Islam Shah Suri: Successor of Sher Shah Suri and Second Sur Ruler

After the death of Sher Shah Suri, the founder of Sur dynasty that almost supplanted the nascent Mughal Empire resulting in the exile of the second Mughal emperor Humayun from India, he was succeeded on the throne by his second son Jalal Khan on 25th May 1545 AD. Sher Shah died on 22nd May from an accidental explosion of gunpowder during his siege of the Hindu fort of Kalinjar in central India. Since it was felt by the nobles of the empire that someone was needed to be raised to the throne as early as possible they forsake his eldest son Adil Khan in favour of Jalal Khan who was in the town of Rewah which was nearer to Kalinjar than Ranthambore where the eldest son was present at the time of Sher Shah’s demise.

Jalal Khan ascended the throne with the title of Islam Shah though he is more popularly known as Salim Shah. The fort he built in Delhi is also known as Salimgarh Fort, lying adjacent to the Red Fort built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the builder of Taj Mahal.

A ruined mosque inside Salimgarh Fort / Image Credit

Though Islam Shah Suri tried to be an efficient ruler to some extent but he remained in constant dread of his elder brother Adil Khan who was nominated heir apparent to the Sur Empire. However, he succeeded in defeating Adil Khan who fled the battlefield. Nothing is heard of him after that.

Islam Shah’s reign was marked by intrigues and useless quarrels. He became suspicious of the nobles and thus embarked on a reign of tyranny and brutality. He died in November 1554 in Gwalior and was buried in Sasaram in Bihar near the tomb of his father. He was succeeded by his minor son Firuz Khan, who was twelve years of age at that time. After three days Firuz was murdered by his own maternal uncle Mubariz Khan, son of Nizam Khan Sur, Sher Shah's younger brother. Mubariz Khan was the brother of Firuz Khan's mother, Bibi Bai.

Mubariz Khan ascended the throne under the title of Muhammad Adil Shah.

Key Points

Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi is the only historical account on the reign of Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri. It was written by Abbas Khan Sarwani and commissioned by third Mughal ruler Akbar whose father Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri at the battles of Chausa and Kanauj in 1540.

Tomb of Sher Shah at Sasaram was completed by Islam Shah Suri.

Tomb of Islam Shah Suri is also at Sasaram. It is one km north west of the tomb of Sher Shah's tomb.
During the rule of Islam Shah Suri, prostration was made before the vacant throne
Kamran, brother of Humayun, tried to enlist the support of Islam Shah Sur against his own brother. However, Islam Shah Sur rebuffed his request.

Incomplete Tomb of Islam Khan Tomb at Sasaram / Image Source

Bibliography

SAA Rizvi: The Wonder that was India

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