Which Bahmani Sultan was known as 'Zalim' (the cruel) because of his harsh rule?

Alauddin Humayun Shah (ruled 1458-1461), a Sultan of the Bahmani kingdom, was known as "Zalim" (the cruel) because of his harsh and cruel rule.

About Humayun Shah:

• He was the son of Alauddin Ahmad Shah II.
• He ruled for only about three years.
• He punished his opponents and rebels with great cruelty.
• According to the historian Firishta, he committed many acts of cruelty against nobles, officials and ordinary people, which earned him the title "Zalim".
• Some historians suggest that his reputation may have been exaggerated by later writers, but he is generally remembered as a harsh ruler.
• He died in 1461, possibly murdered by his own servants.

His minister:

During his reign, a Persian merchant and scholar, who later became the famous prime minister of the kingdom, rose to prominence.

After Humayun Shah:

• His young son, Nizam Shah, became Sultan, under a regency council that included the queen mother, Makhduma-i-Jahan.
• Later, Muhammad Shah III became Sultan.

The Bahmani kingdom:

• It was founded in 1347 by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (Hasan Gangu), a noble who revolted against the Delhi Sultanate.
• Its first capital was at Gulbarga, which was later shifted to Bidar.
• It was frequently at war with the Vijayanagara empire over the Raichur doab.

Important rulers:

• Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah: the founder.
• Firuz Shah Bahmani (1397-1422): a learned ruler who built an observatory and patronised scholars; he married a daughter of the Vijayanagara ruler Deva Raya I.
• Muhammad Shah III (1463-1482): during his reign, Mahmud Gawan was executed (1481), which weakened the kingdom.

Decline:

After Mahmud Gawan's death, the kingdom broke up, and the governors of its provinces became independent.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah was the founder.
• ✗Firuz Shah was a learned ruler.
• ✗Muhammad Shah III was a later ruler.