From the Akbarnámah we see that Rái Sál entered early Akbar's service; for he was present in the battle of Khairábád (p. 382), in the fight at Sarnál (p. 333), and accompanied the Emperor on his forced march to Patan and Ahmadábád (p. 416, note).
The Pádisháhnámah (I., b., p. 314) mentions another son of Rái Sál's, Bhoj Ráj, who was a Commander of Eight Hundred, 400 horse.
The Ṭabaqát says that Rái Sál was, in 1001, a Commander of Two Thousand. Abulfazl calls him in this list a Commander of 1250. This mançab is unusual, and Rái Sál stands alone in this class. It does not occur in the lists of Grandees in the Pádisháhnámah. From other histories also it is clear that the next higher Mançab after the Hazárí was the Hazár o pánçadí, or Commander of Fifteen Hundred.
107. Muhibb 'Ali´ Kha´n, son of Mír Khalífah.
This grandee must not be confounded with Muhibb 'Alí Khán Rahṭásí (p. 422).
Muhibb 'Alí Khán is the son of Mír Nizámuddín 'Alí Khalífah, the “pillar of Bábar's government.” He had no faith in Humáyún, and was opposed to his accession. He therefore favoured Mahdí Khwájah, Bábar's son-in-law. Mahdí, a short time before Bábar's death, assumed a royal deportment. One day, Mír Khalífah happened to be in Mahdí's tent; and when he left, Mahdí, thinking himself alone, put his hand to his beard, and exclaimed, “Thou shalt by and by follow me.” He had scarcely uttered these words, when he observed Muqím i Harawí* in the corner of the tent. Muqím reported these words to Mír Khalífah, and upbraided him for giving Mahdí his support. Mír Khalífah thereupon changed his mind, forbade people to visit Mahdí, and raised, on Bábar's death, Humáyún to the throne.
His son Muhibb 'Alí Khán distinguished himself under Bábar and Humáyún. His wife was Náhíd Begum, daughter of Qásim Kokah. Qásim had sacrificed himself for Bábar. Bábar had fallen into the hands of 'Abdullah Khán Uzbak, when Qásim stepped forward and said that he was Bábar. He was cut to pieces, and Bábar escaped. In 975, Náhíd Begum went to T'hat'hah, to see her mother, Hájí Begum (daughter of Mírzá Muqím, son of Mírzá Zul-nún). After Qásim Kokah's death, Hájí Begum married Mírzá Hasan, and after him, Mírzá 'I´sá Tarkhán, king of Sindh (p. 362). Before Náhíd Begum reached T'hat'hah, Mírzá 'I´sá died. His successor, Mírzá Báqí ill-treated Hájí Begum and her daughter. Hájí Begum therefore collected a few desperate men and watched for an opportunity to get hold of M. Báqí's person. The plot was, however, discovered, and Hájí Begum was put into prison. Náhíd Begum escaped and went to Bhakkar, where she was well received by Sulṭán Mahmúd, ruler of the District. He persuaded her to ask Akbar to send her husband Muhibb 'Alí to Bhakkar; and he would give him an army, if he liked to attack T'hat'hah. Náhíd Begum did so on coming to court, and Akbar, in the 16th year (978), called for Muhibb, who had then retired from court-life, and ordered him to proceed to Bhakkar.
Muhibb set out, accompanied by Mujáhid Khán, a son of his daughter. Sa'íd Khán (No. 25), Governor of Multán, had also receiyed orders to assist Muhibb; but at Sulṭán Mahmúd's request, Muhibb came alone, accompanied by only a few hundred troopers. When he arrived at Bhakkar, Sulṭán Mahmúd said that he had changed his mind: he might go and attack T'hat'hah without his assistance; but he should do so from Jaisalmír, and not from Bhakkar. Muhibb, though he had only 200 troopers, resolved to punish Sulṭán Mahmúd for his treachery, and prepared himself to attack Bhakkar. Mahmúd had 10000 horse assembled near Fort Máth'ílah (<Arabic>). Muhibb attacked them, dispersed them, and took soon after the fort itself. He then fitted out a larger corps, and moved to Bhakkar, where he again defeated Mahmúd. The consequence of this victory was, that Mubárak Khán, Sulṭán Mahmúd's vazír, left his master and went with 1500 horse over to Muhibb. But as Mubárak's son, Beg Oghlú, was accused of having had criminal intercourse with a concubine of Sulṭán Mahmúd, Muhibb wished to kill Beg Oghlú. Mubárak, who had not expected this, now tried to get out of Muhibb's power. Muhibb therefore killed Mubárak, and used the money which fell into his hands, to complete his preparations for the siege of Bhakkar.
The siege had lasted three years, when famine and disease drove the inhabitants to despair. The swelling which is peculiar to the district, decimated the people; and the bark of the Sirs tree (p. 228), the best remedy for it, could only be had for gold. Sulṭán Mahmúd, at last, sent a message to Akbar, and offered the fort as a present to Prince Salím, if Muhibb were recalled, and another grandee sent in his stead, who was to take him (Mahmúd) to court; for he said, he could not trust Muhibb. Akbar accepted the proposal, and sent Mír Gesú, Bakáwal-begí, to Bhakkar.* Before Mír Gesú arrived, Sulṭán Mahmúd had died. New complications arose on his arrival. Mujáhid Khán just besieged Fort Ganjábah,* and his mother Sámi'ah Begum (Muhibb's daughter) who felt offended at Akbar's proceedings, despatched a few ships against Mír Gesú, and nearly captured him. In the meantime Muqím i Harawí also arrived and dissuaded Muhibb from hostilities against Mír Gesú. The latter now entered Bhakkar (981), and the inhabitants handed the keys over to him.
But neither Muhibb nor Mujáhid felt inclined to leave for the Court, though their stay was fraught with danger. Muhibb therefore entered into an agreement with Mír Gesú, according to which Mujáhid should be allowed to go to T'hat'hah, and that he himself with his whole family should be accommodated in Loharí. The arrangement had been partially carried out, when Mír Gesú despatched a flotilla after Mujáhid. Muhibb upon this withdrew to Mát'hílah. Sámi'ah Begum fortified the environs, and when attacked by Gesú's men, she successfully repulsed them for one day and one night. Next day, Mujáhid arrived in forced marches, defeated the enemy,* and occupied the land east of the river.
In the meantime, Akbar had sent Muhammad Tarson Khán (No. 32) as governor to Bhakkar, and Muhibb thought it now wise to go to Court.
In the 21st year, Muhibb received an appointment at Court, as a sort of Mír 'Arz. As he gave the emperor satisfaction, Akbar, in the 23rd year, allowed him to choose one of four appointments, the office of Mír 'Arz, the guard of the Harem, the governorship of a distant province, or the governorship of Dihlí. Muhibb chose the last, and entered at once upon his office.
He died as Governor of Dihlí in 989.
Muhibb is placed in the Ṭabaqát among the Commanders of Four Thousand.
Regarding the town of Bhakkar, Abulfazl says that it is called in old books Mançúrah. Six rivers united pass by it in several branches; two branches lie to the south, one to the north. The town at the latter branch, is called Bhakkar. On the second branch another town lies, called Loharí, and near it is the Indus.