Early life Sayyed Mīr Fathullāh Shīrāzī was born and raised in Shiraz,
Safavid Iran. He received his education at the school of
Azar Kayvan. Here, he studied philosophy and logic under the guidance of Khwajah Jamaluddin Mahmud, a disciple of the logician
Jalal al-Din Davani. Shirazi furthered his knowledge in medicine, mathematics, and science under the instruction of Mir Ghayasuddin Mansur. After completing his education, Shirazi embarked on a career in education in Shiraz. Among his notable students was
Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, who served as the close confidant of the Mughal Emperor
Akbar.
Arrival in India Before Shirazi arrived in India, he served the Safavid nobility as a religious dignitary. He
migrated to India after being invited by Sultan
Ali Adil Shah I, who in turn covered his expenses for the journey. He lived in Bijapur until 1580.
Role in Akbar's Administration In 1583, Shirazi received an invitation from Mughal Emperor
Akbar and subsequently joined the imperial court in
Agra. He soon earned the title of
Amir and a rank (
mansab) of 3000. Two years later, in 1584, Akbar appointed him as the
Amin-ul-Mulk, also known as the Trustee of the State. Shirazi's first task was to reexamine and rectify the Mughal Empire's vast transaction records, which he accomplished with diligence and success. Along with his administrative work, Shirazi also undertook the task of regulating the intrinsic and bullion values of coins. He identified and corrected discrepancies in the currency, ensuring its reliability and trustworthiness. Shirazi’s skills and talents also earned him various honors and titles. In 1585 and 1587, the emperor selected him to lead diplomatic missions to the
Deccan, where he was recognized for his efforts with the title of
Azud-ud-Dawlah, or the Arm of the Emperor. He also received a horse, 5000 rupees, a robe of honor, and the office of the
Chief Sadr of Hindustan.
Death Shirazi fell ill and died during Akbar's stay in Kashmir in 1588–89. He was buried in the monastery of
Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani on the
Koh-i-Sulaiman. His closeness to Akbar can be ascertained by the fact that sources say that Akbar was deeply disturbed by his death and stated the following: ==Inventions==