Nizam Shahi rulers were great patrons of learning. In spite of their constant occupation with wars, they found time to promote Persian language and literature. In fact, the Deccan court became the rendezvous of scholars, many of whom migrated from distant lands. Shah Tahir was a notable scholar of Persian and Arabic who has left a large number of works besides a Diwan.

Some of his well-known works are Shrah-ul-Badil-Hadi, Ashara, a commentary of Hasan’s work on the principles of religion, Sharh’l Jafaria, a commentary on al-Kakis’ work on Imamiya method of prayer, and a commentary on Qazwini’s work on rhetoric.

Another poet of Burhan Nizam Shah’s reign was Ghulam Ali Hindu Shah Astrabadi. He has been highly praised by Firishta. Ali Niwadi who flourished in the reign of Husain Nizam Shah I was an accomplished writer.

Murtaza Nizam Shah was a highly educated monarch and patronized poets, writers and scholars. Some of the important poets of his reign were Sayyid Qasim Arsalan, Mallik Quami and Zahuri. Mulla Nuruddin Zuhuri played an important role in bringing about literary revival in India and as such occupies a high place both among his contemporaries and earlier writers.

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Faizi calls him “an extremely elegant poet”. Zuhuri’s works are marked by imagination and subtleties which he created by giving figurative touch to his composition. Among the poetical works of Zuhuri are Saqi-Nama in praise of Burhan Nizam Shah, a masnavi and a diwan comprising qasidas, masnavis and rubais.

During the Mughal invasion of Ahmadnagar when Malik Qummi migrated to Bijapur, Zuhuri also accompanied him. Khwaja Ahmad Fani and Shirazi were two other scholars who adorned the Adil Shahi court. Shirazi was invited by the king and came all the way from Iran which involved an expense of 40,000 huns.

Fani joined the court of Burhan Nizam Shah II where he was given the post of Nazir-i-Sultanat (Superintendent of Political Department). He wrote a number of works including Sharh-i-Gulshan-i-Raz, Faslul Khitab, Sharh-i-Khutuba-i-Bayan and a diwan of poems.

Mirza Hayati, belonging to Qazwin, came to Deccan during the reign of Burhan Nizam Shah II and made a name as a great poet. Later on the migrated to Agra where he had been invited by Jahangir.

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The most famous literary person at the court of Nizam Shahi kings was the historian Abul Qasim Muhammad Bin Ghulam Hindu Shah generally known as Firishta. He was born and brought up at Ahmadnagar and joined the service of Murtaza Nizam Shah I. After his death, he left for Bijapur in A.D. 1589 where he wrote his monumental work Tarikh-i-Firishta which is a most authentic work for the history of Deccan.