Ibadat Khana A Symbol of the Relationship between Religion and the Mongul Emperor
The House
In the year 1576, the buildings of the Ibadat Khana were completed. Discussions took place every Thursday evening and sometimes went till the following morning. From October 1578 onward, scholars from different faiths joined in the Ibadat Khana discussions. The building of the Ibadat Khana is thought to consist of at least four aiwans (porticos/verandah/open galleries). The building is also situated close to the palace, and is very near if not within the imarat-i hauz-i anuptalao (the capital).
The Empire
It is important in considering the golden age of Mughal India to address its administration and the impact of its governance. Mughal, the name, is a corruption of the Persian word for Mongol. The Mughals are originally from central Asia and are descended from the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan and Timur, the great conqueror of Asia. Major cities built by the Mughal emperors include Delhi, Agra, and Lahore. The Mughal Empire was notable for its more than two centuries of effective rule (from the early 16th to mid 18th centuries) over much of india, and the consistent effectiveness of its various rulers during that time. The Mughal Empire (which was Muslim) was able to integrate Hindus and Muslims into a unified Indian State. One of the most notable rulers was Akbar, the successor of Humayun.
Akbar and the House
Akbar (A.K.A. Abu-ul-Fath Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar), the successor of Humayun, lived from 1542 to 1605 and is thought to be the greatest of the Mughal emperors. He reigned from 1556 to 1605, during which time he extended the reach of the Mughal Empire to the majority of the indian subcontinent. Akbar is best remembered for his unified state building, and tolerant rules in regard to religion. Previous administrations had several crucial flaws that Akbar addressed. Primarily, states seemed to fall apart because military commanders gained to much power and created factions. Akbar addressed this by having officers and those below them directly appointed by himself, instead of by their superiors. He also gave scholars and other non-military members military ranks, so that they were more dependent on the government. Akbar started his reign with very orthodox religious practice and opinions. He built the Ibadat Khana house of worship, at Fathpur Sikri which would later become his capital. Scholars, dervishes, courtiers, theologists, and all others interested in religious affairs assembled in the Ibadat Khana and discussed religious subjects in the royal’s presence. The house was founded out of Akbar’s religious zeal, but the ideas brought forth by those who came as well as their discussions eventually drove Akbar away from orthodoxy.
The House and Society
An essential aspect when looking at the accomplishments of the Mughal Empire in its prime is the consolidation of Muslim rule over a large India with primarily Hindus. This consolidation is part of the reason today that there are so many Muslims in India. Doing this required both force and tolerance, and either one or the other or a combination of both were used by each emperor. Akbar is known for his tolerance towards other religions besides Islam, and for the force he used to expand his empire. Akbar was able to control such a large empire through his system of governance which allowed Hindu's to have a role in government, therefore giving the governed a role in governing. Akbar married a Hindu Princess, and ended a discriminatory tax which was much resented called jizya. Akbar didn't require non-muslims to obey Islamic law, but instead allowed them to regulate themselves through their own institutions. These actions are representative of how Akbar's ideas, and by extension the Ibadat Khana and what it represented were popular with the general population.
The House as a Representative of the Age
The Ibadat Khana is not only a representative of the artistic and visual achievements of the Mughal Empire, but of its philosophical and religious ones. More often than not in history, empires and cultures shun religions different than theirs, but we can see here that during Akbar's reign that there was clear reason to have tolerance, otherwise such a vast empire could not be maintained. The Ibadat Khana is a representative of these ideas of tolerance and understanding as a means to sound political, economic, and administrative practice. In the end; however, the last emperor of the Mughal Empire, Aurangzeb, (before British takeover) re-instituted the discriminatory tax jizya against non-muslims. The high points of the Mughal Empire show how this age is a golden age in political philosophy and religious thought.
Photo Credits
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Rodolfo_Acquaviva_diskutiert_mit_dem_Großmogul.jpg (Cover Photo)
- http://www.hoparoundindia.com/cityimages/uttar-pradesh/bigimages/Fatehpur%20Sikri-Ibadat%20Khana-1.JPG (Part of the Palace)
- https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/map.gif (Map of Mughal Empire)
- http://cdn.bartarinha.ir/files/fa/news/1394/8/4/680390_165.jpg (Portrait of Akbar #1)
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjMo7qY9uXJAhVDOD4KHVm6C_MQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffineartamerica.com%2Ffeatured%2Fakbar-the-great-1542-1605-granger.html&psig=AFQjCNGg5iKfocn_zNe-lmAbdzQ0G_8Qsg&ust=1450545724317833 (Portrait of Akbar #2)
- http://www.allempires.com/uploads/akbar.jpg (Portrait of Akbar #3)
- http://apworldhistory101.com/files/5213/4867/8676/Mughal2.jpg (Battle image)
- https://classicalastrologer.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/tahmasp_humayun_meetingshah-tahmasp-i-and-humayun-novrouz-festival-from-chehel-sotoun-palace-isfahan-artist-unknown-c-1820.jpg (Image of court)
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- Rezavi, Syed Ali Nadeem, Dr. "Religious Disputation and Imperial Ideology: The Purpose and Location of Akbar's Ibadatkhana", SIH, 24, No.2." Religious Disputation and Imperial Ideology: The Purpose and Location of Akbar's Ibadatkhana", SIH, 24, No.2. Studies in History, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.archive.org/stream/ReligiousDisputationAndImperialIdeologyThePurposeAndLocationOf/Ibadatkhana#page/n13/mode/2up>. p.195-210
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