Sultan Muhammad was the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He was born in 1639. During his youth, he remained the favorite son of his father.
In his war against the Qutbshah, Aurangzeb had sent Muhammad Sultan at the head of the advance party and in order to secure submission of the Qutbshah had demanded his daughter’s hand in marriage with Muhammad Sultan.
During the war of succession, he had kept him by his side and had entrusted to him the most onerous task of keeping an eye over Shahjahan. Later, when Shuja moved towards the capital, Muhammad Sultan was appointed the commander-in-chief of the army sent against him.
However, Muhammad was not destined to greatness. His ambition took the better of his discretion. Hence he once thought of joining in a conspiracy with his grandfather, while in 1660, he decided to join Shuja and marry his daughter in the hope of capturing the throne with his assistance. The result was that from 1660 to his death in December 1676, he had to spend his days in prison.