Mir Sayyid Muhammad Qanauji, a Sufi scholar, a Shah Jahan loyalist and a teacher of Aurangzeb. He also worked on the Fatawa-e-Alamgiri
Mir Sayyid Muhammad Qanauji was a Sufi scholar who served as priest to Mughal emperor Shah Jahan from 1592 to 1666, as well as a tutor to his son, the emperor Aurangzeb, from 1618 to 1707.
Aurangzeb Teacher Mir Sayyid Muhammad Qanauji’s Loyalty Towards Shah Jahan
When Shah Jahan was imprisoned in Akbarabad Fort for the last seven years of his life, Sayyid Qanquji and Sayyid Fazil paid him visits. During Shah Jahan’s dying days, Qanquji and the emperor’s oldest daughter, Jahanara, attended him, bringing spiritual consolation and care.
Knowing he was about to die, the emperor thanked Qanquji for his devoted devotion and inquired if he might be compensated in any manner. Qanquji pleaded with Shah Jahan to pardon his son Aurangzeb (1618-1707), and he grudgingly consented.
Sayyid Mohammed Qanquji assisted with the preparation of Shah Jahan’s body for burial after his death, which was modest because Aurangzeb had not ordered a formal funeral.
We observe him taking the role as a teacher and spiritual guide of Aurangzeb. In letter 221 he informs Aurangzeb that from the letter he sent him, he found manifest his passion and seeking for this path, i.e. Naqshbandī Mujaddidī path. pic.twitter.com/TOZKGi8a8U
— ابنِ خان (@IbneKhan01) March 21, 2021
Aurangzeb’s Teacher Mir Sayyid Muhammad Qanauji
Aurangzeb was tutored by Sayyid Qanauji, and a letter written for him in Arabic has remained. Even after assuming the throne, Aurangzeb continued to meet with Sayyid three times a week.
Because Sayyid was Muhibullah Allahabadi’s follower, Aurangzeb called him and demanded that he explain how certain of Muhibullah’s ideas could be harmonized with Sharia, otherwise he would destroy Muhibullah’s publications.
Sayyid responded that he could only interpret Muhibullah’s remarks when he attained a spiritual level equivalent to Muhibullah’s, which was considerably higher than his current one. He also said that the emperor’s kitchen had enough fire and that he didn’t need to use a poor man’s fire.
On the 21st of December 1668, Sayyid assisted Qazi Abdul Wahhab in marrying Aurangzeb’s son Prince Azam. On the 16th of December 1672, he was present at Prince Muhammad Sultan’s marriage.
Writings Of Mir Sayyid Muhammad Qanauji
Sayyid Qannauji is reported to have cooperated on the Fatawa-e-Alamgiri, a textbook of Islamic law commissioned by Aurangzeb in the late 1660s, alongside one of Aurangzeb’s professors, Mulla Abu’l Wa-iz.
His Son
Sayyid Sharif Khan, son of Sayyid Qannauji, was named Karori-i ganj (censor) of the imperial camp and jizya collector for the Deccan’s four provinces by Aurangzeb. Qazi Muhammad Husain, who had died, was succeeded by Sharif Khan.
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