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{{ | {{Short description|Indian poet and scholar (1547–1595)}} | ||
{{for|the Bahá'í Hand of the Cause|Abu'l-Qásim Faizi}} | |||
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} | {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} | ||
{{ | {{Infobox poet | ||
| | | name = Faizi (Abu al-Faiz ibn Mubarak) | ||
| birth_date = 20 September 1547 | | image = | ||
| birth_place = [[Agra]], [[Mughal India]] | | caption = | ||
| death_date = 15 October 1595 | | pseudonym = Faizi | ||
| death_place = [[Lahore]], | | birth_name = Abu al-Faiz ibn Mubarak | ||
| occupation = Poet | | birth_date = 20 September 1547 | ||
| language = | | birth_place = [[Agra]], [[Mughal India]] (now India) | ||
| | | death_date = 15 October 1595 | ||
| death_place = [[Lahore]], Mughal India (now Pakistan) | |||
| occupation = Poet, Scholar, Malik-ush-Shu'ara (Poet Laureate) of Akbar’s court | |||
| language = Persian; also composed in Arabic; translated Sanskrit works into Persian | |||
| notable_works = | |||
* Divan ("Tabashir al-Subh") | |||
* Nal o Daman | |||
* Markaz ul-Advar | |||
* Translations: Lilavati (Sanskrit to Persian) | |||
* Arabic works: Swati al-Ilham, Mawarid al-Kalam | |||
| years_active = c. 1566–1595 | |||
| relatives = [[Abul Fazl]] (younger brother) | |||
| movement = Mughal literary culture; one of Akbar’s Navaratnas | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Abu al-Faiz ibn Mubarak''', popularly known by his pen-name, '''Faizi''' (20 September 1547 – 15 October 1595<ref name="orsini">{{cite book|editor-last=Orsini|editor-first=Francesca |title=Love in South Asia: A Cultural History|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|year=2006|pages=112–4|isbn=0-521-85678-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kWG6wH4lDqUC&pg=PT127}}</ref>) was a [[poet]] and scholar of late [[medieval India]] whose ancestors were the ''Malik-ush-Shu'ara'' (poet laureate) of [[Akbar]]'s Court.<ref name="ain1">[[Heinrich Blochmann|Blochmann, H.]] (tr.) (1927, reprint 1993). ''The Ain-I Akbari by Abu'l-Fazl Allami'', Vol. I, Calcutta: The Asiatic Society, pp.548–50</ref> He was the elder brother of Akbar's historian [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|Abul Fazl]]. [[Akbar]] highly recognised the genius in him and appointed him tutor for his sons and gave place to him among his decorative '[[Navaratnas]]'. | |||
==Life== | ==Life== | ||
[[File:Faizi represent his work 'Nal wa daman' to Akbar.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Faizi represent his work 'Nal wa daman' to Akbar.]] | [[File:Faizi represent his work 'Nal wa daman' to Akbar.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Faizi represent his work 'Nal wa daman' to Akbar.]] | ||
Faizi was born in [[Agra]] on 5 Sha'ban, AH 954 (20 September 1547),<ref name=ain1/> he was the eldest son of Shaikh Mubarak of [[Nagaur | Faizi was born in [[Agra]] on 5 Sha'ban, AH 954 (20 September 1547),<ref name=ain1/> he was the eldest son of Shaikh Mubarak of [[Nagaur]]. Shaikh Mubarak was a scholar in the [[philosophy]] literature of Greece as well as in Islamic theology. He was educated mostly by his father.<ref name="orsini"/> | ||
In AH 974 (1566–8), he reached Akbar's court. Akbar successively appointed him tutor for his princes, [[Jahangir|Salim]], [[Murad Mirza (son of Akbar)|Murad]] and [[ | In AH 974 (1566–8), he reached Akbar's court. Akbar successively appointed him tutor for his princes, [[Jahangir|Salim]], [[Murad Mirza (son of Akbar)|Murad]] and [[Daniyal (Mughal prince)|Daniyal]].<ref name="orsini"/> In AH 990 (1581), he was appointed ''sadr'' of Agra, Kalpi and Kalinjar. In 1588, he became [[poet laureate]] of Akbar's court.<ref name=ain1/> In AH 999 (1591–2), he was sent to [[Khandesh]] and [[Ahmednagar]] as Mughal envoy.<ref name="orsini"/> | ||
