Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

muqawwee123 · February 26, 2012, 7:22pm

A lesser known character from the Mughal Empire is princess Zebunnisa, the eldest daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb. ** Unlike her puritanical father, Zebunnisa was a Sufi poet and did not share her father’s orthodoxy**. Here is a translated version of her beautiful verses:

`Things of Love’

Though I am Laila of Persian romance,
my heart loves like ferocious Majnun.
I want to go to the desert
but modesty is chains on my feet.
A nightingale came to the flower garden
because she was my pupil.
I am an expert in things of love.
Even the moth is my disciple!
By Zebunnisa Makhfi (translated by Willis Barnstone).

She held a separate court, patronized arts and letters and was a major poet of her times. Her verses were later compiled and published as Diwan-i-Makhfi. Here Makhfi – the hidden or invisible one – is a metaphor for her invisibility at the main Court and at the cosmic level the invisibility of God.

Two poems I found here, illuminate what is “hidden” ..

The nightingale would forget his song to the rose,
If he saw me walking in the garden.
If the Brahmin saw My face,
He would forget his idol.
Whoever would find Me,
Must look in My words;
For I am hidden in My words,
As the perfume in the petals of the flowers.

II

If the beloved face thou canst not see
Within thy heart still cherish thy desire;
And if her love she will not grant to thee,
In thy love never tire.

Although her face be hidden from thy sight,
Within the sanctuary of thy heart
Still keep her image for thine own delight,
Hidden apart.

And if the Keeper of the Garden close
Before your face the inexorable gate,
O linger yet! The perfume of the rose
Will float to you, and find you as you wait
Not all disconsolate.

Zebunnisa was later imprisoned by Aurangzeb and she died incarcerated in a Delhi fortress. **A recently published book“Captive Princess: Zebunnisa, Daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb” attempts to examine the causes of her imprisonment, her worldview and reconstructs her life.
**

No moth am I that in impetuous fashion
Fly to the flame and perish. Rather say
I am a candle that with inward passion
Slowly and silently consume away.

Translations of her poetry by the Wisdom of the East series can be found here.

The invisible Princess Zebunnisa | Jahane Rumi

So what went wrong between Aurangzeb and her most favorite child Zebunnisa?

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 9:10am

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Here is the story behind Aurangzeb’s anger:

Daughter of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Zebunnisa was esteemed by her father for her advice and later became a poet in the Sufi tradition.

A daughter of the Mughals, she was afforded an excellent education in Persian, Arabic, mathematics and astronomy, and was supervised by the best tutors of the Empire. Her love of education and poetry led to a bevy of scholars and poets who were welcomed at her own courts in Delhi and Lahore. She began writing some of her own poetry, established a library, and personally oversaw the translation of classical Arabic texts into Persian.

For some time, Zebunnisa was also influential over her father’s decisions. He would inquire after her opinion concerning palace appointments and upon occasion would take her counsel even when he disagreed.

**Yet beginning in 1681, when Zebunissa’s younger brother Akbar rebelled against Aurangzeb and set himself up as emperor, their relationship soured. The rebellion was put down in a month and Akbar fled the country, but Zebunissa remained in contact with him. Aurangzeb discovered letters from her that implicated her complicity, and while Aurangzeb was able to forgive Akbar, his hurt at Zebunissa’s betrayal ran deeper.

**
Thus, she was imprisoned in a fortress in Delhi, where she wrote poetry. Her poetry, written under the nom de plume “Makhfi” or the hidden one, was circulated among her contemporaries. Fifty years following her demise, 400 of her poems were collected and published in Persian as the Diwan-i-Makhfi. Her poems discussed the love of God and expounded upon Sufi ideals.

http://www.wisemuslimwomen.org/muslimwomen/bio/zebunnisa/

Aurangzeb forgave his son Akbar, who was the reason behind his anger, but didn’t forgive her favorite daughter.

the_kaur · February 27, 2012, 11:55am

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Is Islam really against music and painting that Emperor Aurangzeb followed??

