Abul Fazl (1551-1602), an Indian scholar, was a close companion and biographer of the Mughal emperor Akbar (see Akbar). Abul Fazl was born on Jan. 14, 1551, in Agra, in what is now the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Abul Fazl’s biography of the emperor, Akbarnama (Life of Akbar), was published in 1601. It provides a detailed, sympathetic portrait of the life and times of Akbar. Abul Fazl was a skilled literary stylist in Persian. Many scholars believe he encouraged Akbar’s interest in religious matters. Akbar’s son Prince Salim, who was in revolt against his father, eventually had Abul Fazl ambushed and killed on Aug. 22, 1602.
