Wazir Khan (Lahore)

Mughal administrator (1560–1641) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shaikh Ilam-ud-Din Ansari (c. 1560–1641),^[1] better known by his royal title Wazir Khan, was a Mughal official and physician who was the Subahdar of Subah of Lahore during 1631–1639. He was also appointed twice the governor of Agra Subah and held the office of Grand Vizier for a brief period after the accession of Shah Jahan in 1627/1628.^[2]

Preceded byAbu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan

Succeeded byAzam Khan

Preceded byQasim Khan

Succeeded byIslam Khan

Quick facts Grand Vizier, Preceded by ...

Wazir Khan


Grand Vizier
In office 1627–1628
Preceded by	Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan
Succeeded by	Azam Khan
Subahdar of Agra
In office 1628 – 1631; 1640–1641
Preceded by	Qasim Khan
Succeeded by	Islam Khan
Subahdar of Lahore
In office 1631–1639
Preceded by	Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan
Succeeded by	Ali Mardan Khan

Personal details
Born	Shaikh Ilam-ud-din Ansari c. 1560 Chiniot, Lahore Subah, Mughal Empire
Died	1641(1641-00-00) (aged 80–81) Agra, Agra Subah, Mughal Empire
Occupation	Subahdar

Career

Wazir Khan was born in a Punjabi^[3]^[4] family hailing from the city of Chiniot in the Lahore Subah.^[5] He was son of Shaikh Abdul Latif bin Shaikh Hisamuddin, a native of Chiniot.^[6] During his prime, he showcased prowess in the field of medicine, garnering recognition under the patronage of Shah Jahan. His adeptness in medical practice, coupled with a discerning comprehension of the temperament of the Prince, led to his appointment as Superintendent of the Camp Court, a position he earned graciously. Notable for his judicious resolution of conflicts and unwavering integrity, he secured a notable standing in the Prince's regard. His contributions during the campaign against the Rana, notably as the Divan-i-Buyutat, were invaluable, earning him significant promotion within the ranks. During the Prince's stay at Junair, Wazir Khan ascended to the prestigious position of the Divan, marking a significant elevation in his status. At that juncture, only Mahabat Khan held a higher rank among the Prince's retinue.^[7] He was later given a command of 7000.^[6] He remained Chief Qadi at Lahore for some time.^[7]

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, but died of colic after only ten months.^[1]

Sikh Accounts

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 prayer Sukhmani Sahib which is said to have given him relief. After which he had become a Sikh.^[8] 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. 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.^[8] 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.^[8]

Architectural works

Central dome of the Wazir Khan Hammam
Garden of Wazir Khan, Agra artist, c. 1830
Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore

Wazir Khan undertook extensive construction projects, including the establishment of baths, markets, and various other edifices in Lahore. In his hometown Chiniot, he erected a strong brick fort alongside other notable structures, and gifted them to the local populace.^[7] Wazir Khan was praised by his near contemporary poet Mita Chenabi in his Tuḥfat al-Panjāb for building the Wazir Khan Mosque and founding the city of Wazirabad. He was also responsible for the construction of the Shahi Hammam in Lahore, also known as the Wazir Khan Hammam.^[9] He was one of the nobles to build a Haveli (mansion) as well as a garden in the city of Agra, where he was twice governor. It is known as the Bagh-i-Wazir Khan.^[10] He built another garden in Lahore, known as Nakhlia-i-Wazir Khan, in 1634. Although the garden does not exist any longer, its baradari survived and today serves as the reading room of the Punjab Public Library.^[11]

References

[1]
Koch, Ebba (2006). The Complete Taj Mahal and the Riverfront Gardens of Agra. Illustrated by Barraud, Richard André. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-500-34209-1. OCLC 69022179.
[2]
Khan, Muhammad Afzal (1987). "Iranians and the Major Offices in the Mughal Empire". Iranian Nobility Under Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb (Thesis). Aligarh Muslim University. p. 130.
[3]
Wheeler, Sir Mortimer (1955). "Chapter II: The Archaeology Of Pakistan". In Ikram, Sheikh Muhamad; Spear, Thomas George Percival (eds.). The Cultural Heritage of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. p. 28. OCLC 574940275. Chief amongst them is perhaps the mosque of Wazir Khan, built in A.D. 1634 by one of Shah Jahan's Punjabi ministers.
[4]
Aryan, Kishan Chand (1983). "Golden Temple". The Cultural Heritage of Punjab, 3000 B.C. to 1947 A.D. New Delhi: Rekha. p. 64. ISBN 978-81-900002-9-1. The mosque of Wazir Khan in the city of Lahore is a monument of great dignity and elegance. It is in Iranian-Mughal style, though founded by a Punjabi.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
[5]
Talbot, Ian; Kamran, Tahir (15 February 2022). Colonial Lahore: A History of the City and Beyond. Oxford University Press. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-19-765594-8. Wazir Khan Mosque inside Delhi Gate was built by the Punjab governor Wazir Khan in 1631. His family originated from Chiniot in the Jhang district and he had risen to the top of the Mughal service class.
[6]
Latif, Syad Muhammad (1892). Lahore: Its History, Architectural Remains and Antiquities. Lahore: New Imperial Press. pp. 51–58. OCLC 28302540.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
[7]
Awrangābādī, Shāhnavāz Khān (1979). The Maāt̲h̲ir-ul-umarā. Vol. 2. Translated by Prashad, Baini (2nd ed.). Patna: Janaki Prakashan. pp. 981–983. OCLC 81120535.
[8]
Macauliffe, Max (2015) [1909]. The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Vol. 4. Creative Media Partners. pp. 11, 26, 96. ISBN 978-1-015-87511-1.
[9]
Cooper, Ilay (1 January 1993). "Sikhs, Saints and Shadows of Angels: some Mughal Murals in Buildings along the North Wall of Lahore Fort". South Asian Studies. 9 (1): 11–28. doi:10.1080/02666030.1993.9628457. ISSN 0266-6030.
[10]
Koch, Ebba (2008). "Mughal Agra: A Riverfront Garden City". In André Raymond; Attilio Petruccioli; Renata Holod; Salma Khadra Jayyusi (eds.). The City in the Islamic World. Vol. 2. Brill. pp. 573, 585. ISBN 978-9004162402.
[11]
Lari, Yasmeen (2003). Lahore: Illustrated City Guide. Heritage Foundation Pakistan. pp. 6–25. ISBN 978-969-8655-01-3.

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