Qilich Khan was born in the family of Sufi scholars in the city of Samarkand of the Bukhara Khanate at the beginning of the 17th century. His original name was Khwaja Abid Khan Siddiqui, and the name Qilich Khan was given by Shah Jahan, the Babur Emperor.
From a young age, Qilich Khan chooses to become a Warrior instead of breaking the family tradition and becoming a Religious Scholar. At the madrasahs in Samarkand, they learn Qur'an and Fiqh, and at the same time, they become skilled in the art of war, sword and archery. After serving in the army of the Bukhara Khanate for a while, he went to Mecca for the Hajj.
A very strong military ability spread to the surroundings and reached the Baburi palace. Upon hearing that he was making the Hajj journey through India, Shah Jahan called him to his presence and offered him to be a commander in the Babur army. After the pilgrimage, he accepts to join the Baburites and Shah Jahan gives him the name Qilich Khan.
After serving for some time in the ranks of the Baburis, in 1658, the struggle for the throne began. Qilich Khan was the greatest official who used Aurangzeb Alamgir. 1658 The final battle for the throne takes place at the Battle of Samarugh. On Aurangzeb's side, Shah Jahan fought against Darius Shikoh, whom he had prepared as crown prince, and won. Aurangzeb ascended the throne this year and became the new Emperor of the Baburids.
Qilich Khan is appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Baburis. He became the Governor of Ajmer in 1667 and the Governor of Multan in 1672. He became one of the most important commanders in Aurangzeb's military efforts to unify India. He takes part in hundreds of battles and castle sieges.
In 1687, during the siege of Golcanda, an arrow shot from Zambarak cut off his hand. Qilich Khan managed to reach the military camp before Prime Minister Asad Khan. But he died the next day due to a lot of blood loss. After the conquest of the city, the hand of Qilich Khan is recognized by the ring he always wears, and buried with his body.
Later, his son Ghaziuddin Khan succeeded him. Ghaziuddin's son Asaf Johi Nizamulmulk became the Prime Minister of the Baburis and the Sultan of the Deccan. Descendants of Qilich Khan ruled Hyderabad until 1948.
