Barani on Delhi Sultans and Islamic state — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2002

The historian Barani refused to consider the state in India under Delhi Sultans as truly Islamic because:

1. the majority of the population did not follow Islam
2. the Muslims theologists were often disregarded
3. the Sultan supplemented the Muslim law by framing his own regulations
4. religious freedom was accorded to non‑Muslims

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Ziauddin Barani criticised the Delhi Sultans for not ruling strictly according to shariʿa and for introducing state laws called zawabit, which often supplemented or overrode religious law.

Answer: (c) the Sultan supplemented the Muslim law by framing his own regulations