1 Mr os BMk Ill.
2 4^
3 <SL
4 Firoz Sh&h ITIovved his elevation to the throne of Delhi in 1351 in
5 large measure to the support of the shaikhs}
6 Firoz Shah built a large number of cities, forts, hands, mosques
7 and tombs. His cities were HisAr Firozah, Fatehabad, FirozAbad,
8 FirozAbad Harni KMrd, Tughlaqpur Kosna, Tughlaqpur Maluk-i-Makut
9 aud Jaunpur, and everywhere he erected strong places for halts in
10 travelling. His pala3es were also numerous and he erected several Lands ,
11 including the Band-i-Fath-Khan, Band-i-Malja (to which he supplied
12 Ab-i-Zamzam2), Band-i-Mahpalpur, Band-i-Shakr Khan, Band-i-SAlura,
13 Band i-Sahpanah, and Band-i-Wazirabadi He also built monasteries
14 and inns for travellers. It is recorded that he erected 120 monasteries
15 in Delhi and FirozabAd so that travellers from all parts might be
16 received as guests in each of them for three days, and so. might remain
17 for 360 days in all. Superintendents of the Sunni faith were appointed
18 to them and funds for their up-keep provided from the treasury.
19 Malik Ghazi Shahna was their chief architect, and held the gold
20 staff of office while Abdul Haq (JAhir Sundhar) had a golden axe.
21 A capable shahna (superintendent) was appointed
22 artisans. Firoz Shah repaired the tombs of former
23 the lands and villages formerly assigned to them.
24 the graves of saints and learned men of the faith
25 over each class of
26 kings and restored
27 Ho also repaired
28 In the tombs of
29 kings and saints he placed takhts (sofas or beds) of sandal wood.1* At
30 the close of his life Firoz Shah took special pains to repair mosques,
31 and appointed to each of them a muazzin and an imam . He also
32 provided for light and carpets.4
33 Firoz Shah showed much respect for saints aud whenever he rode
34 abroad he visited all those of Delhi. Towards the end of his reign^e
35 himself became maklnq; by having his head shaved like a qalandar}
36 Firoz Shah suppressed all practices forbidden by religious law,v
37 such as the painting of portraits, directing that garden scenes should be
38 painted instead. He forbade the making of images and abjured the
39 use of silver and gold vessels. He also abolished imposts which were
40 against the law such as the ddngdna, an impost levied at one danga
41 per tanka ; mushtaghal or ground rent, also called kird-zamin ; jazart ,
42 an impost on butchers at 12 jit ah 6 for every ox killed ; duri or rozi , one
43 ' levied on traders who brought grain, salt etc. into Delhi on bullocks.
44 Once they had to carry the bricks from the old cities of Delhi to
45 FirozAbad7 on bullocks. Firoz Sh4h levied jazya from the Brahmans
46 who had been exempt in former reigns. They protested but finally
47 agreed to pay it at the lowest rate, i,e. 10 tankas and 50 jitals per head.8
48 Firoz ShAh visited the tombs of the saints of Bhakkar, and
49 renewed the former grants of the people of that place. Thence ho
50 i E. H. I., Ill, pp. 275-6.
51 a Zamzam is the well at Mecca held sacred by Muhammadans.
52 3 Tdrikh-i Firoz Shahi by Shams Si raj Afif, Persian text, pp. 329-33. Takht here
53 is explained to mean the Hindi chhaparkhat—*> bod with a canopy. What the king actually
54 preseated wore canopies supported on a sandal-wood frame and pillars.
55 <Z4„ p.6H.
56 5 lb.> pp. 271-2.
57 g A jiial — Jr <1 of an anna.
58 7 Tdr(tcM*Firo% Shdhir pp. 373-78.
59 8 lb pp. 382-4,
60 762