Tomb of Abdul Samad Khan and his family

Abd al-Samad Khan (died 1737) was the Mughal Empire`s viceroy of Lahore Punjab from 1713 to 1726 appointed by Mughal king Farrukhsiyar. He was descended from the Ansari family of Panipat. During his region he fought many wars with Sikh army and captured Banda Singh Bahadur in famous Battle of Gurdas Nangal in March 1715, Abd-al-Samad Khan Delir Jang Sayf-al-Dawla, 17th-18th century north Indian politician, administrator, and patron of the arts. He belonged to a family from Samarqand. Born in Agra during a short visit by his parents to India, he was taken back to Samarqand where he was educated and brought up. He left his native land, however, and came to India during the reign of Aurangzaib. He began his imperial career as salaried official with the rank of commander of 400. After having held several earlier posts, he was appointed governor of Lahore in 1713.Ten years later he was appointed governor of Multan, a post he held during 1137-39/1724-26. He died on26 July 1737 and was buried in Lahore. He was a shrewd politician, an efficient administrator, and a generous patron. As governor of Lahore and then Multan, he put down revolts, especially those of the Sikh guru Banda (in 1127/1715) and the Afghan. He was thus able to restore complete peace in the Punjab, Kashmir, and adjoining regions. He liberally patronized writers and artists at his court. He was devout yet intolerant, at once religious and secular in his outlook.