Some of these may be found in the second volume of the Akbar-námah which was composed by the very learned Shaikh Abu-l-Fazl, and forms a large book.
On the day the “Eminence of the Sun,” the compiler of this compendium completed the first volume of the Táríkh-i-Alfí, which consists of three volumes, of which two are by Mullá Aḥmad of T'hat'hah, the Heretic, (be on him what may) and the third by Áçaf Khán. And an order had been issued to me to revise and collate it, in conjunction with Mullá Muçtafá Kátib* of Láhór, who is a worthy friend of mine, and is become one of the Aḥadís. I presented it, and it obtained the honour of the Emperor's approval. And since the second volume contained much bigotry, the Emperor commanded me to revise it also. In the course of one year I sufficiently collated it, but on account of my own taint of “bigotry,” (P. 393) I did not interfere with the book, except as regards the order of the years, and did not alter the original, but laid the blame on my state of health; and may it not, God grant! be a cause of any further injury. My condition with regard to these books was like that of one who eats one date together with the stones, and another says to him, “Why don't you throw away the stone?” and he answers, “They have apportioned me only just this amount.”*
At this time Shaikh Faizí, the king of poets, finished the commentary
on the Qurán,*
which is altogether without diacritic points,
and is of the thickness of seventy-five juz'. And he found nine lines
without diacritic points which gave the date of its completion.
And some sheets he sent into 'Iráq that it might become generally
known. And now he is occupied with Amrár-i-sání*
which also
gives the date of its revision and collation. And the learned men of
the age wrote their imprimatur on it. Thus Shaikh Ya'qúb of
Kashmír wrote an imprimatur in Arabic; and Miyán Amán-ulláh
Sarhindí found the verse of the Qur'án:”*
There is nothing green
nor sere, but is noted in the Perspicuous Book;”*
and Mír Muḥam-
“Thanks to God who grants desire, he has finished the Sawáṭi'-
O God the unique writer has not erased The Word. [ul-ilhám.
The limits of the secrets of the Word of God, who revealed the pearls of the thrones.
The thrones are lofty, the pearls are sublime.”
And the remainder are similar.
In the month Çafar of the year one thousand and two (1002)
Khwájah Ibráhím Ḥusain Aḥadí, who was one of the author's
particular friends, departed this life. And Khwájah Ibráhím Ḥu-
This same year God (He is praised! glorious is His Majesty!) granted this scribe grace to write a copy of the Glorious Word. When I had written it in clear legible naskh hand-writing, with the pages and marginal lines perfect in their way, I presented it, as an offering at the luminous shrine of his holiness that Ghaus of mankind, orthodox teacher, and asylum, Miyán Shaikh Dáúd Jhanní Wál* (God sanctify his tomb!), in the hopes that it having removed the infidelity of former books, which is black as the record of the deeds of the author, may be his friend throughout life, and his intercessor after death: “and this would not be too hard for God.”*
On the seventeenth of Zí Qa'dah* of this year Muḥammad Qásim Khán Mír Baḥr, and Mirzá Muḥammad Zamán, who was one of the sons of Sháhrukh Mirzá, were killed in Kábul. It happened as follows: When Muḥammad Zamán Mirzá came to Badakhshán, after returning from his pilgrimage, the inhabitants of Badakhshán were in despair at the oppressions of the Uzbeks. They made him Commander-in-chief, and hoping continually for help from Hindústán, they carried on a brave resistance, and continually held their own against the enemy. But when their hopes were not realised, and the Uzbeks brought
“A host more numerous than ants and locusts”
against Muḥammad Zamán Mírzá, he resisted and withstood them for some years to the best of his power and ability, but in the last throw he was worsted, and being no longer able to stand his ground, he made for Hindústán in company with some 14,000 or 15,000 horse (P. 395), and arrived in the neighbourhood of Kábul. But through the instigation of certain persons he conceived some seditious disaffection, and repented of his intention. He was taken prisoner by some followers of Muḥammad Qásim Khán, commandant of Kábul. Muḥammad Qásim Khán treated him with the greatest respect and honour, and presenting every one of his followers with a horse, and a robe of honour, and money for expenses, appointed 150 horsemen to accompany him, and wished him to depart for Láhór. Meanwhile some of the confidential servants of Muḥammad Qásim Khán, who were Badakhshís and Kábulís, having made friends with the Mírzá, broke into the house at midday and entered the bed-chamber of Muḥammad Qásim Khán by force. They put him to the sword, and sent him to his last resting-place. Muḥammad Háshim, son of Muḥammad Qásim Khán, who had a house outside the citadel of Kábul, got certain gunners, and servants of his father to join with him, and besieged Mírzá Muḥammad Zamán. For one night and a day he kept the fire of battle alight, and then slew the Mírzá, and sent his head to Court.
The Emperor appointed Muḥammad Qulij*
Khán, who for some
time had been manager-in-general,*
to be commandant of Kábul,
and dismissed him to go to his command. He appointed Shams-ud-
In this year God (praise be to Him!), when the successive blows of misfortune, and the scourges of vicissitudes were battering me, graciously granted me repentance from some follies and transgressions with which I had been afflicted, and opened my eyes to the vileness of my actions, and the baseness of my deeds:—
“Ah! if I remain so, ah!”
(P. 396) And by way of good omen “Rectitude”* was found to give the date. And the king of Poets (Faizí) composed this verse:—
“My Shaikh has indeed repented of sinning:
His date is Excelling in penitence.*
The thought of wine and beloved has left my head,
The sound of lute and tambourine has left my heart.”