History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c12.226

c12.226

The evidence of these two works written by men who had lived through Muhammad's reign goes against Ibn Batūṭah. Even if we accept his statement to be correct, it seems almost certain that the abolition of all taxes except *‘Ushr* and *Zakāt* was only a passing phase induced by the Sultan's excessive devotion to the ‘Abassid Khalifah. Muhammad formally acknowledged the Khalifah's sovereignty in 741 A.H. which means that these taxes were levied from 725 A.H. till 741 A.H. for about sixteen years without a break. They may have been suspended for a short time, but it is fairly certain that they were reintroduced as soon as the odd phase alluded to above was over, otherwise how could Firuz find them in vogue after his accession? We might have doubted the solitary testimony of the *Fatūḥāt* which is an autobiographical work tinged with self-praise, but it is corroborated by the *Sīrat* and the details agree with slight variations. Besides, the financial position of the empire, seething with revolt everywhere towards the close of the year 742 A.H., did not justify such a wholesale remission.