Islamic political tradition?

‘Barani is theocratic, but Fazal is liberal’. Do you agree with the statement?
Give arguments in favour of your answer.
2 - Compare the Barani’s & Fazal’s perspectives on monarchy
Outline the novelty of his conception of Badshahat
On religious harmony

Intro
Abul Fazal - An historian of Medieval India, a secretary of Akbar
Early life - Study Arabic, Greek philosophy, Sufism / live a life of ascetic
Impact of his father condition - Mughal religious scholar (ulhama) humiliate his
father for being tolerant with Shia. Thus, he migrates from there. This impact
him & later he expose narrow minded bigotry of religious scholars
Influence of Ibn Arabi – who consider reality as transcendental Unity &
difference of world (of religion & spiritual are equally) insignificant & illusory /
denied view that religious leaders are superior to the king
Work
Change axis of historiography from core of Islam to teleology of universal
history (Akbar as heir of Adam a ruler of all, not of Muhammad)
Akbar Nama - 1. Account of Akbar ancestors 2. Akbar reign in chronological
order 3. Ain-i-Akbari account of sys of admin / differ departments of govt /
facts about its extent, condition, population, resources, industry, wealth /
account of Hindus religion, philosophy, their practices & customs. Thus,
Broaden the range and scope of history compared to other historians

Akbar & Fazal - Akbar needs ideological support to consolidate power against
the other power centers of society & Fazal was fit for it

Context of Mughal Inheritance and a Search for Unity - Initially, India as

small kingdoms, cause pol instability / with Mughal Empire cover much of
India, new integrated culture of both Hindu and Muslim thought (as both Hindu
and Muslim movt) Problems – [No law of succession, strongest emerged as
ruler / a difference existed between theory (ruler bound by Shariah) and practice
(ruler act as sovereign) / approach towards the non-Muslims (Shariah laws &
Jaziya tax apply on them)]

Approaches to Governance
Fazal develop a broader ideology for Mughal civilization / Difficulty for Islam
as a universal religion (state and community coexist) e.g., as India with minority
of Islam ruler & majority of Hindu being ruled
Barani de-universalized Islam as tribal religion viz Turks / Firuz Toghlaq
argues to make India fit for it by conversion to Islam / Fazal - Gave twofold and
revolutionary approach – [1. equality among all religions (all have some truth)
2. separation of politics from religion by favor loyalty to Akbar above the
restrictions of any single religious community]

Methodology
• Rational and secular approach
• New methodology to collect facts and arrange them based on critical
investigation.
• widened range & scope (record a mass of facts)
• questioned the source validity and accepted it based on principles of
historical investigation.

Create epistemology for the interpretation and study of history

• Philosophy of history –
• New idioms of collection of facts
• principles of interpretation & investigation

Originality and cross checking of sources through critical examination

• Rely on many versions of source to assert fact
• Accept them after critical examination (by put set of questions to the
reporter of an event)
• Source material include - accounts by eyewitnesses - Reports,
memoranda, minutes by the offices, imperial Farman’s etc.
SOVEREIGNTY AND SOCIAL CONTRACT
Fazal & Barani – both concern for social stability, difference on handle it by
sovereignty promised on social contract, not based on Shariah
Similar with Hobbes - Need of strong ruler to end lawlessness and rebellion in
society (same as Hobbes’s state of nature – SC- state emerged)
Social contract - basis of sovereignty is needs of the social order, deny any
religious roots / follows dictates of reason, appeal to the tradition of the
philosophers and the scientists / nature of sovereignty as divine light, dismiss
inadequate reference to king as the shadow of God

SECULARISM OF DIN–E-ILAHI
Akbar wants ruler authority over all other elements of the state
• gained authority to interpret law, through Order of Mazhar. (Limited
power)
• seek new justification of religious thoughts /
o Fazal provide it by favor loyalty to Akbar above the restrictions of
any single religious community &
o create a cult of loyalty around the personality of the emperor
(model of Sufi pir-morid relationship)
o intent to endow the emperor with an ideology, replace Sariah as
sole principle to run state
Critique of Traditionalists

