Which one of the following statement about the nature of the Muslim st...
Nature of Muslim State in India during Sultanate Period
During the Sultanate period in India (1206-1526), a number of Muslim dynasties ruled India, including the Delhi Sultanate, the Khilji Dynasty, the Tughlaq Dynasty, and the Lodi Dynasty. The nature of the Muslim state in India during this period can be described in the following ways:
Militaristic and Aristocratic
- The Muslim rulers of India during the Sultanate period were primarily military men, who had come to India as conquerors. They were often referred to as sultans, which means "chiefs" or "commanders" in Arabic.
- The Muslim state in India was militaristic in nature, with the sultan and his army at the center of power. The sultan was the ultimate authority in the state, and his word was law.
- The Muslim state was also aristocratic, with the sultan and his courtiers living in luxury and surrounded by wealth and privilege. The sultan's court was a place of great pomp and ceremony, with elaborate rituals and ceremonies.
Notion of Privileges and Power
- The Muslim state in India was not based on the idea of equality, but on the notion of privileges and power. The sultan and his courtiers enjoyed many privileges and exemptions from the law that were not available to ordinary people.
- The Muslim state was also characterized by a hierarchical social order, in which people were ranked according to their class, occupation, and religion. At the top of the social hierarchy were the Muslims, who enjoyed the greatest privileges and power, while at the bottom were the low-caste Hindus and other marginalized groups.
Tacit Sharing of Power
- Despite the hierarchical nature of the Muslim state in India, there was some degree of tacit sharing of power between the rural Hindu aristocracy and the city-based administrators. The sultan relied on the support of the local elites to maintain his authority, and often appointed Hindu officials to important positions in the state.
- However, the relationship between the Muslim rulers and the Hindu elites was often uneasy, and there were frequent conflicts and power struggles between the two groups.
Overall, the nature of the Muslim state in India during the Sultanate period was complex and multifaceted, characterized by a mixture of militarism, aristocracy, hierarchy, and power struggles.
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