The document summarizes key aspects of administration under the Delhi Sultanate. It describes the sultanate as a theocratic benevolent state ruled according to Islamic law. It established iqtas, or revenue-collecting territories, which were initially military-administrative grants but later became hereditary under Firoz Shah Tughlaq. The sultanate had a complex bureaucracy including offices of prime minister, finance minister, provincial governors, and a judicial system headed by a chief qazi. Ulema, or Islamic scholars, played an influential role in legal matters and helped legitimize sultanate rule through religious sanction.

1. Delhi Sultanate Administration
Prepared by Dr. S.S. Rao
Faculty of History
seesrirao@gmail.com

2. Nature of State
• Theocratic Benevolent State- Quranic law- Shariya
- implemented in India
• The head of the Muslim state is God- Khuda
• The representative was chosen by Millat or all
Muslims
• Relation with Caliph- Iltutmish was the first
Turkish sultan who accepted the Rob of the sultan
from the Caliph
• Iltutmish, Muhammad bin Tuglaq and Firozsha
Tughlaq obtained MANSUR (letter of investiture)
from caliph

3. • Titles from the Califa
Yamin-ul-khilafat= Right hand of Kalifa
Nasir-i-Amir-Momin= Assistant to Khalifa
• Zil-i-Ilaha, Balban- the king is the shadow of the
God, He started the Sizda and Paibos
• MBT- Inscribed on his coins – Sultan is the shadow
of God.
• MBT- Gave harsh punishments to Ulema also
• The Ulema, being interpreter of Islamic laws, also
influenced the policy of the Sultan. Only Ala-ud-din
Khalji and Mubarak Khalji refused to accept the
interference of the Ulema in matters of the state
• Mahammad Bin Tughalq removed the KALMA from
the coins in 1325 and Firoz shah Tughalq reinforced

4. • King had his own law- Zawabit
• Exception of Alauddin khalji and Mubark shah all
sultans accepted the Caliph.
• Hindus- Jimmis
• State cannot have its personal religion
• Neutrality in religion between Hindus and Muslims
• Sultans Never pursues a non-interventionist
neutralized policy towards religion.

5. Tqtadari system & Muqtadari system
• 1. Both are territorial assignments
• 2. both are conferred to collect tax and
distribute it to their soldiers
• 3. Both didn't confer any ownership in land
• 4. Both are subject to transfer

6. • Tqtadari system main functions
• Collect tax and distribute it to their soldiers
• The entire sultanate was divided into 11 iqtas
and Max 23 under MBT
• 4 types
Types of IQTAS
Iqta Administrative cum military grant
Iqta-i-Tamlik Iqta for collection of the revenue
Iqta-i-Istighatal An Iqta of stipends
Iqta –i- Waqf Iqta for charitale purpose

7. • The administration of the Iqtas was controlled by
the governors Known as
Muqta
Vali
Nazim
Iqtadar
Appointed by the sultan
• Iltutmish gave this system an institutional form
• FST made it as hereditary

8. Offices
Diwan-i-Wizarat Wazir or
Vakil-us-sultanate
Prime Minister & Finance
Two types.
1.Tafavida- senior Wazir
2. Nayab Wazir- deputy to the
prime minister
1.Musharif-e -Mumaliq -
accountant general
2. Mustaufi-e- Mumali-
auditor general.
3. Nazir
To Assists the Diwan-
i-Wizarat
Who had separate
office
To Assists the Nayab
Wazir

9. Provincial administration
Officials Function
Amir Governor
Iqtadars or Muktis or walis-
Subedars
Responsible for law & order
and collection of taxes in
their iqtas
Nazir/ Wakuf
Officials responsible for
collecting revenue in the
provinces
Sahib-i-diwan
Maintained accounts of the
provinces and sent them to
central administration
Shiqdar
Officer in charge of land
measuring a shiq

10. IQTA
• Iqtadari System
• The term was coined by Nizamul-Mulk-Tusi
Collection of revenue
Maintenance of army
Maintenance of traditional systems in order to
prevent any untoward reaction

11. Military units – Iqtas
Provence under Amir, Iqtadars or Muktis or walis-
Subedars
│
District- Shiqs- Shiqdar
│
Pargana- Amil
│
Village or Chaurasi under - Chaudhri, Khutt, Mquddam
Rias, Ranas & Rawats

