The Nāṣirī Generations 242: XXIV. MALIK SAIF-UD-DIN, I-BAK-I-KASHLI KHAN-US-SULTANI.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 242
- Language
- English
XXIV. MALIK SAIF-UD-DIN, I-BAK-I-KASHLI KHAN-US-SULTANI.
242.1
The Malik-ul-Hujab [Chief of Chamberlains], Saif-ud-Din, I-bak-i-Kashli Khan—on whom be peace!—was the brother of Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam. Both of them were from one father and mother, but Ulugh Khan was the elder brother, and Malik Saif-ud-Din, I-bak, was the younger. In short, Malik Saif-ud-Din, I-bak, was possessed of all laudable qualifications, and adorned with all pleasing traits, such as comeliness, manly courage, valour, and excellence. He was a person of pure faith, of uprightness of character, of immense liberality, and was possessed of an infinite heart. He had also reached an elevated degree of perfection in the practice of the military art, and in martial accomplishments. In the presence of Sultan Shams-ud-Din, during the reign of that monarch, he held the office of Chief of the Farashes [Coverers, Carpet-spreaders]; and, during the reign of Mu'izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, he became Sar-i-Jandar [Commander of the Guard].
242.2
When the Sultan of the earth and the times, the beneficent and victorious Sultan, NASIR-UD-DUNYA WA UD-DIN, sat upon the throne of sovereignty, on that monarch's leaving the capital, he made him [Saif-ud-Din, I-bak] Sar-i-Jandar-i-Maimanah [Leader of the Guard of the Right Wing]; and subsequently, after some time, in the year 651 H., conferred upon him the fief of Baran, and made him Amir-i-Akhur [Lord of the Steeds, or Master of the Horse]. In the following year, when the Royal Standards moved from the capital for the purpose of repelling the party of Imad-ud-Din-i-Raihan, and Sultan Mahmud made preparations to retrieve the affairs of the state, he appointed him [Malik Saif-ud-Din, I-bak] to the office of Amir-i-Hajib [Lord Chamberlain]. When the affairs of the kingdom were satisfactorily arranged, and the capital, through the presence of the August Standard, became the seat of government, the office of Lord Chamberlain was formally made over to him, and they gave him the title of Kashli Khan. By the mandate of his Majesty, the territory of the Siwalikh and the fief of Hansi were made over to him; and from Hansi he was made Muqti' [Governor] of the territory of Uchchah and Multan, and the fief of the Siwalikh was transferred to other hands.
242.3
In that direction, Malik Saif-ud-Din, I-bak-i-Kashli Khan, displayed great vigour and energy, and reduced the turbulent under subjection, so that the affairs of the kingdom were in the highest degree consolidated, and his renown extended to all parts. May Almighty God preserve the reigning monarch on the throne of sovereignty, and keep this good, generous, just, and warlike Malik in long life and happiness! brother, paternally and maternally, of the Khān-i-Mu’azzam, Ulugh Khān-i-A’zam. They were both two pearls of one shell, two suns and two moons of one exalted constellation, two rubies of one mine, two flowers of one parterre of prosperity, two Maliks of one royal Court, and two great lords of one imperial conclave. Their lineage was from the Khāns of the Ilbarī; and, when the infidel Mughals acquired predominance over the countries of Turkistān and the tribes of Khifchāk, as a matter of necessity, it became incumbent on them to remove, with their families, dependents, and effects, from their accustomed place of abode.
242.4
Malik Kashlī Khān-i-Ī-bak was the younger brother, and the Khān-i-Mu’azzam, Ulugh Khān-i-A’zam, the elder. At this time the [future] Malik and Amīr-i-Hājib was of tender years; and, when they [the tribe], decamped before the Mughals, on their way was marshy ground, and the [future] Malik, the Amīr-i-Hājib, in the night, fell out of the waggon, in which he was, into the mud, and no one had the power to take him out of the quagmire, because the Mughals were at their heels. They urged forward their waggons, and he [the child] remained in that same place [where he fell]. Ulugh Khān returned to the spot where his little brother was, and took him up. A second time the Mughals came up behind them, and the [future] Malik, the Amīr-i-Hājib, fell into their hands.
