Ibrahim Adil Shah I (; ) was
sultan
Sultan (; ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be use ...
of the Indian
Sultanate of Bijapur. He succeeded his elder brother,
Mallu Adil Shah, through the machinations of the Afaqi faction at the court. He was the first Adil Shahi ruler to assume the royal title of
Shah
Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the leaders of numerous Per ...
.
Faith
Having a strong penchant for
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any Succession to Muhammad, successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr ...
, the religion of most Deccani Muslims—on his accession he deleted the names of the twelve
Shi'ah Imams from the Khutbah (Friday prayer sermon), discontinued previous Shia practices and restored the exercise of the
Sunni Islamic practices. He deviated from the traditions of his predecessors and introduced many innovations in the political and religious policies. He degraded most of the afaqi faction (with a few exceptions), and in their place enrolled the
Deccani (including the
Maratha
The Marathi people (; Marathi: , ''Marāṭhī lōk'') or Marathis (Marathi: मराठी, ''Marāṭhī'') are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are native to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-A ...
s and
Habashis) to the services, retaining only four hundred afaqi troops as his bodyguard. Consequently, he brought
Sunni Muslim
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Musli ...
s to power and ended Shia domination by dismissing them from their posts and many
Maratha
The Marathi people (; Marathi: , ''Marāṭhī lōk'') or Marathis (Marathi: मराठी, ''Marāṭhī'') are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are native to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-A ...
s acquired great influence at his court and public accounts began to be maintained in
Marathi
Marathi may refer to:
*Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India
**Marathi people (Uttar Pradesh), the Marathi people in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
*Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Mar ...
.
Policies
Ibrahim's anti-afaqi policy, however, considerably weakened the kingdom as the dismissed personnel joined the service of the neighbouring rulers. This exposed the kingdom to a series of invasions. Yet it was the veteran afaqi leader
Asad Khan Lari (buried in
Belgaum
Belgaum (Kannada ISO 15919, ISO: ''Bēḷagāma'', ), officially known as Belagavi (also Belgaon), is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located near its northern western border in the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters ...
), who acting as a diplomatic counselor to Ibrahim, saved the kingdom in the hour of crisis.
Reign
The reign of Ibrahim, which lasted twenty-four years and a few months, was full of alliances and counter-alliances with and against
Ahmadnagar,
Bidar
Bidar ( ) is a city and headquarters of the Bidar district in Karnataka state of India. Bidar is a prominent place on the archaeological map of India, it is well known for architectural, historical religious and rich heritage sites. Pictures ...
,
Berar,
Golkonda
Golconda is a fortified citadel and ruined city located on the western outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparudra in the 11th century out of mud walls. It was ceded to the Bahmani ...
and
Vijayanagar. Although there were continuous expeditions, little territorial expansion was made, for gains in one direction were compensated by loss on the other side. Thus while
Bidar
Bidar ( ) is a city and headquarters of the Bidar district in Karnataka state of India. Bidar is a prominent place on the archaeological map of India, it is well known for architectural, historical religious and rich heritage sites. Pictures ...
was conquered,
Solapur
Solapur () is a city located in the south-western region of the States and Territories of India, Indian state of Maharashtra, close to its border with Karnataka. Solapur is located on major highway, rail routes between Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore ...
and
Kalyani were lost to
Ahmadnagar. On the other hand, considerable acquisitions were made in the south along the west coast. The farthest point of Bijapur territory now extended south of
Goa. Further, though
Golkonda
Golconda is a fortified citadel and ruined city located on the western outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparudra in the 11th century out of mud walls. It was ceded to the Bahmani ...
was not subdued, the
Bijapur army was able to reach the walls of
Golkonda
Golconda is a fortified citadel and ruined city located on the western outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparudra in the 11th century out of mud walls. It was ceded to the Bahmani ...
fort and return triumphantly.
Death
Ibrahim was buried near the famous
Sufi
Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism.
Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
saint Chandah Hussaini Ashrafi in Gogi, where his father, Ismail and grandfather
Yusuf
Yusuf ( ') is a male name meaning " God increases" (in piety, power and influence).From the Hebrew יהוה להוסיף ''YHWH Lhosif'' meaning " YHWH will increase/add". It is the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew name Yosef and the English na ...
were also buried. On his mausoleum is an inscription of the names of Allah, Muhammad, the
Rashidun Caliphs, and other
Sahaba
The Companions of the Prophet () were the Muslim disciples and followers of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who saw or met him during his lifetime. The companions played a major role in Muslim battles, society, hadith narration, and governance ...
.
See also
*
Adil Shahi–Portuguese conflicts
References
* ''Wakiyate Mamlakate Bijapur'' by Basheeruddin Dehelvi.
* ''Tareekhe Farishta'' by Kasim Farishta
* External Relation of Bijapur Adil Shahis.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adil Shah, Ibrahim
Year of birth missing
1558 deaths
Sultans of Bijapur
16th-century Indian monarchs
Converts to Sunni Islam from Shia Islam