When Sultān ‘Alāu-d-dīn Ḥusain Shāh died, the adherents of the kingdom and the members of the government placed on the throne his eldest son, named Naṣrat Shāh, commonly known as Naṣib Shāh, who was wise and just, and well-behaved, and in affairs of administration was more proficient than his other brothers. The most laudable work that he performed was that, instead of imprisoning his brothers, he doubled the offices which had been conferred on the latter by their father. And capturing the Rajah of Tirhūt, he killed him. And he set two officers, named ‘Alāu-d-dīn and Makhdum ‘Alim, otherwise known as Shāh ‘Alim, and who were sons-in-law of Ḥusain Shāh, for the conquest of the limits of Tirhūt and Ḥājīpur,* and posted them there. And when Emperor Babar, killing Sultān Ibrāhīm,* son of Sultān Sikandar Lodi, conquered the great empire of Hindustan, many of the Afghān Omra escaping, sought refuge with Naṣrat Shāh. And at length, Sultān Maḥmūd,* brother of Sultān Ibrāhim, being expelled from his kingdom, came to Bengal. Naṣrat Shāh showing kindness to every one, bestowed on all pargannahs and villages, in accordance with their respective rank and condition, and consistently with the resources of his kingdom. And he married Sultān Ibrāhim’s daughter, who had also come to Bengal. And planning the subjugation of the Mughal forces, he despatched Qutb Khān with a large force towards the environs of Bharaich.* And the latter fought several battles with the Mughals, and for a period the contending forces were bivouacked there, fighting. But Khān Zamān,* son-in-law of Emperor Babar, had conquered up to Jaunpur, and when in the year 930 A.H., Emperor Babar came to Jaunpur, and brought to his subjugation all its limits and environs, and planned to march to Bengal and to bring it also under his domination, Naṣrat Shāh, foreseeing the result, sent valuable presents and gifts in charge of wise envoys, and offered submission. Emperor Babar, in view of the exigencies of the times, made peace with Naṣrat Shāh, and retired. When Emperor Babar died on the 5th of the month of Jamādiu-l-Awal 937 A.H., and Emperor Humāyun ascended the throne of Delhi, it was rumoured that the Emperor of Delhi was planning the conquest of Bengal. Consequently, Naṣrat Shāh in the year 939 A.H., in view of demonstrating his sincerity and friendship, sent rare presents in charge of Malīk Marjān, the eunuch, to Sultān Bahādur Gujrati.* Malik Marjān met Sultān Bahādur in the fort of Mandu, and became the recipient of a special Khill‘at. In the meantime, Naṣrat Shāh, in spite of his being a Syed, indulged in dissipations and sundry oppressions, to detail which would be to harrow the feelings of all. And a world was grinding under his tyranny. In that interval, Naṣrat Shāh rode to Aknakah, in the city of Gaūr, in order to visit the tomb of his father. As will would have it, there he punished an eunuch for some fault. From fear of life, this eunuch leagued with other eunuchs, and murdered Naṣrat Shāh on his return to the palace, in the year 943 A.H. His reign lasted 16 years, and according to some, 13 years, and according to others, less than 13 years. The foundations of the building of Qadam Rasūl* in the year 939,* and the Golden mosque commonly called the Sona Musjid* in the year 932 A.H., were laid by him, and these with their shattered doors and walls exist to this day, amongst the buildings of Naṣrat Shāh, son of Sultān ‘Alāu-d-dīn Ḥusain Shāh, amidst the ruins of Gaūr. And the foundation of the luminous shrine of the saint Makhdūm Akhi Sirāju-d-dīn* at Sādu-l-lāhpur is also amongst the noble relics of that monarch.
[Note by the author, Salīm: In all the inscriptions that engraved on stones exist to this time, the king’s name is mentioned as Naṣrat Shāh, son of Sultān ‘Alāu-d-dīn Ḥusain Shāh. In histories, his name is mentioned as Naṣib Shāh. Apparently, this is a corruption or a mistake, in that there is no room for mistake in the inscriptions engraved on stones.]
