One of the excellent occurrences was the punishment of Abu-l-M'al. The account of this instructive occurrence is that, when Abu-l-M'al went with evil intentions to Kbul, and when the army which had gone in pursuit of him and to drive him out of the dominions, returned after traversing the Panjb, that inauspicious wretch sent a petition from Sind, full of his relationship to H.M. Jahnbn Jinnat shiyn, to Mh Ccak Begam, the mother of M. Muammad akm, who was all-powerful in Kabul; and he added to it an account of his own forlorn condition, and embroidered it with this verse:"
We have not come to this door in search of honour and glory;
We've come here for protection 'gainst the hand of fate.
When Mh Ccak Begam had made herself acquainted with the contents of this letter, she took counsel with her confidential advisers. These short-sighted and self-interested men represented to the Begam, thatShh Ab-l-M'al was sprung from the great Sayyids of Termi, and that the rulers of Moghulistan and the princes of Kshghar had formed alliances with those families. As he had sought protection from the sublime family, it was proper to treat him with all kindness, and to exalt him so that he should be seen to be a favourite and of great distinction, and to give him in marriage her daughter"the sister of Muammad akm"so that he might look upon this family as his own; and might make it illustrious, and might do it good, and convert it from dissension into harmony. The simple-minded Begam was led by the deceitful words of these men to entertain wrong ideas, and replied* to Shh Abu-l-M'al's letter in soothing language, and brought him to Kabul with all honour. Without making inquiry at the court of H.M. theShhinshh, she of her own notion gave Ab-l-M'al her daughter Fakhru-n-Nis Begam in marriage and joined that scion of the family of realm and religion to this evil-minded man. The fruit of this was soon gathered, for in a short space of time the Begam lost her life in consequence of this union.
The details of this are as follows: When Ab-l-M'al, who always displayed lack of wisdom and narrowness of thought, as well as other bad qualities, became the master in that household, he could not contain his emotions. His evil nature too was worsened by the companionship of instigators. He made no account of the Begam and her officers, nor followed her weighty counsels. Nor did his actions show the fragrance of gratitude and devotion. At this time, various strife-mongers such as Shagn, the son of QarcaKhn, and Shdmn"who both had old spites against the Begam"joined Ab-l-M'al. They represented to him that so long as the Begam was in life, he would not be secure in office, and that he would soon be put to death like Fa"l Beg, his son Abu-l-fat and Shh Wal Atka. The proper thing was for him to act boldly and take the initiative, and to bring up M. Muammad Hakm, who was still young, in accordance with his views. In this way all the Kbuls would place the head of obedience on the line of submission to him. That evil-minded one who did not think of his latter end gave ear to their wicked counsels, and took steps to carry out their evil plans. He did not retain possession of the key of reason but lost it in the abyss of ignorance. He gave to the wind of rebellion ('aqq) the harvest of the rights (aqq) of the family. He spurned the recent favours of the Begam, and lay in wait to commit murder"the worst of crimes!