Divine theory of Badshah

Theory was combination of different pol traditions include Mongol, Turkish,
Iranian, Islamic and Indian
Badshah means established owner, who cannot be removed by anyone /
Superior place / Authority on all socio, eco, pol & jud power / light derive from
God (agent of God) / father of his people (people’s duty to respect & obey his
order)
Just ruler - able to convert impure into pure, bad into good, like a salt- bed. /
Characteristics are tolerance, respect reason, father lovely to all without
discrimination. / Unjust ruler – discriminate on the basis class, religion, creeds
Authority – Delhi sultanate king has final authority over all matters, expect
religion. Later Akbar includes religion as he follows God’s order, can’t be
wrong, people must follow him.
Sulh-e-kul (universal peace) – Akbar integrated diverse cultural groups into a
stable administrative and military system.
Divine Tolerance & sovereignty – Belief all religions are same in essence, only
the paths varied. / Sovereignty is beyond all religions, not restrict by or related
with any religion / Quality of sovereign [tolerance for the existing beliefs / not
reject the traditional ways of his people / no discriminate among various
religion / Promote good values of different religions / assemble differ faiths to
maintaining peace]

Akbar as ideal king

Qualities - tolerance, broad mindedness, and a strong sense of justice /
Understand ‘spirit of the age’ / exercise reason / favor talent instead of
primordial identities (religion)
Functions - Provide stability to state / good governance to ensure economic
prosperity, peace, and safety / religious freedom to all / intent to expand state
boundaries.
Father figure - gave gift, rewards to peoples as favor, not as their right / duty
paternal care to his subjects
Agent of God / grasp the spirit of the age

Division of society - based on principle of functional division / 4 classes

include warrior; learn men; husbandmen & laborer; craftsman & merchants /
There proper functioning ensures welfare of society / Compare 4 classes with 4
elements - Fire, Air, Water and Earth
4 ranks - Nobles of State; Assistants of Victory; companions of the King;
servants / for proper body politic. / King duty to put all in its proper place
Theory of justice
• King duty to provide justice to people, help innocent, punish wrongdoers
/ ensure good action in future by praise good people, and punish
offenders
• As father to child - provide it kindly and harmoniously /
• As agent of God - remain neutral, not harm anyone by his action /
• transparent judgment after consider circumstance for crime
• not depend on any religious person / have moral and spiritual qualities /
use reason
• justice for all without religious bias (abolish Jizya)

Administration – Mughal polity depart from Delhi sultanate

Changes - change designation of the officials / create provincial admin under
central govt / develop detailed rules for better control / gave highest position to
advocates
Centralized sys of administration - Divided his empire into many levels Subas,
Sarkars and Mahalls with officers at each level controlled by ministers at top. /
Various kinds of ranks based on the Mansabdari system of Persian - divided in 2
types Zat (powers) and sawar (order a force of horses) - responsible to king -
collect revenue. / Thus, Hierarchies in empire with rank and position based on
military strength.
Importance to Talent - talent crucial for kingdom / ignore social background of
a talented person / honored talented people by appoint or promote in the rank of
army
Change tax system to reform condition of farmers – replace collective tax on
village (equal tax for every farmer), with tax on based on individual produce
Pol reforms - Abolished the Jaziya, pilgrimage tax from non-Muslims;
prohibition of forced conversion, slaughter of cows, enforced Sati; regulation of
Prices; control of Liquor; fix minimum wages.

Criticism - kafir, not a true Muslim for rejects supremacy of Islam / Too
skeptical of tradition, favor science - remark Ghazali's criticisms of the
scientists as nonsense / unsuccessful experiments of Sulh-kul and Din-i-Ilahi /
Inconsistent views - gave incompatible theory of social contract and divine right
COMPARE FAZAL & BARANI

Origin of kingship – divine origin / both social contract & divine theory
Basis of sovereignty – force / social order & wisdom of mystic tradition
Nature of sovereignty – temporal as king subordinate religious laws / both
temp & spiritual sovereignty in king above religious laws
Duties of kingship – stability of ruling class, uphold sharia in all walks of life,
protect Islam / religious tolerance (Sulh-i-kul), social harmony, promote sci
Realism – more realistic (end justify means – king can use pol expediency) /
idealistic (king as perfect man)
Theory – gave own theory with novelty / no independent ideas, articulate
through Akbar vision
Practice – not follow by sultan / only follow by Akbar, later ignored