Din-i Ilahi

Abu'l-Fazl one of the disciples of Din-i-Ilahi presenting Akbarnama to Akbar, Mughal miniature

The Dīn-i Ilāhī (Persian: دین الهی‎‎ lit. "Religion of God") was a syncretic religion propounded by the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great in 1582 AD, intending to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire, and thereby reconcile the differences that divided his subjects. The elements were primarily drawn from Islam and Hinduism, but some others were also taken from Christianity, Jainism and Zoroastrianism.

Akbar promoted tolerance of other faiths. In fact, not only did he tolerate them, he encouraged debate on philosophical and religious issues. This led to the creation of the Ibādat Khāna ("House of Worship") at Fatehpur Sikri in 1575. He had already repealed the jizya (tax on non-Muslims) in 1568. A religious experience while hunting in 1578 further increased his interest in the religious traditions of his empire.

From the discussions he led at the Ibādat Khāna, Akbar concluded that no single religion could claim the monopoly of truth. This inspired him to create the Dīn-i Ilāhī in 1582. Various pious Muslims, among them the Qadi of Bengal and the seminal Sufi personality Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi, responded by declaring this to be blasphemy to Islam.

Dīn-i Ilāhī appears to have survived Akbar according to the Dabestān-e Mazāheb of Mubad Shah (Mohsin Fani). However, the movement never numbered more than 19 adherents.

Din-i-Ilahi prohibits lust, sensuality, slander and pride, considering them sins. Piety, prudence, abstinence and kindness are the core virtues. The soul is encouraged to purify itself through yearning of God. Celibacy is respected and the slaughter of animals is forbidden. There are neither sacred scriptures nor a priestly hierarchy in this religion. No one should have more than one wife, but could marry if one had no child from the first wife. Widow remarriage was permitted, and the age of marriage was raised to sixteen for boys and fourteen for girls. Marriage between cousins or near relations was also banned. Marriages were to be entered into only on the basis of mutual consent of the parents. He also set up a bureau for the registration of marriages. Sati of Hindu women was prohibited, except with the women’s consent. He increased the marriage minimum age for boys to 16 and girls to 14. He banned circumcision of boys below the age of twelve without their consent

Disciples

The initiated disciples of Din-i-ilahi during emperor Akbar the Great's time included (p. 186):

• Birbal
• Prince Salim
• Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak
• Prince Murad
• Qasim Khan
• Azam Khan
• Shaikh Mubarak
• Abdus Samad
• Mulla Shah Muhammad Shahadad
• Sufi Ahmad
• Mir Sharif Amal
• Sultan Khwaja
• Mirza Sadr-ud-Din
• Taki Shustar
• Shaikhzada Gosala Benarasi
• Sadar Jahan
• Sadar Jahan's first son
• Sadar Jahan's second son
• Shaikh Faizi
• Jafar Beig
• Raja Todarmal
• Vin Krishna

See also

• Allopanishad
• Dabestan-e Mazaheb
• Dara Shikoh