Abdul-qadir Shah

Abdul-Qadir Ibn-i-Muluk Shah, also known as Al-Badaoni (1540–1615), son of Shaikh Muluk Shah, was born at Toda on August 21, 1540. He moved to Agra in 1558–59, where he studied under the renowned Shaikh Mubarak Nagori, alongside fellow pupils Faizi and Abu'l Fazl. Over the years, he acquired wide-ranging scholarship under some of the most respected intellectuals of the age, excelling in disciplines as varied as history, astronomy, music and theology. From an early age, he nurtured a deep fascination for history, devoting himself to reading and writing. In 1574, he entered Akbar's court with the support of Jamal Khan Qurci and Hakim Ain-ul-Mulk, and was soon appointed as an imam by the emperor. Badaoni's position at court, combined with his critical independence of mind, enabled him to produce his influential chronicle, the Muntakhabu-t-Tawarikh.