The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.18
Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.18
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3.18.1
When 'Isa Khan joined Sher Shah, during the campaign of Mandu and Ujjain, he brought Bairam with him, and introduced him to Sher Shah in the town of Ujjain. Sher Shah angrily asked where he had been up to that time. Masnad 'Ali said he had been in the house of Shaikh Malhi Kahal. Sher Shah replied, "Since it is an established custom among the Afghans that whatever criminal takes refuge among the relatives of Shaikh Malhi Kahal should be pardoned, I also pardon Bairam Beg." When Sher Shah was about to leave the darbar, 'Isa Khan said: "You have for Shaikh Malhi's sake given Bairam Beg his life; give him also for my sake, who have brought him to you, a dress of honour and a horse, and order that he shall pitch his tent with Muhammad Kasim, who surrendered the fort of Gwalior." Sher Shah assigned him a place near Muhammad Kasim, when Sher Khan marched from Ujjain; but both Bairam Beg and Muhammad Kasim fled towards Gujarat. Muhammad Kasim was killed by the way, but Bairam Beg reached Gujarat. One Shaikh Gadai was in Gujarat, to whom he did good service, and from Gujarat, Bairam Beg reached the Emperor Humayun. After the death of that Emperor, Bairam Beg, who had been dignified with the title of Khan-khanan, returned the kindness of Shaikh Gadai, Shaikh 'Abdu-l Wahhab, and Raja Mitr Sen with every imaginable favour. 'Isa Khan was still alive: his age then was ninety years. Many persons said to him that he ought to wait on the Khan-khanan.
3.18.2
Masnad 'Ali said: "I will not for any worldly gain wait on the Mughal, nor is it the custom of the sons of Masnad 'Ali 'Umar Khan to ask for a return of their favours." I have heard from Maulana Muhammad Binor and 'Abdu-l Momin, his son-in-law, who were among the intimates of the Khan-khanan, that they asked the Khan-khanan thus: "Did Masnad 'ali 'Isa Khan ever do you a kindness?" He replied: "He saved my life; if he will come to me, I shall feel myself honoured. If I cannot give him more than Sher Shah, I at least will give him his own Sambhal." I, 'Abbas Khan, the author of the Tuhfa-i Akbar Shahi, and Masnad 'ali 'Isa Khan Kalkapur came of the same tribe and family, and I am married to the daughter of his brother's son, whose name is Muzaffar Khan. Much of the history of the Afghans which I describe I learnt from Khan-'azam Muzaffar Khan, whose ancestors were formerly nobles of Hindustan. When Sultan Sikandar banished Haibat Khan, the father of 'Isa Khan, the latter went to Sultan Mahmud, the King of Mandu, and became his chosen counsellor and associate; and when he left Sultan Mahmud and went to Muzaffar King of Gujarat, he also became his counsellor and friend. When the Sultan took the fort of Mandu from the unbelievers, he said to Masnad 'ali: "Go to Sultan Muzaffar, and tell him he should visit the fort of Mandu, for it is a fine place." Sultan Muzaffar said, "May the fort of Mandu bring Sultan Mahmud good fortune, for he is the master of it.
