130 Baddoni and his Works. [No. 3, 



985, to Ajmir (p. 251). The emperor, at that time, allowed several 

 courtiers to go to Makkah. 'Abdul Qadir also applied ; but Akbar 

 made his permission dependent upon that of Badaoni's mother, who 

 naturally refused to let her only son and supporter go. On returning 

 to Dihli, 'Abdul Qadir heard at Rewari that one of his wives had been 

 delivered of a son, to whom the Emperor gave the curious name of 

 'Abdul Hddi. The words Yd Hddi, Guide, were at that time fre- 

 quently on Akbar's lips.* But as the child died six months later, 

 'Abdul Qadir took leave and went to Basawar. Though he overstayed 

 his leave, he was let off without punishment. On his return to Fath- 

 pur, in 986, he presented the Emperor a short work entitled Kitab- 

 ulahddis, on the excellence of expeditions against infidels and the 

 importance of practising archery. This book was 'Abdul Qadir' s first 

 work ; for the translation of the At'harban, which, at Akbar's re- 

 quest, he had commenced as early as 983, had not been continued. f 



The discussions on religious subjects were in the meantime con- 

 tinued at Fathpvir Sikri with increasing zeal, and took a heretical 

 character. In fact from 986 'Abdul Qadir ceased to look upon Akbar 

 as a Muslim. He says in a remarkable passage (p. 255) — perhaps the 

 most ' hostile' in his whole history — " His Majesty till now [986] 

 " had shewn every sincerity, and had diligently been searching for 

 *' truth. But his education had been much neglected, and surrounded 

 il as he was by men of low and heretic principles, he had been forced to 

 " doubt the truth of Islam. Falling from one perplexity into the other, 

 " he lost sight of his real object, the search of truth ; and when the 

 " strong embankment of our clear law and excellent faith (millat i 

 a baizdj had once been broken through, His Majesty grew colder and 

 " colder, till after the short space of five or six years not a trace of 

 <{ Muhammadan feeling was left in his heart. Matters then became 

 « different." 



'Abdul Qadir from now felt uncomfortable at Court. The 'Ulanias 

 to whose downfall he had contributed, were gradually banished to 

 Bengal and Bhakkar ; the Court was full of rabid Shi'ahs who 

 openly in the State hall reviled the companions of the Prophet, and 

 with heretical sophists who sneered at Muhammad, and turned th e 



* This passage has been translated by Sir H. Elliot, Index, p. 247. 

 + Y%&e Ain translation, p, 105, note 1, 



