The Institutes of Akbar 135.1.1

135.1.1

"Whereas Hindústán has now become the centre of security and peace, and the land of justice and beneficence, a large number of people, especially learned men and lawyers, have immigrated and chosen this country for their home. Now we, the principal 'Ulamás, who are not only well versed in the several departments of the law and in the principles of jurisprudence, and well-acquainted with the edicts which rest on reason or testimony, but are also known for our piety and honest intentions, have duly considered the deep meaning, first, of the verse of the Qorán (Sur. IV, 62,) 'Obey God, and obey the prophet, and those who have authority among you,' and secondly, of the genuine tradition, 'Surely, the man who is dearest to God on the day of judgment, is the Imám i 'Ádil: whosoever obeys the Amír, obeys Me; and whosoever rebels against him, rebels against Me,' and thirdly, of several other proofs based on reasoning or testimony; and we have agreed that the rank of a Sultán i 'Ádil (a just ruler) is higher in the eyes of God than the rank of a Mujtahid. Further we declare that the king of the Islám, Amír of the Faithful, shadow of God in the world, Abul Fath Jaláluddín Muhammad Akbar Pádisháh i ghází, whose kingdom God perpetuate, is a most just, a most wise, and a most God-fearing king.