Religious Policy of Sher Shah

Religious Policy of Sher Shah

Sher Shah was a staunch Sunni Muslim and he followed the principles of Islam in his personal life. Historian holds divergent opinions about his religious attitude. Dr. S.R. Sharma writes, “Sher Shah was only a product of his age as far as his religious policy was concerned. Like Firoz Shah before him, he combined administrative zeal with religious intolerance. His place in history does not depend upon his initiating a policy of religious toleration or neutrality.” He further mentions that “It was not different from other Turk and Afghan rulers of the Delhi Sultanate.” But Dr. Wanungo affirms, “His attitude towards the Hindus was not of continued sufferance but of respectable deference: they received due recognition in the State. While he did not abolish Jaziya, none of his victories or peace measures aimed at the massacre of the ‘infidels’. If he did not actively advocate a Hindu-Muslim rapprochement, he also did not intentionally retard its growth.” It is evident from the views of Dr. Qanungo that Sher Shah was tolerant to the Hindus. Dr. R.P. Tripathi also writes, “Sher Shah was a tolerant monarch which is proved by the activities pursued in fields of religion, literature and fine arts during his times.”

Really, Sher Shah was neither a tolerant emperor nor a bigot. Although he declared Jihad against the Rajputs and his behavior with King Puran Mal of Raisin was extremely fanatic, yet he followed this sternness only during war period and discarded it during peace time. He utilized the feeling of his

co-religionists in a proper way and destroyed the temple of Jodhpur in order to win the favour of Muslims. To sum up, we may say that Sher Shah was a shrewd politician and a great opportunist. He acted according to the need of time and seeing his activities it can be said that he was neither intolerant like the rulers of Delhi sultanate nor liberal like the Mughal Emperors, who ruled over India after him.

Milan Tomic

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