Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s1.75.2

c5.s1.75.2

The occasions of political wars against the Hindu rulers were especially reserved for the display of aggressive religious fervour, and the spirit of (*Jihad*) militant zeal ; though no indiscreet effusions were tolerated against the Hindu subjects of the state as a rule. Mysticism and deeply religious platitudes were frequently discussed in royal circles. In one case, a provincial Sultan even scrupulously enquired regarding ‘the supply of lawful vegetables for his table’, though the farce was a little over-done, since the Sultan was, at the same time, carrying on war against a brother Muslim with all the fervour of religious *jihad*.¹ The Ulama, for their part, undertook to forge or find religious and moral support for the Sultanate, thereby strengthening the position of the Sultans of Delhi. The Qur'anic injunction 'Obey Allah and obey the Apostle, and those in authority from among you' was discovered to be full of great possibilities of ingenious interpretation. The reigning Sultans of Delhi were identified with the persone meant in the text 'those in authority from among you' (*Ulul-amr-i-min-kum*). Suitable supporting Traditions of the Prophet were similarly discovered purporting to mean that obedience to the commands of an *Imam* (in this case, the Sultan) was similar to obedience rendered to the injunctions of Muhammad or the commands of Allah. Thus by simple logic, the status of a Sultan was raised to that of a Divine being, in matters of obedience.