Abd al-Razzaq Samarqandi

Kamal al-Din Abd al-Razzaq b. Ishaq Samarqandi was a Persian historian of the Timurid court, author of Matla' al-Sa'dayn wa-Majma' al-Bahrayn. He was born in Herat in Sha'ban 816/November 1413 and died there in Jumada II 887/July-August 1482. The encyclopaedia's entry (printed heading clipped to "AL-DIN ISHAK AL-SAMARKANDI") is signed by W. Barthold and Mohammad Shafi. ¹

His father was imam and qadi of Shahrukh's camp, and Abd al-Razzaq studied at the court, where in 841/1437-8 he dedicated a commentary on al-Risala al-'Adudiyya to the king and was taken into service. He was sent as ambassador to India in 845/1441 and returned in 848/1444, and in 850/1446 he went to Gilan. He served Shahrukh's successors and was an intimate of Mirza Abu l-Qasim Babur, and in 867/1463 Sultan Abu Sa'id appointed him shaykh of Shahrukh's khanqah, a post he held until his death. ¹

The Matla' covers the years 717-875/1317-1471. It uses Hafiz-i Abru's Zubdat al-Tawarikh for the earlier period, but for 830-875/1426-1471 the encyclopaedia calls it one of the most important original sources. Volume II was completed on 17 Rabi I 875/13 September 1470, and its text was printed in Lahore in 1941-49. The article also notes that he wrote a history of Herat and its districts. ²