Which Mughal emperor imprisoned his own father, the emperor Shah Jahan, for the rest of Shah Jahan’s life?

Introduction / Context:
The later Mughal period was marked by succession struggles within the imperial family. One of the most famous episodes is the imprisonment of Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. This question asks which Mughal emperor confined Shah Jahan for the rest of his life, a fact often tested in questions on Mughal history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Shah Jahan was a Mughal emperor known for major architectural projects. - After a war of succession, one of his sons took the throne and imprisoned him. - The options given are Akbar, Shah Jahan, Jahangir, and Aurangzeb.

Concept / Approach:
Aurangzeb, one of Shah Jahan’s sons, emerged victorious in the war of succession against his brothers Dara Shukoh, Murad, and Shuja. After seizing power, Aurangzeb confined his father Shah Jahan, who spent his final years as a prisoner in Agra, traditionally described as being in a tower with a view of the Taj Mahal. The other three emperors listed either ruled earlier (Akbar, Jahangir) or are Shah Jahan himself, so they cannot be the person who imprisoned him.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the time frame: Shah Jahan’s reign was in the first half of the seventeenth century. Step 2: Recall that a succession conflict followed his illness, and Aurangzeb eventually claimed the throne. Step 3: Aurangzeb then confined Shah Jahan in Agra Fort, where he remained until his death. Step 4: Akbar and Jahangir were earlier emperors, so they could not have imprisoned Shah Jahan, who came later. Step 5: Shah Jahan obviously could not imprison himself, so option b is ruled out. Step 6: Therefore, the only correct choice is Aurangzeb.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard Mughal histories and biographies of Shah Jahan state that after Aurangzeb triumphed over his brothers, he had Shah Jahan placed under house arrest in Agra Fort. The story of the deposed emperor spending his last years looking at the Taj Mahal from a distance has become part of popular historical memory. No credible account attributes this act of imprisonment to any other emperor, confirming that Aurangzeb is the right answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Akbar: Grandfather of Shah Jahan and a much earlier ruler; he had no role in Shah Jahan’s later life or imprisonment.
Shah Jahan: The victim of the imprisonment, not the person responsible for it.
Jahangir: Father of Shah Jahan, who ruled before him; the chronology does not allow him to imprison Shah Jahan at the end of Shah Jahan’s reign.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse earlier and later Mughal emperors, especially because family relations are complex. Mixing up who imprisoned whom is a frequent error. A helpful memory link is that Aurangzeb is often associated with rigid policies and harsh political decisions, including the decision to confine his own father Shah Jahan.

Final Answer:
Shah Jahan was imprisoned for the rest of his life by his son Aurangzeb.