Aurangzeb was the last great Mughal emperor.

He spent a great part of his life fighting

against the Hindu chieftains, Rajputs and Marathas, as he wanted to emulate the Tughlaqs
and expand the boundaries of the Empire into the Deccan in the south. Aurangzeb was a
controversial figure during his lifetime. He remains a subject of dispute as historians try to
assess the nature of his rule and the extent to which he was responsible for the eventual
decline of the Mughal Empire.
Aurangzeb was industrious, self-disciplined, and deeply religious. He was ambitious for
power but he had no particular desire for wealth or comfort. His clothes were plain and
simple. His faith was important to him and he spent a great deal of time writing our copies
of the Quran. He could be ruthless to his enemies, even his own kith and kin, but probably
no more than was usual for rulers at the time. He often showed kindness to those around
him. But those who stood in his way were eliminated. He instilled fear in his enemies to
help him maintain his rule throughout the country. No one could doubt his courage in
battle.
SOURCE A: HUMANITY AND KINDNESS
'Aurangzeb's humanity and kindness was such that the severest punishment was reduction
of dignity, and this even was soon restored through the intercession and kind offices of
men high in office.?'
Aurangzeb was a determined ruler and a strict Muslim. He tried to organize the empire
strictly in accordance with Islamic law. His religious policies towards non-Muslims were
highly controversial and are still a source of argument. He tried to control peoples' moral
behaviour by enjoining good deeds and by stopping them from acts forbidden under Islamic
law. As a ruler, he tried to enforce the prescribed practices of the faith amongst Muslims.
He went back to the use of the Islamic calendar. A council of theologians was appointed to
produce the Fatawa-al-Alamgiriya, an important book of Islamic law.
His main ambition as ruler was to expand his authority over all of India. To achieve his
goals Aurangzeb believed it necessary and right to use any means.

Abdul rehmn