Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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doing so, they are often influenced by their secular interests. But,
there is no denying the fact that the rigid interpretation of the Shariat,
and adherence to a narrow interpretation of it, had become a dominant
feature of the Islamic world. Muslims, by and large acted accordingly.
Balbal’s instructions to his son included: “Mahmud ! I have given
you instructions according to the requirements of the time. But, if I
give you instructions of religious-mined kings and say that you should
use all your courage and valour in the destruction of infidelity and
shirk, to keep the infields and idol worshippers degraded and
dishonoured so that you may get a place in the company of prophets
and to crush and uproot the Brahmins so that infidelity vanishes.” 5
Iltumush appointed Sayyid Nur-ud-din-Mubarak Ghaznavi as
his Shaik-ul-Islam. In that capacity the Sayyid exhorted the Sultan to
institute an inquisition in India. ‘Kings will not be able to discharge
their duty of protecting the Faith unless they overthrow and uproot
Kufir and Kufiri (infidelity), shirk (setting partners to God) and the
worship of idols, all for the sake of God and inspired by a sense of
honour for protecting the din (faith) of the Prophet of God. But if
total extirpation of idolatry is not possible owing to the firms roots of
kufri and the large number of kufirs and mushriks, the king should atleast
strive to disgrace, dishonour and defame the mushrik and idol worshipping
Hindus, who are the worst enemies of God and His Prophet.’ 6
These are not just isolated instances which may be dismissed as
the views of a few bigots, This was believed to be the standard for the
Islamic practice of Shariat (Islamic law) by an overwhelming majority
of the Muslim ruling classes and the Muslim masses. If there were
deviations from this practice, these were as concessions due to the
exigencies of the political situation. Mahmud Ghaznavi spurned the
tempting offer of gold and jewels by the priests of the Somnath temple
to save their idol. He preferred that the verdict of history should be
that he was an idol-breakers rather than an idol-sparer for the sake of
wealth. His raids in India were for loot and plunder, but in this instance
he spurned that temptation and stood by what he believed to be his
religious duty. After Akbar’s experiments in religious toleration,
Muslim bigotry could stage an easy come-back under Augrangzeb