Abul Fazl: Monarchy
Sheikh Abul Fazl (1551-1602) was the important political thinker and Historian of Mughal Dynasty. He is
well-known for his rational, liberal and secular approach.
Political thoughts of fazl is found in his- two and famous writings: a. Akbar Nama and Ain-i- Akbari.
Akbar Nama is divided into two parts or volumes. In first volume, he mentioned the history of Mughal
Dynasty; along with the account of earlier Mughal Emperors. And in the second volume, he mentioned
the account of the reign of Akbar.
On the other hand, In Aim-i- Akhari, he mentioned about the Mughal Administrative System, which, was
there during the reign of Akbar
Theory of Kingship.
In political thought of fazl, we can trace two theories of Kingship, one is based on Social Contract and
another one is Divine light Theory.
"Social Contract Theory" is given by Fazl in Aim - Akbari. Here, he first; represent the picture of "Pre-
State Society, which is similar to Hobbesian State of Nature.
Fazl argued that, without any authority (King), Jaan (life), Maal (Property), Namus (homer) and Din
(religion) of the people in society was not safe and there was situation of anarchy in the society. At that
time, an individual strongest of all promised to protect Jaan, Maal, Namus and din, lies Obedience from
the people.
Features of his social contract theory:
• No contract among the people themselves; people didn’t form any political community out of such
contract. This was similar to nature of political community mentioned in the Buddhist Political Thought.
• Absolute sovereignty to the King- no restraint on his power.
• People had no option to change the king in case he becomes tyrannical, cruel and unjust or not able to
protect them.
• Only just sovereigns are able to honour the social contract with power and Divine guidance/blessings.
Thus, no guarantee that the King would honour the contract.
• Not well developed like the social contract theory of origin of state by modern western political
thinkers such as Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau.
Divine Theory of Pad& shahat (Badshahat)
Far Fazl Padshahat (Badshahat) meant 'an established owner whore Pad' stands for stability and Shah
means owner. in other words Padshah (Badshah) means established owner who can't be eliminated by
anyone... Badshah was the superior position in Mughal Empire
fazl argued that Badshah is ultimate authority in religious, political, social and economic matters, he
advocated Badshah possess absolute, sovereignty
Divine Light Theory of Kingship:
• Based on Ishraq theory: theory of divine light emanating from Sun was developed by 12th century Sufi
philosopher Shihabuddin Suhrawardi.
• Basic tenets (beliefs) of the theory can be traced from ideas of Plato- Sun as Form of absolute
goodness, from which all receives light and, and goodness derives its virtue.
• Temporal Sovereignty/kingship as the highest station in the hierarchy of objects receiving light
emanating from God (farr-i izadi). Hence, King is possessor of illuminated wisdom, and reflector of the
Godly light to all others in his Kingdom.
• Thus, royalty is light emanating from God, a ray from the sun, essence of the books of perfection, and
assemblage of excellence.
• God directly transfers this divine light to kings, without any intermediary. This implied that for
interpreting holy laws King does not need the help of theologians. He may be the final arbiter of
Interpreting the Shari’a.
• King is not shadow of the God, but "light of God “, directly linked to God, part of God not merely his
shadow. Sublime halo represents the divine light.
• The king was, therefore, deemed to be divinely appointed, divinely guided and divinely protected. He
was not product of any religion but having authority of God.
• The ray of divine wisdom banishes from his heart everything that is conflicting, guide him to be just
like Sun, like rain, maintain harmony raising above mean conflicts/differences, makes him ‘perfect man’
( İnsan-ı Kâmil ) and spiritual guide to the nation.
Fazl also mentioned the concept of Patrimonial State: (विहसतात्मक राज्य), which means all the
authority is derived from Badshah, he is the control of power. In the words of Harbans Mukhia "
Everything belongs to Badshah and rewards to nobles, princes and subjects are favors not their rights".
Ideas and elements of sovereignty in Abul Fazal’s thought:
• Sovereignty vested in the absolute Monarch
• Sovereignty is absolute, undivided, unalienable, like personal property of the King.
