Tarikh-i Daʾudi 3.2
Táríkh-i Dáúdí of 'Abdu-lla (extracts) 3.2
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3.2.1
When the Prince heard this speech, he laughed, and said to the Khwájagí, "In my imagination I can picture to myself your horse's feet scampering above the surface of the ground; but as for mine, I see him buried in the enemy's gore up to his very chest, so that he cannot move." The Khwájagí alighted from his horse, and gave his right hand to the Prince, saying, "This is a sign of victory; such a chief ought always to possess bravery and resolution." When the hostile parties had come to close quarters, the first person who rode towards the foe was Daryá Khán Lohání, accompanied by thirty men, who placed himself between the two armies; and in order that these horsemen might act effectively, he desired that they should all direct their attack together against the same quarter. From the other side, 500 horsemen advanced to meet them, and Daryá Khán attacked these 500 with his thirty troopers, and fought so fiercely that sparks flashed from the steel in the sight of both armies. Daryá Khán vanquished and defeated them, and they fled back to their comrades, whilst Daryá Khán returned to his position. It is said that 500 horsemen came out three several times against Daryá Khan, who put them on each occasion to flight, and then went back to his post; after the third trial no enemy advanced, and Darya Khan said to his companions, "The fear which I have caused and the fortune of my lord have appalled them;
3.2.2
you, O friends, remain here whilst I hasten against them in person." Darya Khan penetrated their army three times, and three times returned to his place. After which Mian Husain, with 700 troopers, sallied forth from the army of the Prince, and was attacked by 1500 horsemen of Tatar Khan's. Mian Husain was three times successful in the same manner as Darya Khan had been; and he also went three times singly in amongst the foe, and escaped three times. After Mian Husain, 'Umar Khan Sarwani with 500 horse, receiving permission from the Prince, advanced in the direction of Mian Husain, and when near him, an interchange of civilities took place, after which 'Umar Khan said to the Mian, "May a thousand mercies be with you and Darya Khan! You have behaved with a valour which elicits the praises of every one. I have as yet done nothing, and I have come to consult you as to what I ought to do. You have already done more than your duty; now it is my turn!"
3.2.3
Just at this time, Ibrahim Khan, the son of 'Umar Khan, galloped up to his father, and said, "I adjure you by the Kuran and the salt of the Prince not to advance your horse. As you looked on whilst Darya Khan the son of Mubarak Khan, and Mian Husain the son of Khwajagi, were fighting, look also at what your own son does!" 'Umar Khan said, "I am ready to witness your valour, and will hold back." Ibrahim Khan said, "Nothing can be perceived in a crowd; you ought, therefore, to see me advance singly." After saying this to his father, he attacked the enemy's 15,000 horsemen three times, overthrowing on each occasion two or three hostile cavaliers with his spear, whilst their horses fled riderless. 'Umar Khan, when he beheld this, raised the battle-cry of the followers of Islam, and charged the division attached to Tátár Khán himself. Tátár Khán was slain, and Hasan Khán his brother fell alive into his hands, and the whole army of Tátár Khán was routed. This victory, which no one expected the Prince to gain, caused him to be admired by all the people and nobles. After this, Sultán Bahlol also became thoroughly convinced that Nizam Khan was the ablest of his sons, so much so that he appointed him his successor.
3.2.4
When the news of Bahlol's death reached Prince Nizám Khán in Dehli, he left at Dehli one of his nobles, Jamál Khán, in whom he placed confidence, and determined to set forth himself. On the day he quitted Dehli, he first went to Shaikh Samá'u-d dín, one of the holy men of that age, for the purpose of requesting him to repeat the fátiha, and said, "O Shaikh! I desire to study orthography and prosody with you." He commenced accordingly, and began repeating these words by direction of his instructor, "May God render you fortunate in both worlds." The Sultán said, "Say that again." He did so three times successively in Arabic. Then the Sultán kissed that reverend person's hand, and explained that he was about to set forth at the summons of the nobles to assume the kingdom, and so he went away, considering this benediction as a favourable omen: "The assertions of the pure are the interpretation of Fate, For their hearts resemble the tablet and pen." Prince Nizám Khán, by the advice of the principal chiefs, advanced with all expedition from Dehli to the town of Jalálí, and sent the corpse of his father to Dehli. On Friday, the 7th Sha'bán, a.h. 894, he was raised to the throne by the assistance of Khán Jahán, the Khán-khánán Farmulí, and other great chiefs, on an eminence near the Black River, or as it is called by the inhabitants of that district Kálí nai.
