Personal details and

characterestics

Contributions towards Islam and the world

Related personaliti

es and events

Lessons learnt and points of

motivation

Aurangzaib Aalamgir

Aurangzaib Aalamgir

Abul Muzaffar Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 

Commonly known as Aurangzeb Alamgir 3 November 16183 March 1707  Sixth Mughal Emperor Ruled over most of the Indian subcontinent. His reign lasted for 49 years from 1658 .

He was the 3rd son and 6th child of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.

His father was a governor of Gujarat at that time.

On 26 February 1628, Shah Jahan was officially declared the Mughal Emperor.

Aurangzeb returned to live with his parents at Agra Fort.

Aurangzeb received his formal education in Arabic and Persian.

Characteristics of his Personality

His daily allowance was fixed at a 500 which he spent on religious education and the study of history.

He also accused his brothers of alcoholism and womanizing.

Industrious

Far-sightedness

Great scholar of the Persian, Arabic and Hindi languages.

Even as a prince, he had distinguished himself as an able administrator.

Aurangzeb ruled for nearly 50 years. He came to the throne after imprisoning his father and having his older brother killed.

He was a strong leader, whose conquests expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest size.

Aurangzeb was a very observant and religious Muslim who ended the policy of religious tolerance followed by earlier emperors.

He no longer allowed the Hindu community to live under their own laws and customs, but imposed Sharia law (Islamic law) over the whole empire.

In the last decades of the seventeenth century Aurangzeb invaded the Hindu kingdoms in central and southern India, conquering much territory and taking many slaves.

Thousands of Hindu temples and shrines were torn down and a punitive tax on Hindu subjects was re-imposed.

Contributation Towards Islam

One of Aurangzeb’s main goals was to bring true Islamic

governance to the Mughal Empire.

Jalal ud Din Muhammad Akbar

Islamic Law for Empire correctly

Brought together hundreds of scholars of Islam from all over the Muslim world to organize such laws.

Fatawa-e-Alamgiri

Taxes that were not in line with Islamic law were also abolished

alcoholism, gambling, and prostitution were combated by the imperial government

To make up for the loss in tax revenue, Aurangzeb adopted a very simple lifestyle and did not live in a lavish manner as his father had.

Royal traditions that he considered extravagant were abolished, such as court musicians and festivities on the emperor’s birthday.

Important shifts in Religious Policy 1659 >>> office of Muhtasib created 1665 >>> differential taxes for Hindu and Muslim

traders imposed. 1669 >>> official histories discontinued, order for

temples clarified 1672 >>> Hindu religious grants resumed 1675 >>> Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur executed 1679 >>> Jizya reimposed (revoked in

1704/deccan) 1690 >>> land grants to Muslim ulema made

heriditary

Contributation Towards World

Centralised government that brought together many smaller kingdoms

Delegated government with respect for human rights

Periods of great religious tolerance

A system of education that took account of pupils' needs and culture

Persian language mixed with Arabic and Hindi to create Urdu

Persian art and culture

A style of Architecture

Manuscripts of Quran Pak

Manuscript Quran, parts of which are believed to have been written in Aurangzeb's own hand

Factions in Shah Jahan’s Court

Shah Jahan

Dara ShukohHeir

AurangzebGov. of Deccan

Princess Jahan Ara

Jaswant Singh Holkar(Rajput-Marwar)

Princess Raushan Ara

Mir Jumla,Minister, Golconda

Qutub Shahis (r. Golconda)

Sulaiman ShukohSon, army commander

3 sons, all able

Jai Singh of AmberRajput, c. of imperial army

Switches sides

(switches sidesTo Shuja)

Events of That Era

Succession Struggle of 1658

Aurangzeb

Dara Shukoh

Murad Baksh Mhmd. Shuja

The 1658-59 War of Succession

Aurangzeb moves north, keeping track of changes at court via Princess Raushan Ara

Murad forcibly takes treasury in West, agrees to a compact with Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb and Murad’s forces defeat the Imperial Army under Jaswant Singh Rathor, Feb, 1658—Same month Sulaiman Shukoh defeats the Bengal army of Shuja

By June, Aurangzeb triumphs over brothers.

Wrapping up “loose ends”

Jaswant Singh Rathor defects to Shuja, who had retreated east. Both are defeated, but Shuja will continue to resist till 1660 in the east.

Murad Baksh taken prisoner in June, 1658, will be tried for murder, ex. In 1661.

Dara captured in summer of 1659, put on trial for apostasy and idolatry, executed.

