The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.448

v3.c20.448

Baranī relates an interesting conversation which he had with the king on political offences and their punishment. The occasion was Muhammad’s halt at Sultānpur, about two years after this time, on his way to suppress the rebellion in Gujarāt. The king, referring to the disorders and revolts in all parts of his dominions, expressed a fear lest men should attribute them all to his severity, but added that he should not be influenced by irresponsible opinion. He asked Baranī, as one versed in history, for what offences kings of old had been wont to inflict death. Baranī admitted the necessity for capital punishment, without which order could not be maintained, and said that the great Jamshīd of Persia had inflicted it for seven offences, viz. apostasy, wilful murder, adultery by a married man with another’s wife, high treason, rebellion, aiding the king’s enemies, and such disobedience as caused injury to the state, trivial acts of disobedience being expressly excepted. Muhammad then asked for what crimes capital punishment was sanctioned by the Islamic law, and Baranī replied that there were only three for which it was provided, apostasy, wilful murder of a Muslim, and rape of a chaste woman, but that it was understood that kings might, for the maintenance of peace and order, inflict it for the other four crimes for which it had been sanctioned by Jamshīd.