Nature of Delhi sultanate
The rulers of Delhi Sultanate reigned
for about three centuries and five prominent dynasties ruled over Delhi during
this period. As the Turk rulers were foreigners, their administration was based
on their own principles. Some of the rulers were either disinterested in
administrative routine or they could not get time enough to prove their worth
in this field. Alauddin Khalji, Firoz
Tughluq and Sikandar Lodi were great administrators and they established a
strong administrative system during their reigns. Their administration was
based on the following principles.
The Delhi Sultanate was a theocratic
state. It was based on the power of religion and army and Islam was the
religion of the state during this period. Other religions were not recognized
by the state. The rulers were followers of Islam while the majority of the
ruled comprised Hindus, hence the rulers deprived most of the Hindus of any
share in administration. But Dr. I. H. Qureshi opines that the state of Delhi was
not theocratic. He mentions that no doubt, it was centered on religion but it
was not based on religion because the chief characteristic of a theocratic
state is that it should be based on priestly class. But the opinion of Dr.
Qureshi is not accepted by the scholars, as most of the resources of Delhi
Sultanate were meant for the expansion of Islam and the conduct of the Sultan
was also decided by the Quran. The Sultan had to follow these principles in his
lifetime and in the running of administration of the kingdom. A part of the
resources of the Sultanate was channeled towards crushing the activities of the
non-Muslims.
In order to strengthen his position,
the Sultan used to perform some religious duties. The offices of Shaik-ul-Islam
and Sadra-us-Sadra were opened for this purpose. The issue of currency in the
name of the Sultan and the reading of khutba were also religious in nature and
the Sadra used to check the religious conduct of the Muslim subjects. Economic
and financial help was provided to the Ulema, Muslim scholars, Mullahs and orthodox
Muslims. Mosques were built and Jihad was declared against the Hindu rulers.
All these emanated from the Muslim state being a theocracy during the Delhi
Sultanate.
According to the Muslim theory of
sovereignty, there was only one ruler of the Muslims and he was the Khalifa.
Hence the rulers of the Delhi sultanate always respected the Khalifa. Most of
the rulers pretended as if they considered themselves merely the
representatives of the Khalifa. They always included the name of the Khalifa in
coins and Khutba. Only Alauddin Khalji and Mubarak Shah were exceptions. They
did not give regard to the Khalifa and freed their subjects from the
exploitation of the orthodox Muslims.
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