that he ought to direct his course thither. Shahab-ud-din Ahmad Khan the Governor of Dihli came to meet the Emperor, and in concert with all the others made mountains of mole-hills, and prejudiced his mind against the Khan Khanan : — “Thy mole, and tutty-mark, and locks, and blow, Are all banded together. For the purpose of killing Mas’ud She is become an arraigner.” Eventually she made the following representation : “When the Khan Khanan learns that the imperial cavalcade is come to Dihli at my instigation, he will be sure to wish to avenge himself, and I have no power to resist him, so it is best that I should receive permission to make a pilgrimage to Mekka.” The Emperor could not make up his mind to part with Mahum Ankah. So he allayed their terror, and sent to the Khan Khanan the following message : Since without your leave and approval I have journeyed thus far, all my attendants are in the uttermost terror. It is right, therefore, that you should show yourself amicably inclined towards them, and so enable them to continue in my service with minds at ease.” The Khan Khanan sent Khwajah (P. ### [77.6.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6.9) 37) Amina, and Hajji Muhammad Khan of Sistan, and Tarsan Muhammad Khan, who were the centre and pivot of important affairs, to wait on the Emperor, to make apologies, and assure his Majesty of his continued fidelity, and good will. But these advances did not reach the door of acceptance, and the above-mentioned magnates were not allowed to return. Then Shahab-ud-din Ahmad Khan and Mahum Ankah, being determined to go through with the matter, spread abroad the news of the Emperor’s alienation from the Khan Khanan, so that it reached the utmost publicity. Then the Amirs one after another left Agra for Dihli; and the affair is an exact parallel to that of the Sultan Abu Sa‘id Moghul with Amir Chuban, who was a vazir of almost regal magnificence: an affair which is mentioned in the books of history. And so the well-known \[Arabic\] proverb was fulfilled “The mystery of the world is like the course of the ass; when it goes forward it does go forward, when it goes back it does go back --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.77.6) · Pramāṇa