Shaikh Ilam-ud-din Ansari (died 1641),[1] known by his royal title Wazir Khan, was a Mughal Governor and an Imperial Minister who held the position of Grand Vizier in the Mughal Empire. He was a native of Chiniot whose family migrated to Lahore.[2][3]
He rose to be one of the court physicians to the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in Lahore, and was in due course, over a long lifetime of service, made a Mughal noble with the command of 7000.[4] He remained Chief Qadi at Lahore for some time.[5]
The Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore
From 1628 to 1631 he served as the governor of Agra after which he was appointed as the governor of Lahore. He held this post until approximately 1640/1641, when he was reappointed as governor of Agra.[1] In 1640, he became the Grand Vizier of the Mughal Empire[6] and remained so til his death in 1642.
Sikh Accountsedit
According to Sikh texts and tradition Wazir Khan was a supporter of the Sikh community and even a Sikh himself. Sikh tradition says he had been an admirer of Guru Arjan because of the parayer Sukhmani Sahib which is said to have given him relief. After which he had become a Sikh.[7] Thus when Guru Arjan was to be executed by the Mughal Emperor he did everything he could to save the Guru, but it was in vain.[8]
During the time of Guru Hargobind Wazir Khan kept his support of the Guru. When the Guru was arrested by the emperor Shah Jahan, Wazir Khan begged for the Guru's release.[9][10] After the first battle between the Sikh and the Mughals Khan convinced Shah Jahan that there wasn't value in taking further action against the Guru. He said, "Sire, the Guru is not a rebel and hath no design on thine empire. He hath ever been the support of the state... Is it not a mircale that with not fully seven hundred men he destroyed an army of seven thousand." Hearing this the emperor was convinced to take no further action against the Guru.[11][12][13]
Afterward Kahn continued to aid the Guru throughout his life.[14][15]
Legacyedit
Wazir Khan of Lahore, known for building the Wazir Khan Masjid
Central dome of the Wazir Khan Hammam
The baths' cold chamber in the Wazir Khan Hammam is elaborately decorated with frescoes.
Garden of Wazir Khan, Agra artist, c. 1830
He is best known today for founding Wazirabad, a city near the river Chenab in Punjab, and building the famous Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore. The title of 'Wazir Khan' by which he is remembered by posterity was granted him by Shah Jahan, and literally means a 'Wazir', or Vizier, a 'Minister/High Court Official'.
Alimuddin Wazir Khan was also responsible for the construction of the Shahi Hammam in Lahore, also known as the Wazir Khan Hammam.[16] Wazir Khan was also one of the nobles to build a Haveli(mansion) as well as a garden in the city of Agra, where he was twice governor.[17] It is known as the Bagh-i-Wazir Khan.[18]
Referencesedit
^ abKoch, Ebba (2006). The complete Taj Mahal : and the riverfront gardens of Agra. Richard André. Barraud. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 45. ISBN978-0-500-34209-1. OCLC 69022179.
^Talbot, Ian; Kamran, Tahir (15 February 2022). Colonial Lahore: A History of the City and Beyond. Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-765594-8.
^Syad Muhammad Latif (1892). Lahore: Its History, Architectural Remains and Antiquities: With an Account of Its Modern Institutions, Inhabitants, Their Trade, Customs, &c. from:Oxford University.
^Dr AMK Islahi, Puranay Lahore ki Tareekh, Eik Jaeza (Urdu:A History of Old Lahore, An Evaluation), Lahore: Chand Publishers Anarkali, 1997, p.128
^Abraham Richard Fuller (1990). The Shah Jahan Nama of 'Inayat Khan: An Abridged History of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan). University of Michigan. p. 602. ISBN978-0-19-562489-2.
^Macauliffe, Max (2015). The Sikh Religion Its Gurus, Sacred Writings And Authors Vol. 4. Creative Media Partners. p. 11. ISBN978-0344857065.
^South Asian Studies: Journal of the Society for South Asian Studies (Incorporating the Society for Afghan Studies). The Society. 1993.
^André Raymond; Attilio Petruccioli; Renata Holod; Salma Khadra Jayyusi (2008). The City in the Islamic World:Part 1. Brill. p. 585. ISBN978-9004162402.
^André Raymond; Attilio Petruccioli; Renata Holod; Salma Khadra Jayyusi (30 June 2008). The City in the Islamic World (2 Vols.). Brill. p. 573. ISBN9789047442653.
