[Solved] Barani's View on the Sultanate | Zawabits vs Shariat

The historian Barani did not consider the state in India under Delhi Sultans as truly Islamic because-

[UPSC CSE Prelims 2002]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Ziauddin Barani was a contemporary historian who critiqued the Sultans' pragmatism. He observed that rulers often prioritized political necessity over strict religious law.

Authentic Source Evidence

In his works like Fatwa-i-Jahandari, Barani discusses 'Zawabits'—secular state regulations—which Sultans like Alauddin and MBT used to govern a diverse population when Shariat was insufficient.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Barani believed a truly Islamic state should follow the Shariat exclusively.

Logic 2: He argued that the Sultans were essentially 'monarchs' who created their own laws (Zawabits) to manage land revenue and non-Muslim subjects, making the state 'secular' in practice.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What were Zawabits in the context of the Delhi Sultanate?"

Zawabits were state laws or regulations framed by the Sultans that were distinct from religious law (Shariat) to address administrative needs.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The use of Zawabits highlights that the Delhi Sultanate was a pragmatic military state rather than a purely theocratic one."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Shariat 2 Zawabits 3 Ziauddin Barani 4

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