The Akbarī Generations 57: Building of an 'Ibadat-Khana.

57

The Emperor had from his early youth taken delight in the society of learned and accomplished men, and had found pleasure in the assemblies of men of imagination and genius. He always treated them with the greatest respect and honour, and frequently graced their heavenly meetings. He listened to their discussions of nice points of science, of the ancient and modern history of religions and people and sects, and of all matters of worldly interest; and he profited by what he heard. His great favour for such men, led him at the time of his return from Ajmir in the month of Zi-l ka'da, 982, and in the twentieth year of his reign, to issue his commands for skilful architects and clever builders to erect in the gardens of the royal palace a refuge for sufis, and a home for holy men, into which none should be allowed to enter but saiyids of high rank, learned men ('ulama), and shaikhs. In obedience to the Imperial commands, skilful architects planned a building, containing four halls (aiwan), and in a brief period completed it. When this happy abode was finished, the Emperor used to go there on Friday nights and on holy nights, and pass the night until the rising of the sun in the society of distinguished men. It was arranged that the western hall should be occupied by saiyids, the south by the learned ('ulama) and the wise, the northern by shaikhs and men of ecstasy (arbab-i hal); all without confusion or intermixture. The nobles and officers of the Court, whose tastes were in unison with those of men of greatness and excellence, were to sit in the eastern hall. His Majesty graced each of the four halls with his presence, and enriched those present with his gifts and bounty. The members of the assembly used to select a number of the most worthy among those present to be presented to His Majesty, and to receive from him handfuls of ashrafis and rupees. Those, who from evil fortune did not participate in the royal bounty in the evening, used to sit down in rows before the 'ibadat-khana on Friday mornings, and receive handfuls of ashrafis and rupees from His Majesty's own hands. This assemblage used frequently to last beyond mid-day on Fridays. Sometimes, when His Majesty was tired, one of the attendants of the Court, in whose kindness and gentleness he had confidence, was deputed to perform this duty.
In this year Gulbadan Begam, daughter of the Emperor Babar, and aunt of Akbar, piously undertook the journey to Mecca. When Gujarat was annexed to the Imperial dominions, he determined that every year one of the officers of his Court should be appointed Mir Haji, or Leader of the Pilgrims, to conduct a caravan from Hindustan, like the caravans from Egypt and Syria, to the holy places. This design was carried out, and every year a party of enlightened men of Hind, of Mawarau-n nahr, and Khurasan, received provision for their journey from the royal treasury, and went under the appointed leader from the ports of Gujarat to the holy places. Never before had any monarch provided for the annual departure of a caravan from India, nor had any one furnished means to the needy, to enable them to perform the pilgrimage. Gulbadan and Salima Sultan Begam now obtained the Emperor's permission to go the pilgrimage, and received from him a sum of money for the expenses of the journey. All the pious poor who desired to join in the pilgrimage obtained the means of travelling.