Biography of Aurangzeb

[Ghulam e Mustafa]

Can anyone know the authentic book about bio of aurangzeb

 

[abu Hasan]

authentic book about bio of aurangzeb

histories/biographies are generally tinged with the personal opinions and prejudices of the biographer/historian.
unless of course, written by upright scholars known for piety and truthfulness.

reading between an admirer's hagiography and the diatribe of a slandering critic, the truth lies somewhere in between.

one thing is consistent though across all narratives: he was a pious man with an unimpeachable character (though orientalists sneak in negative adjectives to undermine that). and for me as a muslim, that is far more admirable attribute than gaining accolades from worldly people. we were taught at a very young age not to accept the history taught in schools and that both mahmud of ghazni and aurangazib alamgir were pious and upright muslims, who deserve to be respected. many summers ago, though my memory is hazy, i can recollect a conversation with my father who was visibly upset at a description in my history book that aurangazeb was a "bigot".

it is coincidental, that an interesting article, from last week talks about aurangazib.

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some english works on history of aurangazib from the 19/20th century:
vol.1: https://archive.org/details/historyofaurangz01sarkuoft
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/historyofaurangz01sarkuoft/historyofaurangz01sarkuoft.pdf

vol.2: https://archive.org/details/historyofaurangz02sarkuoft
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/historyofaurangz02sarkuoft/historyofaurangz02sarkuoft.pdf


this particular work is very useful for its bibliography that lists important sources for his work. you can find the bibliography in the second volume.

jadu sark's translation of ma'asir e alamgiri, a history by aurangazib's contemporary.

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.61973
PDF: https://archive.org/download/in.ernet.dli.2015.61973/2015.61973.Maasir-i--Alamgiri-1947.pdf

another ver: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.280826
PDF (225MB): https://archive.org/download/in.ernet.dli.2015.280826/2015.280826.Maasir-I.pdf

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a selection of anecdotes:
https://archive.org/details/AnecdotesOfAurangzeb
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/AnecdotesOfAurangzeb/AnecdotesOfAurangzib.pdf

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this is by the orientalist stanley-lane poole (edward william lane's nephew)
https://archive.org/details/aurangzibdecayof00laneuoft
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/aurangzibdecayof00laneuoft/aurangzibdecayof00laneuoft.pdf

according to his own admission bernier's "travels" is the most contemporary history of aurangazeb; translated by archibald constable (cited oft in poole's work).

https://archive.org/details/ldpd_6093710_000
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/ldpd_6093710_000/ldpd_6093710_000.pdf

brock's translation upon which the above was expanded:

vol.1: https://archive.org/details/travelsinmogule00brocgoog
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/travelsinmogule00brocgoog/travelsinmogule00brocgoog.pdf


vol.2: https://archive.org/details/travelsinmogule01brocgoog
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/travelsinmogule01brocgoog/travelsinmogule01brocgoog.pdf

this is an english translation of bernier's work in the year 1684. (aurangazeb aalamgir had not passed away)

https://archive.org/details/collectionsoftra15tave
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/collectionsoftra15tave/collectionsoftra15tave.pdf

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a vindication of aurangazib alamgir:
https://archive.org/details/AVindicationOfAurangzebBySadiqAli
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/AVindi...Ali/AVindicationOfAurangzebBySadiqAli1916.pdf

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https://archive.org/details/mughalempirefrom032770mbp
direct PDF download:
https://archive.org/download/mughalempirefrom032770mbp/mughalempirefrom032770mbp.pdf
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[Ghulam e Mustafa]

how to download it

 

[abu Hasan]

uh, ok. i have fixed all those links below with direct download links.

however, here is the general procedure for all downloads on archive.org: right click on the PDF link in the block on the right and save. in certain cases on archive.org, the PDF link is not available on this page, click on the SHOW-ALL, you may find it listed there.

 

[abu Hasan]

http://sunniport.com/index.php?threads/alamghir-was-not-following-hanafi-madhab.13512/

 

[abu Hasan]

this is one of the rare articles in our time concerning aurangazeb alamgir, in which the author sincerely tries to approach the subject without prejudice. that she falls a little short, like almost all orientalists, can be ignored in this otherwise good piece.

most orientalists and non-muslims do not understand the ethos of the muslim and they try to measure, criticise and judge muslims by their own values, standards and biases.

anyway, good read:

https://aeon.co/essays/the-great-aurangzeb-is-everybodys-least-favourite-mughal

 

[Juwayni]

As Salāmu ʿAlaykum,

this is one of the rare articles in our time

After reading that article, I saw the claim that Mughal brothers killed or exiled each other for the throne. Is it this true or is it one of the many lies that Orientalists spin?

 

[abu Hasan]

I saw the claim that Mughal brothers killed or exiled each other for the throne

there were wars of succession. we know that the brothers of aurangazeb were not religious and if he fought and killed them, for a just kingdom, it is justified. else you would have profligates as kings, who would sacrifice islam at the altar of power and luxury and cause immense damage to islam, like rulers have done everywhere in the world.