FAIZI, the literary title of Shaikh Abu'l Faiz, son of Shaikh Mubosak, and elder brother of Abul Fazl, who lived in the reign of Abkar, emperor of Hiudustan. Faizi was presented to Akbar in the 12th year of his reign, and he intro duced Abul Fazl six years later, in A.D. 1574. The brothers soon became the intimate friends and inseparable companions of their sovereign. They not only were the confidants of all his new opinions in religion, and his advisers in his patron age of literature, both in foreign countries and in his own, but were consulted and employed in the most important affairs of government. Faizi was sent on a special embassy to the kings of the Dekhan, prior to Akbar's invasion of that region, and Abul Faz1 lived to attain the highest military rank, and to hold the office of prime minister. At midnight, when the news was brought to Akbar that Faizi was dying, he hastened t,o his room, and called out to him, with a familiar term of endearment, Shaikh-Ji, I have brought Ali the physician to you ; why do you not speak?' Receiving no ansvrer, he threw his turband on the ground, and burst into the strong est expressions of sorrow. On recovering his composure, he went to Abul Paz], who had with drawn from the scene of death, and remained for some tirne endeavouring to console him, before he returned to his palace. Faizi was the first Maho
medan who applied himself to a diligent study of Hindu literature and science. By the aid, and under the direction of the emperor, he conducted a systematic inquiry into el-Ely branch of the knowledge of tho Brahmans. Ho translated from the Sanskrit tho Nala and Damyanta, an episode of the Maltabliarata ; he mado a version of tho Bija Ganita and Lilawati of Bhaskara Aeharya, the best Hindu books on algebra and arithmetic. Ho wrote a great deal of original poetry and of other works in Persian, and he superintended transla tions niade by other learned men, including one at least of tho Vedas, the two great historical and heroic poeins the Maliabhamta and Ramayana, and the history of Kashmir, tho only specimen of that sort of composition in Sanskrit prose. He was directed to translate tho Evangelists. Ile seems to have been more studious and less a man of the world than Abul Fax]. When Abul Fad was assassinated, Akbar was deeply affected, and passed two days and two nights without food or sleep.— Elliot ; E1ph. p. 468; Illaulakhib 7'awarikh.