[Solved] Who Founded Din-i-Ilahi? Akbar's Divine Faith

Who promulgated Din-i-elahi?

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

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

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.

Authentic Source Evidence

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).

Analytical Breakdown

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.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Was Din-i-Ilahi a proselytizing religion?"

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

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"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."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Ibadat Khana 6 Sulh-i-Kul 10 Abul Fazl 5

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