Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580-1612 CE) (Urdu: محمد قلی قطب شاہ‎) was the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda and founded the city of Hyderabad, in South-central India. and built its architectural centerpiece, the Charminar. He was an able administrator and his reign is considered one of the high points of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Some say he named the city in honour of Ali ibn Abu Talib, regarded as the first Imam by Shia Muslims and who alternatively was known by the name Haider, meaning "lion". There is a myth that his beloved Bhagamati was converted into muslimfold and was eventually named as Hyder Mahal and the name of the city was changed to Hyderabad after her name thereafter. Hyder is usually a male name, and there is no evidence of Bhagmati's existence. Tombs of all the nobles of Qutub Shahi dyantsy exists, but there is on record of Bhagmati's tomb. Hyder-(meaning)--Brave Haider-(meaning)--Lion He ascended to the throne in 1580 at the age of 15 and ruled for thirty-one years. Some historians say that he was 17 years of age at the time of his crowning also.
The planning of Hyderabad was greatly influenced by that of Esfahan, which Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah opined was unparalleled in the world and a replica of heaven itself.

History

Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah was the third son of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali. . The city was built on the southern bank of the Musi river. Some say that Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah called architects from Iran to lay out the city, which was built on a grid plan. History mentions that he himself had studied many architectural plans and with consistent consultation of his Prime Minister Mir Muhammed Momin, he carried out roads and buildings with his help. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah founded the city of Hyderabad in 1591.
After 1605 CE, Some say that.. Hyderabad was named as the City of Hyder (Brave) after the title of the Fourth Caliph Ali(as). Many people though, commonly believe that the city of "Hyderabad" was named after the people as their residence as "City of the Brave" from the Persian words "Hyder/Haider", Persian and Urdu meaning lion or brave and "Abad/Abaad", Persian and Urdu meaning abode or populated. The name Hyderabad was put by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah after the name of his beloved wife Bhagmati after she converted to Islam with changed name as "Hyder Mahal"in 1605 AD. History of the Quli Qutub Shah period is available in various books compiled by various authors book especially by Sri S.A.Bilgrami in his book "Land Marks of the Deccan" etc...

Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah initiated the construction of 'Charminar' (Four Minarets). While laying the foundation stone of Charminar, Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah and his wife prayed for welfare of the people in their contemplated new city. The structure of Charminar comprises four tall and massive minarets connected to each other by four high arches and this resembles the archetypal triumphal arch. This beautiful colossus in granite, lime, mortar and, some say, pulverised marble, was at one time the heart of the city. Initially the wonderful monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that the beautiful Charminar monument could be impressively seen from the top of Golconda fort. One could even catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal ancestral streets.Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah had constructed many roads, several palaces. gardens mosques, sarais, shops. fountains etc. not only to beautify the city but for its well planned alround growth for his dream city Hyderabad.Though not scholarly educated, he has written poems in both Persian and Urdu.