The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 4.3.7

4.3.7

Destitute people, who were unable to provide for their own subsistence, like the blind, the old, the weak in body, widows, and the sick, etc., to such he gave stipends from the treasury of the town in which they were resident, and giving them the expenses of their journey sent them away. And on account of the fraudulent practices of the religious personages (imáms), he made this arrangement: he did not give the farmáns directing the assignments to the religious personages themselves, but ordered the munshís to prepare the farmáns relating to one pargana, and to bring them to him. Sher Sháh then put them all into a letter and put his seal on it, and gave it to a trustworthy man of his own, and said to him, "Carry these farmáns to such and such a pargana." When the farmáns came to the shikkdár, he first made over to the holy personages their stipends, and then gave the farmdns into their possession. Sher Shdh often said, "It is incumbent upon kings to give grants to imams; for the prosperity and populousness of the cities of Hind are dependent on the imams and holy men; and the teachers and travellers, and the necessitous, who cannot come to the king, they will praise him, being supported by those who have grants; and the convenience of travellers and the poor is thereby secured, as well as the extension of learning, of skill, and religion;