- published: 21 Dec 2013
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Humayun (Persian: نصیر الدین محمد همایون; Turkish: Hümayûn; OS 7 March 1508 – OS 27 January 1556) was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled over territory in what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1531–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but regained it with the aid of the Safavid dynasty of Persia, with additional territory. At the time of his death in 1556, the Mughal Empire spanned almost one million square kilometers.
Humayun succeeded his father in December 1530, as ruler of the Mughal territories in the Indian subcontinent. At the age of 23, Humayun was an inexperienced ruler when he came to power. His half-brother Kamran Mirza inherited Kabul and Lahore, the northernmost parts of their father's empire. Mirza was to become a bitter rival of Humayun.
Humayun lost Mughal territories to the Pashtun noble, Sher Shah Suri, and, with Persian (Safavid) aid, regained them 15 years later. Humayun's return from Persia was accompanied by a large retinue of Persian noblemen and signaled an important change in Mughal court culture. The Central Asian origins of the dynasty were largely overshadowed by the influences of Persian art, architecture, language and literature. There are many stone carvings and thousands of Persian manuscripts in India dating from the time of Humayun.
Sabbath day of rest and cheer!
Day divine, to me so dear!
Come, O come to old and young,
Gath'ring all for prayer and song.
Now the week of toil is o'er,
And in peace we sit once more
At our Father's ample board,
Listening to His gracious Word.
Lord, our God, we seek Thy face,
Bless us with Thy saving grace;
May Thy heralds everywhere
Clear Thy Gospel truth declare.
Let Thy mighty Word hold sway
Over men on earth today;
Our poor souls, good Shepherd, feed,
Into pastures green us lead.
May, O Lord, the day be near,
When we pass from trials here
Into Thine eternal rest,