Annals of Social Sciences and Perspective (ISSN: 2707-7063) Vol.1, No.2 December 2020 , Volume & Issues Obtainable at The Women University Multan
ISSN: 2707-7063, Volume 1, No.2 December 2020
Fariha Kanwal (1) , Fatima Ali (2)
Abstract
Religious
tolerance means that allow people to live their lives according to their
personal beliefs, respect for other’s
opinions, positively understand their ideas, given religious freedom. Unfortunately, there is a lot of religious
intolerance in the world which causes many chaos and conflicts, especially the image of Islam
became negative due to some terrorist activities. But Islam is the greatest revolution in the world
which gives rights to everyone to live their life according to their beliefs. In the
sub-continent, after the war of independence of 1857, the Hindus and Sikhs were creating great chaos
for the Muslims. They made Muslim’s life worst
even the Muslims could not live according to their teaching of Islam.
So, religious tolerance is compulsory
for everyone to live in peace even they are Muslims or not. The research by
using the deductive method of research
focuses on the policy of religious tolerance of great Mughal emperors that great Mughal emperors from
Babur to Aurangzeb showed great religious
tolerance under their rule. It is the need of a time because there are
many misconceptions about their
religious policies and religious tolerance towards different communities of
other religions, castes, and sects. And
to know about the religious tolerance, behavior and activities of Mughal emperors is necessary. Research is an effort
to solve different problems systematically. Basic approaches of research qualitative and
quantitative are used for this research to collect data and analyze the data. The fundamental research is
initiated with the deductive approach. The data
for research collect through primary and secondary sources such as
books, journals, government records,
articles and reports to analyze the religious intolerance of Mughal emperors.
Keywords:
Religious tolerance policy, Mughal Rulers, subcontinent, Islam, Non-Muslim communities.
1.
Introduction
The Mughal period started a new era to bring a change in the sub-continent, socio-culturally, politically, economically and religiously. There were impacts of Mughal religious tolerance on every aspect of life. They recognized the legitimacy of Islamic political power in various secretarial castes and creeds. The founder of the Mughal Empire was Zahir-ud-din Babur, who was a Chagatai Turkish ruler, defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in 1526 in the battle of Panipat. After his death, his son Humayun ruled from 1530-1556, between that period, from 1530-1550 Sher Shah Suri ruled here. They showed great religious tolerance to maintain peace and order and bring harmony among the different communities of different religious sects under their rule.
When
Babur conquest the sub-continent, there were five independent Muslim rulers two
Hindu rulers. Many Rajas were also lived
there in hills and jungle sides. Some were obedient towards Muslim rulers and some not, because of their
places and remoteness. Babur and Humayun,
Akbar (1556-1605) and Jahangir (1605-1627), Shahjahan (1628-1658), and
Aurangzeb Alamgir(1658-1707), all had
shown religious tolerance in their way and styles. Their intentions behind taking their religious policies
towards the indigenous people were positive, as
concerned Akbar’s religious policy, which main motive was to promote
harmony, to brought friendly and
cooperated relations among different religious communities. It's just like
a brotherhood to live their life
peacefully among different communities. There is a misconception about Aurangzeb Alamgir religious tolerance.
His religious policy had based on simplicity,
which shows his religious tolerance in a balanced way in every matter on
an equal basis. His intention was also
positive, he just wanted to promote the socio-cultural morality of his
subjects and to maintain peace and order
in his empire. These emperors have never taken any such kind of action on a religious basis but
personally. They selected non-Muslims on merit. They celebrated their festivals as well. Their
period of the ruling was progressive and prosperous and one of the main objects was to adopt the
behavior of religious tolerance. So, religious
intolerance is the main factor to create chaos in society. Where ever it
did not show from the extremists, we can
see peace and harmony which prevailing in the society. Mughal emperors did not show any such kind of religious
intolerance that we are facing nowadays. As we take religious intolerance in Pakistan or the
whole world, there are many communities. They belong to different religions, show religious
intolerance. They try to insight and insult one another on a religious basis. And it became the biggest
cause of terrorism. The non-Muslim community
does not want to see again the Muslim supremacy or their role in
progress in a positive way. They want to
smash them. So, we must analyze those factors which are responsible for
our decline, in which religious
intolerance is the main factor and we must have to improve the image of Islam in a positive way that Islam is the
name of peace and harmony, not terrorism. If there is religious intolerance, there would be a
lack of security and then there will be no peace and harmony in a society. If there is terrorism, there
should be no creativity and developments. So,
we re-organize ourselves for maintaining peace and order in a society.