October 28, 2023
wazir, khan, lahore, confused, with, wazir, khan, sirhind, wazir, khan, rampur, shaikh, ilam, ansari, died, 1641, known, royal, title, wazir, khan, mughal, governor, imperial, minister, held, position, grand, vizier, mughal, empire, native, chiniot, whose, fam. Not to be confused with Wazir Khan Sirhind or Wazir Khan Rampur Shaikh Ilam ud din Ansari died 1641 1 known by his royal title Wazir Khan was a Mughal Governor and an Imperial Minister who held the position of Grand Vizier in the Mughal Empire He was a native of Chiniot whose family migrated to Lahore 2 3 Wazir KhanMughal GovernorGovernor of LahoreReign1631 1641Governor of AgraReign1628 1631Mughal Grand VizierReign1640 1642BornShaikh Ilam ud din Ansari1560s C E Chiniot Lahore Subah Mughal Empire present day Punjab Pakistan Died1642 C ELahore Lahore Subah Mughal Empire present day Punjab Pakistan OccupationGovernor Contents 1 Career 2 Sikh Accounts 3 Legacy 4 ReferencesCareer editHe rose to be one of the court physicians to the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in Lahore and was in due course over a long lifetime of service made a Mughal noble with the command of 7000 4 He remained Chief Qadi at Lahore for some time 5 nbsp The Wazir Khan Mosque in LahoreFrom 1628 to 1631 he served as the governor of Agra after which he was appointed as the governor of Lahore He held this post until approximately 1640 1641 when he was reappointed as governor of Agra 1 In 1640 he became the Grand Vizier of the Mughal Empire 6 and remained so til his death in 1642 Sikh Accounts editAccording to Sikh texts and tradition Wazir Khan was a supporter of the Sikh community and even a Sikh himself Sikh tradition says he had been an admirer of Guru Arjan because of the parayer Sukhmani Sahib which is said to have given him relief After which he had become a Sikh 7 Thus when Guru Arjan was to be executed by the Mughal Emperor he did everything he could to save the Guru but it was in vain 8 During the time of Guru Hargobind Wazir Khan kept his support of the Guru When the Guru was arrested by the emperor Shah Jahan Wazir Khan begged for the Guru s release 9 10 After the first battle between the Sikh and the Mughals Khan convinced Shah Jahan that there wasn t value in taking further action against the Guru He said Sire the Guru is not a rebel and hath no design on thine empire He hath ever been the support of the state Is it not a mircale that with not fully seven hundred men he destroyed an army of seven thousand Hearing this the emperor was convinced to take no further action against the Guru 11 12 13 Afterward Kahn continued to aid the Guru throughout his life 14 15 Legacy edit nbsp Wazir Khan of Lahore known for building the Wazir Khan Masjid nbsp Central dome of the Wazir Khan Hammam nbsp The baths cold chamber in the Wazir Khan Hammam is elaborately decorated with frescoes nbsp Garden of Wazir Khan Agra artist c 1830He is best known today for founding Wazirabad a city near the river Chenab in Punjab and building the famous Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore The title of Wazir Khan by which he is remembered by posterity was granted him by Shah Jahan and literally means a Wazir or Vizier a Minister High Court Official Alimuddin Wazir Khan was also responsible for the construction of the Shahi Hammam in Lahore also known as the Wazir Khan Hammam 16 Wazir Khan was also one of the nobles to build a Haveli mansion as well as a garden in the city of Agra where he was twice governor 17 It is known as the Bagh i Wazir Khan 18 References edit a b Koch Ebba 2006 The complete Taj Mahal and the riverfront gardens of Agra Richard Andre Barraud London Thames amp Hudson p 45 ISBN 978 0 500 34209 1 OCLC 69022179 Talbot Ian Kamran Tahir 15 February 2022 Colonial Lahore A History of the City and Beyond Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 765594 8 For other family connections in Lahore also see the articles on Fakir Khana and Hakim Ahmad Shuja Syad Muhammad Latif 1892 Lahore Its History Architectural Remains and Antiquities With an Account of Its Modern Institutions Inhabitants Their Trade Customs amp c from Oxford University Dr AMK Islahi Puranay Lahore ki Tareekh Eik Jaeza Urdu A History of Old Lahore An Evaluation Lahore Chand Publishers Anarkali 1997 p 128 Abraham Richard Fuller 1990 The Shah Jahan Nama of Inayat Khan An Abridged History of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan University of Michigan p 602 ISBN 978 0 19 562489 2 Macauliffe Max 2015 The Sikh Religion Its Gurus Sacred Writings And Authors Vol 4 Creative Media Partners p 11 ISBN 978 0344857065 Sikh Encyclopedia Macauliffe Max 8 November 2018 The Sikh Religion Vol 4 Creative Media Partners LLC p 26 ISBN 978 0344857065 The Life and Teachings of Guru Hargobind Singh Brothera pp 21 27 Max Arthur The Sikh Religion Page 96 Singh Santhok Suraj Prakash Granth pp Raas 8 Gurbilas Patashai 6 Chapter 11 Sikh Religion Max Arthur Singh Puran The Book of Ten Masters South Asian Studies Journal of the Society for South Asian Studies Incorporating the Society for Afghan Studies The Society 1993 Andre Raymond Attilio Petruccioli Renata Holod Salma Khadra Jayyusi 2008 The City in the Islamic World Part 1 Brill p 585 ISBN 978 9004162402 Andre Raymond Attilio Petruccioli Renata Holod Salma Khadra Jayyusi 30 June 2008 The City in the Islamic World 2 Vols Brill p 573 ISBN 9789047442653 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wazir Khan Lahore amp oldid 1178059793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
