Hakim Humam

Najib al-Din Humayun (died 30 October 1595), commonly known as Hakim Humam or Hakim Hamam, was a physician (hakim) and an official in the service of the Mughal emperor Akbar. A native of Gilan in present-day Iran, he migrated to present-day India with his brothers to escape Safavid persecution. He held several positions in Akbar's service, and served as the Mughal ambassador to Abdullah Khan II of Bukhara.

Early life

Hakim Humam was a native of the Gilan region in present-day Iran. His father Mawlana 'Abdu'r Razzaq Gilani was a sadr known for drawing horoscopes. In 1566-1567, the Safavid ruler Tahmasp I imprisoned Gilan's ruler Khan Ahmad Khan. During this period, 'Abdu'r Razzaq was also imprisoned, and his sons migrated to the Mughal Empire in present-day India. They were Shia Muslims.

In Akbar's service

Humam's real name was Humayun, but when he came to Akbar's court, he called himself Humayun Quli ("slave of Humayun") out of respect for Akbar's father Humayun. Later, he changed his name to Hakim Humam.

Officially, Humam held the position of mir bakawal or bakawal begi (superintendent of the kitchen), and his performance in this role greatly impressed Akbar. Akbar appointed him to the board of authors of Tarikh-i Alfi, a history of the first thousand years of Islam. Humam also held the military rank of mansabdar of 600 soldiers. According to Abu'l-Fazl, he "was endowed with a good countenance, was a jewel of purity, and a sweet-spoken man." He is buried at the Tomb of the Hakims in present-day Pakistan.

Humam's elder son Kamal al-Din, born at Fatehpur Sikri and better known as Hakim Hadhiq, gained prominence as a poet and prose-writer.