Later Mughals v1.c9.s12.10

v1.c9.s12.10

After Sabha Chand, came the turn of Shah Qudrat-ullah of Allahabad. His father, Shaikh Abdul-Jalil, was a man of learning of the Sufi sect, who lived in Allahabad. On his death, Qudrat-ullah succeeded to his influence and position, being himself a man of learning and considerable eloquence. Prince Azim-ush-shan chanced to make Qudrat-ullah's acquaintance, and took such a fancy to him that he could not bear him to be away from his side. Wherever the Prince went, the Shaikh accompanied him; and in the end, the Shaikh became all-powerful. In the last years of Bahadur Shah's reign all business passed through his second son's hands, and Qudrat-ullah was that Prince's right hand. It was as if the whole Empire had fallen under his rule, even the Wazir and his sons asking him to plead for them. The refusal to appoint Zulfiqar Khan to succeed Munim Khan and the appointment instead of a deputy, Hidayatullah Khan (Sadullah Khan), were due to Shaikh Qudrat-ullah, although he had no official rank whatever. In the struggle for the throne his advice prevailed over that of all others. After Azim-ush-shan's death, the Shaikh, fearing the resentment of Zulfiqar Khan, hid himself and escaped secretly to his home at Allahabad. When Farrukh-siyar started for Agra to confront Jahandar Shah, the Shaikh, believing success to be utterly impossible stayed quietly at home, not even coming to present his respects. After the victory had been won, the Shaikh still hesitated to return to Court, since in his day of power he had conciliated no one, not even the sons of his patron. Then one Mulla Shadman, a holy man of Patna Azimabad, passed through on his way to Dihli. It is commonly asserted that this man had prophesied that Farrukh-siyar would gain the throne, and from this cause the Prince had acquired the greatest confidence in his powers. Qudrat-ullah, thinking the Mulla's protection would be certain to secure him a favourable reception, joined his party and they travelled together to Dihli.*