[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [State papers](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin) › [Āʾīn-i Akbarī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari) › [The Ain i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett) › 2.2.7 # The Institutes of Akbar 2.2.7 The Áín i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett) 2.2.7 - **Language:** English ### [2.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.2.2.7) The features common to all Mahdawi movements, are (1) that the preachers of the latter days were men of education and of great oratorical powers, which gave them full sway over the multitudes; and (2) that the Mahdawis assumed a hostile position to the learned men who held office at Court. Islám has no state clergy; but we find a counterpart to our hierarchical bodies in the ’Ulamas about Court, from whom the Sadrs of the provinces, the Mir ’Adls, Muftis, and Qázis were appointed. At Dihli and Agrah, the body of the learned had always consisted of stanch Sunnis, who believed it their duty to keep the kings straight. How great their influence was, may be seen from the fact that of all Muhammadan emperors only Akbar, and perhaps ’Aláuddin Khilji, succeeded in putting down this haughty set. The death of Shaikh ’Alái was a great triumph for the Court ’Ulamas, and a vigorous persecution of all Mahdawi disciples was the immediate result. The persecutions lasted far into Akbar’s reign. They abated only for a short time when the return of Humáyún and the downfal of the Afghán power brought about a violent political crisis, during which the learned first thought of their own safety, well knowing that Humáyún was strongly in favour of Shi’ism; but when Akbar was firmly established, and the court at Agrah, after the fall of Bairám Khan, who was a Shi’ah, again teemed with Hindústáni Sunnis, the persecutions commenced. - [Previous: 2.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.2.2.6) - [Next: 2.2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.2.2.8) - [Up: 2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.2.2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.2.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.2.2.7) · Pramāṇa