The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.37

v4.c19.37

In the course of his enforcement of orthodoxy, Aurangzīb's hand did not spare the heretics of Islām. Even several Sūfī philosophers did not feel themselves safe, as their elastic pantheism was suspected to be a coquetry with Hinduism and a veiled abjuration of the pure dogmas of Islām. The emperor's accession was followed by the persecution of several holy men of liberal views but professed Muslims whom Dārā had favoured. The most notable victim of this class was Sarmad, a Jew of Kāshān (in Persia) converted to Islām, who composed many smooth-flowing verses breathing the ardent mystical fervour of the Sūfī and the spirit of lofty catholicity which recognised the truth inherent in all great creeds. Sarmad used to go about absolutely naked, because like an uncompromising monist he denied the existence of matter and felt no shame about anything pertaining to the material body. He is said to have blessed Dārā's banners in the civil war, and was beheaded on the charge of heresy soon after Aurangzīb's accession. We also read of the execution of Shiahs for cursing the first three Khalifs, and of converts to Islām for returning to their old faith. The Isma‘īlia (or Bohra) heretics of Gujarāt were subjected to bloody persecution by order of Aurangzīb.