Editing Muhammad Shah (section)

===Cultural developments===
[[File:Zaban urdu mualla.png|thumb|The phrase {{transliteration|ur|''Zuban-i Urdū-yi Muʿallá''}} (literally "Language of the exalted [[Golden Horde|Horde]]", contextually the exalted Urdu Language) written in [[Nastaʿlīq script]]]]
[[File:Lashkari Zaban calligraphy prepared.png|thumb|250px|''Lashkari Zabān'' ("military camp language" or "[[Battalion|Battalionese language]]") title in Nastaʿlīq script]]
[[File:Sketch from the book Aasar us Sanadeed, depicting Bagh e Naazir as it appeared in mid-19th century.jpg|thumb|[[Baagh e Naazir]] was built by Muhammad Shah the year 1748.]]

While [[Urdu]] (derived from ''Zuban-i Urdū-yi Muʿallá'' or in local translation ''[[Lashkari language|Lashkari Zaban]]'', shortened to ''Lashkari'') was already in use before Muhammad Shah's reign, it was during his reign that it became more popular among the people and he declared it as the court language, replacing Persian. During Muhammad Shah's reign, [[Qawwali]] was reintroduced into the Mughal imperial court and it quickly spread throughout [[South Asia]]. Muhammad Shah is also known to have introduced religious institutions for education such as [[Maktab (education)|Maktab]]s. During his reign, the [[Quran]] was translated for the first time into simple [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Urdu]]. Also, during his reign, the formal Turkic dress, normally worn by the high Mughal nobility since Mughals originally hailed from [[Samarqand]], was replaced by the [[Sherwani]]. However, Muhammad Shah's adoption of the Deccan-influenced dress to court would lead to derisive comments, such as "''See how the Deccan monkey dances!''"<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SHgtAAAAMAAJ&q=mahratta |title=Notes on Punjab and Mughal India: Selections from Journal of the Punjab Historical Society |date=1988 |publisher=Sang-e-Meel Publications |page=381}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Ishwari Prasad |title=A New History of India |date=1940 |publisher=Indian Press, Limited |page=334}}</ref>

Mohammad Shah was a patron of the performing arts, almost at the cost of administrative priorities, paving the way for the disintegration of governance. While Mughal political power did decline in his reign, the Emperor encouraged the arts, employing master artists such as Nidha Mal (active 1735–75) and Chitarman, whose vivacious paintings depict scenes of court life, such as [[Holi]] celebrations, hunting and hawking.<ref>[http://sites.asiasociety.org/princesandpainters/decline-of-power-pursuit-of-pleasure-muhammad-shah-1719-1748/ Princes and Painters in Mughal Delhi, 1707–1857], Asia Society exhibition</ref> The Mughal court of the time had musicians such as Naimat Khan, also known as [[Sadarang]], and his nephew Firoz Khan (Adarang), whose compositions popularised the musical form of [[khyal]]. Naimat Khan composed khyal for his disciples and he never performed khyal.<ref name="Misra1991">{{cite book |author=Susheela Misra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=utw9AAAAMAAJ&q=sadarang+never+performed+khyal |title=Musical Heritage of Lucknow |publisher=Harman Publishing House |year=1991}}</ref> This key component of [[Indian classical music]] evolved, ascended and received princely patronage at the court of Muhammad Shah.<ref>[[iarchive:lifeofmusicinnor00neum|<!-- quote=inauthor:"Daniel M. Neuman". --> The life of music in north India: the organization of an artistic tradition]], Daniel M. Neuman</ref>

He himself was a poet under the penname "Sadrang" and was also a composer of [[Indian classical music|Indian classical]] [[raga]] songs in the [[Bhairav (raga)|bhairav]], [[Kafi (raga)|kafi]], [[Dhamar (music)|dhamar]] and [[malkauns]] genres. These included songs on the themes of love and the festival of [[Holi]].<ref name="sn">[https://sufinama.org/poets/muhammad-shah-rangila/profile Muhammad Shah Rangila]. ''[[Sufinama]]''.</ref>