In AH 1003 (1594), a few years after his return from [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]], Faizi suffered from asthma and died on 10 Safar, AH 1004 (15 October 1595) at Lahore. Initially, he was buried in the Ram Bagh at [[Agra]] but his body was later transferred to another family mausoleum near [[Sikandara]].<ref name="orsini"/> | In AH 1003 (1594), a few years after his return from [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]], Faizi suffered from asthma and died on 10 Safar, AH 1004 (15 October 1595) at Lahore. Initially, he was buried in the Ram Bagh at [[Agra]] but his body was later transferred to another family mausoleum near [[Sikandara]].<ref name="orsini"/> | ||
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In pursuance of the literary practice then in vogue, Faizi planned to produce a ''Panj Ganj'' (literally five treasures) or ''Khamsa'' in imitation of the Persian poet [[Nizami Ganjavi]]. At the age of 30, he started writing five works: the ''Nal o Daman'' (a Persian imitation of the famous Indian epic ''[[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]]''), the ''Markaz ul-Advar'' (The Centre of the Circle), the ''Sulaiman o Bilqis'' ([[Solomon]] and Balkis – the [[queen of Sheba]]), the ''Haft Kishvar'' (The Seven Zones of the Earth) and the ''Akbarnama'' (The History of Akbar). His two completed works, the ''Markaz ul-Advar'' and the ''Nal o Daman'' (completed in 1594) was the ''javab'' (imitation) of Nizami's the ''Makhzan ul-Asrar''and the ''Layla o Majnun''.<ref name=r1/> His other three incomplete works, the ''Sulaiman o Bilqis'', the ''Haft Kishvar'' and the ''Akbarnama'' were the imitations of the ''Khusraw o Shirin'', the ''[[The Seven Beauties (poem)|Haft Paykar]]'' and the ''Sikandarnama'' respectively.<ref name=ain1/><ref name=ea/> | In pursuance of the literary practice then in vogue, Faizi planned to produce a ''Panj Ganj'' (literally five treasures) or ''Khamsa'' in imitation of the Persian poet [[Nizami Ganjavi]]. At the age of 30, he started writing five works: the ''Nal o Daman'' (a Persian imitation of the famous Indian epic ''[[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]]''), the ''Markaz ul-Advar'' (The Centre of the Circle), the ''Sulaiman o Bilqis'' ([[Solomon]] and Balkis – the [[queen of Sheba]]), the ''Haft Kishvar'' (The Seven Zones of the Earth) and the ''Akbarnama'' (The History of Akbar). His two completed works, the ''Markaz ul-Advar'' and the ''Nal o Daman'' (completed in 1594) was the ''javab'' (imitation) of Nizami's the ''Makhzan ul-Asrar''and the ''Layla o Majnun''.<ref name=r1/> His other three incomplete works, the ''Sulaiman o Bilqis'', the ''Haft Kishvar'' and the ''Akbarnama'' were the imitations of the ''Khusraw o Shirin'', the ''[[The Seven Beauties (poem)|Haft Paykar]]'' and the ''Sikandarnama'' respectively.<ref name=ain1/><ref name=ea/> | ||
During his stay in [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] from 1591–3, Faizi wrote a celebrated series of reports on political and cultural conditions of Deccan, as well as contemporary [[Iran]].<ref name="orsini"/> He wrote a number of books in Arabic which include "Swati al-Ilham" and "Mawarid al-Kalam" ( | During his stay in [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] from 1591–3, Faizi wrote a celebrated series of reports on political and cultural conditions of Deccan, as well as contemporary [[Iran]].