The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.96

v4.c16.96

Life at the holy city of Mecca had so palled upon Makhdūm-ul-Mulk and Shaikh ‘Abdun-Nabī that they had prevailed upon Gulbadan Begam to allow them to return to India in her train, and they were now lurking in Gujarāt, hoping for eventual forgiveness, but their enemies at court had not forgotten them, and so excited Akbar’s wrath at their returning without leave that officers were sent to Gujarāt to arrest them. Makhdūm-ul-Mulk, as Abu-’l-Fazl writes with malicious exultation, died of fright and left much wealth which was confiscated. “The other malevolent fellow” could not excuse his disobedience, and Akbar, after striking him in the face, sent him to prison, “where counsel is received”, and he was shortly afterwards strangled.