Muntakhab al-tawarikh 78.32.7

78.32.7

One day Jalál Khán Qurchí, who was my patron, and the means of introducing me to Court, in the course of conversation and disputation made the following statement to the Emperor: “When I went to Agrah to see Shaikh Ziyá-ullah, son of Shaikh Muhammad Ghous, I found that poverty had taken such a hold on his household, that one day at a meeting he asked for some sers of pulse. Part of it he used for his own food, part he gave to me, and the other part he sent to his household.” The Emperor was much impressed on hearing this, and sent for Shaikh Ziyá-ullah with a view to showing him kindness. He assembled a party in his honour at the ‘Ibádat-khánah, and every Thursday evening he invited Sayyids, Shaikhs, Ulamá, and Amírs. But ill-feeling arose in the company about the seats and order of precedence, so His Majesty ordered that the Amirs should sit on the east side, the Sayyids on the west, the Ulama on the south, and the Shaikhs on the north. His Majesty would go from time to time to these various parties, and converse with them, and ascertain their thoughts. Quantities of perfume were used, and large sums of money were distributed as rewards of merit and ability among the worthy people who obtained an entry through the favour of the Emperor’s courtiers.