A Brief Sketch on Muhammad Saleh Kamboh

To: Usthad Salim Hudawi

From: Minnath Alam

Ad.No: U-842
Roll No. 14
Class: U10

DARUL HUDA ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

 This is a short pamphlet about a prominent game changer
historian Muhammad Saleh Kamboh

Contents
Muhammad Saleh Kamboh 0
Introduction: 0
Saleh as a Great Usthad 0
As a Great Mansabdar and Commander 1
Death 1
Historian and Poet 1
Amal-i-Salih: 1
Some Historical Facts from Amal-i-Salih 1
As a Calligraphist 2
Bahar-e-Sukan 2
The Lahore Number of Naqoosh mentions ShahJahan Nama thus: 2
Taj Mahal 2
Dara Shikoh 3
Bahar e Sukhan 3
The Third Part 3
The Fourth Part 3
Conclusion 4

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 Muhammad Saleh Kamboh
Introduction:
This pamphlet will discuss an interesting and extraordinary Lahori character, the name is in
the title. Muhammad Saleh Kamboh, or Salih Kambu was quite obviously of Kamboh lineage,
mainly a scribe during the reign of Shah Jahan, a lucrative career in those days. His work
Amal-i-Salih or Shah Jahan Nama is described as being “valuable history” and having a good
reputation by Henry Miers Elliot who compiled History told India as told by its own Historians
series. Apart from that he was known for being a poet in both Persian & Hindi.

Saleh as a Great Usthad

Another, very interesting assignment that the Kamboh Lahori held was being a tutor to the future
Emperor Aurangzeb along with another Punjabi Muslim standout, the eventual Jatt Grand Vizier
of the Mughal Empire, Saadullah Khan of Chiniot, Punjab. To be clear there were others who
contributed to Aurangzeb’s education, but one has to wonder the extent of influence these
Muslim scholars had on Aurangzeb’s Orthodox views. This also explains why Saleh was critical
of Dara Sikoh, who would go up against Aurangzeb for the throne.

As a Great Mansabdar and Commander

In terms of prestige, it can’t be argued that it was being in charge of his home, the Lahore
Province’s Finance Ministry that was pinnacle of his career, the brother Inayatullah Kamboh was
the Deputy to Lahore Subedar, but would renounce worldly life.He was a Mughal noble or
“mansabdar” with a rank of 500 soldiers.The Saleh Kamboh Mosque or “Chinian Wali Masjid”
in Lahore is a monument that he left behind in 1659.
It is told that Kamboh fought as a commander of 500 soldiers in Assam-Bengal border against
Ahom tribe, one of the powerful tribes of India, during the fighting he was killed there.

Death
He passed away in 1664 and is buried in Lahore, Lehnda Punjab & the cause of his death being
killed in the Assam campaign.

Historian and Poet

His historical treatise Shahjahan Nama is the most renowned one, which totally exposes the
every steps of Shah jahan and his contemporaries, it also consists of details of Taj Mahal in
impressive writings.
Muhammad Saleh was known as a poet by the Persian title Kashfi and by Arabic Subhan and is
also stated to be an accomplished Urdu singer.

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Amal-i-Salih:
Mullah Muhammad Saleh Kamboh’s Amal-i- Salih, also known as Shah Jahan Nama has been
translated into many languages. It is a detailed account of the life of Shah Jahan from his
childhood to his demise. The book is one of the most important original sources of events during
Shah Jahan’s reign. It also includes information on Shah Jahan’s predecessors (Akbar and
Jahangir) and a collection of the biographies of the Sufis and other notable contemporaries of
Shah Jahan.

Some Historical Facts from Amal-i-Salih

As regards Amal-i-Salih, by Muhammad Saleh Kamboh was the masterpiece of Shah Jhan’s rule.
He covered every bit of Shah Jahan’s life from birth to death. This book has three volumes. Saleh
mentioned every major and minor event of Shah Jahan’s rule in detail.
He was quite neutral in writing flaws of Mughals and their weakness without fear of court.
Another important book of his time was Padsha Nama by Abdul Majeed Lahori. This book
contains rule of Shah Jahan. It has four volumes. First two were written by Abdul Majeed Lahori
later, due to illness, he entrusted this task to his ablest student Maulvi Muhammad Waris who
completed the third volume. Whereas, last volume was written by Muhammad Saleh.
Actually, last volume was the summary of his famous book Amal-i-Salih.

