He was the son of Taqarrab Khan Hakim Da'ud[2]. He was born in Persia. His father, who was an exceptionally clever physician, long served Shah Jahan, and received royal favours as a reward for his skill and was raised to the dignity of an Amir. Muhammad Ali also was granted the rank of 1,000. After Aurangzib's accession when the victorious army returned to the Capital from the Panjab, Muhammad Ali was granted the title of Khan. As Taqarrab Khan had for treatment been kept in attendance on the King (Sha Jahan), who had been deprived of the sovereignty, Aurengzib for some reason became displeased[3] with him, and censured him. The son also, in view of his following his father, was deprived of his rank and fell out of royal favour. When in the 5th year the father died a natural death, the son was awarded a robe of honour as in instance of his restoration to royal favour, and granted the rank of 1,500 with 200 horse. In the 17th year on the death of Hakim Salih Khan he was appointed Superintendent of the Furriery[4] (Kar Karaqkhana), and his rank was increased to 2,000 with 1,000 horse, Later he was made Superintendent of the China-ware department (Chini Khana).
As he had been found trustworthy, careful, capable and skilful, he was, before
the march to Ajmer appointed to the high office of Khan-i-Saman in succession to
Ruh Ullah Khan. His good qualities, such as his integrity, truthfulness,
righteous counsels and piety, gained him a place in the King's heart, and he
became the most trusted of his compeers, and he became an object of envy even to
the Amirs. At the time of the siege of Golconda, before it fell, he died[5] on
18th Rajab 1098 A.H. (10th May, 1687 A.D.). He was distinguished for his skill
in physiognomy, wisdom, magnanimity[6] and high-minded-ness. He was scrupulously
honest, and exercised great care in looking after the royal property. He was
very affable, and whoever approached him was gratified. He was also very pious
and very abstinent. He spent his days in prayer and fasting. He was always
reciting chapters of the Qur'an. Ni'mat Khan, the satirist (Haft) jestingly
designated him as a dry ascetic and a hypocritical devout. Presumably when
Muhammad Ali held the superintendencies in connection with the post of the Khan-i-Saman,
he kept Ni'mat Khan at a distance, and that is why the latter has relieved his
mind about him. Muhammad Ali used to wear a large turban like those of the Qadis,
and Ni'mat Khan referring to it savs:
VerseYou may have plenty of grandeur in your head,
We, however, see nothing but a turban.
[1] He was the Khan-i-Saman of Aurangzib from ?
1678—May 1687. See Sir Jahanshah Sarkar, History of Aurangzib, III, p. 71.
[2] Maathir-ul-Umara, I, pp. 490-493 and Yazdani's edition of 'Amal-i-Salih
Ill, pp. 395, 396.
[3] See Maathir-ul-Umara, I, p. 493. In Maathir-i-Alamgi, p. 42, it is
stated that Muhammad Ali Khan, the son of Hakim Da'ud, who had been deprived
owing to the Emperor being annoyed with his father, was restored to favour,
and was granted a mourning Khil'at and the rank of 1,500 with 200
[4] These appointments are mentioned in Maathir-i-'Alamgm, pp. 131, 165.
[5] Op. cit., p. 297.
[6] Buzurgi in the Text, which may also mean saintliness
Additional notes:
He was given the title of Khan in Aurengzeb's 42 year or 1660 (Alamgir-Nameh Mohammad Kazim Ibn-i-Mohammad Page 232), and return to favour: Alamgir-Nameh Page 757
The English had a vested interest in denying the Persian nature of what is
called the Mughal rule in India (Turco-Persian). The customs and titles
mentioned here were all Persian. Take footnote for instance, the work Khil'at is
really Khetat خلعت which in
Persian Court custom was a reward of fine clothing by the
Shah.