66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020

Mughal Ideology

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who promulgated Din-i-elahi?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept Din-i-Ilahi (Divine Faith) was an elite syncretic movement that combined the 'good' elements of all religions to promote peace and loyalty to the Emperor.

Explanation Promulgated by Akbar in 1582, it emphasized monotheism and ethical conduct (Ahimsa, piety, and logic). It did not have a scripture or a priestly class and focused on the 'Universal Peace' (Sulh-i-Kul).

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option B is correct. It was the peak of Akbar's religious experimentation after years of debates in the Ibadat Khana.
Logic 2: It remained a small movement with only 18 or 19 formal members (including Birbal) and faded away after Akbar's death.

Active Recall

Question

Was Din-i-Ilahi a proselytizing religion?

Answer

No, it was a selective ethical code for Akbar's inner circle of loyalists rather than a religion for the masses.

Core Insight

Din-i-Ilahi was Akbar's attempt to provide a common spiritual platform for his diverse nobility, shifting loyalty from religious sects to the person of the Emperor.