Zeb-un-Nissa

Zēb-un-Nisā
Shahzadi of the Mughal Empire
The Imperial princess Zeb-un-Nisa
Born	15 February 1638 Daulatabad, Mughal Empire
Died	26 May 1702(1702-05-26) (aged 64) Delhi, Mughal Empire
Burial	Sikandra, Agra
House	House of Timur
Mother	Dilras Banu Begum
Religion	Islam

Zēb-un-Nisā (Persian: زیب النساء مخفی‎‎)*(Ornament of Womankind)(15 February 1638 – 26 May 1702) was an Imperial Princess of the Mughal Empire as the eldest child of Emperor Aurangzeb (3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707) and his Empress consort Dilras Banu Begum. She was also a poet, who wrote under the pen name "Makhfi" (مخفی, "Hidden One"). Imprisoned by her father in the last 20 years of her life at Salimgarh Fort, Delhi, Princess Zeb-un-Nissa is remembered as a poet, and her writings were collected posthumously as Diwan-i-Makhfi.

Shazadi Zeb-un-Nissa Begum Sahiba, the eldest child of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (known as Alamgeer), was born during the reign of her grandfather, Emperor Shah Jahan (15 January 1592 – 31 January 1666). Her mother was Dilras Banu Begum, daughter of Mirza Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi (titled Shah Nawaz Khan), and a princess of the prominent Safavid dynasty, the ruling dynasty of Iran (Persia). Zeb-un-Nissa was her father's favourite child, and because of this she could compel him to pardon people who had offended him.

Her father charged Hafiza Mariam, one of the women of the court, with the education of Zeb-un-Nisa. Emperor Aurangzeb paid the princely sum of 30,000 gold pieces to the ustad bi for having taught his cherished daughter well. She seems to have inherited her father's keenness of intellect and literary tastes because Zeb-un-Nissa memorised the Quran in three years and became a Hafiz at age seven. This occasion was celebrated by her father with a great feast and public holiday. The princess was also given a reward of 30,000 gold pieces by her delighted father. Zeb-un-Nisa then learned the sciences of the time with Mohammad Saeed Ashraf Mazandarani. She learned philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, literature, and was a mistress of Persian, Arabic and Urdu. She was also appointed at teacher named miyabai and learned Arabic in four years. She had a good reputation in calligraphy as well. Zebunnissa father place her under Mulla Said Ashraf Mazanddrani who was a great Persian poet. Her library surpassed all other private collections, and she employed many scholars on liberal salaries to produce literary works at her bidding or to copy manuscripts for her. Zebunissa's library was inspired by Akbar's collection, which had the Qur'an, Hindu and Jaina scriptures, Greek Methology, Persian texts, travel accounts of the scholarly Alberuni, translations of the Bible and contemporary writing about her ancestors. Her library also provided literary works each subject, such as law literature, history and theology. Zebunnissa was a kind- hearted person and always helped people in need. She helped widows and orphans. Not only did she help people but every year she sent pilgrims to Mecca and Medina. Zebunnissa also took an interest in music and it was said that she was the best singer among the women of her time. Zebunnissa was skilled in the use of arms and several times took part in war.