Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s4.t3.1

c5.s4.t3.1

The religious class of Islam was composed of a number of important groups, namely, the theologians, the ascetics, the Sayyids, the Pirs, and their descendants. Of these, the most important were the theologians, whose functions and position in the state have been dealt with previously. The theologians who occupied the judicial and religious offices in the kingdom, were collectively known as *Dastar-bandan*, or turban-wearers, because they wore their official head-dress, the turban. The Sayyids were recognized by their distinctive head-dress of a pointed cap or *kulah* and were known as *kulah-daran* or cap-wearers.² Both of these groups with their distinctive head-dresses had a recognized status in the kingdom, being the exponents of orthodox Islam. Both of them followed the Sunnite form of Islam and the Hanafite school of Muslim Law. The other schools of Sunnite Law, though not prohibited, were not encouraged. The respect and reverence for ‘Ali as the fourth Caliph of Muhammad and for all persons claiming descent from the Prophet was general; but the Shi‘ahs were uniformly persecuted under various charges of religious heterodoxy and agnosticism. It was only at the close of the period, and mainly through Persian influence and Mughal Emperors that this persecution of Shi‘ahs ceased, though Sunnite Islam still held its official and dominant position. Other religious groups were not so well marked out as the theologians and the Sayydis. These groups may be treated separately as follows :—