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 12:08pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Good question. There are many controversies revolving around this. I hope you have watched Pakistani movie 'Khuda ke liye' which presents one aspect of justifying music.

the_kaur · February 27, 2012, 12:18pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Through reasoning some right things can be justified, but my question was with reference to the Islamic theology.

Secondly my sayyida landlady even told be that sayyids are by default Shias (she was shia herself) but it was because of fear of Aurangzeb many Shias raised their children as Sunnis hence in India we have Sunni Sayyids as well

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 12:38pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

As far as strict and orthodox view is concerned Islam has forbidden for any activity that makes you forget Allah and in Quran that is called lahwa o La'ab (khel tamasha), but we when see history of Islam and go through life of Prophet at occasions he allowed for music. Even orthodox Muslim agree that Duff (simple drum) is allowed.

Regarding Syeds being Shia by default requires us to look at origins of Fiqh e Jafria and its interaction with other Fiqha (school of thought) besides looking at the complex history and incidents that follow immediately after the death of Prophet.

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 4:47pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

This is the long speech by Mufti Zarwali Khan who calls Aurangzeb (Rehmatullah Alehe) and justify what he did. Mufti Zarwali is of the view that Aurangzeb’s actions were reaction to what his predecessor done to religion specially Akbar who in Mufti Zarwali’s wording crossed all the boundaries.

Being a long video and usage of Arabic and Persian words in speech, here is the main points of the speech:

(i) Akbar while inventing Deen e Ilahi, accepted all the creeds / faiths of India and adopted their traditions in Islam.

(ii) Akbar get murdered many scholars who opposed his religious views. In order to make happy Hindus, Akbar banned eating of cow’s meat and inter religion marriages. This lead to rebel from scholars of Sirhand.

(iii) Jehangir get killed remaining nauratans of Akbar, as he thought they were behind faithlessness of Akbar. Mufti Zarwali pays gratitude to Jehangir for this. But Jehangir imprisoned Mujaddad because he denied to prostrate (sajda) before him.

(iii) Coming to baba e Aurangzeb, Shahjahan (from 30:00 onwards in video), Mufti Zarwali said that he was a nice Muslim except for his drinking habits and the first religiously remarkable thing by Aurangzeb (at the age of 15) was to remind his father that drinking is haram and the fatwa that was given to Shahjehan by Molvis that ‘Sharab is halal for Shahjahan due to burden of Indian Muslims’ was wrong.

(iv) Even after imprisonment of Shahjahan, Aurangzeb didn’t call himself King officially until the death of his father and justified his act of imprisonment of Shahjahan by Aurangzeb was that he was promoting wrong people in Government affairs

(v) Mufti Zarwali from (34:35 in video) kosing Jawed Chohdri for talking against Aurangzeb on Express TV. He says that Aurangzeb didn’t kill any of his brothers and all died natural death or were killed by disobidient Jallads.

(vi) Now coming to Zebunnisa (37:40), Mufti Zarwali says that she didn’t get married as she was herself a scholar and refused to marry by saying the burden of books is enough for me.

(vii) Zaibunnisa also wrote Tafseer e Quran namely Zeb u Tafaseer. Mufti Zarwali says that Zebunnisa also had huge collection of books (including just 30,000 books on Fiqh e Hanafi).

UZ · February 27, 2012, 5:31pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

This is debatable because Quran and its verses came over the time of 23 years, so may be in later days the hukm against music came.

UZ · February 27, 2012, 5:33pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

muqawwee123:

This is the long speech by Mufti Zarwali Khan who calls Aurangzeb (Rehmatullah Alehe) and justify what he did. Mufti Zarwali is of the view that Aurangzeb’s actions were reaction to what his predecessor done to religion specially Akbar who in Mufti Zarwali’s wording crossed all the boundaries.

