Din-i-ilahi

Akbar was the first Mughal ruler who tolerated religions other than Islām; in fact, not only did he tolerate them, he encouraged debate on philosophical and religious issues. This led to the creation of the ''Ibādat Khāna'' "Hall of Worship" at Fatehpur Sikri .

From the discussions he led there in 1575 , Akbar concluded that no single religion could claim the monopoly of truth. This inspired him to create the Dīn-i Ilāhī in 1581 . Various Muslim clerics responded by declaring this to be Blasphemy .

Dīn-i Ilāhī as propounded by Akbar combined mysticism, philosophy and nature worship. It also recognized no gods or Prophet s. The religion had few followers; the only person other than Akbar who was a Dīn-i Ilāhī believer until death was Birbal , one of Akbar's ministers. Raja Mansingh, his commander-in-chief refused conversion, saying that he recognised only two religions, Hinduism and Islam.

Dīn-i Ilāhī appears to have survived Akbar according to the Dabistan-e-Madahib of Mubad Shah (Mohsin Fani).

REFERENCES

Makhan Lal Roy Choudhury 1952 (1985): ''The Din-i-Ilahi or the Religion of Akbar'', Calcutta: Dasgupta & Co. (Oriental Books Reprint Corporation); ASIN B0007JXFZG

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Din-i-ilahi

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