The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.102

v4.c18.102

When he came to the throne Shāh Jahān was nearly thirty-six, and his character had mellowed. He had disposed of all possible rivals of the blood royal and the people at large were prepared to welcome a ruler who had shown ability as general and administrator after the impotent government of his father. Nor were they disappointed, as Shāh Jahān, at last relieved from the long anxiety about his position, showed that he had unexpected geniality and moderation. His careful handling of the Afghān tribes round the Khyber pass who commanded the line of communications with Kābul and are even still a menace to civilised administration shows this.² These qualities, however, did not permit toleration of abuses and negligence of their duties by the officials of the empire, and there were notable instances of local administrators being removed for such faults. Though in matters of religion his plain straightforward creed permitted no licence, he never degenerated into the bigot that his successor became. With the latitude of Akbar's religious beliefs and practices, and the looseness of Jahāngīr's court, he had no sympathy, and his objects were primarily to restore the strict profession of Islām rather than to persecute believers in other religions. Thus he soon abolished the ceremonial prostration before the throne which had been instituted by Akbar and maintained by Jahāngīr, and in its place prescribed forms which savoured less of divine worship. The ostentatious use of the divine era instituted by Akbar ceased so far as the record of months on the coinage was concerned a few years after Shāh Jahān's accession, except in one or two outlying places, though the practical value of a calendar of solar months led to their continued use (but not invariably) for fiscal purposes.