'Tabaqat-i-Nasiri', a history in Persian of the early Delhi Sultanate, was written by:

"Tabaqat-i-Nasiri" was written in Persian by the historian Minhaj-us-Siraj (Minhaj-i-Siraj Juzjani), and completed in about 1260 CE.

About Minhaj-us-Siraj:

• He was born in 1193 at Firozkoh (or in Juzjan), in the Ghurid territory of Afghanistan.
• He came to India in 1227, escaping the Mongol invasions, and first served Nasiruddin Qabacha at Uch.
• He then joined the service of Iltutmish at Delhi.
• He served as the chief qazi (Qazi-ul-Quzat) of Delhi under Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud.
• He was a close associate of Balban.

About the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri:

• It was named after, and dedicated to, Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud (1246-1266).
• "Tabaqat" means "layers" or "generations"; the book is arranged in 23 sections (tabaqat), dealing with different dynasties.
• It is a general history of the Islamic world, from the early prophets and caliphs to the Ghaznavids, the Ghurids, the Delhi Sultans and the Mongols.
• It is the most important contemporary source for the history of the Ghurid conquest of India and the early Delhi Sultanate (the Mamluk or "slave" dynasty), up to 1260.
• It describes the reigns of Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish and Raziya, and the career of Balban.
• It also contains valuable information about the Mongol invasions of Central Asia.

His views:

• He wrote from the point of view of a loyal servant of the Sultans, and praised Balban highly.
• He is regarded as an honest historian, but he avoided reporting some unpleasant events concerning his patrons.

Other historians of the early Sultanate:

• Hasan Nizami: wrote "Taj-ul-Maasir", on the reigns of Muhammad Ghori, Aibak and Iltutmish.
• Isami: wrote "Futuh-us-Salatin", a verse history, in the Bahmani kingdom.
• Ziauddin Barani: continued the history from the reign of Balban.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Ziauddin Barani wrote a later history.
• ✗Hasan Nizami wrote Taj-ul-Maasir.
• ✗Isami wrote Futuh-us-Salatin.