History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c10.159

Language: English

c10.159.1

Now, submission to the Khalifah’s authority was not a new thing in the history of the Islamic power. Greater kings and conquerors than Muhammad Tughluq had sought the sanction of the Khalifah to consecrate their power. His goodwill was solicited even when the office had become a mere shadow of its former self. Warriors and champions of the faith like Mahmud of Ghazni had applied to the Khalifah for investiture, which was done by means of a formal patent and the usual robe of honour, which often included a turban studded with jewels, swords and ensigns. When the Muhammadans established their dominion in Hindustan they felt the need of obtaining some authoritative sanction to maintain their newly founded power. The first Indian sovereign to apply for such sanction was Iltutmish. But towards the middle of the seventh century A.H. a great calamity befell the Khilafat. The *Habīb-us-Siyar* relates at length the story of the Khalifah’s betrayal by Ibn-al-Qani who always kept him in the dark as to the real strength of the Mughals and the final capture of Baghdad by Halagu in 656 A.H.⁹⁹ The Khalifah Al Must'asim, an imbecile without character or capacity, proceeded to wait upon the Mughal invader with his sons Abu Bakr, ‘Abd-ul-Rahman and ‘Alwi Sayyids and learned men, but the Mughals showed no mercy and ruthlessly sacked Baghdad. It is stated in the *Tarikh-i-Guzīdah* that 800,000 Baghdadis were slain during this siege.

c10.159.2

Al-Must'asim was brutally murdered in the Mughal fashion and the 'Abassid dynasty came to an end.¹⁰⁰ A new Khalifah had to be elected and the Mamluk ruler, Baybars (1260—77 A.D.) invited an uncle of the last 'Abbasid Khalifah who had escaped from Baghdad during its siege by Halāgu to come to Cairo. He was installed in June 1261 and when his 'Abbasid descent had been examined by the jurists and attested by the Qazi, Baybars and his officers paid homage to him. The Khalifah who assumed the title of Mustansir conferred upon the Mamluk ruler a robe of honour with a patent of investiture. This diploma of which an English version is given by Arnold in his 'Caliphate' gives us some idea of the importance which was attached to such a document in the middle ages.¹⁰¹ As Arnold rightly observes the power and authority which the Khalifah claims in this document is entirely disproportionate to his real position which he occupied at Cairo.¹⁰² Perhaps Baybars regretted his adhesion to the Khalifah and heaved a sigh of relief when he was killed in an attack by the Mongol governor of Baghdad.¹⁰³ Another prince of the 'Abbasid line Abul 'Abbas Ahmad was installed with the title of Hakīm, but this time the Mamluk Sultan was careful enough to keep him as a puppet in his hands. The ceremony of investiture was gone through as before, and the descendants of Hakīm occupied the exalted office for two centuries and a half.

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The Khalifah was merely a figurehead, deprived of all political influence and power, but his patent legitimised the authority of the Mamluk Sultans in the eyes of the world. So great was the helplessness of the Khalifah that in 736 A.H. when a misunderstanding occurred between him and the Sultan of Egypt, the former was arrested and placed under surveillance.¹⁰⁴ All contact with the people was forbidden, and he was banished to Kus where he remained until his death in Sha'ban 740 A.H. (Feb., 1340 A.D.). The Muhammadan state in India was not affected by these catastrophic changes in the position and power of the Khilafat, and the name of Al-Must'asim continued on the coinage of Dihli long after his death.¹⁰⁵ Probably no other choice was left to the rulers of Dihli during the revolution at Baghdad, and they considered it safe to continue the old practice in order to avoid all suspicion. 'Ala-al-Din Khilji was a man of daring will and lofty ambitions and to the pompous title of Sikandar Sani he added that of Yamin-al-Khalifi (right hand of the Khalifah), but his profligate successor Mubarak himself assumed the title of Khalifah and styled himself Khalifah'aala in 718 A.H.¹⁰⁶ He took this somewhat extraordinary step in a fit of religious impulse or to hide the infamy of his life which was thoroughly depraved. Ghiyas-al-Din Tughluq was a modest and unassuming ruler who was satisfied with the simple title of Ghazi or Champion of the faith.

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Muhammad's earlier coins testify to the fact that he approved neither of the audacious ambition of 'Ala-al-Din nor of the eccentric pretensions of Mubarak. But when rebellions broke out all over Hindustan, and famine caused widespread misery, the Sultan felt the necessity of obtaining the Khalifah's diploma to strengthen his authority over his subjects.