The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c8.84

c8.84

himself before the nobles by putting his turban at their feet; the inexperienced Ibrāhīm lost his throne by alienating them. The only ideal that held the nobles together was the service of Islam.¹ They knew that the sultanate was the last stronghold of Islam during the domination of the heathen Mongols over the lands of the Eastern Caliphate. It was realized that ‘a faith without a state is futile and a state without a faith is without any guidance’. ² They also felt that a nation which is ruled by others is like a dead body.³ These feelings knit the lords into a body which obeyed the king so long as they felt that he was performing his duty; but they did not hesitate to revolt against him if he proved incapable of defending these ends. It must be admitted, however, that the nobles were only too often swayed by motives of self-interest.