History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c21.50

c21.50

Thus did Ghazi Malik, after welcoming his supporters and setting aside his enemies, prepare for a final struggle for the throne. It is not possible, on the study of Barani, to impute motives to Ghāzī Malik's sincere efforts to overthrow Nāsīruddin, but undoubtedly he had given the war a religious colour. To his fervent appeals for help in the holy cause the Muslim governors of Multan, Sīvistān and Samanah, and many other nobles of Delhi had sent a blunt refusal. Their action clearly shows that they did not trust Ghāzī Malik's high-toned appeals. Moreover, the Ghāzī had sent the circular letter to the governors of the provinces on the western frontier only. Had he sent the appeal to the governors of all the Indian provinces, perhaps his disappointment would have been greater. It was only Behram Aiba who had wholeheartedly supported the Ghāzī, and his motives in taking the decision are not far to seek when it is remembered that Malik Jūnā had taken Aiba's son with him when he had escaped from Delhi. How could Ghayāsuddin have been a saviour of Islam when most of the governors and people of northern India and the greatest Musalmans of the day Shaikh Nizāmuddin Aulia never recognised him as one? The truth appears to be that in spite of his emphatic professions the motives of Malik Tughlaq in fighting for the throne were quite secular and he had risen against Nāsīruddin only after his son had sent him full information about the conditions at Delhi and had joined him at Deopalpur.