Though a paternal descendant of the ruling Qutb Shahi dynasty, he had initially led a relatively humble life unassociated with the royal court. Although his real name was Abul Hasan, he was nicknamed 'Tana Shah' even before he became a contender to the throne of Golconda by his teacher, a Sufi saint called Syed Shah Raziuddin Multani, popularly known as Shah Raju Qattaal. Shah Raju was eighth in the lineage of the Sufi saint Syedna Khwaja Banda Nawaz Gesu daraz of Gulbarga. Abul Hassan had a good voice and sang well. He also had a certain innocence about him. Shah Raju, therefore, gave him the nickname of `Tana Shah' which means a child saint. He was also known as Tani Shah, meaning "benevolent ruler".
He is remembered as a popular statesman who did not discriminate against those of another ethnicity or religion. He hired Brahmins as his ministers and generals. For example, Madanna and Akkanna, Brahmin brothers from Hanamkonda, were his most important ministers. Tana Shah gained a place in Telugu literature due to Kancharla Gopanna, nephew of Madanna. Kancharla Gopanna is famously known as "Ramadasu". Ramadasu lived in Nelakondapalli village in Palvancha taluk. Tani Shah hired him as a tehsildar of Palvancha taluk. Ramadasu diverted the public funds to construct a Rama temple in Bhadrachalam and for jewelry to adorn the idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Tana Shah found Ramadasu guilty of misappropriation of public funds and put him in jail.
After twelve years, Tana Shah released Ramadasu after getting Lord Rama in his dream and found Rammudras beside him. Thereafter Tana Shah established a tradition to send pearls to the Badrachalam temple on every Rama Navami festival and was continued by his successors. The same tradition was continued by the next rulers Nizams and then by the Government of the State of Telangana.
Siege of Golconda
About the year 1683, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah appears to have become irregular in payment of taxes to the Mughals and his relations with Sikandar Adil Shah also caused concern among the Mughals. Abul Hasan Qutb Shah consequently refused to be a vassal of the Mughal Empire and prompted Aurangzeb to initiate a campaign to assert the rule of the Mughals on Golconda. Aurangzeb attacked Golconda with his commanders, Khwaja Abid Siddiqi and Nawab Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I, who were father and grandfather of the. Tana Shah defended the fort for eight months, but Aurangzeb succeeded in capturing Golconda at the end in September 1687.
Tana Shan was taken as a prisoner and was imprisoned in the Daulatabad Fort, where he would die after twelve years of captivity. When the Sultan died, he was not buried alongside his ancestors and other Qutub Shahi Kings but in a modest grave at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. Shah Raju Qattal Hussaini Sent A Pomegranate For Abul Hassan Qutub Shah but Tanashah Only Ate 14 Pieces So Shah Raju Qattal Hussaini Claimed That Tanashah Will Rule For 14 Years. And Tanashah Only Ruled For 14 Years With the defeat of Abul Hasan Qutub Shah, the Qutb Shahi dynasty ended and a new Nizam dynasty began in Hyderabad under the control of the Mughal Dynasty. After the fall of Golconda on 22 September 1687, it became a part of the six Mughal provinces in the Deccan. Mahabat Khan, who was initially the commander of the Qutb Shahi army and had switched loyalty to the Mughals, was appointed the governor of Golconda, laying the foundations for the Hyderabad State under the Nizams by Aurangzeb.
Family
He was married to his predecessor Abdullah Qutb Shah's third daughter, who became known as Badshah Bibi after his ascension. He had five children:
eldest daughter: stayed unmarried and remained her father's constant companion until his death.
second daughter: married Sikandar Adil Shah, the ruler of Bijapur.
third daughter: married 'Inayat Khan, son of Jumdatu'l-Mulk Asad Khan.
Khuda Banda or Banda-i Sultan: the only son; was born during his father's captivity and was taken to an unknown location following the latter's death, after which nothing further is known.
