Sufism, culture, and politics : Afghans and Islam in medieval North India

This book provides a political history of north India under Afghan rulers in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Focusing on interconnections between religion and politics, it also raises questions of paramount concern to an understanding of Islam in medieval north India. The first of the three sections explores the Afghan attempts at empire-building under the leadership of Sher Shah Sur and their interface with the Mughals. Discussing the incorporation of the Rajputs in the Afghan imperial project, the second part deals with the prevalent ideals and institutions of governance. The last segment investigates the social and political role of the Sufis. The volume also questions the over-emphasis on the Sultanate and Mughal periods in Indian history writing, while projecting a dynamic view of the Afghan period. This book will be important for students and scholars of medieval Indian history as well as those interested in Islamic, religious, and cultural studies. Title Pages Raziuddin Aquil Title Pages (p.i) Sufism, Culture, and Politics (p.ii) (p.iii) Sufism, Culture, and Politics Title Pages Dedication Raziuddin Aquil Dedication (p.ix) Preface Raziuddin Aquil (p.ix) Preface (p.ix) Preface (p.ix) Preface Introduction Raziuddin Aquil Introduction The Study of Medieval Indian History Raziuddin Aquil Abstract and Keywords Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Notes: Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction The Making of a Badshah Raziuddin Aquil The Making of a Badshah Emergence of Sher Shah Sur Raziuddin Aquil Abstract and Keywords The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah Notes: The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah The Making of a Badshah Mughal-Afghan Interface Raziuddin Aquil Mughal-Afghan Interface Battles and Mobilization Raziuddin Aquil Abstract and Keywords THE BATTLES Mughal-Afghan Interface The Battle of Chausa Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface The Battle of Qannauj Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface MOBILIZATION AND RECRUITMENT Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Notes: Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Mughal-Afghan Interface Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Raziuddin Aquil Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Raziuddin Aquil Abstract and Keywords Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Notes: Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration Norms of Governance and Aspects of Administration The Afghans and the Rajputs Raziuddin Aquil The Afghans and the Rajputs Conflict and Accommodation Raziuddin Aquil Abstract and Keywords The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs Notes: The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Afghans and the Rajputs The Political and the Sufic Wilayat Raziuddin Aquil The Political and the Sufic Wilayat Raziuddin Aquil Abstract and Keywords The Political and the Sufic Wilayat KINGS’ DEVOTION TOWARDS THE SUFIS The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat LEGITIMACY AND INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat TENSION BETWEEN THE SUFIS AND THE RULERS The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat Notes: The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat The Political and the Sufic Wilayat Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Raziuddin Aquil Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Raziuddin Aquil Abstract and Keywords Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions MOTIFS IN MIRACLE STORIES Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions MIRACLE AND CONVERSION/RECOGNITION OF SPIRITUAL POWER Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions SYNCRETISM AND SYNTHESIS Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Notes: Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Sufi Traditions and Hindu-Muslim Interactions Conclusion Raziuddin Aquil Conclusion Raziuddin Aquil Abstract and Keywords Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Notes: (p.238) Select Bibliography Raziuddin Aquil (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.238) Select Bibliography (p.257) Index Raziuddin Aquil (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index (p.257) Index This book provides an up-to-date political history of north India under the Lodi and Sur Afghan rulers in north India in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Focussing on interconnections between religion and politics, it examines the problem of sovereignty and governance as well as raises questions of paramount concern to an understanding of Islam in medieval north India. The book first discusses the Afghan attempt at empire-building under the leadership of Sher Shah Sur. Then, it discusses the incorporation of the Rajputs in the Afghan imperial project and more generally to the ideals and institutions of governance. It also investigates the social and political role of the Sufis in shaping the politics and culture of the age. It explores the contribution of the Mahdawi and Raushaniyya movements to this process. Questioning the over-emphasis on the Sultanate and Mughal periods in Indian history writing, the book projects a dynamic view of the Afghan period and the Afghan rulers Strongly grounded in Persian manuscripts, many of them unpublished, this book makes an innovative and original intervention in the existing debates on the questions of medieval politics, patterns of governance as well as the relationship between politics, Islam and Muslim religious leaders. Exploding the myth that Sufis, especially Chishtis, kept aloof from politics, it shows how Sufis enjoyed royal patronage and helped legitimise Aghans' political cause. The author also explores the contributions of Sufis and Afghans to vernacular literature and devotional music. Contesting existing notions of the "tribal" character of Afghan political institutions, he argues that Surs and other Afghan dynasties drew upon Persian understandings of universal kingship to put in place a coherent monarchical system. The book also discusses how Rajputs and other non-Muslims collaborated with the Aghans to broaden the base of government apparatus. This Book Makes An Innovative And Original Intervention In The Existing Debates On The Questions Of Medieval Politics, Patterns Of Governance As Well As The Relationship Between Politics Islam And Muslim Religious Leaders. Raziuddin Aquil. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [238]-356) And Index. Includes Passages In Persian. This book on the political history of north India under Afghan rulers during the fifteenth-sixteenth centuries focuses on interconnections between religion and politics. It highlights the role of Sufism in the Afghan state formation and its contributions to religious syncretism and cultural synthesis.