We have to give rights, fair justice, to
the minorities, give them protection, and religious tolerance has to be
promoted. There should be religious
tolerance among the different communities who lived in the world. Wherever religious tolerance shows, it brings
peace and harmony. In Spain, Ottoman Empire,
or such as India, the people of these areas lived poor life under the
cruel rulers, they want to relieve from such kind of rule where they lived like
a slave. So, they invited Muslims to invade
here to conquered and guarantee them free life where no restrictions, no
injustice, would be happened. The great
Mughal empire was one of the glorious and peaceful empires of that time living among different other non-Muslim
communities. Muslims were at their peak, and
especially Akbar, who shows great religious tolerance under his rule,
proved peace and harmony among the
different communities. The Mughal emperors always encouraged non Muslims in
Mughal services. They promoted Hindi Sanskrit literature and music, art
and culture. They adopted their dresses
and many festivals and ceremonies. They married Hindu Rajputs women and gave them full freedom to
live their lives according to their faiths. These Mughals fought their aims and interests, not
on a religious basis. Babar fought Ibrahim Lodhi, who was Muslim, not Hindu, it shows that they
never fight on a religious basis but for their gains. They always established friendly
relations after the conquest. It should be said that it was religious tolerance of Mughals that they
ruled successfully and that it was also the result of their religious tolerance that there is an
amalgamation of culture and traditions of other communities in Muslim culture, especially Hindu culture.
These emperors have never taken any such kind
of action on a religious basis but personally. Their period of ruling
was progressive and prosperous. The main
factor was to adopt the policy of religious tolerance. Due to this religious
tolerance, other non-Muslim communities have given chances to show their
ability in the administrative structure,
art, and literature, etc. and the Mughal emperors always encouraged their work and services. Their policy is
based on Islamic principles. Muslim state was theocratic and the King was the representative and agent
of God Almighty. The civil authorities are bound to enforce law and order in a society. The
Muslims pay Zakat and other kinds of taxes. On the other hand, the Hindu subjects must pay
jizya. It means that the Muslim rulers would be
responsible to protect their lives and property etc. These emperors were
too much indifferent towards spiritual
affairs, too much engrossed in schemes of conquest and administration to undertake the task of conversion in earnest.
Their power was in a large measure dependent on
links with the Rajput prices. The native princesses whom they married
brought a stain of Hindu blood into the
royal line and promoted tolerance of Hinduism. Their religious tolerance
policy isto avoid the crisis and to
build a strong center. It has been analyzed that Akbar’s intention was positive in the reference of his Din-e-Elahi.
Akbar realized that whenever there would be chaos in a society, it should be removed with the
implementation of such kinds of laws which created a favorable condition of peace and harmony.
So, after a long discussion, he decided to adopt all good things for every religion and make a
brotherhood among them. And we can say that his
intention was positive and he proved for his successful ruling due to
maintaining peace and order.
We
should have to create harmony among the socio-religious differences in society.
Positive Role of social media and
technology, even there should be a change in our thoughts, we have too broad-minded in our thinking, morality
should be courage in society, to increase awareness about the Islamic law in which brotherhood
must be introduced implemented. There should be
the proper implementation of law and order in a society. Positively show
our Islamic tradition. We have to remove
the negative impact on the image of Islam. But the lawlessness in the country makes society’s condition worst. We
have to bring about institutional changes that turn Pakistan into a modern and prosperous
country.
