
Salim Chishti was a greatly revered Sufi Mystic who, it was thought by many, could perform miracles. The Mughal Emperor Akbar-e-Azam went to the shrine of Hazrat Ashraf Jahangir Semnani, but on his travels, had received inspiration to go to see Salim Chishti. Akbar came to the holy man’s camp, deep in the desert, seeking a male heir to his throne. Salim Chishti blessed Akbar, and soon the first of three sons was born to him. He named his first son Salim (later emperor Jahangir, named after the Famous Sufi Saint Hazrat Ashraf Jahangir Semnani) in honor of Salim Chishti.
Akbar held the Sufi in such high regard that he had a great city Fatehpur Sikri built around the Sufi Saint’s camp. His Mughal Court and Courtiers were then relocated there. A shortage of water is said to be the main reason that the city was abandoned and it now sits in remarkably good condition as a mostly deserted city. Now it is one of the main tourist attractions of India. Sheikh Salim’s daughter was also the foster mother of Jahangir and their descendants are to be found in Sheikhupur, Badaun till this day.