Islám Sháh advanced as far as Lahore, and returned from that place to Gwálior, where he amused himself with hunting.* He was one day hunting in the district of Antrí, when certain Afghán nobles, who were ill-disposed towards him, laid an am­buscade on his road, with the intention of injuring him; but as his life was not destined to close so soon, he went back by another route, and was informed the same evening of the meditated treachery. He caused Baháu-d din, Mahmúd, and Madáka, the chiefs of the conspirators, to be seized and punished. After this Islám Sháh became more mistrustful than ever of his nobles, and seized and imprisoned or put to death all those whom he chiefly suspected. One day he said to his wife Bíbí Báí, “I have cleared the road for your son, but your brother Mubáriz Khán is still a thorn in his way. If you wish for your son's life, say that you desire your brother to be put out of the way.” Bíbí Báí answered, “My brother is a man who loves his pleasure and dissipation, and has always passed his life in looking after musical instruments, and listening to tunes; he has no head for government.”* Islám Sháh endeavoured with great skill and ability, by adducing strong proofs, and by beneficial advice, to induce her to be of his opinion; but this ignorant woman refused to consent to what Islám Sháh said, although it was all for her benefit.*

When Islám Sháh saw that his wife had followed her own foolish opinion, he despaired, and said, “You know best. Your son is in great danger from Mubáriz Khán, and you will in the end understand what I have just said.” Saying this, he left the apartment, and ordered the Gwálior captives to be punished in the following way. He directed them to be placed in a building filled with gunpowder, which was then to be fired. This was done in the manner commanded by His Majesty. All the prisoners were blown into the air, and their limbs scattered, with the exception of Kamál Khán Ghakkar, who was seated in a corner of the dwelling, and who was preserved by the favour of the Almighty. When Islám Sháh was told of this wonderful circumstance, Kamál Khán was brought from that place into the presence by the royal command, and an oath was administered to him that he would in future be a loyal subject, and only think how he could best benefit His Majesty's service. Kamál Khán consented to everything that Islám Sháh said, and was set at liberty. After this, Islám Sháh advanced Kamál Khán Ghakkar, and in a short time made him one of the chief grandees, appointed him to perform special and important services, and exalted and made him joyful by heaping royal favours on his head. His prosperity and dignity were vastly increased.

Nearly at the same time he sent one of his courtiers, who was in an indigent condition, to perform a certain service, in the hope that his circumstances would thus be bettered. This person acted throughout the business with conscientious integrity, and after transacting it, returned. On another occa­sion he told the King how honestly he had behaved. Islám Sháh was at that time severely disposed towards every one, and only repeated the following verse in reply:

“When you bestrode the horse of good fortune,
If you did not put him to his speed, what can a man do for you?”*

They say that during Islám Sháh's reign a darwesh, Shaikh 'Aláí by name, created a great disturbance by openly professing the religion of the Mahdí, and led many people astray. He collected an innumerable host of fakírs and darweshes about him, and was in the habit of traversing the bázárs, and forbidding by every means in his power all acts contrary to the precepts of the Kur'án. His sect had its head-quarters at Bayána. At length, by the advice of his murshid, he set forth, accompanied by six or seven thousand followers, with the intention of performing the pilgrimage to Mecca. When he arrived at Khawáspúr, which is in the Júdhpúr territory, Khawás Khán, who has before been mentioned, came forth to meet him, and joined him. When Islám Sháh heard of these events, he summoned him to the pre­sence. The Shaikh perceived that the King was attended by a select party of his nobles; nevertheless, he did not behave as it is becoming to do in the presence of royalty. He merely made the customary salutation, at which the King was displeased, and showed his disgust by the manner in which he answered “'Alaiku-s Salám.” The courtiers were very wroth at this conduct. Mullá 'Abdu-lla Sultánpúrí, who was entitled Makhdúmu-l Mulk, opposed the doctrines of Shaikh 'Aláí, and decreed that he should be imprisoned.* Islám Sháh assembled a great number of the learned, and directed them to inquire into the matter. Shaikh 'Aláí's great eloquence enabled him to overcome all his opponents in argument. Islám Sháh said, “O Shaikh, forsake this mode of procedure, in order that I may appoint you censor (muhtasib) of all my dominions. Up to the present time you have taken upon yourself to forbid without my authority; henceforth you will do so with my consent.” Shaikh 'Aláí would not agree to this; and Islám Sháh, refusing to listen to the suggestions of Makhdúmu-l Mulk with reference to the Shaikh's punishment, sent him to Hindia.

Bihár Khán Sarwání, who governed that district, embraced, with all his troops, Shaikh 'Aláí's views. Makhdúmu-l Mulk related this circumstance in his most urgent manner, and gave the King intimation of the disturbances which were taking place. Islám Sháh again summoned the Shaikh from Hindia, and this time ordered a larger assembly of Mullás than the former to meet and investigate his doctrines. Makhdúmu-l Mulk said, “This man desires to rule the country, he wishes to attain the rank of Mahdí, and the Mahdí is to govern the whole world. The entire army of His Majesty has taken part with him; it is very likely that in a short time this country will be much injured.”

Islám Sháh, for the second time, paid no attention to what Makhdúmu-l Mulk said, and sent Shaikh 'Aláí into Bihár, to Shaikh Badh, a learned physician, in whom Sher Sháh had placed much confidence, and respected him so much that he always as­sisted him in putting on his shoes by placing them before him. Islám Sháh did this with the intention of acting according to what­ever decree Shaikh Badh might give. At this time Islám Sháh was in the Panjáb, busied with the erection of the fort of Mánkot. Shaikh Badh gave a decision similar to that of Makhdúmu-l Mulk, and made it over to the King's messengers. Whilst this was transpiring, Shaikh 'Aláí was seized by the pestilence which then prevailed, and his throat became ulcerated to such an extent that the instrument used for applying the salve penetrated the abscess to the depth of a finger. When they brought him before Islám Sháh, he was too weak to speak. Islám Sháh whispered in his ear, and advised him to confess that he was not the Mahdí in order that he might be pardoned; but Shaikh 'Aláí would not listen to what the King said. His Majesty, losing all hope of persuading him, ordered him to be scourged, and he rendered up his soul to the angel of death at the third blow, in the year 956 [1549 A.D.], as is shown by the chronogram “Zikru-l Allah.”* It is commonly reported that Shaikh 'Aláí repeated a stanza in the presence of Islám Sháh, and said, “If you desire to com­prehend my motives for these actions, meditate on this verse of Shaikh Auhadu-d dín Kirmání:

I have one soul, and a thousand bodies!
But both soul and bodies belong entirely to me.
It is strange I have made myself another.”