<ref name="orsini"/> He wrote a number of books in Arabic which include "Swati al-Ilham" and "Mawarid al-Kalam" (written without dotted letters) and translated [[Bhāskara II|Bhaskaracharya]]'s celebrated Sanskrit work on mathematics, ''[[Lilavati]]'', into Persian. According to its preface, this work was completed in AH 995 (1587).<ref>Ali, M. Athar (2006). ''Mughal India'', New Delhi: Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-569661-1}}, p.178</ref> [[Friedrich Max Müller]]'s ''Introduction to the Science of Religion'' (1870, last ed. 1882) has a number of metrical paraphrases of Faizi's poems.<ref>{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Feisi|year=1905}}</ref> | ||
==Described by his brother Abu'l-Fazl== | ==Described by his brother Abu'l-Fazl== | ||
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He was born in the Jalali year 469, corresponding to A.H. 954 (A.D. 1547). In what tongue shall I indict his praise? In this work I have already written of him and poured forth the anguish of my heart, and quenched its furnace with the water of narration and broken the dam of its torrents and alleviated my want of resignation. His works which are the scales of eloquence and penetration and the lawns of the birds of song, praise him and speak his perfections and recall his virtues. He was one of the nine jewels in Akbar's court.<ref>Abu'l-Fazl 'Allami, '''A'in-I Akbari''' (3 vols.). Vol. 3 trans. H. S. Jarrett, 1894. Vol. 3, pp. 478–524</ref> | He was born in the Jalali year 469, corresponding to A.H. 954 (A.D. 1547). In what tongue shall I indict his praise? In this work I have already written of him and poured forth the anguish of my heart, and quenched its furnace with the water of narration and broken the dam of its torrents and alleviated my want of resignation. His works which are the scales of eloquence and penetration and the lawns of the birds of song, praise him and speak his perfections and recall his virtues. He was one of the nine jewels in Akbar's court.<ref>Abu'l-Fazl 'Allami, '''A'in-I Akbari''' (3 vols.). Vol. 3 trans. H. S. Jarrett, 1894. Vol. 3, pp. 478–524</ref> | ||
Faizi also translated the Yogvashisth into | Faizi also translated the Yogvashisth into [[Persian language|Persian]]. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
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{{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
[[Category:Mughal | [[Category:Nobility from the Mughal Empire]] | ||
[[Category:1547 births]] | [[Category:1547 births]] | ||
[[Category:1595 deaths]] | [[Category:1595 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:16th-century Indian poets]] | [[Category:16th-century Indian poets]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:16th-century scholars]] | ||
[[Category:Indian diplomats]] | [[Category:Indian diplomats]] | ||
[[Category:Indian male poets]] | [[Category:Indian male poets]] | ||
[[Category:16th-century Indian scholars]] | [[Category:16th-century Indian scholars]] | ||
[[Category:16th-century Persian-language poets]] | |||
[[Category:Sanskrit–Persian translators]] | |||
[[Category:16th-century Mughal Empire people]] | |||
[[Category:People from Agra]] | |||
[[Category:16th-century nobility]] | |||
Latest revision as of 22:31, 7 February 2026
Abu al-Faiz ibn Mubarak, popularly known by his pen-name, Faizi (20 September 1547 – 15 October 1595[1]) was a poet and scholar of late medieval India whose ancestors were the Malik-ush-Shu'ara (poet laureate) of Akbar's Court.[2] He was the elder brother of Akbar's historian Abul Fazl. Akbar highly recognised the genius in him and appointed him tutor for his sons and gave place to him among his decorative 'Navaratnas'.
