Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/388

 332 AURANGZIB the worthy habits, and the refined morals of that most virtuous monarch, Abu-1-Muzaffar Muhi-ad-din Moham- mad Aurangzib Alamgir, according as he has witnessed them with his own eyes. The emperor, a great worshipper of God by natural propensity, is remarkable for his rigid attachment to religion. Having made his ablutions, he always occu- pies a great part of his time in adoration of the Deity and says the usual prayers, first in the mosque and then at home, both in the congregation and in private, with the most heartfelt devotion. He keeps the ap- pointed fasts on Fridays and other sacred days and reads the Friday prayers in the Jami' Masjid of Delhi with the common people of the Mohammedan faith. He keeps vigils during the whole of the sacred nights, and illumines with the light of the favour of God the lamp of religion and prosperity. Because of his great piety, he passes whole nights in the mosque which is in his palace and keeps com- pany with men of devotion. In privacy he never sits on a throne. Before his accession he gave away in alms a portion of his allowance of lawful food and clothing, and now devotes to the same purpose the income of a few villages in the district of Delhi, as well as the proceeds of two or three salt-producing tracts which are appropriated to his privy purse. The princes also follow the same example. During the entire month of Ramazan he keeps the fast, says the prayers appointed for that season, and reads the holy Koran in the assem- bly of religious and learned men, with whom he sits