Abul Fazal: The Best Jewel Of Navaratna
Sheikh Musa is the son of the noble family of Sindh. Well known for both character and knowledge. The spiritual thirst became predominant in his descendant Sheikh Khizir. He ran from east to west because of strange inquiries. Ancestors came from Arabia. So they spent quite some time with the ethnic group from which they originated in Arabia. Finally settled at Nagore near Ajmer. Sufi Sheikh Hamiduddin of Chishtia Tariqa used to regularly appear in Jalsa. Sheikh Mubarak was born in the family of this Sheikh Khizir in 911 Hijri. Son of Sheikh Khizir.
Sheikh Mubarak began to introduce blood from the age of four. It emerges through intelligence and thinking power. He inherited the inner thirst from his father. He did not run less than his father for him. He was not less criticized because of Sufi thinking. Even then he received the patronage of the Mughal ruler Babur in recognition of his scholarship. Babur then came to India and got a new establishment. Later he settled near Charbagh Villa in Agra in the month of Muharram in 950 Hijri. That charbagh villa was also built by Babar. However, two sons were born there. The first was Abul Faiz , a poet and mathematician. On his merits, he made a place in the palace of the third Mughal Emperor Akbar long ago. But the younger brother surpassed him in wisdom and influence. Not only the Mughal period; Abul Fazal is a particularly bright name in the history of intellectual practice in India.
Father Sheikh Mubarak’s role in shaping Abul Fazl’s personality and scholarly life is extensive. From childhood, he studied with enthusiasm and attention in his presence. Sheikh Mubarak had to suffer persecution at the hands of scholars of the royal court due to his support of the Mahdi doctrine. At that time, the Hijri millennium was changing. At the end of the fifteenth century, Syed Muhammad Jainpuri claimed himself as Imam Mahdi and received a great response. He called for spiritual progress, turning away from growing materialism.
Due to the existing unrest, the Mahdi doctrine gradually gained popularity. Special movements to change the existing system are seen in various religions and societies in the event of any millennial change. This idea is known as millenarianism. For example, a major factor in the influx of Westerners to Jerusalem prior to the Crusades was the millennial shift in the Christian calendar. The probable time of Jesus’ reappearance. That is, the Millennium Doctrine. In the context of India, it is not impossible that this change of the Hijri millennium may play a role as fuel behind the Mahdi doctrine. It is not impossible that later Akbar himself formed the active psychology behind the establishment of Deen-e-Ilahi.
However, the instability of that belief struck a deep chord in young Abul Fazl’s mind. It is under this influence that religion, philosophy and other scriptures are learned; Which made him liberal. The ability to speak and write Arabic at the age of five and the mental maturity at the age of fifteen amazed contemporaries. Abul Fazl’s focus on education was strong. Being at court creates bonds. For this reason, Anambar chose non-attachment. At first no one could sense him because he was hiding himself. Finally his elder brother Abul Faiz made way for him in the court. At the end of 981 Hijri and around 1574 Abul Fazl appeared before Emperor Akbar along with his elder brother. That presence changes everything. Akbar was impressed with his talent. It was as if a whole sea came and caught the diver who was searching for the jewel.
From 1579, Emperor Akbar’s relationship with the two brothers — Abul Faiz and Abul Fazl — began to intensify. Akbar understood the position of elder brother; When it was seen that he was appointed as the teacher of prince Murad. However, both Faiz and Fazal entered the army. Jobs in different departments open up opportunities for new honors. Both brothers lived in Fatehpur Sikri. Within two years the elder brother was appointed the Sadar of Agra, Kalpi and Kalinjar. One of the tasks was to try to take possession of the vacant land. On the other hand, Abul Fazal was appointed in 1585 as a Hazari Mansabdar. Ek Hazari Mansabdar means commander of 1000 horsemen. The following year he was appointed Dewan of Delhi Province. Abul Fazl’s mother died in late 1589. The book Akbarnama is dedicated to his memory. The emperor approached him to console him and said, ‘If only the people of this world lived forever’!
Religious matters have progressed much further. Akbar introduced a new doctrine called ‘Din-e Ilahi’. Belief in one God and recognition of Akbar as his representative in the world are its main features. However, the tradition of deifying rulers in various cultures is quite ancient. Islamic rituals declined at court. A new word count was introduced called Tarikh-e Elahi. Later, the Bengali calendar was born from this date. However, the Amir-Umrahs of the court were unhappy with Abul Fazl’s influence over Akbar. Prince Selim (later Emperor Jahangir) was one of those unhappy men. His anger was so deep that Salim began to think that Abul Fazal was the main obstacle to the implementation of all his plans. Succeeded in putting him in trouble a few times. Relations with Emperor Akbar deteriorated a couple of times. Of course it is temporary.
