The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c11.s8.2

c11.s8.2

All such unfortunate people could only resort to begging for a living. They were sometimes given doles and meals by kind-hearted people: free feeding (*langar*) was common for the poor beggars. But sometimes even such helpless people were exploited by the rich who extracted their pound of flesh even from them. An Amir by the name of Saiyyad-ul-Hijab was very close to Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq. He used to help all and sundry, but for a consideration. It is narrated, says Shams Siraj Afif, that one day a helpless *faqir* (beggar) approached him for assisting him get some help from the Sultan. The nobleman gave him necessary guidance for achieving his purpose. The *faqir* did as advised, and the Sultan ordered that the suppliant be given one *tankah* per day from the Zakat fund. But the help rendered was not gratuitous. The said Amir, continues Afif, after rendering help to the needy used to extract something by way of *shukrana*.¹⁷⁰ No further comment is necessary.