Din-i Ilahi

A spiritual order established by Mughal emperor Akbar in the late sixteenth century, drawing on several religious traditions and emphasizing loyalty to the emperor and ethical conduct.

Akbar: The third Mughal emperor, who ruled from 1556 to 1605 and expanded imperial power across much of the Indian subcontinent. He established Din-i Ilahi as part of his experiments in imperial ethics and religious policy.
Sufism: The diverse mystical traditions within Islam that emphasize inward devotion and the pursuit of closeness to God. Sufi ideas of spiritual guidance and devotion help explain some practices associated with Akbar’s circle.
Mughal Empire: A South Asian empire founded in 1526 that ruled large parts of the subcontinent until the nineteenth century. Din-i Ilahi was a court-centered initiative within the Mughal imperial system.
Islam: A monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad. Din-i Ilahi drew on Islamic ideas but did not replace Islam as a mass religious tradition.
Ibadat Khana: A hall at Fatehpur Sikri where Akbar convened discussions among Muslim scholars and, later, representatives of other traditions. Its interreligious debates formed the immediate setting for Akbar’s spiritual experiments.
Zoroastrianism: A religion originating in ancient Iran, centered on the teachings of Zarathustra and the worship of Ahura Mazda. Fire reverence and solar observances at Akbar’s court are commonly connected to Zoroastrian influence.
Mughal religious policy: The changing policies through which Mughal rulers governed religious communities and institutions. Akbar’s order sits alongside his broader reforms in taxation, patronage, and interfaith relations.
Akbar's Din-i Ilahi edict: A commonly alleged imperial decree by Akbar establishing Din-i Ilahi as a compulsory religion; historians find no reliable evidence for it. The supposed edict illustrates the mistaken claim that Akbar imposed the order across his empire.
Fatehpur Sikri: A Mughal imperial city built by Akbar near Agra and used as his capital from 1571 to 1585. Akbar’s court and Ibadat Khana there hosted the discussions associated with the order’s emergence.
Hinduism: A diverse family of religious traditions originating in the Indian subcontinent, with varied scriptures, practices, and beliefs. Akbar’s engagement with Hindu traditions formed part of the order’s wider interreligious setting.

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