On an appointed day, he accordingly went in great state to the grand mosque in the citadel of Beejapoor; and Nukeeb Khan, one of the venerable syuds of Medina, by his command ascending the pulpit, cried aloud, in calling to prayer, according to the custom of the Sheeas, “I bear testimony “that Ally is the friend of God,” after which he read the Khootba * in the names of the twelve Imams. Yoosoof Adil Shah was the first prince who dared to perform these ceremonies publicly in Hindoostan. Notwithstanding this bold attempt, he had the prudence not to permit the populace to utter scandalous and abusive epithets against the Sahiba†, * so that fanaticism was prevented from spreading its baneful venom. The learned dis­ciples of Jafur, and those eminently versed in the tenets of Mahomed Huneef, and of the Shafye persuasion, lived together in friendship; and in mosques of different sects each worshipped the true God according to his own belief, without interfering in the ceremonies of the other. The holy teachers and pious recluses were equally astonished at this well-regulated moderation, and attributed it to an almost miraculous ability in the wise king. The author of these sheets recollects an anecdote applicable to the toleration practised by some kings, which he thinks proper to insert for the information of his readers.

Mowlana Gheias-ood-Deen, a celebrated divine of Persia, much respected for his abilities and purity of life, was once asked by Ibrahim Adil Shah, which was the best of all the various sects of Islam? He replied, “Suppose a great monarch “to be seated in a palace, with many gates lead-“ing to it, and through whichever you enter you “see the King, and can obtain admission to his “presence, — your business is with the Prince, and “not with those at his gate.” Ibrahim Adil Shah again asked him, which, in his opinion, was the best of all faiths? He replied, that, in his opinion, the best man of every faith followed the best faith. This observation pleased the King, who conferred upon the Mowlana large gifts.

Yoosoof Adil Shah having read the Khootba according to the ceremonial of the Sheeas, and established their tenets at Beejapoor, many of the principal chiefs, such as Duria Khan, Fukhr-ool-Moolk Toork, and others, embraced the same tenets as their sovereign; but some being rigid Soonies refused, and even expressed a wish to quit his service. Yoosoof Adil Shah, when in­formed of the state of public feeling, permitted each person the free exercise of the doctrine, “My faith for myself, and your faith for yourself,” which at length gave universal satisfaction. At this time, the King becoming jealous of the increasing influence of Ein-ool-Moolk Geelany, deprived him of the command he held in the army; and resuming the districts he had possessed during his father's life, allotted to him for his private support Hookery and Belgam in their stead, with permission to retire from court and follow his own opinions in religious matters. All the Soony nobles were also allowed to read the Khootba, within their own jageers, in the names of the Sahiba, and no opposition was made to the exercise of their own mode of worship pub­licly. But in spite of these indulgences, the King found it necessary to observe a strict watch over the chiefs of the Soony persuasion.

Mullik Ahmud Bheiry and Ameer Bereed, who were strict and zealous followers of the Soonut, were alarmed at the innovation on the established faith of the Deccan, and spoke of it in reproachful terms. At length, forming an alliance, they in­vaded the territory of Yoosoof Adil Shah. Ameer Bereed seized on Gunjowty, and many districts taken from Dustoor Deenar, while Mullik Ahmud Bheiry sent ambassadors to Beejapoor peremptorily demanding the surrender of the fortress of Nul-droog. Yoosoof Adil Shah, incensed at this wanton attack on his dominions, sent back an answer full of indignation, and marching at once on Gunjowty recovered it forthwith. Mahmood Shah Bahmuny and Ameer Bereed now made application for aid to Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk, Imad-ool-Moolk, and Khodawund Khan Hubshy. Sooltan Koolly, though secretly of the Sheea persuasion, yet in conformity with the spirit of the times, and by the advice of his officers, moved towards the camp of Mahmood Shah; but Imad-ool-Moolk and Khoda-wund Khan framed excuses, and did not join the league. Ameer Bereed now despatched his own son Jehangeer Khan to Ahmudnuggur, with such urgent remonstrances, that Mullik Ahmud Bheiry was in­duced to march with ten thousand horse and a train of artillery; which, added to the troops of Ameer Bereed and Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk, com­posed a formidable army, of which Mahmood Shah was nominally the leader. Yoosoof Adil Shah, thinking it unsafe to engage in a pitched battle with the inferior force at his command, sent his son Is-mael, then an infant of five years old, with all his trea­sures and elephants, from Alund to Beejapoor, com­mitting the care of that city and the sole direction of affairs to Kumal Khan Deccany. Having stationed Duria Khan and Fukhr-ool-Moolk Toork to protect Koolburga, he himself, attended by Ein-ool-Moolk Geelany, and many foreign officers, together with an army consisting of six thousand horse firmly devoted to him, marched towards Beer, burning and destroying the country as he passed. Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, finding his territory thus pillaged, moved with Mahmood Shah Bahmuny and the allies in pursuit of the enemy. Yoosoof Adil Shah had taken this step to prevent the war being carried into his own country; and though he avoided a general action, he hovered around the allied army, harassed their followers, and cut off their supplies. Finding this plan not sufficiently successful, and his troops being exhausted with fatigue, after first plundering the environs of Dowlutabad, he penetrated into Berar, relying on the friendship of Imad-ool-Moolk. This chief was at the time encamped with his army near Gavul, resolved to maintain a strict neutrality, and to attend merely to the protection of his own country. Yoosoof Adil Shah, however, was re­ceived with kindness; but Imad-ool-Moolk, appre­hensive that the allies would invade Berar, if he openly espoused the cause of Yoosoof Adil Shah, ad­vised him to retire for the present towards Boorhan-poor, till some plan could be devised of dissolving the league formed against him; he recommended him also, strongly, by way of conciliating his enemies, to order the Soony rites to be re-established in Beeja-poor. Yoosoof Adil Shah saw the necessity of compliance, and sent orders to that effect to Ku-mal Khan. Meanwhile, taking leave of Imad-ool-Moolk, Yoosoof Adil Shah proceeded to Boorhan-poor, where he was received with due respect by the ruler of Kandeish.

