RUHULLAH Khan at the time of his death made a will in the presence of Qazi Abdullah. One clause of his will was this: “I am a Sunni, and have withdrawn from the practice of my [Shia] ancestors. Please wed my two daughters to Sunnis.” The qazi reported the matter to the Emperor, who wrote, “Hyprocrisy is practised in lifetime; but is a novelty to play the hypocrite on the death-bed! Probably [he has acted so] out of regard for his sons and surviving relatives. This hypocritical step will benefit him only if his sons also assent to it. At all events you ought to act according to his last will. Give his elder daughter to Prince Muhammad Azim and the younger to Siadat Khan, the son of the late Siadat Khan.” Next day Siadat Khan submitted, “This hereditary servant is unwilling [to marry Ruhullah Khan's daughter]. How do we know that she too holds the creed of the Sunnis? In case she perseveres in her own faith, what can be done?”
Text.—Ir. MS. 10a incomplete at beginning. MS. N. 4a 1—6.
Notes.—Ruhullah Khan I., the son of Khalilullah Khan and Hamida Banu, was bakhshi or paymaster from January 1680 to his death (about June 1692). In September 1686 he was appointed subahdar of Bijapur in addition. One of his daughters was married to Prince Azim, a son of Bahadur Shah, on 26th June 1692. (Life in Masir-ul-umara, ii. 309—315. His death is described in M.A. 348; Khafi Khan, ii. 407). The title of Siadat Khan (the younger) was given to the son of Siadat Khan Sayyid Ughlan, in 1698. Khwajah Abdullah (son of M. Sharif) was appointed qazi of the imperial Court in May 1685: died 1698.