MALIK AYAZ

  The tomb of Malik Ayaz is in the Rang Mahal area.

 Malik Ayaz was the favourite of Mahmood of Ghazna. The love of Mahmood and Ayaz is the subject of many an anecdote and song.

Lahore has the honour of being associated both with Mahmood and Ayaz. Lahore was in fact founded by Mahmood and it was called Mahmoodpur. At the time of the occupation of Lahore by Mahmood in 1022 the district was called Lahore, while the city was called Mandkukar. In the honour of Mahmood, the name of Mandkukar was changed to Mahmoodpur.

 In Khulasat-ul-Tawarikh we come across the following chronogram about the foundation of Lahore.

“When Mahmood founded Lahore-Lahanur,

He laid the foundation of a Kaaba, which was the desire of the heart.

When I ponderced over the year of foundation.

Forthwith Reason said ‘Mahmood is the founder’.

It appears Mahmood left Ayaz at Lahore in charge of the adminisstration. Ayaz is credited with having built walts around the city. At the time of the occupation of Lahore the Hindus had left the city. Ayaz repopulated Lahore, and recalled the Hindus to their homes. It appears there was some difficulty in naming the town. Ayaz settled the controversy by naming the enlarged city as Lahore.

The tomb of Ayaz made of brick and mortar is situated on a platform inside Shahalam Gate. The mausoleum was at one time a magnificient structure surrounded by a an extensive garden. It appears that the mausoleum was deprived of its embellishments later.

Mahmood and Ayaz are the foremost heroes of Lahore, and it is necessary that their memory is properly honoured by the citizens of Lahore