A'la ul-Mulk, Qazi

   An uncle of the historian Ziya' Barani who had served in the entourage of Malik 'Ali Garshasp (later Sultan 'Ala al-Din Khalji, 1296-1316) in Kara and Awadh until 1296. He was summoned to Delhi to become a commandant (kotwal) after 'Ala al-Din had established his control there. A'la ul-Mulk is reported to have advised the new sultan to confiscate elephants, horses, and wealth possessed by the Hindu local chiefs. To 'Ala al-Din's question if it was advisable for him to establish a new religion, A'la ul-Mulk firmly retorted, "The prophetic office has never appertained to kings, and never will, as long as the world lasts."