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Sahib Jamal

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Sahib Jamal
Sahib Jamal holding her son, Parviz
BornHerat, Afghanistan
Diedc. 25 June 1599[1]
Lahore, Pakistan
Burial
Tomb of Sahib Jamal, Lahore
Spouse
​
(m. 1586)​
IssueSultan Parviz Mirza
Two daughters
Names
'Persian
_______
'صاحب جمال
HouseTimurid (by marriage)
FatherKhwaja Hasan
ReligionIslam

Sahib Jamal (Persian: صاحب جمال; died c. 25 June 1599) was the wife of Prince Salim, the future Mughal emperor Jahangir and the mother of his second son, Prince Parviz.[2]

Family

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Sahib Jamal was of Turkish origin[3] and was the daughter of a respected Muslim religious personality, Khwaja Hasan of Herat, making her the cousin of Zain Khan Koka, who was a leading official in the Mugal Empire under Akbar, including serving for a time as governor of Kabul.[4] Her father, Khwaja Hasan, was known widely for his scholarship and studies in the techniques of warfare. Akbar held him in high esteem, and often discussed with him the spiritual problems that often agitated his mind.[5] Zain Khan's daughter, Khas Mahal was also married to Jahangir.[6]

Sahib Jamal was a beautiful,[7] highly cultured and well educated woman, who was fully conversant with the rules and etiquettes of the palace.[5]

Marriage

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Salim married her on 1586.[4] Upon her marriage, she was given the title "Sahib Jamal", which literally means ("Paragon of Beauty") or ("Mistress of Beauty") which was chosen by Akbar himself, by which name she came to be styled thereafter.[8]

Sahib Jamal bore her husband his second son, Sultan Parviz Mirza on November 1589.[4]

In 1596 Salim became violently enamoured of Khas Mahal, the daughter of Zain Khan, and meditated marrying her. Akbar was displeased at the impropriety. The cause of Akbar's objection was Sahib Jamal who had already been married to Salim. Akbar objected to marriages between near relations. However, when Akbar saw that Salim's heart was immoderately affected, he, of necessity, gave his consent.[9]

Death and burial place

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The tomb of Sahib Jamal in Lahore
The richly carved cenotaph is made of white marble.

Sahib Jamal died c. 25 June 1599 in Lahore, present-day Pakistan, and was also buried there. Construction of her tomb dates to either 1599 C.E. or 1615 C.E.[10]

There is a popular misconception that the Tomb of Sahib Jamal in Lahore is the tomb of the legendary dancing girl Anarkali. As per the legend, the tomb was said to be built by the Mughal emperor Jahangir for his love Anarkali, who was caught by Emperor Akbar for exchanging glances with Jahangir, at the time known as Prince Salim. Anarkali was reportedly a concubine of Akbar, and this action reportedly enraged Akbar so much, that he had Anarkali interred alive in a wall. When Prince Salim ascended the throne and took the name "Jahangir," he is reported to have ordered the construction of a tomb over the site of the wall in which Anarkali was reportedly buried.[10]

18th century historian Abdullah Chagatai reported that the tomb was not the resting place for Anarkali, but instead for Jahangir's beloved wife Sahib Jamal.[10] Many modern historians accept the credulity of this account.[11] The building is currently used as the Punjab Archives, so access to the public is limited.

Sahib Jamal's white marble cenotaph features carvings with the 99 names of God, and was described by 19th century historians as "one of the finest pieces of carving in the world."[12]

In addition to the 99 names of God, the cenotaph is inscribed with a Persian couplet written by the Emperor Jahangir which reads: "Ah! could I behold the face of my beloved once more, I would give thanks unto my God until the day of resurrection."[11]

Issue

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With Jahangir, Sahib Jamal had three children:

  • Parviz Mirza (10 November 1589, Kabul, Afghanistan – 28 October 1626, Burhanpur, Mughal Empire, buried in Bagh Sultan Parviz, Agra)
  • A daughter (born 21 January 1591).[13]
  • A daughter (born 14 October 1594).[14]

References

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  1. ^ Thackston, Wheeler M., ed. (1999). The Jahangirnama: memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India. Translated by Thackston. New York [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-19-512718-8.
  2. ^ Balabanlilar, Lisa (2012). Imperial Identity in the Mughal Empire: Memory and Dynastic Politics in Early Modern South and Central Asia. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-84885-726-1.
  3. ^ Shujauddin, Mohammad; Shujauddin, Razia (1967). The Life and Times of Noor Jahan. Lahore: The Caravan Book House. p. 71.
  4. ^ a b c Findly, Ellison Banks (1993). Nur Jahan: Empress of Mughal India. Oxford University Press. pp. 124 125. ISBN 978-0-19-536060-8.
  5. ^ a b Lal, Muni (1983). Jahangir. New Delhi: Vikas. pp. 27 28. ISBN 978-0-7069-2271-4.
  6. ^ Desai, Ziyaud-Din A. (2003). Purā-prakāśa: Recent Researches in Epigraphy, Numismatics, Manuscriptology, Persian Literature, Art, Architecture, Archaeology, History and Conservation: Dr. Z.A. Desai Commemoration Volume, Volume 1. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. p. 281. ISBN 978-8-180-90007-5.
  7. ^ Lal, K.S. (1988). The Mughal harem. New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan. p. 27. ISBN 978-81-85179-03-2.
  8. ^ Prasad, Beni (1940). History of Jahangir (3 ed.). Indian Press, Limited. p. 26.
  9. ^ Beveridge, Henry (1907). Akbarnama of Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak - Volume III. Asiatic Society, Calcutta. pp. 1058–9 n. 3.
  10. ^ a b c "Legend: Anarkali: myth, mystery and history". Dawn. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Anarkali's Tomb". Lahore Sites. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  12. ^ Eastwick, Edward Backhouse (1883). Handbook of the Punjab, Western Rajputana, Kashmir, and Upper Sindh. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street.
  13. ^ Fazl, Abul. Akbarnama Vol. III. p. 883. On this day also Sultan Parviz had a sister born.
  14. ^ Fazl, Abul. Akbarnama Vol. III. On the 21st, after the passing of 8 hours and 28 minutes, a sister to Sulān Parvīz was born. It is the rule that H.M. promptly gives names to the children and grandchildren. Though the inner servants expressed a wish that he would do this, he did not accept the proposition. Suddenly that newly-born one descended into non-existence, and H.M.'s knowledge of hidden things was anew displayed!
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