History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c2.s1.33

c2.s1.33

The activities of Sidi showed beyond doubt that he was not a saint in the real sense. He aspired for name and fame and honour. He freely associated with Amīrs and Maliks and flirted with politics. When he was leaving Ajodhan for Delhi, Shikh Farīd, cognizant of Sidi's nature, had warned him against seeking name and renown or associating too much with noblemen. During Balban's strict rule it was not possible for him to spend recklessly and openly give "five thousand or ten thousand *tankahs* to reliable men." With the coming of the weak and licentious Mu'izzuddīn, Sidi's expenses knew no bounds and he began to attract people. During Jalāluddīn's reign the congragations began to swell in numbers and great and small, nobles and commoners, began to pay him homage. Even Khān-i-Khānān, the eldest son of the king, become his disciple. The fact appears to be that since Jalāluddīn was past seventy and could die any week, his two elder sons had set their hearts on the throne and tried to strengthen their position even while the king was alive. Thus two parties seem to have been formed at the capital,—one under Khān-i-Khānān, who associated himself with Sidi and the other under Arkalī, who naturally turned hostile to the saint.³⁵ So openly was Khān-i-Khānān drawn towards Sīdī that the latter used to address him as his son,³⁶ and there is every reason to think that Khān-i-Khānān financed the establishment of Sīdi Maula. The Turkish Amīrs who had not forgotten their enmity with the Khaljīs also flocked to Sīdi's Khānqāh. Jalāluddīn's kindness indirectly encourage the underground activities of these people. Qazī Jalāl Kāshānī, a very influential and intriguing man³⁷ closely attached himself to Sīdī Maulā and used to pass days and nights with him. Kotvāl Biranj and Hathiya Pāik, the latter of whom was a well reputed wrestler and now had fallen on bad days, joined Sīdī. Some other nobles who had lost their jāgīrs and stipends under the Khaljīs also began to frequent the Khānqāh of Sīdī. Soon the number of his followers reached the staggering figure of 10,000.³⁸