The Arab conquest of the Sub-continent had great impacts on Sub-continent. It cannot be denied that the Arab conquest of the sub-continent sowed the seed of Islam which brought about the homeland of our 'Pakistan'. A large number of persons in the sub-continent were converted to Islam. Arabs opened India to the rest of the world and the noble tenets of Islam. They taught a lot and learned a good deal. Arabs influenced the political, religious, social, and sociological life of the sub-continent. These marks are clearly visible on the language, dress, customs and every aspects of life in sub-continent.
When
the Arabs settled in the sub-continent, they were dazzled by the ability of the
Inhabitants of their land. Hindu
learning also was encouraged by the ministerial family of Barmaks during the Khilafat of Harun from 786 to 808 A.D.
They invited Hindu scholars to Baghdad and ask
them to translate books of Sanskrit on medicine, philosophy, etc., into
the Arabic language. They also put the
Hindu physicians in charge of their hospitals.
In the 11th century, Al-Biruni had visited India, who made the just, fair, and sympathetic study of Hindu society and its culture. He describes in his book, Kitab-ul-Hind, that the Hindus called the foreigners, mleccha i.e. impure. They had forbidden to contact them and did not make any kind of relation. They were different from Muslims in every aspect of life. Al-Beruni shows a tolerant attitude in describing the Hindu society. He studied deeply their religion, superstitions, their food, dresses, law, and customs in detail. When another traveler, Ibn Buttuta visited the Indo-Pak subcontinent in 1030 A.D. he also observed a fair and humane attitude towards the subjects from the ruling class.
After
the Ghurid occupation of northern India also the Hindu religious thinkers were
obliged to face the changed
circumstances by effecting a change in their religious outlook. Hinduism gave evidence of great dynamics when it
modified its social outlook and religious behavior according to the requirements of the time.
The rigidity of the caste system was softened in the centuries that followed and Hinduism which
did not believe in making converts adopted
proselytizing methods. Though the Bhakti movement, which was based on
the two revolutionary doctrines of a
direct approach to Ultimate Reality and brotherhood of man blossomed in the 14th century. Probably never
in the annals of Hinduism religious leadership
had sprung from that class of society to which saints like Kabir, Nanak,
Dadu, Dhanna, and others belonged. A
comparison and contest of the religious and social outlook of the Hindus
in the 12th and the 15th centuries will
explain the nature and extent of the influence of Islam on Indian culture.
Influence
of Islam:
The
word “tolerance” was firstly used in the 15th century. It is derived from
endurance and fortitude which were used
in the 14th century. According to the Etymology Dictionary, this word was first to use to describe having
permission from authorities in 1550. The term
toleration is constructed from the Latin word ‘tolerate’, means to the
optimist, expression, and suffer. It
considered the acceptance of other’s faiths, practices, either these are right
or wrong, but bear by the authorities.
Anton Hein says that it is the awareness of the rights of others and gives freedom to their own beliefs, faiths
and practices.
The
influence of Islam in the sub-continent was great. Islam prevailed by Muslims
on a great level. It was the main effect
on indigenous people of the sub-continent. They were mostly idolaters and many of them accepted Islam by
the kind and humble behavior of Muslims. But
the Muslims never forced them to accept Islam. They give them full
religious freedom to live their lives
according to their beliefs. These Mughal emperors showed them religious
tolerance.
Support
by Hindu Rajas:
In
private and daily routine life, the Mughal emperors had always favored the
Hindu Rajas and Nobles. They joined them
freely in their festivals and feasts. They wanted to create love and peace due to the policy of tolerance. Due to
their religious tolerance policy towards different non-Muslim communities, they became supporters
of the Mughal Empire.