242.5
By the decrees of heaven, a merchant, having purchased him, brought him to the cities of Islām; and Ikhtiyār-ul-Mulk, Rashīd-ud-Dīn, Abū-Bikr, the Habash [Abyssinian], who had proceeded from the Court of Dihlī on a mission to Miṣr [Egypt] and Baghdād, purchased the [future] Malik, the Amir-i-Hajib, from that merchant. Indications of rectitude were manifest on his brow, and Ikhtiyar-ul-Mulk brought him from thence to the capital, Dihli, and the august Sultan [I-yal-timish] purchased him of Ikhtiyar-ul-Mulk. The lights of intellect and intelligence, and the indications of rectitude and sagacity were beaming upon his brow. These words are written from a sense of justice and truth, for, among the Turks, a Malik more sagacious, with more modesty or more constancy, the eye of beholder never gazed upon. The Most High God had graced him with divers endowments of manliness and humanity, and adorned him with laudable qualities and excellent conduct. In wisdom and sagacity he excelled all the Wazirs of the past, and, in valour and prowess, had placed the foot of manhood higher on the pinnacle [of perfection ?] than the whole of the champions of Iran and Turan. May the Most High God, in the gardens of bliss on high, confer upon him pardon and mercy, and bless him; and continue the Khan-i-Mu’azzam [his brother], in sway and authority, permanent and perpetual! We now come to the topic of history.
242.6
When the august Sultan purchased the [future] Malik, the Amir-i-Hajib, he continued to serve in the Sultan’s own presence chamber, until, in the reign of Sultan Raziyyat, he became the deputy Sar-i-Jan-dar. After some time, in the reign of Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, Bahram Shah, he was made Sar-i-Jan-dar. Subsequently, during the reign of Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, Mas’ud Shah, he became Amir-i-Akhur. He continued, in this manner, to exercise that authority and office up to the time that the throne of sovereignty became adorned with the august dignity of the Sultan of Sultans, Nasir-ud-Dunya wa ud-Din, Mahmud Shah — May God prolong his reign and sovereignty! — and, when the Sultan conferred upon the Khan-i-Mu’azzam, Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam — May God prolong his prosperity! — the name and title of Khan, the Malik, Kashli Khan, was elevated from the office of Amir-i-Akhur to the dignity of Amir-i-Hajib. When Nag-awr was taken from Malik ’Izz-ud-Din, Balban-i-Kashlu Khan, it was entrusted to the charge of Malik Saif-ud-Din, I-bak-i-Kashli Khan, the Amir-i-Hajib.
242.7
Whilst Malik Kashli Khan filled the office of Amir-i-Hajib, he studied so much to please the great, the middle rank, and the least in degree, as the pen cannot write, and showed such regard and favour towards the Turk Maliks, the Tajzik nobles, and the Khalj Amirs, as cannot be contained within the limits of writing. All hearts became filled with good-will towards him, and all persons felt obliged by his favours. When the Khan-i-Mu’azzam, Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam, departed for Nag-awr, they gave the khittah [district or territory] of Karah to the Amir-i-Hajib, Kashli Khan, his brother, and to that part he proceeded. When Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam returned to the Court again, the Amir-i-Hajib returned likewise, and he became Amir-i-Hajib the second time.
242.8
After some time, when, in the month of Rabi’-ul-Akhir, 653 H., Malik Kutb-ud-Din, Husain, son of ’Ali [the Ghuri, who was the Lieutenant of the kingdom] — May he rest in peace! — departed to the eternal mansion, the territory and city of Mirat was placed in the Amir-i-Hajib’s charge, to the skirt of the mountains of Bandiaran. During some years he reduced under his sway those confines and districts, and he took possession of the country within the mountain territory of Bandiaran as far as Rurki, and Mia-pur, and extorted tribute, and overthrew Ranas and independent [Hindu] tribes, and reduced them to subjection, until the year 656 H., when weakness gained the ascendancy over his dear body and delicate form, and his intestines became swollen. Through excessive modesty and bashfulness, he did not make known the whole of his disease to any one, and, for a period of some months, he endured affliction; and, as the appointed time was come, on Sunday, the 20th of the month of Rajab, 657 H., he transmitted his blessed soul, on the couch of pardon, attended by the escort of sincere piety, to the presence of majesty and nearness of glory. May the Most High God keep in His protection the sovereign of the present time, the Sultan of Sultans, Nasir-ud-Dunya wa ud-Din, for the sake of His most illustrious prophet, Muhammad!