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Meanwhile Salim, his eldest son, declared open enmity with him. Salim was a confirmed drunkard. He had no character. He was being constantly excited by those who were opposed to Akbar's conciliatory policy. At this time Salim attacked and captured Allahabad. He also tried to attack Agra. He coined money in his own name. But Akbar's heart was soft towards his son, and he did not punish him for these misdeeds of his.
Moreover those stalwarts who were the supporters of his religious and political policy had, one after the other, left this world. Only two or three persons like Abul Fazl and Faizi were left behind. But they were not able to help him now.
And now he learnt that Faizi was taken seriously ill. Faizi, his favourite poet, was on death-bed. Akbar took his famous physician Hakim-Ali with him and went to see Faizi. But nothing availed, and Faizi, to the great grief and dismay of the Emperor, breathed his last. On this occasion Akbar wept loud and bitter, so deep-rooted was his love for the poet.
Now there was no one left but Abul Fazl to help and console Akbar in his last days. For this reason Salim took Abul Fazl to be his personal enemy.
At this time Abul Fazl was engaged in the south, but Akbar wrote to him to come down to Agra. Abul Fazl left for Agra with some horsemen only. Salim and his confederates, on learning this, engaged a robber named Virsinh to kill him on the way. When Abul Fazl came to Sarai Barar, a fakir came to him and said, "To-morrow Virsinh is to kill you." Abul Fazl very quietly replied, "What is the good of being afraid of death? Who can avoid it?" Next day. before starting, he was stopped twice by Afghan Gadaikhan; but Abul Fazl ordered to advance. On the way Virsinh, with a large army of men, attacked him; and though Abul Fazl fought very bravely, he was, at last, killed in the affray (A.D. 1602, 12th October ).
The only remaining follower, friend and guide of Akbar was thus done to death. In him Muslims lost their true philosopher
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