• Quasi divine idea of sovereignty
• Sovereignty as social contract but theory of divine light makes it Quasi-Divine.
• Sovereignty receiving direct light from Sun, not dependent on any specific faith/sect; it has got God’s
authority.
• Sovereign as illuminated Godly virtue, no disharmony or disunity; cannot differentiate among subjects.
• Supremacy of Temporal Sovereignty
• Temporal sovereignty is also vested with spiritual sovereignty.
• Akbar got rights from ‘Ulma’ the power to decide on disputed point of Law. Thus, he became ‘Infallible
Authority’- ultimate interpreter of Shari’a.
• Sovereign is not product of any religion but has the authority of the God.
• The sovereign becomes the spiritual guide to people.
• A divinely inspired King has supreme sovereignty over his people and complete control over his
enemies.
• The sovereign was not bound by dictate of religious laws (Shari’a), theological doctrine, or duties to
promote any particular faith/sect.
• Religious Tolerance, Sulh-i-kul (social harmony, universal peace) were important aspects of Mughal
Sovereignty. • Abul Fazl’s theory of Sovereignty is close to the central Asian and PersoIslamic traditions
of sovereignty- absolute, undivided- in which both temporal & spiritual sovereignty were vested.
Features of the ideas of Sovereignty propounded by Abul Fazl:
• Basis of sovereignty: need for social order in the temporal realms – based on reason & logic, not
theology.
• Sovereignty as service: The Sovereign is supposed to protect life, property, honour and faith of the
people. Taxes are the compensation for the service by the Sovereign.
• Just vs unjust sovereignty:
• Only just or Godly ruler receives divine light, which burn from his heart everything that is conflicting. A
Just king will, therefore, observe the element of harmony in seemingly conflictual things.
• Only just sovereigns are able to honour the social contract with just force and divine guidance. His aim
is to remove oppression, maintain social harmony, promote universal Good.
• Godly rule and Just Sovereignty are long lasting, virtuous, just and peaceful.
• Unjust sovereignty does not receive the divine light, cannot honour the social contract, is selfish,
attached to external pretentions, pomp & show of royal power, transient, short lived, cruel, and unjust.
• Unjust sovereignty brings turmoil, disturbance, terror; everywhere there is insecurity, unsettlement,
strife, oppression, faithlessness, violence/terror.
• Sulh-i-Kul (absolute peace) was an important aspect of Mughal Sovereignty. Policy of Sulh-i-Kul was
not linked to any specific faith/religion.
• Forcing a particular religious law such as Shari’a was not the duty of the sovereign; Sovereignty was
relieved from the dictates of theologians.
• Temporal sovereign was vested with spiritual sovereignty.
* Duty of King *
Badshah some of the qualities which Badshah must have a) Tolerance bJ. Broadmindedness. c]Strong
sense of Justice.
Badshah should protect Jaan, Maal, Namus and din of people and should wark for the welfare of people
Badshah should provide stability and good governance to ensure economic. prosperity and peace to
people as Akbar is doing in his Empire.
Badshah should expand his state boundary.
Fazl also appeals to the Badshah to follow paternalism that is paternal care for his subjects as father is
caring for his Children.
According to fazl, Badshah should also ensure, justice in the society. Justice for Fazl meant punishing
wrong doers. He also argues that justice shout help innocent people. King should be kind and
harmonies, while dispensing Justice and should treat his people as Children. While dispensing Justice
Badshah should always keep in mind that he is sent by god on Earth to ensure peace and justice for all.
while dispensing Justice, king should equally treat everyone and should not hurt anyone. For Fazl, Justice
also meant to take care of basic needs of the people
Fazl also argue that it is the duty of King to observe and ensure Sulh-i--kul absolute peace.
Sulk-i-Kul
(Doctrine of Peace). fazl under the concept of Sulk- i-kul mentions that Badshah should not discriminate
on the basis of faith in the society.
Thus, he appealed for tolerant religious policies. He also advocated that essence of all the religions are
same, only their path is different. So, fart was an important advocate of Right to freedom of religion. He
also appealed the king and people to broaden their outlook like freedom from bounded thoughts and to
seek good values of different religions.