Non-Muslims
in Mughal Services:
The
services opened for all Indians without any discrimination. The people could
get services in the Mughal Empire based
on their talent. And when we talk about their less participation in the Mughal state was because of their moral
degeneration and intellectual ignorance, not
because of the religious basis. Afterward, Hinduism had many mystics,
scholars and Intellectuals. They had the
freedom to express their feelings and ideas. They were independent to utilize their abilities. The Faithful
service and submissive department were their chief recommendations. The higher services,
especially in the army, were monopolized by the
Rajputs to the exclusion of other Hindu castes. The subordinate civil
services fell to the lot of Khastris
from the Punjab, Agarwal Banias, Kayasthas and others. The predominance of
the Rajputs in the Mughal service was
actuated by matters of policy and was a diplomatic stroke, pure and simple, as they formed the cream of
Hindu society and their loyalty and submission
meant the acknowledgment of the Muslim rule by the Hindu population in
general. Raja Todar Mal, who was distinguished for foresight and mental
activity, was directed to go and examine
the methods of ingress of the fort, and to submit a report as to how it
could best be taken. Sir Tomas Roe was
the first ambassador of England to the Mughal court. As there were Muslim writers in Hindi poetry, there grew up Hindu
writers of Persian and Urdu poetry. They became
the friends of the Mughal rulers and it was a good effect on the Mughal
rulers. They favored them in every
matter.
Titles
are given to Non-Muslims:
∙
Hindu Nobles
∙
Hindu Musician
∙
Christian painters
The
imperial system was open to all Muslims as well as to prompted the
non-Muslims. Everyone had allowed the participation
in the Mughal services. They appointed them higher posts of political and military services, as
well as they, adopted their culture to promote peace and security in society. They gave them
titles for their bravery and loyalty. Anup Ray fought against a tiger and saved the life of the
Emperor was given the title of Sang-dalan (Crusher of the lion). Indian musicians used the
tradition of the Hindu instruments and gave many titles like Surgian Khan, Sarud Khan, etc. These all
were to encourage their abilities. This effect was creating a pleasing change in the atmosphere
of the sub-continent where different religious
sects lived. That shows the religious tolerance behave of these Mughal
Emperors towards non Muslims.
Mughal
Ruler’s Humble Behavior to Non-Muslims:
The
Mughal Emperors never took revenge on the non-Muslims. They had always their
grudge or interests. The Mughal emperors
forgave the mistakes of Muslim people as well as Hindus after taking forgiveness from the emperors.
They became their faithful and dutiful persons. So, there was a great effect due to their humble
and kind behavior towards non-Muslims.
Alliance
with Hindu Rajputs:
The
alliance of the Rajputs with the Mughals roused the religious conscience of the
former as little as it did that of the
latter. Some Hindus even accepted innovations of political significance and made them part of their religious
rituals. There were Rajput nobility and the Hindu majority population. In the Mughal court, everyone had
allowed to complain and demand justice from
them. The Mughal court holds regular for their subjects to listen to
their voice directly. These alliances
create harmony among them.
Charities
and Rewards are given by Mughal Rulers to Non-Muslims:
The
Mughal Emperors gave charities to their poor subjects without any
discrimination of religion. It is also
to create loyalty for their rule. Under their rule, political loyalty was
increased due to religious tolerance.
They were not against the Hindus but their some customs, which were hateful and dangerous for the
peoples.
Matrimonial
Relations:
Akbar
married the Hira Kunwar Sahiba Harka of Bai “Maryamal-Zamani”, mother of
Jahangir. Other wives were the daughter
of Raja Bihari Mal of Amber, niece of Raja Kalyan Mal of Bikaner, daughter of
Raja Har Rai of Jaisalmer, Daughter of Raja of Dungarpur Hindus.
Jahangir
is also married to the daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das and the father of Raja Man
Singh. Other wives are Jagat Gosain
Manmati, daughter of Raja Udai Singh, son of Mal Deo of Mewar, mother of Khurrum “Shajahan”. Shajahan
married Bhai Lilaviati, Daughter of Rao
Sakar Singh. Aurangzeb also married the daughter of the Rajah Raju of Rajauri.
All these married also showed a tolerant
attitude towards the non-Muslims ladies and gave them all rights. It should be noticed that the
emperors like Jahangir, Shahjahan, Auranzaib were the son of these ladies.