Life[edit | edit source]
Faizi was born in Agra on 5 Sha'ban, AH 954 (20 September 1547),[2] he was the eldest son of Shaikh Mubarak of Nagaur. Shaikh Mubarak was a scholar in the philosophy literature of Greece as well as in Islamic theology. He was educated mostly by his father.[1] In AH 974 (1566–8), he reached Akbar's court. Akbar successively appointed him tutor for his princes, Salim, Murad and Daniyal.[1] In AH 990 (1581), he was appointed sadr of Agra, Kalpi and Kalinjar. In 1588, he became poet laureate of Akbar's court.[2] In AH 999 (1591–2), he was sent to Khandesh and Ahmednagar as Mughal envoy.[1]
In AH 1003 (1594), a few years after his return from Deccan, Faizi suffered from asthma and died on 10 Safar, AH 1004 (15 October 1595) at Lahore. Initially, he was buried in the Ram Bagh at Agra but his body was later transferred to another family mausoleum near Sikandara.[1]
Works[edit | edit source]
He composed significant poetic works in Persian and is ascribed by Bada'uni and his other contemporaries to have composed over a hundred poetic works, but all the titles are not known to us. His Divan (collection of poems), was entitled Tabashir al-Subh. His Divan comprises qasidas, ghazals, ruba'is and elegies.[3] The exaltation of pantheism in some of his lyrics brought on him the enmity of the orthodox Muslim clergy.[4][5]
In pursuance of the literary practice then in vogue, Faizi planned to produce a Panj Ganj (literally five treasures) or Khamsa in imitation of the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi. At the age of 30, he started writing five works: the Nal o Daman (a Persian imitation of the famous Indian epic Nala and Damayanti), the Markaz ul-Advar (The Centre of the Circle), the Sulaiman o Bilqis (Solomon and Balkis – the queen of Sheba), the Haft Kishvar (The Seven Zones of the Earth) and the Akbarnama (The History of Akbar). His two completed works, the Markaz ul-Advar and the Nal o Daman (completed in 1594) was the javab (imitation) of Nizami's the Makhzan ul-Asrarand the Layla o Majnun.[3] His other three incomplete works, the Sulaiman o Bilqis, the Haft Kishvar and the Akbarnama were the imitations of the Khusraw o Shirin, the Haft Paykar and the Sikandarnama respectively.[2][5]
During his stay in Deccan from 1591–3, Faizi wrote a celebrated series of reports on political and cultural conditions of Deccan, as well as contemporary Iran.[1] He wrote a number of books in Arabic which include "Swati al-Ilham" and "Mawarid al-Kalam" (written without dotted letters) and translated Bhaskaracharya's celebrated Sanskrit work on mathematics, Lilavati, into Persian. According to its preface, this work was completed in AH 995 (1587).[6] Friedrich Max Müller's Introduction to the Science of Religion (1870, last ed. 1882) has a number of metrical paraphrases of Faizi's poems.[7]
Described by his brother Abu'l-Fazl[edit | edit source]
Of my eldest brother what shall I say? Notwithstanding his spiritual and worldly perfections, he took no step without my concurrence, indiscreet as I am, and devoting himself to my interests, advanced my promotion and was an aid to good intentions. In his poems he speaks of me in a manner which I cannot sufficiently acknowledge, as he says in his eulogium:
My verse may share both great and little worth to subhraj, |
He was born in the Jalali year 469, corresponding to A.H. 954 (A.D. 1547). In what tongue shall I indict his praise? In this work I have already written of him and poured forth the anguish of my heart, and quenched its furnace with the water of narration and broken the dam of its torrents and alleviated my want of resignation. His works which are the scales of eloquence and penetration and the lawns of the birds of song, praise him and speak his perfections and recall his virtues. He was one of the nine jewels in Akbar's court.[8] Faizi also translated the Yogvashisth into Persian.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Orsini, Francesca, ed. (2006). Love in South Asia: A Cultural History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 112–4. ISBN 0-521-85678-7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Blochmann, H. (tr.) (1927, reprint 1993). The Ain-I Akbari by Abu'l-Fazl Allami, Vol. I, Calcutta: The Asiatic Society, pp.548–50
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Majumdar, R.C. (ed.)(2007). The Mughul Empire, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-407-1, p.622
- ↑ Template:Cite Collier's
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). . Encyclopedia Americana.
- ↑ Ali, M. Athar (2006). Mughal India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-569661-1, p.178
- ↑ Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
- ↑ Abu'l-Fazl 'Allami, A'in-I Akbari (3 vols.). Vol. 3 trans. H. S. Jarrett, 1894. Vol. 3, pp. 478–524
Further reading[edit | edit source]
- Arshad, A.D. (ed.) (1973). Insha i-Faizi, Lahore:Majlis-e-Taraqqi ye Adab.