The Institutes of Akbar 135.4.1

135.4.1

At the new year’s day feasts, His Majesty forced many of the ’Ulamás and the pious, nay even the Qázís and the Muftí of the realm, to drink wine,* * * And afterwards the Mujtahids of the Divine Faith, especially Faizí, called out, “Here is a bumper to the confusion of the lawyers!” On the last day of this feast, when the sun enters the nineteenth degree of Aries (a day called Sharafu-lsharaf, and considered particularly holy by His Majesty), the grandees were promoted, or received new jágírs, or horses, or dresses of honor, according to the rules of hospitality, or in proportion of the tribute they had brought.” In this year Gulbadan Begum [Akbar’s aunt] and Salimah Sultán Begum returned from a pilgrimage to Makkah. Soon after Sháh Abú Turáb also, and I’timád Khán of Gujrát, returned from the pilgrimage, and brought an immense stone with them, which had to be transported on an elephant. The stone contained, according to Abú Turáb, an impression of the foot of the prophet. Akbar—though it is difficult to guess the motive—went four kos to meet it, and the grandees were ordered to carry the stone themselves by turns, and thus it was brought to town. ‘In this year, Shaikh Mubárik of Nágor said in the presence of the emperor to Bír Bar, ‘‘ Just as there are interpolations in your holy books, so there are many in ours (Qoran) ; hence it is impossible to trust either.’’