Monk and Monarch

Author(s): Vidyavijay
Publisher: Deepchand Banthia

Page 53

CHAPTER FOURTH.
THE INVITATION.
Before Akbar founded the new religion named "Din-i-ilahi,"
he had established an ibadatkhana, which was an assembly in which free discussion about religion took place. At first he invited only the Maulavis of different Muslim sects. They carried on mutual discussions daily. Akbar heard them all. But this had a bad result. They soon formed themselves into parties, and each party tried to contradict the other. Badaoni, who was a courier of Akbar, writes :
"There he used to spend much time in the Ibadatkhanah in the company of learned men and Shaikhs. And especially so on Friday nights, when he would sit up there the whole night continually occupied in discussing questions of religion, whether fundamental or collateral. The learned men used to draw the sword of the tongue on the battle-field of mutual contradiction and opposition; and the antagonism of the sects reached such a pitch that they would call one another fools and heretics." ("Al-Badaoni", Translated by W. H. Lowe, Vol. II, P. 262.)
Due to such quarrels of the Muslim Maulvis, the Emperor was successful in making them sign an agreement, whereby they agreed that the Emperor had a right of deciding whenever there was difference of opinion amongst them and of making new changes in the religion in accordance with the tenets of the Koran. This agreement was written by Shaikh Mubarak and it was signed by Ulmas (chief Muslims) in 1579. It is also said that by and by he lost all faith in the Muslim religion, so much so that at one time he even attached the prophetic character of Mahamad to himself.