The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.80

v4.c16.80

In order to allay the resentment aroused by his innovations Akbar was obliged to descend to more hypocrisy. On his return march from Ajmer he ostentatiously recited every day the ritual prayers, and after his arrival at Fathpur Sikrī he received with an extravagant display of devotion a heavy stone brought from Mecca, which was said to bear the print of Muhammad's foot. He did not believe the relic to be genuine, and would have felt no reverence for it if he had, but he and his courtiers went out for six or seven miles to meet the stone, and bore it, in turn, to Fathpur Sīkrī. This act of hypocrisy, too gross to deceive even the simplest, was performed, according to Abu-'l-Fazl, lest the Sayyid who brought the stone should be put to shame, and in order to silence those who regarded Akbar's inquiries and discussions with suspicion. Of the latter object, at least, it failed.