12. Defence – Army...
Dept. Office
Diwan-i- Aziz Ariz-i- Mumalik The Commander of the Army,
Recruiting soldiers
Muzzi Slaves, Shamsi Slaves
Balban Created
as separate Dept.
And appointed
Kotwal
Hasim-e-Sultani or
Hashm-e-kalb
Central Army Army was based on decimal
system of the Turko- Mongols
Amir-i-Akhur Sawar-i-kalb Royal Cavalrymen
Sawar-i-Vargusvan The possessor of the Army
Amir-i-Tuman Officer of 10,000 soldiers
Amir-i- Hazara Officer of 1000 soldiers
Amir-i-Sada Officer of 100 soldiers
Amir-i-Panjah Officer of 50 soldiers
Shahan-i-peer
Khajin
Elephantry- Chief
Amir-i- Bahar
Nvay- Naval routes in charge
Officer of Managed Boats and
ships
Cavalry

13. According to Barani
Sultan Officer of 10 Khans
Khan Officer of 10 Malik 104 Horses
Malik Officer of 10 Amir 103 Horses
Amir Officer of 10 Sipahsalar 100 Horses
Sipahsalar Officer of 10 Sarkhel
Sarkhel Officer of 10 Soldiers
Ulaq Horse post
Dawa Food post

14. Booty
Khams Looted Property Share between state
and soldiers
1/5
4/5 under Alauddin Khilji
& MBT

15. Islamic Judicial System
Fikah (Islamic
Legal texts )
Punishments – three kinds
Quran Religious text 1. Quran+ Hadis = Had the
punishment can’t be changed . For
six crimes
2. Kisas- Whom this crime affected,
he or his successor might pardon the
crime
3. Tajeer- Criminals who did not
come under Had or Kisas.
Punishment under Kind. Its objective
is to reform the criminal.
Hadis Classification of Quran and
reference to Godly traditions
Qiyas or Nazir Equal decision on all maters
Ijma Unanimous decision

16. Diwan-i- Kazim Malik Judiciary
Qaziul Qazat
Head of chief judicial department
Qazi-i- Mumalik Chief Justice
Kotwal In charge of law and order in the city
Diwan-i- Risalat
Sadr-us-Sudur (Chief in
religious works)
Dealt with religious
matters and endowments
Dept. Of Public Charities &
ecclesiastical
Mufti Lectures in Islam
Muhastasib Conduct of people
Amir-i-dad Public prosecutor/Magistrate of big cities

17. Provincial Judiciary
Four Kinds of Courts
Wali Law Courts
Qazi-i-Suba Civil and Criminal Court
Sadar-i-Suba Criminal cases
Diwan-i-Suba Land Revenue cases

18. Ulama
The word „Ulama‟ termed as “Scholar‟ or “a learned person‟ or “a person of
knowledge”
According to the Muslim tradition, the Ulema are educated in a religious institution
such as Maktabs and Madrasas
In this institution, mostly those subjects are taught which deals with religious culture
such as the Quran, Sunnah (authentic hadith), qiyas (analogical reasoning, for Sunni
Islam) or 'aql (dialectical reasoning for Shia Islam), ijma (juridical consensus) are the
sources of traditional Islamic law
Ulema were the Judges, jurists, priests, leaders, scholars, teachers, readers of Quran,
and recitals of traditions, Sufis, functionaries of Madrasas and Maktabs during the
medieval period
Ulema has the many types of specialization such as Hafiz (who learned the whole
Quran by heart), Sheikh-ul-Hadith (who learned the Hadith by heart and also interpret
the Hadiths), Qazi (who have the knowledge of Islamic juridical consensus) and Mufti
(who have the knowledge to deliver fatawa), etc.

19. These Ulema have the power of the Almighty God to serve the people with their
knowledge in this world and the post world
Ulema was played an important role in the polity, society and cultural life

20. • Importance of Ulema in the Islamic World
• In medieval India, there were two groups of
Muslim elite:
first, the warriors or ruler who were fighting for the
throne and, expansion and consolidation of
Islamic rule and
second, Ulema who were struggling for the
propagation of Islam with the support of Muslim
ruler.

21. • The Ulema controlled over the ruling class in
the religious concept and some political
aspects which were they had got the
charitable grants from the ruling class for
themselves and for the religious work.
• They built up their position in the court of
ruler by repeatedly harking to the frequency
of the root “ilm” or (knowledge of Islam) in
the Quran and Hadith

22. • This Ulema kept themselves in the elaboration
of Islamic law (fiqh), jurists (fuqaha),
community consensus (ijma) and the Islamic
traditions (Hadith)
• The education system in medieval India was
the same as that in any other Islamic country
and totally controlled by the Ulema in such
institution like Maktabs and Madrasas which
run with the financial grant by the ruling class

23. • “Ulama have a place below the prophet but above the
ruler”. Some of the points are showing the importance of
Ulama in the Islamic world
• 1. Ulema is the heirs of Prophet.
• 2. If there were no Ulema, the people would have loitered
like wild animals.
• 3. The best rulers are those who go to the door of the
Ulama and the worst Ulama are those who go to the door
of the rulers.
• Ulema was divided into two categories during the medieval
period: 1. Ulama-i-Akhirat (the Ulama of the Ultimate End)
2. Ulama-i-Duniya (the Ulama of the Visible World)

