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Why did some Muslim religious scholars oppose Akbar’s policies?
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Akbar
A painting titled Akbar Hunting from a folio of Akbarnama (“History of Akbar”), late 16th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
Some Muslim religious scholars, known as the ulama, opposed Akbar’s policies because they were concerned about maintaining the Islamic identity of the state in a region where Muslims were a minority. They resisted Akbar’s efforts to encourage broader political participation for non-Muslims, which they feared would dilute the influence of Islam.12
The tension between Akbar and the ulama intensified due to several of his actions:
- Legitimacy and Authority: In 1579, Akbar issued a public edict called the maḥẓar, which declared him the supreme arbiter in Muslim religious matters, effectively placing his authority above that of the religious scholars and jurists.1
- Religious Reforms: Akbar abolished the jizyah (a tax on non-Muslims) and ended the practice of forcibly converting prisoners of war to Islam.1
- Eclectic Religious Views: Akbar’s interest in other faiths—including Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity—led him to establish the Din-i Ilahi, an eclectic movement that many contemporaries viewed as a heretical innovation or a departure from orthodox Islam.314