3.18.3
I, for the sake of the Lord, came to his assistance. On Friday I will go up to the fortress, and having read the khutba in his name, will return." 'Isa Khan brought this good news to Sultan Mahmud. Afterwards, when he left Gujarat, and went to Sultan Ibrahim, he became also his associate and adviser. Sultan Ibrahim entrusted the city of Dehli to him, when Sultan 'Alau-d din, son of Sultan Bahlol, was repulsed from it; for in spite of all his efforts, 'Isa Khan would not surrender it. He afterwards went to Sher Shah, became one of his attendant nobles, and after he had conquered Dehli, Sher Shah gave Sambhal to him, as has before been stated. Sher Shah, entrusting Mewat to Haji Khan, went himself towards Lahore. On arriving near Sirhind, he bestowed it on Khawas Khan. Khawas Khan entrusted it to Malik Bhagwant, who was his slave. When the Emperor Humayun reached Lahore, certain Mughals, who had newly arrived from their own country, and had never yet encountered the Afghans, said to the Emperor, "You should send us to fight the Afghans," and vaunted much, saying, "Who and what manner of men are these Afghans, that they should be able to contend with us in the day of battle?" So the Emperor Humayun sent these Mughals to make the attempt, and Khawas Khan and Barmazid Gur, who had marched in advance of Sher Shah from Dehli, met them at Sultanpur, where they engaged. The Mughals were defeated, and retired to Lahore. Khawas Khan halted at Sultanpur;
3.18.4
but the Emperor and Mirza Kamran quitted Lahore, which was shortly afterwards occupied by Sher Shah, who, however, made no halt there. On the third march beyond Lahore, he heard that Mirza Kamran had gone by way of the Judh hills to Kabul, and that the Emperor Humayun was marching along the banks of the Indus to Multan and Bhakkar. The King went to Khushab, and thence despatched Kutb Khan Banet, Khawas Khan, Haji Khan, Habib Khan, Sarmast Khan, Jalal Khan Jaloi, 'Isa Khan Niazi, Barmazid Gur, and the greater part of his army, in pursuit of the Emperor, towards Multan. He instructed them not to engage the Emperor, but to drive him beyond the borders of the kingdom, and then to return. When they had gone two marches, they heard that the Mughal army had divided into two portions. The Afghan army was in great anxiety, lest, as the force with the King was so small, the Mughals should make forced marches, and attack him. The Afghan army, therefore, also dividing itself into two divisions, the one under Khawas Khan, 'Isa Khan, and others, crossed the river, and marched along the bank of the Jelam towards Multan; and Kutb Khan and the rest remained and marched along the nearer bank of the same stream.
3.18.5
The Mughal division which had quitted the Emperor, and was marching towards Kabul, encountered Khawas Khan, and not being strong enough to fight, fled, leaving their drums and standards behind, which fell into Khawas Khan's hands, and the Afghan army returning from that place, rejoined Sher Shah. Sher Shah delayed some time at Khushab. While there, Isma'il Khan, Fath Khan, and Ghazi Khan Biluchi, came and waited on him. Sher Shah ordered the Biluchis to brand their horses. Isma'il Khan said: "Other persons brand their horses — I will brand my own body." Sher Shah was pleased, and excused him from the branding, and confirmed to him the country of Sind. The chiefs of every tribe and family of Roh came to wait on Sher Shah. The writer's grandfather, Shaikh Bayazid Kalkapur Sarwani, who was the successor to the very holy Shaikh Ahmad Sarwani, who was the grandfather of Shaikh Malhi Kayal, whose holiness and glory is famous all over the country of Roh, and whose disciples and followers most of the Afghans are, and whose descendants are celebrated for their austerity and for the strictness of their devotional observances, and who are also known for their gallantry and wealth; nor does any person excel them in honour and consideration — the whole race of Afghans acknowledge their greatness, and their own, and their ancestors' virtues: — this said Shaikh Bayazid came to Sher Shah at Khushab, and had an interview with him.
3.18.6
Since the previous kings of whom I have treated in this history paid extreme respect to Shaikh Bayazid, he was very anxious as to whether Sher Shah would or would not show him the same civilities. The moment Shaikh Bayazid came unto Sher Shah's darbar, the latter came forward several steps to receive him; and abasing himself gave Shaikh Bayazid precedence. My grandfather expected that Sher Shah would give him his hand, but he said: "Embrace me." When he took leave also, he showed every sign of respect and friendship. When he returned towards Bengal, Sher Shah sent him back to Roh, and gave him one lac of tankas in cash, as well as Bengal silks and clothes of Hindustan. The Shaikh said:—"Since the time of the Langahs the Biluchis have possessed themselves of the rent-free tenures of my predecessors." Sher Shah ordered that Isma'il Khan Biluch should receive instead the pargana of Ninduna, in the Ghakkar country, and that the Biluchis should be made to restore to Shaikh Bayazid, the rightful owner, the land of the Sarwanis, which they had usurped. Isma'il Khan dared not disobey the orders of Sher Shah, so he took pargana Ninduna and the Ghakkar villages, and restored the Sarwanis' land to Shaikh Bayazid. Shaikh Bayazid came a second time to see Sher Shah during the Ujjain and Sarangpur campaign.
3.18.7
* * * Sher Shah conferred on the Shaikh 2000 bighas of land in the pargana of Banur, which had been the settlement of his ancestors, and also fixed the amount of present he was to receive on visiting the king at a lac of tankas, and promised that after the fall of Kalinjar he would give him the provinces of Sind and Multan, the country of the Biluchis.