In fine, he made that wretch Shagn and that scum of Transoxiana, who was styled the Q"zda, his friends and proceeded to the Begam's residence. Abu-l-M'al entered the house by one way, and the two wretches by another. There were a number of women in the house, and by mistake they shed the blood of an innocent lady. When it appeared that they had blundered, and that it was not the Begam, they went looking for her and joined Abul-l-M'al. They endeavoured to effect their object, and when the Begam became aware of the facts, she shut the door of her room in the face of the tyrants. Ab-l-M'al broke the door with the help of the two villains, and entered and put* the Begam to death. By this wickedness he hoisted the flag of oppression. This instructive catastrophe occurred in the middle of Farwardn, Divine month, corresponding to the middle of Sh'abn (971), April, 1564. After shedding the blood of the Begam, he hastened in search of M. Muammad akm. He took him out from among young boys* and brought him into the diwnkhna by the side of himself. The men of the Mrz's household attended on him (Ab-l-M'al) willingly or unwillingly. Next day he put to death aidar Qsim Kohbar, whose family had filled great offices under the dynasty from generation to generation, and who at that time held the office of the Mrz's Vakil, and carried on the administration of the country; and also Khwjah Kh Mulk and several others. He also imprisoned aidar's brother, Muammad Qsim. Tard Muammad Maidn, Bq Qqshl, asan Khn, and Maasan Khn,* brother of Shihbu-d-dn Amad Khn, and a number of the Begam's servants joined together to kill Ab-l-M'al. 'd Sarmast, who was one of them, gave information to Ab-l-M'al and the latter armed himself and his adherents and prepared for battle. Those ambitious ones took the right-hand road to the fort, while Ab-l-M'al advanced from another side. A number were killed on both sides, but Ab-l-M'al's party was victorious and drove the other faction out of the fort. When night let fall her curtain, every one went off in a different direction. The Qqshls hastened to Ghorband, the Maidns went to Maidn, while asan Khn and Maasan Khn went towards Jallbd. Muammad Qsim, the brother of aidar Qsim, and who was in prison, made his escape and went off to Badakhshn. He informed M. Sulaiman of the tragedy of Kabul and of the wickedness of Ab-l-M'al,and urged him to come to Kabul. M. Muammad akm, in spite of his tender years, was horrified at the catastrophe of his mother; and by the advice of well-wishers secretly sent messengers to M. Sulaimn in quest of relief, and to incite him to come.
M. Sulaimn on hearing of what had happened, girt up the loins of intent and prepared to march to that abode of pleasure which was always the object of his ambition. He collected the army of Badkhshn and marched to Kabul, accompanied by aram Begam. Abu-l-M'al was agitated by the news of M. Sulaimn's purpose. He collected his troops, and, as in his folly he regarded M. Muammad akim as being on his side, and as one of his titles (dast-wez) he made arrangements for his accompanying the army. He took the initiative and marched out of Kabul before M. Sulaimn could get there, and arriving at the river of Ghorband took possession of the head of the bridge. From the other side M. Sulaimn came rapidly with the Badakhshn forces to the bridge, and both sides drew up in line. Just then a body of troops from Klb were seen on the right, and Ab-l-M'al sent off a number of Kabls to oppose them. After the two forces had engaged, news was brought to Ab-l-M'al that the Kabulies had been defeated. He thereupon placed M. Muammed akm in the centre of the troops facing M. Sulaimn, and went off to assist his defeated men. Upon this opportunity M. Muammed akm's men seized his horse's rein and drove him to the river, and in haste brought him to M. Sulaimn. The whole Kabul army became disorganised after this event and dispersed. When Ab-l-M'ali came back and learnt the state of affairs, he got utterly confused, and gave up fighting and accepted defeat. The Badakhshnans pursued him and came up with him at Crkrn. They seized him and brought him before M. Sulaimn, who came rejoicing to Kabul along with M. Muammad akm. Two days afterwards he sent that tyrant in chains to the Mrz, who ordered him to be strangled. This was done on the day of Ormazd, the beginning ofKhurdd, Divine month, corresponding to the 'd of the Rama"n.
With my own eyes I saw in a thoroughfare
That a bird killed an ant;
Its beak had not been withdrawn from the prey
When another bird came and killed it.
Be not secure if you have done evil;
For retribution is in accordance with nature.
At the time of his being strangled, his impure character displayed itself, and he made entreaties and lamentations in order that he might, perhaps, by a thousand humiliations, gain a few more days of life, though they were worse than death. But the result was only to show his worthless character. His impure carcase was by the exertions of some worthy* people deposited near the graves of the cupola of chastity,Khnzda Begum, and of Mahd Khwja. God be praised! The world was cleansed of his hateful existence, and he by his own acts hastened to the pit of destruction. Whoever does not appreciate kindness and practises ingratitude, perishes under such circumstances of contempt and disgrace. If he escape the clutches of the imperial servants, the stewards of fortune send adversaries against him so that he is brought to destruction for the edification of the wise.
Veer Hanuman
Anupamaa
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