MUNTAKHAB ULLUBAB, lit. selected (records) of the wise and pure, is a history of India written in Persian with an Arabic title by Muhammad Hashim or Hashim `Ali Khan, better known as Khafi Khan. Completed in 1722, the work was edited and printed by Maulawi KahTr ud Din in Calcutta sometime during 1768-74. Extensive extracts translated into English arc included in H.M. Elliot andJ. Dowson, The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians, vol. VII, as also in William Erskine, History of India under Babar and Humayun.
The author was the son of Khwaja Mir, also historian, who had held a high station under Prince Murad, younger brother of Aurarig/Tb, and who continued service under the latter after the murder of his master. Muhammad Hashim, as he came of age, was put on various civil and military assignments by Emperor Aurarigzib (1658-1707). He continued to serve until the reign of Farrukh Siyar (1716-19) and was later a diwdn or minister under Nawab Chin Qilich Khan Nizam ulMulk, the founder Nizam of Hyderabad. The family is believed to have originally immigrated from Khwaf, a country town near Nishapur in Khurasan.
whence Hashim adopted his title Khafi (or more correctly Khwafi) Khan. The contents of Muntakhab ul Lubdb may be divided into three parts: the first deals with local dynasties up to the Lodhis; the second comprises a brief chronicle of the house of Taimur the Lame (d. 1405) up to Emperor Akbar including the Sur interlude; and the third and the most important part of the work covers almost a century and a quarter following the death of Akbar in 1605.
The author claims that the account of the last 53 years (1669-1722) was based on his personal observations or on the verbal testimony of people who had been witnesses to the events. The book is a valuable contemporary source of information about the period of Guru Gobind Singh and Banda Singh Bahadur. Upon Khafi Khan`s evidence, Aurarigzib had ordered that the Guru`s deputies, i.e. masands, be removed and the Sikh temples razed to the ground; when Emperor Bahadur Shah (1707-12) marched towards the Deccan, Guru Gobind Singh accompanied him with two or three hundred horsemen bearing spears; the death of the Guru was caused by a daggerstab.
About Banda Singh, Khafi Khan uses very harsh and abusive language, but admits that the government forces were unable to stand the onslaughts of the Sikhs in several parts of the Punjab. He also alludes to Banda Singh`s practice of writing to Mughal faujddrs to surrender before actually attacking them, to a code of conduct strictly followed by Sikh warriors, and to a proper, though shortlived, civil administration set up by Banda Singh in territories he had conquered. His contumelious tone notwithstanding, Khaft Khan pays tribute to the Sikhs` determination and daring, especially during their nocturnal attacks on the imperial forces and their deadly sallies when besieged. He has also recorded the heroic story of a young Sikh captive who refused to be spared the fate his comrades had met with despite the fact that his mother had obtained a royal decree for his release.
References :
1. Khafi Khan, Muhammad Hashim, Muntakhab-ul-Lubab. Calcutta, 1874
2. John Dowson, J. and Elliot, Sir Henry M., History of India as told by its own Historians. London, 1877
Muntakhab ul-Lubab is a literary work that serves as an anthology—a “selected essence”—of narratives and poetic passages drawn from a period of upheaval and heroic resistance in Sikh history. The work compiles carefully chosen extracts that depict episodes of martial valor, spiritual fervor, and the dynamic interplay between political exigency and religious devotion. Much like its contemporaries in Punjabi and Persian literary traditions, the text is structured in a series of cantos and verses that blend historical record with the emotive and artistic flourishes characteristic of the era.
Notably, Muntakhab ul-Lubab focuses on key events and prominent figures whose actions illustrate both the martial exploits and the inherent ethical and spiritual dimensions of their struggle. The work not only recounts battles and political maneuverings but also weaves in contemplative reflections that elevate the Sikh Gurus’ leadership as divinely ordained—a duality that presents physical and moral courage as interlinked virtues.
Literary and Linguistic Characteristics:
The title itself—“Muntakhab ul-Lubab”—reveals much about its character. “Muntakhab” (meaning “selected”) and “Lubab” (meaning “the essence”) indicate that the text is not intended as an exhaustive history but rather as a distillation of the most impactful moments. Written in a mix of languages that might include Persian, Braj, and Punjabi, the style reflects the diverse cultural milieu of North India during the time, where Persian literary conventions blended with regional idioms to create a work both erudite and accessible.
Historical and Cultural Context:
This text emerges at a time when the Sikh community was not only contending with external forces but also actively shaping its collective identity. By chronicling the deeds of valor and episodes of divine guidance, Muntakhab ul-Lubab positions the Sikh struggle within a larger framework of historical resistance. Its narratives are not mere chronicle; they are meant to inspire, serving as a reminder of a period when martial prowess and spiritual integrity went hand in hand. This synthesis of the temporal and the spiritual was central to Sikh identity, imbuing the text with both patriotic zeal and devotional intensity.
Impact and Scholarly Value:
For historians and literary scholars alike, the work is a valuable document. Its poetic depictions of battles and the personal valor of Sikh warriors provide insight into how these events were remembered and mythologized. Furthermore, the work’s dual emphasis—celebrating both the physical combat and the moral imperatives of the times—offers a layered perspective on the evolution of Sikh thought during periods of conflict. In doing so, Muntakhab ul-Lubab contributes to a deeper understanding of how literary expression can serve as both a historical record and a medium for transmitting cultural values.
Stylistic Observations:
The text is characterized by vivid imagery and metaphor. Passages that describe the heat of battle, the clash of swords, and the resolute spirit of fighters are interspersed with meditative stanzas that invoke divine sanction and the moral duty of the faithful. This oscillation between action and reflection is emblematic of a broader literary trend in the period—a trend that sought to elevate the human experience of struggle into a timeless saga of honor and sacrifice.
