46th B.P.S.C. Prelims 2004

Sultanate Autocracy

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

'When he attained Kingship, he was quite independent of rulers and orders of Shariat.' For which Sultan Barani made this statement?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Ziauddin Barani, a conservative historian, was often shocked by Sultans who prioritized political expediency over strict religious law. This quote reflects the secular and autocratic nature of one specific ruler.

Explanation Barani wrote this about Alauddin Khalji. Alauddin famously told the Qazi Mughisuddin that he did what he considered best for the state and was not concerned whether it was permitted by religious law or not.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option C is correct. Alauddin was the first Sultan to explicitly separate state policy from the dictates of the Ulema.
Logic 2: He believed that the Sultan's will was the supreme law of the land, especially regarding market control and punishment of corruption.

Active Recall

Question

How did Alauddin justify his independence from the Shariat?

Answer

He argued that he did not know what was legal or illegal in religious law, but he knew what was beneficial for the people and the stability of the kingdom.

Core Insight

Alauddin's reign represents the high point of 'Political Realism' in the Delhi Sultanate, where the survival of the state was the ultimate morality.