Maasir-i-Alamgiri is a Persian book written by Saqi Mustad Khan. It is about the life and rule of Aurangzeb. This book tells us many things about his character and his policies. It shows Aurangzeb as a very strict and religious Mughal emperor. He followed Islam very seriously and many times he ordered destruction of temples because he thought they went against his faith.
The book mentions how he banned music in his court, closed down certain practices which were common under earlier emperors, and how he imposed Jizya tax on Hindus. At the same time, it also shows his skills as a ruler. He expanded the Mughal empire to its largest size.
He fought wars in Deccan for many years. Maasir-i-Alamgiri writes about these campaigns in detail. But it also shows the negative side of his long wars. Because of this, Mughal empire became weak after his death. The book clearly praises Aurangzeb’s Islamic devotion, but for historians today it is important because it confirms that many temples were broken under his rule.
It is not just a story but a record from that time, so people use it as a main source to study him.
