1S75.] H. Blochniann — History and Geography of Bengal. — No. III. 303 



XXX. Hazrat i A'la Miya'n Sulaima'n. 



(972 to 980, H., or A. D. 1564 to 1572.) 



The principal facts of the vigorous reign of Miyan Sulaiman are known 

 from the Tdrikh i Ddudi (Dowson, IV, 509) and the Alcbarnamah. 



His piety made a certain impression on Akbar, and Badaoni states that 

 he used to hold every morning a devotional meeting in company with one 

 hundred and fifty Shaikhs and 'Ulamas, after which he used to transact 

 state business. 



His redoubtable general Raju, better known as Kala, Pahar, is up to 

 this time remembered by the people of Orisa. 



According to the Akbarndmah and Badaoni, his death took place in 

 980. This must have been in the beginning of the year ; for Daud's coin- 

 age_commenees likewise with 980. The Biyaz and Stewart have 981. 



The following two inscriptions from the extreme ends of his dominions, 

 Sunargaon and Bihar, are of value. 



1. — The Sulaiman Shah Inscription of Sunargaon, dated 976 H., or 



A. D. 1569. 

 General Cunningham took a rubbing of thig inscription from a stone 

 at the old Masjid near the Rikabi Bazar, Sunargaon. The stone measures 

 1 ft. 6 in. by 1 ft. 3 in., and consists of three lines. The characters are 

 clumsy and indistinct. 



xjJI Jlj )<**>) aJU) £* ly:JJ h aJU AaXuJ) J\ ^JUj" aJU| JlS 



» Uy^i i^jb*^*" ^ *^' l_S^ UjdJ) i |iis*^ JU ■* *1L«J| Axle 

 ey^a^. ^^cJ] ^k-L, J§£ L g j *ULJ) ^*> L« *s> jt^J. .<«,.&/ 1 i<SSn # A.i.s:''! 



U/o &II) t>^£ i^JiJI .AlUI Ja*.JI A SJt] ^Ljd** ( J^ /0 lc^' 1 



j C^s*u AXw atUfiJI L _f3 j%& ^ f&j^} ^s' \JW J%** uA*- &¥>} iM 



1 1 A.)U.*.t*0 j A*^w 



God Almighty says, ' The mosques belong to God, worship no one else with him.' 

 The Prophet, on whom be peace, says, ' He who builds a mosque in the world will have 

 seventy castles built for him by God in paradise.' These mosques together with what 

 there is of other buildings [were built] during the reign of the king of the age, his 

 august Majesty,* Miyan Sulaiman.... [by] the generous, exalted, victorious 

 Malik 'Abdullah Miyan, son of Amir Khan Faqir Miyan, during 

 the month of Zil Qa'dah 976 [April, 1569]. 



2. — The Sulaiman Shah Inscription at Bihar, A. H. 977, or A. D. 1569-70. 

 The following inscription is taken from above the door leading to the 

 minor tomb of the shrine of Sharafuddin in the town of Bihar. 



* Hazrat i A'la. Sulaiman claimed this title ; vide Kin. Translation, Vol. I, p. 

 337, and Index. The Tdrikh i Ddudi also calls him Mii/dn Sulaiman. 



