Din-i-Ilahi

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Dīn-i Ilāhī (Arabic: دين إلهي ) "Divine Faith" was a syncretic elitist religous cult propounded by the Mughal emperor Jalālu d-Dīn Muħammad Akbar ("Akbar the Great") intended to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire (primarily Hinduism and Islām; elements were also taken from Christianity, Jainism and Zoroastrianism) and thereby reconcile the sectarian differences that divided his subjects.

Akbar was tolerant of 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 prophets. The elitist religous cult 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 Man Singh, 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).

[edit] 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