History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c39.s4: §4. Quarrel with Persia.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c39.s4
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§4. Quarrel with Persia.
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The Mughal envoy had audience of the Shah at Isfahan, but he was very rudely treated and subjected to much humiliation and suffering. The Persian king often uttered threats of invading India in his presence. It was probably at this time that he sent Aurangzib a long letter* composed by Mirza Tahir Wahid, vigorously defending the Shia religion, glorifying the Persian royal house, sneering at Aurangzib, and bragging of his own success as a ruler and defender of the true faith!
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At last after a year’s stay in Persia, Tarbiyat Khan was given conge at Farahabad, and entrusted with a taunting letter for Aurangzib. In it Shah Abbas writes, "I learn that most of the zamindars of India are in rebellion because their ruler is weak, incompetent and without resources. The chief of them is the impious *kafir* Shiva, who had long lived in such obscurity that none knew of his name; but now, taking advantage of your lack of means and the retreat of your troops, he has made himself visible like the peak of a mountain, seized many forts, slain or captured many of your soldiers, occupied much of that country, plundered and wasted many of your ports, cities and villages, and finally wants to come to grips with you. You style yourself a World-conqueror (*Alamgir*) while you have only conquered your father; and having gained composure of mind by the murder of your brothers—who were lawful heirs to your father's land and wealth—you have abandoned the royal practices of doing justice and charity and are busying yourself in the company of men who call incantation and Satanic magic the knowledge of God and the exposition of Truth. You have failed in every undertaking that required manliness. It is beyond your power to repress lawless men; you have become helpless and distracted by your lack of material and money and the defeat of your troops. Thanks to the favour of God and the Imams, it is my nature to cherish those who are crushed, and my ancestors have been the refuge of the kings of the world,—witness how we restored to their thrones Humayun and Nazar Muhammad Khan. Now that you, the successor of Humayun, are in distress, it is my royal aim to go personally to India with my multitudinous army, meet you (which has long been my desire), give you every help and extinguish the fire of disorder with the lustre [lit., water] of my sword—like that of Ali,—so that the people might be delivered from the oppression of lawless men, and sing my praises. God keep you safe amidst your misfortunes!'*
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∗ Faiyaz-ul-qawanin, 389-398.
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With this letter Tarbiyat Khan reached Agra (where the Court then was) in September 1666. Aurangzib vented his impotent rage on the innocent envoy, accused him of having failed in his duty, denied him audience, degraded him in rank and finally sent him off as *subahdar* to the penal province of Orissa (June 1667).†
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† Tarbiyat Kh.'s mission. A. N. 974, disgrace 977, 1033 and 1050; *Storia*, ii. 128-131, 146-147 (fullest).
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The threat contained in the Shah's letter was confirmed by reports from Persia that he was making preparations for invading India by way of Khurasan and Afghanistan. Evidently there was great alarm in the country at the news. Prince Muazzam was at once sent with Jaswant Singh and a large army towards Afghanistan, while the Emperor promised to follow. But the danger was exaggerated by the Mughal Court's ignorance of the true state of things in Persia. The Safavi monarchy was really very weak, as Bernier shrewdly suspected. (*Travels*, 149.) Shah Abbas II., however, died on 22nd August, and the imagined danger to India blew over. For the rest of Aurangzib's reign, Persia was powerless for offence. But, as a historian of Persia has remarked, "few dynasties have lived so long and so successfully on their reputation as did that of the Safavis after the death of Shah Abbas I.," and Aurangzib kept a vigilant eye on the n.w. frontier, forbidding any nearer approach of the Persian outposts for facility of trade, or the admission of large caravans of Persian horse-dealers into India lest they should be invaders in disguise.* To the last day of his life he continued to speak of the Persians as *Irani ghul-i-bayabani* ('carrion-eating demons') and *batil mazhaban*, or 'false believers.'
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∗ *Faiyaz-ul-qawanin*, 496-499. Manucci records the incorrect rumour that such a taunting letter was sent with Budaq Beg (ii. 52). The taunting correspondence between Aurangzib and the Shah has been printed in the Report of the Lahor Session of the Indian Historical Records Commission, Jan. 1920.
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In 1688 Aurangzib tried to intervene in a struggle between the Shah of Persia and Ahmad, his rebel governor of Herat, by helping the latter in besieging Qandahar. But nothing came of the attempt. (*Ishwardas*, 133*b*.)
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∗ For the threatened Persian invasion, *A. N.* 974, 975, 984; *Storia*, ii. 146-149; *Anecdotes*, § 51; K.K. ii. 202. For Aurangzib's vigilance, *Anecdotes*, § 49, 50, and 52. For Safavi weakness, *Sykes, History of Persia*, ii. 296.