Shihabuddin Omar was the fourteenth Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate in India and the third ruler of the Khalji Dynasty. He ruled from January to April 1316.

Alauddin Khalji was his father and Jhatyapalli was his mother.

With the aid of Malik Kafur (a slave-general of Alauddin Khilji), he succeeded in the kingdom in 1316 as a minor upon the death of Alauddin Khalji. Kafur’s brother Qutb-ud-din Mubarak took over as regent after Kafur was killed, and he later overthrew Omar to become sultan. This article will give you a brief insight into the 3rd emperor of the Khilji dynasty’s ascension to a kingdom and his ruling time. This piece of information will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Ascension To The Throne: Shihab-ud-din Omar

During Alauddin’s final years, he developed a critical illness, and Malik Kafur, his slave-general, ran the show. Malik Kafur called a gathering of prominent commanders at Alauddin’s bedside after his original successor apparent Khizr Khan was detained at Gwalior on charges of plotting his murder. At this meeting, it was decided that Malik Kafur would serve as the regent and Shihabuddin Omar would succeed his father.

Isami claimed that Alauddin Khalji was so weak that he cannot speak during the discussion, but everyone there concurred that his quietness should be taken as his assent. Shihabuddin was just over six years old at the time.

Following Alauddin’s passing on one of the nights in 1316, Kafur called a gathering of key officials (maliks and amirs), and Shihabuddin was chosen as the new ruler. He recited Alauddin’s edict, which said that the late Sultan had named Shihabuddin as his heir and disinherited Khizr Khan. Shihabuddin’s feet were ordered to be kissed by the rest of the sons of Alauddin: Abu Bakr Khan, Shadi Khan, Muhammad Khan, Usman Khan, Mubarak Shah, and Farid Khan.

Reign Of Shihabuddin Omar

Shihabuddin’s involvement in administration during Kafur’s brief reign was restricted to his attendance at a quick court ceremony that Kafur held every day. Following the event, Kafur would give orders to each officer in separate meetings and send Shihabuddin to Jhatyapalli his mother.

Shadi Khan, and Khizr Khan sons of Alauddin Khilji, were made blind by Kafur in order to retain his hold on the throne.

Malika-i Jahan, the senior queen of Alauddin, as well as Prince Mubarak Shah, another grown son of Alauddin, were both imprisoned. Firishta, a historian from the sixteenth century, records that Kafur wed Jhatyapalli, Shihabuddin’s mother, who was Alauddin’s widow. It’s likely that Kafur chose to become the new Sultan’s stepfather in order to establish his authority.

As a result of Kafur’s conduct against the family of Alauddin (their late master), the former bodyguards of Alauddin killed him. Mubarak Shah, the first chosen to serve as the regent, was set free by Kafur’s assassins.

Mubarak Shah captured Shibabuddin in April 1316 and succeeded him as Sultan. Shihab-ud-din Omar, who was then relocated to Gwalior Fort, died that year.