Impact of Succession Struggle, 1658-59 Nobility picked different sides—Aurangzeb

continued to hold suspicions about Jaswant Singh and supporters of Dara—such as the Sikh Guru, Har Rai

Much disruption in the collection of revenue for two years—possible impact on peasants a cause of debate Imperial wealth spent ends up in hands of

peasants and soldiers Continued imprisonment of Shah Jahan leads

to criticism by Safavid Emperor and the guardian of Mecca. Allegations made about Aurangzeb’s morality.

Allies and nobility view new emperor with trepidation

The polarization of history

Aurangzeb’s period has become polarized and mythologized

Some myths: Banned music,

painting, etc at court Actively

discriminated against all non-Muslims

Tried to create an Islamic theocracy

Early Campaigns, 1659-81

1661-63 Mir Jumla’s campaign against Kuch Bihar and Ahoms

1667-75 Afghan tribes rebel: Afridis, Yusufzai, Khataks

1678-79 rebellion in Mewar and Marwar

1681 Prince Akbar’s rebellion

Continuing trouble with Marathas forces Aurganzeb to leave for the Deccan

Eastern Border secured

Afghan revolts contained

Incentives offered

Pay tribute, but Not annexed

OngoingRebellion From 1650s onFor Marathas,After 1678 forRajputs

Problems of Enforcement

Aurangzeb’s own application of these laws was inconsistent—ex. Support of non-muslim religious establishments/figures

Mansabdars flooded the Emperor with protests, applications for the reduction/revocation of taxes or simply did not comply in some areas

Jizya was revoked in the Deccan in 1704

Aurangzeb’s personal bigotry is undeniable; however, his policy shifts also seem to be in response to key events at times

Rajputs and Aurangzeb

Some of the contradictions in these policies is clearer in the case of the Rajputs Jaswant Singh’s conduct in 1658-59 and later as an

ally of Shivaji put him under suspicion

Rajput officers were exempted from the Jizya

Aurangzeb continued to patronize and support other Rajputs during the war with Mewar/Marwar. Raja Jai Singh was entrusted with the Deccan Campaign until 1666.

The Marwar-Mewar Rebellion Has longer subtext—Jaswant Singh was a

younger son who gained the throne of Marwar due to Shah Jahan’s patronage

His behavior during 1658-59 aroused Aurangzeb’s suspicions, upon his death in 1678, Aurangzeb tried to manipulate succession and failed.

The Marwar and Mewar clans rallied around the infant Ajit Singh, guerilla warfare begins

Mughal army subdues urban areas, dynastic temples are destroyed, tensions are aggravated

Prince Akbar joins Rajputs, criticizes policies Rebellion contained, but trust of two major

clans broken

Pressure from Marathas

The Emperor’s growing frustrations with the Maratha insurgency had an impact on both administrative and religious policies

During suc. Struggle of 1658-59 Shivaji and allies capture forts on the Konkan coast

Raid Deccani and Mughal territory demanding revenue

1664 Shivaji raids Surat Captured by Jai Singh in 1665, escapes in

1666 1667 raids Surat again 1680 Shivaji dies, sons and wives fight over

succession

Maratha Advantages

Clan-based confederacy, with tight links to local peasants, Bijapur

Bases in remote fortresses in Western Ghat hills

Use guerilla tactics, not conventional warfare

Use money from raids and piracy to create revenue

Notable Expansionist

3.2 Million Sq. KM

Towards South

Ruled over 100 – 150 million

Peoples

Demolish Temples

Notorious for destruction

80 – 60,000 Temples

Lesson from his LifeAnd

Point of Motivations

The Will Of Alamgir Aurangzeb

The will was recorded by Maulvi Hamid-ud Din in chapter 8 of his hand written book in Persian about the life of Aurangzeb: 

…

“ There is no doubt that I have been the emperor of India and I have ruled over this country. But I am sorry to say that I have not been able to do a good deed in my lifetime. My inner soul is cursing me as a sinner. But now it is of no avail. It is my wish that my last rites be performed by my dear son Azam, nobody else should touch

my body.  ”

…

“ My servant, Aya Beg, has my purse in which I have carefully kept my earnings of 4 Rs and 2 annas. In my spare time I have been writing the Koran and stitching caps. It was by selling the caps that I made an honest earning of 4 Rs and 2 annas. My coffin should be purchased with this amount. No other money should be spent for covering the body of a sinner. This is my dying wish. By selling the copies of the Koran I collected 305 Rs. That money is also with Aya Beg. It is my will that poor Mohammedans should be fed with sweet rice purchased by this money. ”

…

My grave should be dug in a dense forest. When I am buried my face should remain uncovered. Do not bury my face in earth. I want to present myself to Allah with a naked face. I am told whoever goes to the supreme court with a naked face will have his sins forgiven. 

Will about his Tomb

“ No tomb should be built for me. Only a

chabootra or platform may be erected. ”

Death

3 March 1707