Posted on: 30 September 2010

Digital Book :
The Din I Ilahi Or The Religion Of Akbar.
By Makhanlal Roychoudary Sastri
Published by The University of Calcutta - 1941

The Dīn-i Ilāhī (Persian: دین الهی "Divine Faith")[1][2] was a syncretic religious doctrine propounded by the Mughal emperor Jalālu d-Dīn Muḥammad Akbar ("Akbar the Great"), who ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1556 to 1605, intending to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire, and thereby reconcile the differences that divided his subjects.[2] The elements were primarily drawn from Islam and Hinduism, but some others were also taken from Christianity, Jainism and Zoroastrianism.

Akbar promoted tolerance of other faiths. 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 ("House 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, among them the Qadi of Bengal and the seminal Sufi personality Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi, responded by declaring this to be blasphemy.

Din-i-Ilahi was more of an ethical system. It prohibits lust, sensuality, slander and pride, considering them sins. Piety, prudence, abstinence and kindness are the core virtues. The soul is encouraged to purify itself through yearning of God.[2] Celibacy is respected and the slaughter of animals is forbidden. There are neither sacred scriptures nor a priestly hierarchy in this religion.

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Read Book Online : ttp://www.archive.org/stream/diniilahiorthere031361mbp#page/n7/mode/2up

Download pdf Book : http://ia331326.us.archive.org/2/items/diniilahiorthere031361mbp/diniilahiorthere031361mbp.pdf

Ah! I had only heard of it in history and the GK fact that this was a religion that had the least number of followers of all time, i.e. 18, Birbal being the only Hindu follower! But one must salute the genius of Akbar!

Favourite question ---write short notes on------Din I Ilahi.....

@ Kanu Chatterjee.... you are bringing back memories of those horrible history classes ..... much as I delve into it today, hated the way it was taught in school....

@ Sreerupa------too bad u didnt have a good teacher--like I had---He was a Scots(man-)--who made History the most amazing subject--turning every topic into a compelling narrative of events--and holding us captive to both his oratory and his rollin! "rrs"---needless to say most didnt want his class to end