Adopted
Hindu and Persian Culture:
∙
Their dresses
∙
Their superstitions
∙
Their customs
These
Mughal emperors adopted the Hindu and Persian culture, their dresses,
superstitions, customs, etc. The
amalgamation of culture and tradition had a great effect on the sub-continent.
In
the Ceremonies and Festivals:
The
Mughal emperors always participate in the ceremonies and festivals of the
indigenous people with great zeal. Hindu
festivals were regularly celebrated at the court. They enjoyed many non-Islamic festivals and ceremonies
which shows their religious tolerance behavior.
Such as:
∙
Festival of Holi
∙
Festival of Nauroz
∙
Festival of Diwali
∙
Festival of Dasehra
∙
Festival of Basant
∙
Mina Bazaar
They
supervised many Persian and Indian festivals which they celebrated such as the
festivals of Nauruz, Holi, Diwali,
Dasqhra, Basant, Mehrjan, Jashn-i-Wazn, Jashn-i-Sihhat, Jashn-i Gulabi,
Jash-i-Tajpushi, Jashn-i-Mahtabi and Jashn-i-Fath. Because they thought that
these celebrations brought a change in
the life of the people. They realized the importance of these festivals. They wanted to impress their
subjects. They wanted peace, security and prosperity in Muslim states. They give them symbols of
royalty to their Nobles. They received their
ambassaders of different kingdoms with great grandeur, which promoted
their friendly relations and solved many
commercial problems due to the behavior of religious tolerance. They always took much attention to the
condition of their country. They had made their friendly relations and solved many commercial problems
due to the behavior of religious tolerance.
They always took much attention to the condition of their country. They
had made their subjects happy. For this
purpose, they hold their court many times in a day. They discussed their
matter after the prayer time.
Many
other traditions are adopted from Hindu culture, in which Mehndi and Barat
ceremonies and the Turkish tradition
Sachaq. They celebrated those occasions with great zeal. They also adopted the dress of Turkish and Rajput
styles. Due to this, they understand each other.
The
Mughal court was the center of the social gathering, where all matters were
attempted. Every day was fixed for
meetings with some personalities, and the days of Saturday and Thursday for ahl-i-Sadat, who was the
protector of religion. During their glorious period, art and architecture, learning and literature,
painting and music made great progress.
The
Mughal emperors provided the chances to the people to understand their social,
political, and religious problems. They
gave them opportunities to convert their grievances into happiness. For this purpose, they had
directly linked with their subjects in the shape of festivals and outdoor pastimes, in which they hunted,
playing polo, and also entertained themselves with wrestlings, witnessing tricks of jugglers,
pigeon flying, etc. Mina bazaar also organized for the amusement of the people that was the social
contact to direct their emperors, where they had to listen to their problems and gave them
solutions.
Mughal
Schools were Secular:
The
Mughal schools of painting and architecture were secular. Everyone was could
come to learn there without any
discrimination of religion. Hindus, especially Rajputs learned many things from the Muslims. Their libraries were
also arranged according to their subjects. Many
Indian books translated from Sanskrit into Persian.
Promotion
of Secular Art Learning:
Under
the Mughal rule, the nobles, rich or poor, every scholar who belong to any
religion, participated with the same interest
and zeal to promote the growth of art and learning. Education was free for any person without any
discrimination. Secular and non-secular
education had been taught in schools or mudarssa at that time. Due to
this, people became broad-minded and to
know about the knowledge of one another and took advantage to make their ruling progressively.
Muslim-Hindu
Interaction:
The
interaction of Islam and Hinduism did not operate in one direction only. Muslim
society was also deeply influenced and
purely local influences left a mark, at least temporarily, on Islam in the Subcontinent. Some western
writers have been stated that it was influenced by Hinduism as well as Islam. They seem to
assume that Islam in India was originally pure and orthodox, but due to Hindu influences
absorbed many un-Islamic features.
