In Mughal history, who wrote the famous imperial chronicle "Akbarnama" describing the reign of Emperor Akbar?

Introduction / Context:
"Akbarnama" is the official chronicle of the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and is a major primary source for understanding sixteenth century Indian history. It was written by Abul Fazl, a close courtier and one of Akbar's "Navaratnas", or nine jewels. This question assesses familiarity with key historical works and their authors, a core component of Indian history and general knowledge syllabi.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The book mentioned is "Akbarnama".
• The content is an imperial chronicle that records the rule of Akbar.
• The options are Abul Fazal, Faizi, Abdur Rahim and Abdul Qadir.
• We assume the candidate knows the Mughal court context and the group of important scholars around Akbar.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested is author identification within a historical context. Abul Fazl was not only a trusted adviser to Akbar but also his principal historian. He composed "Akbarnama" in Persian, documenting the emperor's lineage, administration, campaigns and policies. His brother Faizi was a poet and scholar at court, but he did not write this chronicle. Recognizing each figure's specific contribution helps avoid confusion when similar names appear among the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify "Akbarnama" as the official history of Akbar's reign, commissioned by the emperor. Step 2: Recall that Abul Fazl ibn Mubarak served as Akbar's court historian and closest adviser, and that he authored "Akbarnama" along with "Ain-i-Akbari". Step 3: Compare Abul Fazl to his brother Faizi, who was mainly known as a poet and not as the principal author of historical chronicles. Step 4: Note that Abdur Rahim (Rahim Khan-i-Khana) was a general, statesman and poet, while Abdul Qadir had other scholarly associations, not the authorship of this core imperial history. Step 5: Based on these roles, select Abul Fazal as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
For verification, recall that "Akbarnama" and "Ain-i-Akbari" are often mentioned together in history books and both are attributed to Abul Fazl. Chapter summaries and exam guides consistently name him as the author. Meanwhile, Faizi is introduced separately as a court poet and translator. This repeated textbook pattern is a strong indication that Abul Fazl alone belongs as the answer to this question. Any alternative attribution would conflict with standard academic references on the Mughal period.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Faizi, although an important literary figure at Akbar's court, is admired for his poetry and translations, not for composing "Akbarnama", so option B is incorrect. Abdur Rahim is celebrated as a noble, commander and poet of dohas but not as the author of the imperial chronicle, therefore option C is wrong. Abdul Qadir does not correspond to the widely recognized author of "Akbarnama", which makes option D incorrect. Only Abul Fazal, option A, accurately matches historical records as the writer of this work.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse Abul Fazl with his brother Faizi because both served at the same court and are often mentioned together. Another error is to misattribute the chronicle to any famous Mughal noble such as Abdur Rahim simply because the name is familiar. To avoid these mistakes, candidates should remember a simple association: Abul Fazl for "Akbarnama" and "Ain-i-Akbari"; Faizi for poetic works; Rahim for dohas and service as a general. This mapping keeps roles clear in memory and simplifies many similar questions.

Final Answer:
Abul Fazal