The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c16.s2: Appendix B: The Sūrs and the Caliphate

The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehlī c16.s2

Language: English

Appendix B: The Sūrs and the Caliphate

c16.s2.2

DR. TRIPATHI (*Some Aspects of Muslim Administration*, p. 98) thinks that Sher Shāh claimed the caliphate for himself, this belief is based on the following numismatic evidence :—

c16.s2.3

(1) The phrase ‘*khalifat-u’z-zamān*’, ‘the Caliph of the Age,’ appears on some pieces (*N. Wright*, e.g., AE 1257-1281).

I do not think that the sultan refers to himself in this phrase; my impression is that this legend embodies conventional homage to the caliph; for instance, Buhlūl’s coins bear the title ‘*nā’ib-i-amīr-u’l-mu’minīn*,’ ‘the lieutenant of the Commander of the Faithful (e.g., *N. Wright*, AE 942-947); yet another of his pieces (*N. Wright*, AE 966 B) has the inscription *al-khalīfah, amīr-u’l-mu’minīn*, which is similar in nature to the legend on Sher Shāh’s pieces. There is one difficulty, however, with some of Sher Shāh’s pieces mentioned above. The word ‘Sultan’ appears on both sides of the coins; on the reverse it can be read as forming part of a continuous phrase meaning ‘the Sultan, the Caliph of the Age.’ However, I think that ‘Sultan’ has nothing to do with ‘the Caliph of the Age.’ Sher Shāh put the word ‘Sultan’ or ‘*as-sulṭān-u’l-‘ādil*’ on the obverse where it could not form part of the rest of the legend; for instance, on *N. Wright*, AR 1031 E-1041, 1052-1056, etc., the title ‘Sultan’ is quite independent. Similarly the legend on the reverse of coins like *N. Wright*, AE 1258-1261 etc. should not be taken to make one continuous phrase. This opinion finds considerable support from coins (*N. Wright*, AE Nos. 1483 C and 1483 D) struck by Sikandar Shāh Sūr where the obverse reads ‘*sulṭān-u’l-‘ādil, khalifat-u’z-zamān*’, though the sultan’s allegiance to the caliph is demonstrated on the obverse o coins 1482 A, 1483 etc.

c16.s2.5

(ii) More difficult to explain is the appearance of *khallada'llahu khilafatahu* on such pieces as N. Wright, AR 1069, AE 1151. This simply shows that the first period of Mughul rule had already seen a weakening in the meaning of *khilafat* and that the word was used indiscriminately for 'empire' as well as 'caliphate'. I do not take this inscription to mean that Sher Shāh wanted to proclaim his caliphate; the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. There are far too many coins bearing references to 'an amīr, supporter of the Faith' to justify the theory that Sher Shāh did not own theoretical allegiance to a caliph.

c16.s2.6

The same observations apply to Islām Shāh's attitude towards the caliphate.