The Book of Akbar 312.6

312.6

During this mighty sovereignty there have been in the visible world so many great events and shining actions, such as the subjugation of great cities, and the complete capture of impregnable forts and other victories, and Divine aids, any one of which was fit to be made the foundation of an era. But if your Majesty directs that the new era commence from the day of your seating yourself on the throne of sovereignty, which was one of God’s great gifts and never-ending boons, and from which auspicious day this is the twenty-ninth solar, and the thirtieth lunar year, assuredly such a good deed will be at once a mark of thanksgiving and a fulfilment of the wishes of mankind. Moreover, there is not involved in this good deed any breach of the respect due to the glory of the Hijra era—which comes from the day when His Majesty, the best of men, migrated from Mecca to Medina on account of the predominance of foes. This is the supposition of worthless persons infirm of nature, and of mean understanding. Accordingly, in the time of Malik Shāh, though at that time the Hijra era was not so old as it is now, nor were matters so complicated as at present, the Jalāli era was introduced for the sake of convenience, so that a multitude who were in practical matters brought into difficulty, might by this means escape from their distress.