The History of Humāyūn (Gulbadan Begam) 150.5

150.5

The Darbār-i-akbarī says that it is clear from Jahāngīr’s statement of her age at death that she was married to Bairām aetat 5, and that her memory is thus cleared from the reproach of two marriages. Whatever is concealed in Jahāngīr's nothing is said to indicate that he desired to bring Salīma-sultān into the circle of Hindū propriety. He may have had the wish, he was a Hindū mother's son. The comment of the modern author of the Darbār-iakhail witnesses to the Hinduizing action to which Moslim custom and thought have submitted. Adult remarriage was no reproach to Islam in Salima’s day. It does not, however, seem correct to accept Jahangir’s statement that Salīma-sultan was sixty only at death. To have betrothed her as a baby and to have married her to a man of, at least, middle-age at five, is not in harmony with the Muhammadan custom of Humāyūn’s day. Moreover, Jahāngīr himself speaks of her as married (kad-khudā) to Bairām. She is said by Abū’l-fazl to have been betrothed (nām-zād) by Humāyūn, and married (sipūrdan) by Akbar to Bairām Khān. Badāyūnī’s words indicate adult and not child marriage, sābiqā dar habāla-i-Bairām Khān Khān-i-Khānān būd, ba‘d azān dākhil-i-haram-i-pādshāhī shud. After the murder of Bairām in 968H. Salīma-sultan was married by Akbar. She was probably a few years his senior. In 983H. she made her pilgrimage with Gul-badan. Particulars of the expedition are given in the Introduction to this volume.