As the world-adorning Deity willed that the outward glory and inward majesty of the Lord of the Age should be impressed on high and low, and the standards of his daily-increasing dominion should be raised up to the heavens so that both his outward development might have a happy completion, and also that the astray in the wilderness of error might be guided to the highway of auspiciousness, it was inevitable that the ill-wishers of his power should first of all be brought into the abyss of destruction. And as the adorner of the tiara of sovereignty was constituted a mine of urbanity and gentleness and took pleasure in tasting the sweets of forgiveness, it was decreed by omnipotence that the evilly-inclined towards God-given dominion should by their own action cast themselves into the whirlpool of ruin. An instance of this strange mystery, which only the wise can perceive, is afforded by the miserable end of Shāh Abū-al-M'aālī, who neither understood his own position, nor the extent of the royal forgiveness. He had neither a loyal heart nor a practical understanding.
It has been told in previous narrations how this wicked and evil-thoughted one had repeatedly committed improper acts, and how he had, owing to the innate clemency of the Shāhinshāh, been saved from death, and been encompassed by favours. In order* to his own amendment and for the general welfare he had been sent to holy Mecca. At this time he gathered up from the excellent places —where he ought to have acquired graces—the sparks of wickedness into the harvest of his actions; and having become a receptacle of sins he returned with evil designs to the imperial domains which were lighted up by the rays of the Shāhinshāh's justice. Full of evil thoughts and intentions of strife he delayed not in Gujrat but went on towards Agra and Delhi. When he came to Jalaur* he joined M. Sharafu-d-dīn Ḥusain, who was ruined in realm, and religion, and went yet more rapidly towards destruction, and indulged yet more in vain and rebellious imaginings. Sharafu-d-dīn Ḥusain Mīrzā also made a compact with him that he would furnish him with three hundred proper men (khūb-i-khud) from among his private followers such as Yār 'Alī Balūe and Mīr 'Alī Kūlābī who would stir up strife in the provinces (Wilāyat).* He also promised that if things made progress here (i.e., in India) he would join him in person. Should matters not succeed here he would himself come to Kābul. He regarded that country as an asylum for himself and would seek his opportunity.
Shāh Abū-l-M'aālī from his innate folly and the instigation of Sharafu-d-dīn Mīrzā, proceeded towards Ḥājīpūr where were the families of Ḥusain Qulī Khān and of the other officers. When he came to the environs of Hājīpūr he was unable to gain possession of it because Aḥmad Beg and Iskandar Beg, the relatives of Ḥusain Quli Khān, had in accordance with orders from the Court come there from the rear. The brainless and ill-fated youth turned towards Nārnaul when he despaired of getting Ḥājīpūr. At this time Nārnaul had been removed from the exchequer-lands and been conferred on Shuja'āt Khān, and his son Qawīm Khān was governor of it. Mīr* Gesū, the exchequer aāmil, was then purposing to convey to court a part of the royal revenue, and on account of a disagreement between the past and present agents (gumāshtagān) precautions had been neglected, and carelessness prevailed. One morning, when the officers were in the slumber of security, that ingrate arrived with a set of vagabonds. Qawīm did not behave bravely and chose the disgrace of flight; nor did Mīr Gesu obtain the bliss of shedding his blood, and was made a prisoner. A portion of the coin fell into the hands of those wretched forgers, and the city was plundered. When Ḥusain Qulī Khān heard of the arrival of the presumptuous villain he hastily despatched Ṣādiq Khān and Ism'aīl Qulī Khān* with a body of troops lest injury should befall his belongings in Ḥājīpūr. When those troops got to the confines of Ḥājīpūr they found that the ill-fated wretch had hastened off to Nārnaul. They went off there, and Aḥmad Beg and Iskandar Beg hearing of their approach came and joined them. When they were within twelve kos of Nārnaul they fell in with Khānzāda Muḥammad, commonly called Shāh-i-laundān,* who had left his jagīr and was proceeding to join his brother. In this way a prey fell into the possession of the imperial servants.
When Shāh Abū-l-m'aālī heard of the arrival of the troops he fled from Nārnaul. Zeal urged the brave men to push on all the faster. When they came to Daharsū two camels loaded with silver which were being marched in the villain's rear fell into the hands of Ism'aīl Qulī Khān and Aḥmed Beg's men. The avaricious soldiers (qalaqcīān) quarreled over this, and the dispute went so far that there was controversy about it among the leaders. As they had marched far that day they halted at Daharsū. Aḥmad Beg and Iskandar Beg were vexed by the sudden quarrel and marched on further, and encamped. At dawn they pushed on without waiting for Ṣādiq Khān and Ismāīl Qulī Khān. Some Badakhshīs and all the men of Transoxiana chose the ignominy of disloyalty and resolved to mutiny. A faithless man named Dānā Qulī deserted, and hastening onwards joined Abū-l-M'aālī and told him the state of affairs. The latter halted in a wood and waited his opportunity. As soon as those brave and loyal men arrived, he emerged from his ambush and attacked them. The mutineers joined him according to the agreement and drew their swords against their own leaders. Aḥmad Beg and Iskandar Beg fought bravely and disposed of many of the rebels. They themselves drank off the cup of martyrdom and earned an everlasting good name. Shāh Abū-l-M'aālī fled before the arrival of the victorious army. When he came to pargana Jhanjhūn* the Shiqdar of the place shut the gates of the fort and prepared for battle. He devoted himself on the path of loyalty.* Abu-l-M'aālī went from there to Ḥiṣar Fīrūza. Bayāzīd Beg, a servant of Mun'im Khān, took measures for defending the fort, and that mad dog being discomfited there also, went off towards Kābul. At this time H.M. the Shāhinshāh was enjoying the sport of hunting at Mathurā* which is 15 or 16 kos from Agra. When he heard of Shāh Abu-l-M'aālī's arrival and of his evil acts he at once ordered that a number of loyal officers such as Shāh Budāgh Khān, Tātār Khān, and Rūmī Khān should follow him and not stop till they had caught him, so that they might lay the dust of sedition and give tranquillity to the people.