History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c16.s2: Prohibition of Incest and Adultery
History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c16.s2
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Prohibition of Incest and Adultery
c16.s2.1
It was discovered that certain Shia sects like the Carmathians and Ismailians¹³ indulged in free licence and incest. According to Ferishtah such sects were found in some countries like Sham (Syria) but were never known to have existed in India. As soon as 'Alāuddīn came to know of these shameless people he ordered them to be severely punished. The "saw" of punishment cut them down after searching them in towns and cities, so that incestuous tribes were altogether extirpated.¹⁴
c16.s2.2
¹³ *Baranī* (p. 336) calls them Ibahityan and Bodhkan and ascribes the event of their punishment to the closing years of 'Alāuddīn.
c16.s2.3
¹⁴ *Ibid.* p. 336. *Khazain*, Habib Trs. p. 12.
c16.s2.4
Prostitution was also stopped and all professional women of the city were compelled to marry within a prescribed period of time.¹⁵ This stopping of the immoral trade was one of the most important steps of Sultan 'Alāuddīn, as it preserved public morals. Similarly the sultan also put down adultery by enforcing a regulation according to which the adultress was stoned to death and the adulterer was castrated.¹⁶
c16.s2.5
¹⁵ *Khazāin*, Allahabad University Ms. fol. 10(a). Habib Trs. p. 11. Baranī does not mention compulsory marriage for prostitutes. Ferishtah's statement based on the *Muhlikāt* of 'Ainuddin Bijapuri that the king classified prostitutes under three grades and fixed their fees, should be rejected as Khusrau, a contemporary, definitely states that 'Alāuddīn discouraged prostitution.
c16.s2.6
¹⁶ Baranī p. 296.
c16.s2.7
Charlatanism was discouraged and punished. "Blood sucking magicians," says Amīr Khusrau, were severely punished by being stoned to death.¹⁷ Although Baranī does not make mention of any steps against sorcerers and magicians, yet his assertion, that in 'Alāuddīn's time nobody had the courage to profess knowledge of "alchemy or magic" from fear of the Sultan, is significant. It is quite probable that in those days of superstition and universal belief in witchcraft, people may have been terrorised by certain magicians and quacks and 'Alāūddīn put an end to their nefarious trade.
c16.s2.8
¹⁷ *Khazain*, Habib Trs. p. 12.
c16.s2.9
Except for prohibition of wine, which probably was undertaken with a political motive, the other reforms of 'Alāūddīn were surely meant for the benefit of the public at large and the tranquillity of the country. That the sultan realised the evils of adultery, prostitution and sorcery and took steps to stop them shows that he was not only a military ruler but also a social reformer.
Cites (1)
- Khazāʾin al-futūḥ — Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī