MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1680

Shaykh ‘Abd Al-Qadir Jilani (1077-1166 AD) was born in the province of Gilan, south of Baghdad, in Iraq. His father is thought to be a descendent of Hasan, and his mother, a descendent of Husayn, making him both a Hasani and Hussayni Sayyid. At the age of eighteen he went to Baghdad to study. After completing his education, he spent twenty-five years as a recluse wandering the desert regions of Iraq. He is known to have founded the prestigious Qadriyyah Sufi order. The order is the most widespread of the Sufi Orders and by the end of the fifteenth century it had spread to most of the Islamic world, including India.

Depictions of Sufi saints were common in 17th century Mughal painting. Akbar was widely admired for his interest and tolerance of other faiths. After Akbar, Jahangir continued his father’s policy of religious tolerance. Shah Jahan’s elder son, Prince Dara Shikoh had a keen interest in Sufism and mystical aspects of religion and is known to have often frequented gatherings of holy men. He commissioned Mughal artists to paint portraits of ascetics and dervishes and is often himself the subject, seated amidst Sufis. There is a 17th century example, painted by the Mughal artist, depicting Dara Shikoh visiting the Sufi saints Mian Mir of Lahore and Mullah Shah of Badakshan, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv.no. IM.250-1921).