The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c11.210

c11.210

An important source of income consisted of the presents which were made by his subjects to the sultan. Any man who came to pay his respects to the monarch even after a short absence presented a gift in accordance with his rank. "The faqīh presents a Qur'ān or a book or something of that nature; the faqīr a prayer carpet, a rosary, a miswāk or some other object of a similar nature; the amīr gives horses, camels or arms."⁶ Some of the gifts made by grandees and great officials were magnificent; for example, vases of gold and silver encrusted with precious stones. Ibn Baṭṭūṭah speaks of the prime minister offering Muḥammad bin Tughluq gold and silver ware together with a porcelain vase filled with rubies, another with emeralds and a third full of magnificent pearls.¹ When a noble arrived with his gifts, he was announced and presented to the sultan, the presents were then carried before the monarch and displayed, and the emperor graciously expressed his approval; sometimes he honoured the donor by shaking hands with him or even embracing him.² The custom of making presents to their rulers came very early into existence among Muslims; even the caliph ‘Uthmān accepted a gift from one of his governors.³ The custom was adopted very early by the sultans of Dehlī. Ḥasan Niẓāmī speaks of muqaddams and distinguished men of the vicinity coming to pay their respects to Quṭb-u’d-dīn Aibak and bringing presents and gifts for the sultan.⁴ Only Fīrūz Shāh is recorded to have asked his ministers to deduct the value of presents from the dues outstanding against the noble concerned.⁵