At Akbar’s court, there was a great gathering of scholars. Badayuni , Naqeeb Khan, Sheikh Sultan, Haji Ibrahim, Sheikh Munawar and Faizi and Abul Faiz. He has helped in the conversion of books like History, Science, Sanskrit and Hindi to Persian. Faizi was involved in the translation of Lilavati, a famous book of mathematics. And Abul Fazal translated the Arabic texts ‘Kalila wa Dimna’ and ‘Yar Danish’ into Persian. He was also involved in Alfi’s translation of the Mahabharata. Akbar promoted Abul Fazl to Dohazari Mansabdar in 1000 Hijri or mid 1592. Through this he came to be counted among the Umraye Kibars or chief amirs in the court.
Sheikh Mubarak died in 1593. Faizi died exactly two years later at the age of 50. Two successive blows left Abul Fazl in tatters. The emperor himself was overcome with grief. How deeply Abul Fazl loved his brother can be seen in Akbarnama and Ain-i Akbari. Despite his busy schedule, two years after his brother’s death, Faizir collected the scattered poems in a collection called ‘Marfazul Adwar’ . Moreover, Abul Fazl has quoted numerous writings of Faizi in Akbarnama. He soon rose to the rank of commander of 2,500 horsemen. Akbari also completed the work of writing Ain.
Abul Fazl first took active part in the 43rd year of Akbar’s reign. Murad was not able to govern properly in the Deccan. The anxious emperor sent Abul Fazl to bring the prince back to the capital. Abul Fazl’s loyalty and devotion is proved through a long drama. When Abul Fazl met Emperor Akbar near Bilgarh in 1008 AH, the Emperor greeted him with poetry. Promoted to four-thousand mansabdar. It is necessary to go there again if disturbances break out in the Deccan in the near future. Leaving Prince Daniel at Burhanpur, Akbar returned to Agra. Abul Fazl was one of the most trusted points of the emperor.
47th year of Akbar’s reign. Prince Selim begins to show signs of rebellion. A worried Akbar summoned his only confidant, Abul Fazl. Advised to leave the army in the Deccan. Shahzada Salim was not that angry with Abul Fazl the person. He was quick to remove Akbar’s place of trust. Killing the defenseless Abul Fazl was tantamount to breaking Akbar’s right hand.
Salim Ubchar requested Bundela leader Raja Bir Singh to kill Abul Fazal while passing through his territory. On August 12, 1602 according to 1011 Hijri, Bir Singh’s soldiers found the whereabouts of Abul Fazl, one kilometer away from Saraibar, six kilometers away from Narwar. Although the companions suggested escape, Abul Fazl considered it humiliating for himself. He was able to bravely survive for a short time. Then he fell to the ground after being hit by an infantryman’s spear.
Thus, Abul Fazal became the victim of the strained relationship between Selim and his father. Bir Singh cut off his head and sent it to Salim in Allahabad. No one had the courage to bring the news of Abul Fazl’s death before Emperor Akbar. Finally, when his lawyer appeared with a blue handkerchief on his hand, Akbar understood the matter. It was the custom of the Timurid dynasty when one of the princes died; It cannot be presented in ordinary language. If the lawyer appeared with a blue handkerchief tied around his wrist, everyone would have understood. Be that as it may, Akbar mourned the death of Abul Fazl more than a son.
Abul Fazal is unique as a writer. The eloquence, phrasing style, logical use of words, and use of punctuation were unique. As a result, although his writings were widely read, it was not possible to imitate them. Abul Fazl’s influence was also extraordinary in that era. While many questions have been raised about his religious beliefs, most of his campaigning is overzealous. It can be understood by anyone who reads the introduction of Akbarnama.
Major among the books written by Abul Fazl are Akbarnama, Maktubat-i Allami and Ayar Danish . The first is an overall view of Emperor Akbar’s reign and administration, the second is a collection of letters written by Abul Fazl to various rulers and dignitaries and the last is a translation. Besides Risal-e Munajat, Jamiul-Lugat etc. his works. Can be concluded with a text by Abul Fazl; which is engraved in a temple in Kashmir-
“O Allah, in all the temples I see people seeking you. I hear your praise in all languages. Both monotheists and polytheists are your followers. In mosques, people say prayers and prayers, and in churches, bells ring for your love. Millions of loving hearts are on the shores of your sorrow, the world is engrossed in you, but you are invisible to millions. So I sometimes look for you in the monastery, sometimes in the mosque, and sometimes in the temple.