Being a long video and usage of Arabic and Persian words in speech, here is the main points of the speech:

(i) Akbar while inventing Deen e Ilahi, accepted all the creeds / faiths of India and adopted their traditions in Islam.

(ii) Akbar get murdered many scholars who opposed his religious views. In order to make happy Hindus, Akbar banned eating of cow’s meat and inter religion marriages. This lead to rebel from scholars of Sirhand.

(iii) Jehangir get killed remaining nauratans of Akbar, as he thought they were behind faithlessness of Akbar. Mufti Zarwali pays gratitude to Jehangir for this. But Jehangir imprisoned Mujaddad because he denied to prostrate (sajda) before him.

(iii) Coming to baba e Aurangzeb, Shahjahan (from 30:00 onwards in video), Mufti Zarwali said that he was a nice Muslim except for his drinking habits and the first religiously remarkable thing by Aurangzeb (at the age of 15) was to remind his father that drinking is haram and the fatwa that was given to Shahjehan by Molvis that ‘Sharab is halal for Shahjahan due to burden of Indian Muslims’ was wrong.

(iv) Even after imprisonment of Shahjahan, Aurangzeb didn’t call himself King officially until the death of his father and justified his act of imprisonment of Shahjahan by Aurangzeb was that he was promoting wrong people in Government affairs

(v) Mufti Zarwali from (34:35 in video) kosing Jawed Chohdri for talking against Aurangzeb on Express TV. He says that Aurangzeb didn’t kill any of his brothers and all died natural death or were killed by disobidient Jallads.

(vi) Now coming to Zebunnisa (37:40), Mufti Zarwali says that she didn’t get married as she was herself a scholar and refused to marry by saying the burden of books is enough for me.

(vii) Zaibunnisa also wrote Tafseer e Quran namely Zeb u Tafaseer. Mufti Zarwali says that Zebunnisa also had huge collection of books (including just 30,000 books on Fiqh e Hanafi).

I don’t know much history but I know one thing what Akbar did to please Hindus was wrong you cannot just add new things in religion.

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 5:34pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Agree, many things were developed over period. But there is no specific ayat in Quran against music.

UZ · February 27, 2012, 5:36pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

I have to see that as I don't remember anything right now. But ahadees said music is not right.

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 5:37pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Yes Akbar was extreme in adding new things to religion, but it was probably his political stunt in a country where Mughals were not established at that time considering the short ruling period of Babar and the Humayon - Sher Shah conflict, Akbar had to play this harmony and adaptability stunts. Even in the Babri Masjid thread, we discussed that Babar has advised Humayon in his will not to eat cow.

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 5:39pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Yes there are ahadees against music, but ahadees are subject to manipulations.

STA · February 27, 2012, 5:41pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

@muqawwee123 Aurangzeb got an opportunity to visit the library of his daughter and he was surprised that her daughter had done significant amount of work in islamic studies. and that work was more than fataw-w-alamgeeri.

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 5:44pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

STA and this make the question more severe 'what happened between Aurangzeb and his favorite scholar daughter that she had to pass last days of her life in prison, when Aurangzeb forgave his son Akbar, whose rebel and disobedience made Aurangzeb angry'.

UZ · February 27, 2012, 5:44pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Not at ahadees and especially in in hadess big books.

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 5:47pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Being Muslim, we do agree that Saha sitta are reliable, but some of our sects reproduce ahadees contained in those books which are contrary to other ahadees and sometimes against teachings of Quran

UZ · February 27, 2012, 5:50pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Are you talking about Imam Bukhari shareef ?

muqawwee123 · February 27, 2012, 5:56pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Yes Sahah sitta include Bukhari Shareef where people can find contradictory ahadees and interpret the same according to their agenda.

UZ · February 27, 2012, 5:57pm

Re: Sufi Daughter of Aurangzeb

Interpretation might be wrong but shahe sitta cannot be.