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Nov., 1920)
HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAH KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
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replied that he was so desirous of performing a pilgrimage to his grandfather's tomb that he wished to recite the evening prayer at the head of Mustafa's grave. The king was much affected by this speech and gave the Sayyid 12,000 hans.89 He also bestowed on his son, Sayyid Hasan, in marriage, one of his daughters who, as she had been born at the time when the king gained one of his famous victories, was named Fath Shâh Begam. Fath Shah Begam performed the pilgrimage with her husband, but when the latter wished to return to the Dakan, she refused to accompany him, even to her own country, saying that she was not the woman to leave the prophet's tomb for the sake of worldly advantage. At length sho died there and was buried near Muhammad's tomb. After her death, Sayyid Hasan came again to the Dakan, and died and was buried in Junnar.
Another Sayyid who came to the Dakan was Sayyid Muhammad Ilusaini. Madani Wuladi. who was received with honour both by Suâh Tâhir and by the king. Sayyid Muhammad, having gained his object, returned to 'Iraq, and there made a report to Shah lahmâsb, son of Shah Isma'il Şafavi, of all that he had seen and heard of Burhan Ni âm Shah, of his attachment to the Shi'ah faith, and of the controversy with the Sunni doctors. This report led to the opening of friendly communications, fostered by Shâh âhir, and to the bestowal of many favours by Shâh 'ahmåsb on Burhan Nizam Shah, between whom and Shah Tahinasb letters constantly passed. Among these communications was a farmán dated in the month of Muharram, A.H. 949 (April-May 1542) addressed to Shah Tahir, which, when it was read, infused joy into the hearts of all loyal friends, and grief into the souls of all erring enemies of the Shi'ahs).
Shâh Tahir showed this farmán to the king and represented that it would be advisable to send a reply thereto, by means of an ambassador worthy of the task, but preferably by the hands of one of the princes, in order that the bonds of friendship with the Court of Persia might be more tightly drawn. The king approved of this advice and selected Shâh Haidar, the most learned and accomplished of his sons, as his ambassador to Persia. The prince bore a letter to the Shâh of Persia, and when he reached the Persian court and paid his respects to the Shah, he was received with great honour and special favour and became one of the Shâh's most intimate courtiers, and devoted all his.endeavours to promoting friendship between the Şafavi and Ni, âm Shâhî families, the results of which may be seen in the correspondence which passed between the two kings, for when the Sayyid Mir Nizâm-uddin Kur Shâh came from the Persian court to India and waited on Burhan Ni âm Shah, he brought a farmán 91 from the Shah of Persia. The farman was dated Rabi I, A.H. 954 (April-May 1547).
About this time Mihtar Jamal arrived from Persia with another communication from the Shah, but after his departure from Persia, was found to have been guilty of some unfitting words and deeds, and some officers were sent after him to arrest him, but he, becoming aware of this, made off before their arrival, and having reached one of the ports, embarked on a ship and thus escaped from danger. Burhan Nizam Shah then wrote an answer to the letter which Mihtar Jamal had brought, and naked, among other things, that a body of troops might be sent from Persia to the Dakan to help him against his enemies.
89 A gold coin, worth four rupees or eight shillings when the rupee was worth two shillings.
10 Sayyid Ali reproduces this letter. I have not translated it. It is very long, very fulsome, and oontains nothing of historical interest.
This farmon also is reproduced. I have not translated it, for the reasons given in the prooeding note
