Sher Khan, who later became Sher Shah Suri, defeated which Mughal emperor at the battles of Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540), forcing him to flee to Iran?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with the struggle for the Mughal throne in the sixteenth century between the early Mughal emperor Humayun and the Afghan leader Sher Khan, who later took the title Sher Shah Suri. The battles of Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540) are critical because they temporarily displaced the Mughals from North India and established the short lived but influential Sur Empire. Knowing which Mughal ruler was defeated helps you connect the correct emperor with this important interruption in Mughal rule.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The leader named in the question is Sher Khan, later known as Sher Shah Suri.
• Two battles are mentioned: Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540).
• After these defeats, the Mughal ruler fled to Iran for support.
• Options list several Mughal rulers and princes from different periods: Aurangzeb, Humayun, Muhammad Azam Shah, Bahadur Shah I and Shah Jahan.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, Babur's son Humayun inherited the Mughal throne but faced strong opposition from Afghan chieftains in eastern India. Sher Khan emerged as the most powerful of these rivals. Humayun suffered major defeats at Chausa and Kanauj and was forced to leave India and seek asylum at the court of the Safavid ruler in Iran. Later Mughal emperors such as Akbar, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, Muhammad Azam Shah and Bahadur Shah I belong to different phases of Mughal history and do not match this mid sixteenth century episode. Therefore, the correct approach is to associate Sher Shah Suri's victories with Humayun, not with the later emperors in the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Place the battles of Chausa and Kanauj in time, around 1539 to 1540. Step 2: Recall that this period corresponds to the reign of Humayun, Babur's son, not the later Mughals. Step 3: Remember that Sher Khan defeated Humayun, took the title Sher Shah Suri and founded the Sur dynasty. Step 4: Connect the detail about fleeing to Iran with Humayun, who famously took refuge at the Safavid court. Step 5: Select Humayun as the only option that fits all these facts.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check this by recalling the sequence of Mughal emperors: Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb and then the later rulers. Only Humayun's reign was interrupted by the Sur dynasty. After Sher Shah's death and the brief rule of his successors, Humayun returned and reestablished Mughal authority shortly before Akbar's accession. None of the other listed rulers experienced such a long exile in Iran due to defeat by Sher Shah Suri, which confirms that Humayun is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Aurangzeb: A much later Mughal emperor in the seventeenth century, associated with conflicts like the Deccan wars, not with Sher Shah Suri.

Muhammad Azam Shah: A prince and short lived claimant to the throne after Aurangzeb, not the early emperor defeated at Chausa and Kanauj.
Bahadur Shah I: Aurangzeb's son who ruled briefly after a war of succession, not the emperor ousted by Sher Shah Suri.
Shah Jahan: Known for building the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort; his period comes long after Sher Shah and Humayun's struggle.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes mix up timelines and think of the most famous or powerful Mughal names they recognise, such as Aurangzeb or Shah Jahan, instead of placing events in the correct century. Others forget that there was a non Mughal interlude in the sixteenth century when the Sur dynasty ruled much of North India. Keeping a clear mental timeline of early Mughal succession and remembering that only Humayun was dethroned by Sher Shah Suri will help avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
Sher Khan (Sher Shah Suri) defeated Humayun at Chausa and Kanauj, forcing him to flee to Iran.