Imad-ool-Moolk, on his part, deputed one of his nearest relations to Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, and to Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk, assuring them that Ameer Bereed had only made religion a pre­text to destroy Yoosoof Adil Shah, in order that he might secure Beejapoor for himself; and Imad-ool-Moolk added, that if Ameer Bereed, now master only of a small territory, was enabled to effect so much in the name of the King, the subversion of their own independence in the Deccan would, in the event of any great accession of dominion, neces­sarily follow. He, moreover, observed, that no man had any right to interfere in the religious con­cerns of another, since every one would be ren­dered accountable for his actions on the day of judgment. Setting aside, however, this argument, Yoosoof Adil Shah had now formally retracted his profession of the Sheea doctrines, and had sent orders to restore the Soony rites in Beeja-poor, so that no fair pretence now remained for continuing the war. Imad-ool-Moolk, therefore, strongly recommended the confederates, instead of weakening themselves and becoming the dupes of an artful minister, to retire to their own dominions. Mullik Ahmud Bheiry and Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk, who paid great respect to the advice of this aged and experienced statesman, were convinced by his arguments, and retreated suddenly one night, without even taking leave of Mahmood Shah.

Ameer Bereed, not aware of the reasons which led to this desertion of his allies, applied to Imad-ool-Moolk for his assistance to invade Beejapoor, and suffered himself to be detained some days by idle negotiations, till Yoosoof Adil Shah arrived at Gavul from Boorhanpoor. Ameer Bereed now perceived the danger of his situation, and in­stantly fled with the King, attended only by a few followers, leaving his camp standing, which was plundered by the Berar troops. Yoosoof Adil Shah, having taken leave of Imad-ool-Moolk, re­turned to Beejapoor after an absence of three months; and being no longer apprehensive of his enemies, he renewed the public exercise of the Sheea religion, and inclined his mind to the im­provement of his country, without meditating further conquests. At this time he sent Syud Ahmud Hirvy, with presents and declarations of attachment, to Shah Ismael Sufvy, King of Persia, with an account of his success in establishing the Sheea religion.

A. H. 915.
A. D. 1510. In the year 915 the Christians * sur­prised the town of Goa, and put to death the governor, with many Mussul-mans. On receiving intelligence of this event, Yoosoof Adil Shah marched with three thousand chosen men, composed of Deccanies and foreigners, with such expedition, that he surprised the Euro­peans, retook the fort, and put many to death; * though some made their escape to sea in their ships. Having provided for the security of Goa, Yoosoof Adil Shah returned to Beejapoor, and died in that city of a dropsy, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, after having reigned with great prosperity twenty-one years. Shah Tahir relates that he was informed by Syud Ahmud Hirvy, who long lived at his court, that Yoosoof Adil Shah was a wise prince, intimately acquainted with human nature; that he was handsome in person, eloquent in speech, and alike eminent for his learning, his liberality, and his valour. He wrote elegantly, and was a good judge of poetical composition, and even sometimes wrote verses himself. His taste and skill in music were superior to those of most of the masters of his time, whom he encouraged by munificent rewards to attend his court: he himself performed to admiration on two or three instru­ments, and in his gay moments would sing im­provisatore compositions. Although he mingled pleasure with business, yet he never allowed the former to interfere with the latter. He always warned his ministers to act with justice and in­tegrity, and in his own person showed them an example of attention to these virtues. He invited to his court many learned men and valiant officers from Persia, Toorkistan, and Room, also several eminent artists, who lived happy under the shadow of his bounty. In his reign the citadel of Beeja-poor was built of stone.