The Institutes of Akbar 2.3.8

2.3.8

They even signed the remarkable document which Shaikh Mubárak in conjunction with his sons had drafted, a document which I believe stands unique in the whole Church History of Islám. Badáoní has happily preserved a complete copy of it. The emperor was certified to be a just ruler, and was as such assigned the rank of a ‘Mujtahid’, i. e. an infallible authority in all matters relating to Islám. The ‘intellect of the just king’ thus became the only source of legislation, and the whole body of the learned and the lawyers bound themselves to abide by Akbar’s decrees in religious matters. Shaikh ’Abdunnabí and Makhdúm ul-Mulk signed indeed the document against their will, but sign they did; whilst Shaikh Mubárak added to his signature the words that he had most willingly subscribed his name, and that for several years he had been anxiously looking forward to the realization of the progressive movement. “The document,” says Abul Fazl in the Akbarnámah, “brought about excellent results—(1) The Court became a gathering place of the sages and learned of all creeds; the good doctrines of all religious systems were recognized, and their defects were not allowed to obscure their good features; (2) perfect toleration (ṣulḥ-i-kul, or ‘peace with all’) was established;