Islam Khan I

Shaikh Alauddin Chisti ( – 4 May 1613), popularly known as Islam Khan Chisti, was a Mughal general and the Subahdar of Bihar from 1607 to 1608 and later Bengal from 1608 till his death in 1613. Under his viceroy Mughal rule was effectively consolidated in Bengal. He transferred the capital of Bengal from Rajmahal to Sonargaon and founded the city of Jahangirnagar. He was awarded the titular name of Islam Khan by Mughal emperor Jahangir.

Early life Islam Khan was a playmate of Jahangir in childhood. Khan and Jahangir were foster cousins; Khan's paternal aunt, whose father was Salim Chisti, had been the foster mother of Jahangir. Qutubuddin Koka was Khan's first cousin also. He was first appointed as the Subahdar of Bihar. the leader of Bara-Bhuiyans and by the end of 1611 he was subdued.

Family Islam Khan had married the sister of the famous Abul Fazl, and had one son with her, Shaikh Hushang, who was given the title of Ikram Khan by Jahangir. Hushang, who was made the governor of Asir, was an oppressor, and Shah Jahan repeatedly moved him from different positions on account of his ineffective rule. At the end of his life he became an ascetic. Hushang was a married to a daughter of Sher Khan Tonvar of Khandesh, and died in 1629. Islam Khan had another known son- Shaikh Muazzam, who had been made the Faujdar of Fatehpur by Jahangir. During Shah Jahan's succession struggle he supported Dara Shikoh, and died fighting Aurangzeb in the Battle of Samugarh. He also had a brother named Shaikh Ghiyasuddin.

Death After 5 years of ruling, Islam Khan died at Bhawal in 1613. He was buried in Fatehpur Sikri and laid by the side of his grandfather Shaikh Salim Chishti.

Shaikh Alauddin Chisti's tomb in Ajmer, known as the Dargah Sharif, has become a major pilgrimage site for people of all faiths.