 One source says that Samad's father was the vizier of Shah Shuja of Shiraz, a difficulty with her theory that Brend explains by speculating that this was instead his grandfather, in whose house he was brought up while Sultan Muhammed established his career at court.According to Mughal records, Samad became a master in the court workshop of Shah Tahmasp I of Persia.He was also a calligrapher, something not mentioned in connection with Mirza Ali.