The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c9.48

c9.48

³ Minhaj, p. 190 and p. 192; on p. 252, however, he states that Raziah was captured near Kaithal and Iltuniah near Mansurpur and both attained martyrdom the next day, 25th Rabi I, 638. The former version, that they were murdered by the Hindus, is supported by Ferishta, I, p. 68, TA, I, p. 68, and the Mirat-i-Jahan-Numa, f. 53. The TM, p. 29, states that they were taken prisoner and sent to Delhi where they were put to death under Bahram’s orders. It is hardly necessary to refer to Raziah’s alleged moral lapse, for the story no longer finds place in sober history. Ibn Battuta’s gossip and Ferishta’s suggestion are all that can be cited as authority for it, for Minhaj’s remark qurbati uftad’ can bear no such meaning. The phrase is also used for describing Aibak’s relation with his master; p. 139. TM, copies the exact phrase from Minhaj. Haji Dabir, a very careful and conscientious writer, translates Minhaj’s meaning by a phrase which leaves no ambiguity. The value of Ibn Battuta’s story can be judged from the following quotation; II, p. 26:—“Raziah ruled for four years and was in the habit of riding out like men without her veil. Then she was imputed of having connection with one of her Abyssinian slaves. So the people agreed on marrying her to a near relative of hers and the kingdom passed on to her brother Nasiruddin”. The printed text of Minhaj, p. 253, contains a couplet which seems to show Minhaj’s belief in the truth of the allegation. But the same couplet is found in the TM also and is obviously an interpolation as Raverty has not found it in the older Mss. On the whole question see IHQ, 1940, pp. 769-772.