Khan Zaman Khan Ali Asghar

Ali Asghar (1673 – 30 January 1743) was one of the prominent Emirs and noblemen during the Mughal Empire. He was entitled 'Khan Zaman Khan Bahadur' by Emperor Farrukhsiyar. He remained in many important posts during the successive rules of Bahadur Shah I, Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Rafi ud Darajat, Shah Jahan II and Muhammad Shah.

The fort at Ferozepur Jhirka was built by him. He died in Shahjahanbad (Delhi) on 4 Dhu al-Hijjah 1155 AH/30 January 1743 at the age of 70 years.

Biography Ali Asghar was the son of Kartalab Khan Bahadur Shahi Qazi Ghulam Mustafa and Bibi Rasti, a daughter of Qazi Syed Rafi Mohammad. He was Mansabdar Punj Hazari (5,000) Emir.

His forefathers were settled in Ferozepur Jhirka for a long time and made a big estate (riyasat) in that town. His grandfather Dewan Shaikh Asaf and great grandfather Dewan Maskeen raised both name and fame. They were chief revenue officers of the province Mewat and were entitled Dewan by the Mughals.

In Shahnama Munawwar, he was mentioned as a "Mewati Ansari Khanzada" as he was the son of 'Nawab Kartalab Khan', hence 'Khanzada' and belonged to the family 'Ansar' of Medina, hence 'Ansari'. His mother was the daughter of Syed Rafi Mohammad, a Sayyid of Gurgaon, Haryana.

Nawab Khan Zaman Khan Bahadur handed over the keys of the Red Fort along with some treasures to Bahadur Shah I on 1 Rabi' al-awwal, when the emperor was staying near Delhi

Nawab Khan Zaman Khan Bahadur along with some other nobles like Muhammad Khan Bangash, Mir Musharraf and Chabila Ram Nagar came with the treasure to join prince Izzuddin (Prince Azzu-ud-Din/Izz-ud-Din Bahadur) son of Jahandar Shah

In the book, 'Muraqqa'e Dehli' or 'The Delhi Album' or 'The Delhi during Muhammad Shah', a great detail of Nawab Khan Zaman Khan Bahadur's life and works are mentioned

Awards and honours Shah Alam I alias Bahadur Shah I in his third Juloos (royal procession / parade) on 16 Jumada al-awwal awarded Khalat-e Barani

Marriage and children He was first married to the sister of Islam Khan V also the daughter of Abdul Khaliq, son of Barkhurdar Khan I. His second wife was Shah Bibi, daughter of Qazi Syed Asadullah of Rewari and maternal granddaughter of Abdul Hadi, son of Qazi Ibrahim of Tijara.