Rafi-ud-Daulah was one of the phantom kings raised to
the Mughal throne by the powerful Sayyid Brothers, known as the
King-makers in the Mughal history. He was proclaimed Mughal emperor on 6 June 1719 by
them when the health of his predecessor Rafi-ul Darjat showed signs of decline.
Rafi-ud-Daulah, also known as Shah Jahan II, was also a mere puppet in the hands of Sayyid Hussain Ali
Khan Barha, younger of the Sayyid
brothers. He was not allowed to attend the Friday prayers. Not to speak of going out
hunting he was not even allowed to enter into any conversation with any of the
nobles.
During the reign of Rafi-ud-Daulah, a new claimant to the Mughal throne came
in the form of Niku Siyar, who was declared ruler at Agra by a rival party
opposed to Sayyid
brothers. Niku Siyar was the son of Auragzeb’s rebel son
Akbar. However, Niku Siyar was defeated and sent to prison where he had spent
most of his early life.
Rafi-ud-Daulah died on 17 September 1719. He is buried near the shrine of Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki in Mehrauli in Delhi.