When Naṣrat Shāh drank the disagreeable syrup of death, his son, Firuz Shāh, by the counsels of the grandees, ascended the throne. He had reigned for three* years, when Sultān Maḥmūd Bengalī, who was one of the eighteen sons of Sultān ‘Alāu-d-dīn Ḥusain Shāh, and whom Naṣrat Shāh had installed to the rank of a nobleman, and who in the life-time of Naṣrat, conducted himself like an ameer, finding an opportunity, slew Fīruz Shāh, and ascended the throne by right of inheritance from his father.
When Maḥmūd Shāh ascended the throne, Makhdūm ‘Alam, his brother-in-law, who was Governor of Hājipur, raised the standard of rebellion, and intrigued and allied himself with Sher Khān, who was in the tract of Behar.* Maḥmūd Shāh deputed Qutb Khān, Commandant of Monghyr, to conquer the Province of Behar, and to chastise Makhdūm ‘Alam. Sher Khān made efforts to conclude peace, but they were of no avail; and at length, by the concurrence of the Afghāns, resolving to die, he determined to fight. When the two forces closed together, a great battle ensued. Qutb Khān was killed in the battle, and Sher Khān, obtaining his elephants and baggage, became powerful. After this, Makhdūm ‘Alam, in order to avenge himself, or to usurp the throne, raised the standard of rebellion, and fighting with Maḥmūd Shāh, was killed. And Sher Khān Afghān instantly, who had usurped the throne of Delhi,* drew his force towards Bengal. The nobles of Bengal, guarding the passes of Telīagadhi and Sakrigali* for one month continued fighting. At length, the passes of Telīagadhī and Sakrigalī were captured, and Sher Khān entered Bengal, and Maḥmūd Shāh, drawing his force, encountered the former, when a great battle ensued. Sultān Maḥmūd, being vanquished in the field, entrenched himself in the citadel, and sent a message to Emperor Humāyun in Delhi, seeking for help. Humāyun Shāh in the year 944 A.H. turned towards the conquest of the province of Jaunpur. Since at that time, Sher Khān was in Bengal, Emperor Humāyun going to the foot of the fort of Chunar,* laid siege to it. Ghazī Khān Sūr, who was in the fort on behalf of Sher Khān, raised the standard of opposition, and for six months the siege was protracted.* By the efforts of Rūmī Khān,* Jadders being mounted, the fort was scaled and captured by Humāyun. Sher Khān also put forth grand efforts for capturing the fort of Gaūr, and the garrison were hardpressed. But as in the meantime one of the zamindars of Behar, becoming refractory, raised disturbance, Sher Khān, finding it inexpedient to halt at Gaūr, left his son, Jallāl Khān, and Khawāṣ Khān, one of his trusty nobles, to besiege the fort of Gaūr, whilst he himself marched back to Behar. And Jallāl Khān, son of Sher Khān, skirmished with Maḥmūd Shāh, so that the garrison were reduced to straits, and food-grains became scarce in the city. On Sunday, the 13th of the month of Farwardi, corresponding to the 6th of Ẕil-Qadh, 944 A.H.,* Jallāl Khān with other grandees, such as Khawāṣ Khān, etc., struck up the kettle-drum of battle. Sultān Maḥmūd, who was hard-pressed by the siege, sallying out of the fort, advanced to fight. Since the period of his fortune had turned to declension, and the luck of Sher Khān assisted the latter, Sultan Maḥmūd, unable to cope in battle, escaping by the way of Bhata,* fled, and Maḥmūd Shāh’s sons were taken prisoners; and the fort of Gaūr, together with other booty, fell into the hands of Jallāl Khān, son of Sher Khān. Jallāl Khān and Khawāṣ Khān, entering the fort, engaged in slaughter and capture and plunder of the garrison. And Sher Khān also, being set free from the disturbance in Behar, pursued Sultān Maḥmūd. When they closed each other, Sultān Maḥmūd was obliged to fight, and receiving a serious wound, fled from the battle-field. Sher Khān, victorious and triumphant, spurred on to Gaūr, and became master of Bengal. The Cathedral Mosque at S‘adu-l-lāhpur,* amongst the buildings of Sultān Maḥmūd, son of Sultān ‘Alāu-d-dīn Ḥusain Shāh, exists to this day. From the inscriptions engraved on it, it appears that he was a son of Sultān ‘Alaū-d-dīn Ḥusain Shāh. The period of his reign appears to have lasted five years.*