The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.394

v3.c20.394

Muhammad hastened in person from Daulatābād to crush the rebellion, marching by way of Delhi. Kishlū Khān marched eastward from Multān and the armies met in the desert plain of Abohar¹, where Muhammad defeated his adversary by means of a stratagem. Shaikh ‘Imād-ud-dīn, who closely resembled him in personal appearance, was placed in the centre of the army, under the royal umbrella, and Muhammad himself, with 4000 horse, lay in ambush. The rebels naturally directed their chief efforts against the centre of the royal army, and in an impetuous charge broke the line and slew the Shaikh. The army retired in real or feigned confusion and the rebels dispersed to plunder the camp. The king then emerged from his ambush, fell upon Kishlū Khān, who was but scantily attended, slew him, and severed his head from his body. The positions were now reversed, and the rebels broke and fled. Muhammad marched on to Multān, about 160 miles distant, occupied the city, and prepared to take punitive measures against the inhabitants, whom he condemned as the accomplices of Kishlū Khān. He seized the *qāzī*, Karīm-ud-dīn, caused him to be flayed alive, and ordered a general massacre, but this calamity was averted by the intercession of the saint, Shaikh Rukn-ud-dīn. Muhammad sent his minister, Khvāja Jahān, towards the coast of Sind, to repress disorders which had arisen in that province, and was almost immediately recalled to Delhi by the news of disturbances in the Gangetic Doāb. Before leaving Multān he distinguished the house which he had occupied by hanging over its gate the head of the rebel, Kishlū Khān, which was seen by Ibn Batūtah when he visited Multān five years later.