Abul Fazl: The writer of the great Akbarnama

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Abul Fazl: The writer of the great Akbarnama

One of the most lovable navratnas of Akbar's court. Abul Fazl was a great scholar and advisor. A great writer who produced some of the best works like Insha-i-Abul-Fazl, Ruqa'at, and the Akbarnama. His contribution can never be overlooked when we talk about Akbar's nine gems.

Abul Fazl, the poet laureate of Akbar’s court; Image source- celebrity horoscope - Astrosage.com

Abul Fazl was born to the eminent Indian scholar Shaikh Mubarak in Agra. Being born into a royal family, he was always well trained in academics. Since he was one year old, Abul Fal has had a fantastic capacity to communicate fluently. As he grew up, he started acquiring more knowledge and was able to read and write when he was five years old. He credits his father for his success, who made him study all the branches of science. Even though he was a great scholar in his time, studying was not always easy for him, and he struggled a lot.

When he landed in school, conventional teaching became more and more difficult for him. He suffered from depression and mental instability because of this academic pressure. But he was raised like a phoenix in his college days. He studied every day without recognizing day and night, pleasure and pain, satiety and hunger. His dedication paid off, and at the age of 23, he was recognized as a great scholar. When Akbar heard about Abul Fazl, from Abul Faizi, he decided to summon him to his court.

After his death, Jahangir ascended the throne but Akbar was deeply affected and spent a few days in repentance and guilt. Abul Fazl’s tomb is said to lie in the Atri district of Madhya Pradesh. Even though Jahangir slew him but later in 1608, he appointed his son Shaik Afzal Khan as the governor of Bihar

Jahangir ascended to the throne after his death, but Akbar was severely shaken and spent a few days in regret and guilt. The grave of Abul Fazl is supposed to be in Madhya Pradesh's Atri district. Despite the fact that Jahangir assassinated him, he later, in 1608, nominated his son Shaik Afzal Khan as governor of Bihar.

As a result of his brilliance and wit, he established his place in the emperor's court. He became one of his navaratnas and supported Akbar in extending his empire. Fazl was a great poet in addition to being a brilliant scholar. He also composed the “Infallibility Decree” along with the great Akbarnama. Abul Fazl's Akbarnama, which is now the most famous biography of Akbar, earned him widespread acclaim.

The Akbarnama is a three-volume Persian work that explains Akbar's life and reign in general, with traces of Fazl's life sprinkled throughout. The first volume of the book describes the roots of Akbar’s origin, the second volume details his reign, and the most famous third volume, also known as Ain-i-Akbari, details the governance and administration.

Akbar gave Abul Fazl his first office, at Deccan where he emerged as a military commander. He gradually strengthened his position in both Akbar’s court and his heart but forged a rivalry with the future emperor, Salim or Jahangir. It was in 1602 CE that Fazl was resolving the ongoing rivalry between Akbar and his son for the throne, but the continuous conspiracies between Fazl and Salim exposed him as a conspirator in front of his eyes, and he ordered his assassination.