History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c40.s6: §8. Shah Jahan's last years in prison: life of resignation and devotion.

History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c40.s6

Language: English

§8. Shah Jahan's last years in prison: life of resignation and devotion.

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He had, indeed, need of resignation to the will of God. Blow after blow fell on his stricken heart.

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∗ Shah Jahan's captive life is best described in Kambu's Amal-i-salih, 18a, 24b-25b. Bernier, 165; Storia, ii. 64-67, 77-78.

First Dara Shukoh, then Murad Bakhsh, then Sulaiman Shukoh, were done to death by Aurangzib. Shuja and all his children were driven to destruction among the unknown horrors of the land of the Mags. "But in spite of these calamities, he never lost patience or thankfulness to God. In the seven years of his captivity many of his devoted servants were ruined and many other untoward events happened. But to the last day his heart was the home of endurance and steadiness." (Kambu, 24b.)

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Religion gave him solace. His constant companion now was Sayyid Muhammad of Qanauj. This pious man officiated as his chaplain, lector and almoner,—discoursed on the Quran and the Prophet's *Traditions*, conducted prayers at the Court, and conveyed Shah Jahan's gifts to the needy outside. "All the ex-Emperor's time was divided between (professing) obedience to God, prayer, performance of the obligatory religious services with all the *sunun*,—reading the Quran and copying its verses, reciting the *Traditions* or hearing them read, or listening to the histories of the great men of the past.

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Another no less saintly but more tender comforter he had in his daughter Jahanara, whose loving care atoned for the cruelty of all his other offspring and

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Redeemed Nature from the general curse
Which twain had brought her to.

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This princess, a disciple of the saint Mian Mir, now practically led the life of a nun in the harem of Agra fort, nursing her aged and forlorn father with the devotion of a mother and daughter in one, while she also looked after the orphan daughters of Dara and Murad whom she had gathered under her protecting wings. In such spiritual company, freed from all the world's concerns, his heart steeled by every bereavement that Fate could inflict, Shah Jahan prepared himself for the better land. He completely detached himself from this world. Death lost its terrors in his eyes, and even appeared as a welcome release from misery. He loved to discourse on it frequently.

Linked texts (1)

ʿAmal-i Ṣāliḥ — Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ Kambōh 1659, Persian