The Book of Akbar 12.3

12.3

Fraser describes his tomb as a rough slab of marble, situated in a grove of pistachio trees, at Turbat-i-jam, half way between Mashhad and Herat. According to A. F. Ahmad-i-jam was the ancestor of Humayun’s mother as well as of his wife (Hamida Banu). Humayun visited the shrine in 1544 and put up an inscription which still exists. (J. R. A. S. Jan, 1897). Apparently the father of Hamida Banu was named ‘Ali Akbar, for Nizamu-d-din says, Khwaja Mu‘azzam (whom he calls Akbar’s maternal uncle) was the son of ‘Ali Akbar. According to A. F. the Khwaja was only uterine or half-brother of Hamida Banu, but it seems probable that ‘Ali Akbar was also her father, for Nizamu-d-din goes on to say that ‘Ali Akbar was descended from Hazrat Shaikhu-l-islam, Zhanda-pil Ahmad-i-jam. Gulbadan calls Hamida Banu, the daughter of Mir Baba Dost. Apparently Mir Baba is the Maulana Baba Dost Sadr mentioned (Akbarnama I. 315) as a servant for whom Hindal had a special regard. Perhaps Mir Baba Dost is not his full name—though it occurs in the Akbarnama—and he may also have been named ‘Ali Akbar. Gulbadan says that Mir Abu-l-Baqa took part in the marriage and that two lakhs of rupees were paid (or promised) as dower by Humayun. Abu-l-Baqa is referred to in the Akbarnama (I. 172). In the same volume, (I. 174, l. 15) mention is made of Khwaja Hajri Jami (qu. the Superintendent of Ahmad Jami’s cell?) as having been forward in promoting the marriage.