In one of his famous works, Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi claims that the founder of _____ was a descendant of the Prophet.

The correct answer is Sayyid Dynasty.

Key Points

• The Sayyid Dynasty ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1414 to 1451 CE and was established after the decline of the Tughlaq Dynasty.
• Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi, in his famous work Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi, claimed that the founder of the Sayyid Dynasty, Khizr Khan, was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
• Khizr Khan was appointed as the governor of Multan by Timur (Tamerlane) and later established his rule in Delhi in 1414 CE.
• The dynasty is called "Sayyid" due to the belief that its rulers were Sayyids, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which is a title signifying high religious and social status in Islamic tradition.
• After Khizr Khan, his successors, including Mubarak Shah, Muhammad Shah, and Ala-ud-Din Alam Shah, ruled until the dynasty was overthrown by the Lodi Dynasty in 1451 CE.

Additional Information

• Delhi Sultanate
  • The Delhi Sultanate refers to a series of Muslim dynasties that ruled over large parts of India from 1206 to 1526 CE.
  • The Sultanate saw five main dynasties: Slave (Mamluk), Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi dynasties.
  • The Sayyid Dynasty was the fourth dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Khizr Khan
  • Khizr Khan was the founder of the Sayyid Dynasty and ruled from 1414 to 1421 CE.
  • He did not assume the title of Sultan and continued to acknowledge the suzerainty of Timur's successors in Central Asia.
  • He focused on consolidating power in Delhi and surrounding areas rather than expanding the empire.
• Significance of Sayyid Title
  • The title "Sayyid" denotes a person who claims direct lineage to the Prophet Muhammad through his grandsons Hasan and Husayn.
  • This lineage is considered sacred in Islamic culture and conveys religious and social prestige.
• Decline of the Sayyid Dynasty
  • The Sayyid Dynasty faced continuous challenges, including revolts and weakened central authority.
  • The last ruler, Ala-ud-Din Alam Shah, voluntarily abdicated the throne in favor of Bahlul Lodi in 1451 CE, marking the end of the dynasty.