10/11/2025
Sultan Tipu Shaheed (May Allah have mercy on him)
✒️ Written by:
Hazrat Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (Rahmatullah Alaih)
Tipu Sultan made great efforts to persuade the kings, princes, and nawabs of India to rise against the British. To achieve this goal, he corresponded with Sultan Salim Uthmani of Turkey, as well as other Muslim rulers and Indian nobles. He sent his envoys to France, Turkey, Iran, and other countries in an attempt to build international support. Even Napoleon offered him cooperation and assistance in his mission to end the expanding and dangerous British domination.
Throughout his life, Tipu Sultan remained in fierce battle against the British. It was nearly certain that all of the British plans would fail and that they would be completely expelled from India. However, the British managed to win over the rulers of South India to their side. In the end, this valiant king attained martyrdom and everlasting honor on 4th May 1799, during the Battle of Srirangapatna.
He chose death over a life of slavery under the British and refused to live at their mercy. His famous historical saying stands immortal:
“The life of a lion for one day is better than a hundred years of a jackal.”
When General Harris received the news of Sultan’s martyrdom, he stood over his body and said words that history itself has proven true:
“From today, India is ours.”
📖 Reference: Seerat-e-Sultan Tipu Shaheed, pp. 14–15, by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Bhatkali.