As a Calligraphist

Muhammad Saleh, noted as a calligraphist of his time, says in Amal-e-Saleh. Mir Muhamad
Saleh and his brother Mir Muhammad Mumin, were the sons of Muhamad Abdulla Mushkin
kalam. Titled as to be a fine writer. Muhammad Saleh was known as poet by the Persian name
Kashafi and in Hindi Subhan , Both brothers were excellent writers as well as had beautiful
voice. In Amal-e-saleh written by Muhammad Saleh wrote in a highly rhetorical way. His style
of writing and architecture described by him in Bahar-e-Sukhan, Both monuments made a
distinct and powerful impression on the observer because of their intricate expression.

Bahar-e-Sukan

In Bahar-e- Sukan, Saleh Kumbho writes about proportion and harmony. It is the key feature of
Islamic traditional calligraphy. This speciality of his traditional style is maintained almost in all
of his works present today; the manuscript which is a part of Murraqa present at metropolitan
museum is a fine example of style and Muhammad Saleh style of writing has intermingled
arabesque design which makes it grid like effect. It is clear from Muhammad Saleh works that he
was a fine writer having traditional Persian style, with expert dealing in nastʾlique to other form
of calligraphy styles.

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The Lahore Number of Naqoosh mentions ShahJahan Nama thus:

‘In Persian prose, the book holds the position of a masterpiece… The life events of many
personalities of that era have been included in this [book] that are not contained in other
accounts. As an important source of the history of Shah Jahan era, this book can never be
considered ordinary or ignored. This book was published by Asiatic Society Bengal. Now
Anjuman Taraqqi e Adab Lahore has also published this book’.

Taj Mahal

One of the highlights of the Shah Jahan era is its magnificent architecture. Mullah Saleh has also
described it. His description of the Taj Mahal is so detailed that one can feel the majesty and
grandeur of the building. From the structure of the mausoleum to the landscaping of the
surrounding gardens and from the style of calligraphy to the elegance of the fountains; every
aspect is covered in his account.

Dara Shikoh

Shah Jahan Nama also has an in-depth account of Prince Dara Shikoh’s bid for the throne. He
was the eldest born of Shah Jahan and the heir apparent. The book follows his efforts to win the
throne, his fights and flights, his defeat and capture and finally his brutal execution on the orders
of Aurangzeb. The author has penned a heart rending description of Shah Jahan’s anguish on
learning of the execution of Dara Shikoh.

Owing to his knowledge and aptitude, Mulla Saleh was appointed the Dewan (minister) of
Lahore. His stature as a writer and a scholar is unquestioned. In addition to Shah Jahan Nama he
penned numerous noteworthy books. About these, Naqoosh says:

Bahar e Sukhan

‘Bahar e Sukhan is another inimitable book by Mullah Muhammad Saleh. Maulana Shibli has
called it Baharistan e Sukhan, but other accounts call it Bahar e Sukhan. It is considered one of
the best specimens of Mullah Saleh’s Persian prose.

Bahar e Sukhan consists of four parts. The first part has letters of Sultans and nobles. The
second part contains personal letters of the scribe. The third part puts in picture the buildings of
Shah Jahan Abad, Agra and Lahore in ornate and sophisticated language. In the fourth part

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reviews of the publications of that time are included. The third and the fourth parts are especially
important’.

The Third Part

The third part describes architecture and the related terms of this art. This was an age of
exceptional Bronze Work. Specimens of this craft that we find in this period can’t be found in
other eras. Mullah Saleh compiled quite useful information about this art but few have taken
appropriate advantage of this treasure trove of information.

The Fourth Part

The fourth part gives an insight about several authors who are not mentioned elsewhere as they
were his relatives or acquaintances. When we assemble the history of literature of that era, his
book cannot be ignored. It must be considered as an important source of information.

Conclusion

Mullah Saleh was a multi-talented person. Some historians say that he was a great calligrapher
and that he adorned some of the buildings with his own calligraphy but these accounts need to be
further authenticated. In addition to being a writer and a historian he also got many buildings
constructed. He built an exquisite mosque inside Mochi Gate, which is considered the second
most important mosque after Masjid Wazeer Khan, as far as Kashi Kari (glazed tile work) is
concerned.