[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Akbar (1556–1605)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar) › [Akbarnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama) › [Akbar-nama, of Shaikh Abu-l Fazl (Elliot & Dowson, extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-elliot) › 66 # The Book of Akbar 66: Discussions in the 'Ibadat-Khana. (See Vol. V. p. 526.) Akbar-náma, of Shaikh Abu-l Fazl (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 66 - **Language:** English ### [66](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-elliot.66) \[Text, vol. iii. p. 215.\] When the capital was illumined by the return of the Imperial presence, the old regulations came again into operation, and the house of wisdom shone resplendent on Friday nights with the light of holy minds. On the 20th Mihr, in that place of meeting, the lamp was kindled to brighten the solitude of seclusion in the banquet of society, and the merits of the philosophers of the colleges and monasteries were put to the test of the touchstone. Sufis, doctors, preachers, lawyers, Sunnis, Shi'as, Brahmans, Jains, Buddhists, Char-baks, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, and learned men of every belief, were gathered together in the royal assembly, and were filled with delight. Each one fearlessly brought forward his assertions and arguments, and the disputations and contentions were long and heated. Every sect, in its vanity and conceit, attacked and endeavoured to refute the statements of their antagonists. \* \* \* One night the ’Ibadat-Khana was brightened by the presence of Padre Radalf, who for intelligence and wisdom was unrivalled among Christian doctors. Several carping and bigoted men attacked him, and this afforded an opportunity for a display of the calm judgment and justice of the assembly! These men brought forward the old received assertions, and did not attempt to arrive at truth by reasoning. Their statements were torn to pieces, and they were nearly put to shame; and then they began to attack the contradictions in the Gospel, but they could not prove their assertions. With perfect calmness and earnest conviction of the truth, the Padre replied to their arguments, and then he went on to say, “If these men have such an opinion of our Book, and if they believe the Kuran to be the true word of God, then let a furnace be lighted, and let me with the Gospel in my hand, and the ’ulama with their holy book in their hands, walk into that testing place of truth, and the right will be manifest.” The black-hearted mean-spirited disputants shrank from this proposal, and answered only with angry words. This prejudice and violence greatly annoyed the impartial mind of the Emperor, and, with great discrimination and enlightenment, he said: “Man’s outward profession and the mere letter of Muhammadanism, without a heartfelt conviction, can avail nothing. I have forced many Brahmans, by fear of my power, to adopt the religion of my ancestors; but now that my mind has been enlightened with the beams of truth, I have become convinced that the dark clouds of conceit and the mist of self-opinion have gathered round you, and that not a step can be made in advance without the torch of proof. That course only can be beneficial which we select with clear judgment. To repeat the words of the Creed, to perform circumcision, or to lie prostrate on the ground from dread of kingly power, can avail nothing in the sight of God : Obedience is not in prostration on the earth : Practise sincerity, for righteousness is not borne upon the brow.” - [Previous: 65](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-elliot.65) - [Next: 67](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-elliot.67) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-elliot.66](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-elliot.66) · Pramāṇa