Hilali Jughata’i

Hilali Jughata’i, Mawlana Badr al-Din, Nur al-Din (killed in 1528 or 1529 or 1532). A poet with the nom de plume Hilali whose lineage traced back to the Jughata’i (Chaghatai) Turks. He was born in Istarabad where he received his education. He departed his home town for Herat where he joined the audience of Amir ‘Alishir Nawa’i and under the patronage of the latter, he studied the art of poetry. He associated with the Safavid Sam Mirza, the author of Tuhfa-yi Sami. Following the death of Sultan Husayn, Herat fell into the hands of the Uzbek ‘Ubayd Allah Khan and Hilali, together with some Shi’is, or a group of people accused of Shi’ism, was executed by ‘Ubayd Allah Khan. He was first patronized by the Uzbek Khan and served as his companion, but he was envied by the courtiers and was charged with entertaining Shi’i inclinations; as a consequence of which he was cast into prison and was executed after a while in the Bazaar of Herat. He was a talented poet and some of his qasidas, comprising of eulogies on ‘Ubayd Allah Khan and the Shi’ate Imams, are extant, but his poetry is accorded further significance for his delicate ghazals which are imbued with novel themes. His works include the mathnawi of Shah wa Darwish, in 1345 couplets; the mathnawi of Sifat al-‘Ashiqin, in 1237 couplets; the mathnawi of Layla wa Majnun; Divan of poetry.

Tarikh-i Adabiyyat dar Iran (4/ 432-438).