3.2.5
On that spot there is a building called the palace of Sultán Fíroz, and there he became king in the eighteenth year of his age, with the title of Sultán Sikandar Ghází. Sultán Sikandar was a most illustrious monarch and of a benevolent disposition; he was famous for his liberality, honour, and politeness; he had no affection for pomp and ceremonies, and cared not for processions and magnificent dresses. No one who was profligate or a bad character had access to him; he always associated with men of religion and the virtuous, and was both inwardly pious and outwardly handsome; he did not give way to his desires, and was exceedingly God-fearing and benevolent to the people. He was very just and courageous, his equity beheld the weak and the strong with the same eye, and he was constantly employed in balancing evidence, deciding suits, arranging the affairs of the Empire, and trying to render his subjects happy; he personally assisted the wretched. After the afternoon prayer, he went into an assembly of Mullás, and then read the Holy Book. After being present at public prayer and the conclusion of the evening thanksgiving, he was in the habit of going to his harem, where he remained an hour. He then proceeded to his private chamber, where he seated himself, and remained awake the entire night, but slept at mid-day. He generally preferred the night for listening to the petitions of the needy;
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he also devoted a portion of it to regulating the affairs of the Empire, and in causing farmáns to be written to the governors of provinces and letters to the monarchs of the time. Seventeen accomplished and learned men of tried merit were constantly with him in his private apartment. After midnight he was in the habit of calling for food, when these seventeen learned men, after washing their hands, seated themselves in front of the Sultán, who was himself seated on his couch. A large chair was then brought close to the bed, and the different dishes being placed on it the Sultán commenced eating; food was also placed before his seventeen companions, who were, however, forbidden to partake of it in his presence. When the King had finished, they carried their plates away to their houses, and ate there. Some writers assert that His Majesty, in order to keep himself in health, was then in the habit of secretly drinking wine. He founded masjids throughout all his dominions, and appointed a preacher, a reader, and a sweeper to each; to all of whom he gave regular stipends. Every winter he sent clothes and shawls for the benefit of the needy, and distributed a certain amount of money to them every Friday. Cooked and uncooked victuals were daily given to the poor at various places in the city by his command.
3.2.7
During the blessed season of the month of Ramazán, and on the day of the Prophet's decease, he rejoiced the hearts of the necessitous and poor, and behaved towards them with royal liberality. He ordained that twice a year he should be furnished with detailed accounts of the meritorious poor of his Empire, whom he then supplied with means sufficient to support them for six months, each receiving according to his wants. During his reign, nobles, shaikhs, and men of learning from the lands of Arabia and Persia, of Hind and Bukhára, induced to do so by his favour and benevolence, took up their residence at Ágra, where the King himself generally dwelt. During the fortunate reign of this monarch the fields were in a high state of cultivation, and merchants, peasants, and all God's creatures were enabled without danger to perform the duties of their respective occupations in ease and contentment. He always inquired strictly into the particulars of the lineage and ancestors of any one who came to him for service, and gave him an appointment corresponding to the dignity of his forefathers, bestowing a jágír without inspecting the applicant's horse and arms, and commanding him to equip himself from its revenues. The military profession was in his time a very honourable one. The public roads in his territory were so well secured that there was not a sign of highwaymen and robbers throughout all his dominions.
3.2.8
He allotted lands to the infidels who submitted to the followers of Islám in their respective countries; and whoever rebelled or was contumacious, was considered guilty of treason, and was either slain or banished.