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Religion Under the Mughals

2 min read indian-history mughal-religion sufism bhakti sikhism

The religious landscape of Mughal India was diverse and witnessed significant developments in Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and syncretic movements.

Islam: Orthodoxy and Sufism

The official state religion under the Mughals was Sunni Islam. However, the empire also encompassed Shia nobles and a vast non-Muslim majority. The role of the ulema (Islamic scholars) varied; under Akbar they were kept in check, under Aurangzeb they were ascendant.

Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam, flourished. The two most prominent Sufi orders were:

  • Chishti: Emphasized love of God, tolerance, and service to humanity. Saints like Salim Chishti (Akbar’s patron) and Nizamuddin Auliya were revered across communities.
  • Suhrawardi and Naqshbandi: The Naqshbandi order (e.g., Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi) was more orthodox and opposed Akbar’s syncretism.

Sufi khanqahs (hospices) became centers of cross-community devotion.

Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement preached devotion to a personal God, rejecting caste and ritual. Saints like Kabir, Guru Nanak, Ravidas, Mirabai, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu were influential. Their emphasis on a direct, loving relationship with the divine resonated across classes.

Sikhism

Founded by Guru Nanak (1469–1539), Sikhism developed as a distinct faith emphasizing the oneness of God, equality, and community. The Sikh Gurus compiled the Guru Granth Sahib. Relations with the Mughals soured after the execution of Guru Arjan Dev (1606) by Jahangir and Guru Tegh Bahadur (1675) by Aurangzeb. Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708) militarized the community, founding the Khalsa in 1699.

Din-i-Ilahi and Syncretism

Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi attempted to blend Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. It had few followers but symbolized the potential for state-led syncretism. Dara Shukoh, Shah Jahan’s son, studied Vedanta and translated the Upanishads into Persian (Sirr-i-Akbar). His execution by Aurangzeb symbolized the triumph of orthodoxy.

The Mughal era thus witnessed both profound interactions between religions and moments of intense conflict.