Nur Jahan (Persian: نور جهان‎‎; Urdu: نور جهاں‎; Pashto: نور جہاں‎) (alternative spelling: Noor Jahan, Nur Jehan) (31 May 1577 – 17 December 1645) born Mehr-un-Nissa, was the twentieth and most beloved wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. She acted as his chief consort and Padshah Begum, officially from 1620-1627, after the title's previous holder, Saliha Banu Begum (the Padshah Begum for most of Jahangir's reign), had died in 1620.

Born the daughter of a Grand Vizier (Minister) who served under Akbar, Nur Jahan, meaning Light of the World, was married at age 17 to a Turkish soldier Sher Afgan, governor of Bihar, an important Mughal province. She was a married woman when Prince Jahangir, Akbar's eldest son, fell in love with her. Two years after Akbar died and Jahangir became Emperor, Sher Afgan met his death. However, three more years were to pass before a grieving Nur Jahan consented to marry the Emperor Jahangir. Although Jahangir was deeply in love with Nur Jahan, their actual story bears no resemblance to the entirely fictional legend of Anarkali, a low-born dancing girl who, according to popular folklore and film-lore, had a tragic and doomed love affair with Jahangir. In fact, the relationship between Jahangir and Nur Jahan was even more scandalous in its time than the legend of Anarkali, for Nur Jahan was a married woman when the Emperor fell in love with her.

After the wedding, Nur Jehan quickly gained ascendency over her husband. A strong, charismatic and well-educated woman who dominated a relatively weak-minded husband, Nur Jahan was the most powerful and influential woman at court during a period when the Mughal Empire was at the peak of its power and glory. More decisive and pro-active than her husband, she is considered by historians to have been the real power behind the throne for more than fifteen years. Nur Jehan was granted certain honours and privileges which were never enjoyed by any Mughal Empress before or afterwards. She was the only Mughal Empress to have coinage struck in her name. She was often present when the Emperor held court, and even held court independently when the Emperor was unwell. She was given charge of his imperial seal, implying that her perusal and consent were necessary before any document or order received legal validity. The Emperor sought her views on most matters before issuing orders. Incidentally, the only other Mughal Empress to command the unwavering personal devotion of her husband was Nur Jehan's niece Mumtaz Mahal, who was married to Nur Jehan's step-son Shah Jehan, and for whom the Taj Mahal was built as a mausoleum. However, Mumtaz Mahal took no interest at all in affairs of state, and her husband, who loved her to distraction, is not known to have consulted her on any important matter. Nur Jehan is therefore unique in the annals of the Mughal Empire for the political influence she wielded.

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