History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c10.57

c10.57

Fakhr-al-Din is described by Ibn Batūtah as a learned ruler “fond of the company of saints, foreigners, and men of learning.” The 14th century was a period of great religious revival in Bengal and tradition affirms that in Sonargaon alone there were 150 *gaddis* of saints.⁴⁸ The large number of religious saints was probably due to the profuse liberality of Fakhr-al-Din.⁴⁹ Under his rule the province of Bengal became rich and prosperous, and the people led easy and comfortable lives.⁵⁰ But the climate was malarious, and for this reason the people of Khorasan called it a ‘hell crammed with good things.’