Prevalence
of Peace and Order:
There
were some examples of the prevalence of peace and order in a sub-continent in
the reign of the Mughals. Under their
rule, every person was peaceful and prosperous and free and independent and everyone had obeyed him. The
people dwelt in repose and safety, and
obedience and loyalty.
Promotion
of Communal Harmony:
There was the promotion of communal harmony among the different religious communities due to the religious tolerance of the great Mughals.
The
amalgamation of Culture:
The
Mughal emperors increased friendly relations with non-Muslims which prove to
be flourished the different
civilizations and that was the amalgamation of cultures.
Stability
of Mughal Empire:
The
great Mughal emperors did hard work to achieve their destiny and made a very
strong and prosperous Empire under their
rule. They were the descendants of Timur, who was a great conqueror of his time. The Mughals restore
peace and order in a society. They were intelligent and clever statesmen and military genius.
They were firm believers in Allah, lover of nature, seeker of truth, fond of arts. They were
affectionate father, generous friends, a kind master to their subjects. They were broad-minded, bold
and tolerant rulers. They were wise and
enlightened rulers. The military system formed the Mughal nobility
without any discrimination of religion,
sects, caste and creed. They promoted them to higher ranks due to their bravery
and faithfulness, which gave strength to
the Mughal Empire. The central administration became strong due to this act. There were made great
military expansions in which Muslims and non Muslims both participated equally
without any discrimination of religion, caste and creed, etc.
The
Prosperity of Land and People:
The
Mughal emperors maintained close and friendly relations with also the
neighboring countries of Turkey, Turan
and especially with Iran. The migration of scholars, merchants, Sufis, architects, engineers, poets,
adventurers encouraged their talent, which makes their Empire prosperous. Working toleration
developed among the indigenous people. They won the hearts of the subjects. The cooperation of
indigenous people on welfare and other works was to be proved a good effect on them.
Conclusion:
The
impacts of fair dealings and the wisdom policies of the Mughal emperors had
proved a great thing for their
government. That was all due to their religious tolerance policy. He had relied on non-Muslims leaders like Muslim
leaders and this unique technique was liked by all the people of that time. Roop-Singh,
Jasoonat-Singh and Raja Jay Singh were brave and popular fighters of Shah Jahan's army. Muslim
leaders were carrying orders of Hindus and
Rajputs were obeying orders of Muslim leaders considering each other as
one part of a strong army. This was the
wonderful result of Mughal’s useful policies.
Due
to this religious tolerance, other non-Muslim communities have been given
chances to show their ability in the
administrative structure, art and literature, etc. and the Mughal emperors always encouraged their work and
services. It can be the judge that wherever
Muslims showed religious tolerance towards other non-Muslim communities,
there had been peace and order in
society either in Spain or in an Ottoman empire of Muslims. And we can see that nowadays, religious tolerance is
replaced by religious intolerance, which caused so much chaos and disturbance among the different
communities.
All of these happened due to the religious tolerance policy of the Mughal rulers. In every aspect of life, they encouraged non-Muslims in their life. So, therefore, their religious tolerance attitude towards non-Muslims had created positive impacts.
References
Humayun-Nama
by Gulbadan Begum Rasheed Akhtar Nadwi (Urdu translator), Sang-e-Meel Publictaions, Lahore, 1995, p. 41
Humayun-Nama,
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Pakistan,1987,p.111
Ibid,
p. 108
Ibid,
p. 27
Ibid,
p. 711
Irfan
Habib and K. A. Nizami, Muslims in India, (a miscellany, Vol.3), book traders,
Lahore, Alhamra Press, Lahore, 1854, p.
137
Ishtiaq
Husain Qureshi, The Muslim Community of the Indo-Pakistan
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Maj.
(R) Prof. Muhammad Tariq Awan, History of India and Pakistan, vol.1,
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Mstafa
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Notes
1
MPhil Scholar, Department of History & Pakistan Studies, The Women
University, Multan
2 Lecturer, Department of History &
Pakistan Studies, The Women University, Multan