24. • Ulama in the Islamic world, state patronage
was focussed on this class through royal
charities in various forms: cash stipends
(wazifa) and land grants (inams).
• Ulama have got the title of “Shaikh-ul-Islam‟
was bestowed on an “alim” possessing a high
statue in the world of learning

25. • According to K.A. Nizami, during the Sultanate
period, the Ulama played a second fiddle to the
Sultans
• Under the Mughal period, the department of the
Sadr played a significant role in the selection of
the Ulama for significant offices and for grant of
madad-i-maash (tax-free land or the revenue of
taxable land) which were the allowance to the
pious Saiyids and to the Shaikhs

26. • Development of Fatawa theory
• The tradition of Fatawa compilation by a board of
Ulama originated in the same period.
• These meeting with Ulema called mahzar.
• In the reign of Iltutmish and Tughlaq, the mahzar was
called to discuss the issue of sama in the light of the
Shariat.
• Sometimes, Ulema has compiled the Fatawa against
the ruler, for their unlawful practices in that state

27. • In the medieval period, the most popular way of
contributing to Islamic jurisprudence was a
collection of Fatawa (verdicts) of the well-known
jurists and their arrangement under the usual
chapters of the text-books of fiqh
• The act of seeking a legal opinion as well as the
query itself is called istifta.
• The fiqh-works, especially of the Hanafi jurists are
generally divided into three broad categories:
Usul, Nawadir, and Fatawa

28. Most of the Fatawa-collection was
compiled in medieval period
1.Fatawa-i-Ghiyasiah
2. Fatawa-i-Tatarkhaniah
3. Fatawa-i-Firuzshahi
4. Fatawa-i-Ibrahimshahi
5. Al-Fatawa-al-Alawiyah
6. Fatawa-i-Ameeniyah
7. Fatawa-i-Barahnah
8. Al-Fatawa-al-Hammadiya
9. Al-Fatawa-al-Naqshbandiya
10. Fatawa-i-Majma-al-Barakat
11. Al-Fatawa-al-Alamgiriyal (Fatawa-i-Alamgiri)
12. Muntakhab-al-Fatawa
13. Fatawa-i-Muhammadi
All these Fatawa collections show their relevance to the problems of society
prevailing in their period

29. • Slave Dynasty – At the reign of Iltutmish, a
group of Ulema led by Qazi Wajih Uddin
Kashani came to the court of Iltutmish for
enquiring of manumitted and they should
become his actual supporters to help him in
the extension of his political power.
• Iltutmish created the office of Shaikh-ul-Islam
to deals the religious matter.

30. • At the Raziya time, most of the Ulema were
unhappy
• In Balban reign, Ulema was unhappy due to
his Zaminbos and Pabos policy

31. • Khilji Dynasty

32. • Tughlaq Dynasty – During the reign of Ghiyasuddin
Tughlaq and Muhammad bin Tughlaq, they did not
want any type of interfere in political aspects by the
Ulema. But the reign of Firozshah Tughlaq was the
golden period for the Ulema
• Two most important Fatawa were compiled during his
reign; Fatawa-i-Firuzshahi and Fatawa-i-Tatarkhani.
These Fatawa are landmarks in the history of juristic
compilation in India.
• The first Persian commentary on the Quran was written
by Shihab-al-din Dawlatabadi in the reign of Firozshah
Tughlaq.

33. • Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty – During the Sayyid
period, the role of Ulema was not so much
published but Ulema played an important role
in polity, society, and cultural life.

34. Agriculture
Dept.
Diwan-i- Wizarat
Diwan-i- Amir Kohi
Agriculture MBT
The canals a) Rajiwah
b) Ulughkhani
c) Firuzabad
d) Khakkhar
e) Ghaggar
Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Taxes
a) Kharaj
1/2 to 1/3 of the
production
Based on – Area
Production & Irrigation
b) Batai Three types
1. Khet Batai
Share of the state was decided after
the crop was grown
2. Lank Batai Crop in hand with out separating
husks, State share was given
3. Raas Batai Husk was separated and state share
was given
Haqi-i-shirb 1/10 Tak Introduced by Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Under new scheme irrigation

35. Land, Agriculture & Taxation
Kharaj Land tax on Hindu landlords
Ushr Land tax on Muslims- 1/10 tax
Nasq Land revenue on the basis of estimate
Masahat Land revenue on the basis of
measurement of land
Galla-i-Chungi Tax on grains
Khizrawat Tax on Vegetables
Abwabs House tax, Grazing tax. MTB
TYPES OF LANDS
IQTA Lands Lands assigned to officials
KHALSA lands Directly controlled under the Sultan
INAM lands Granted to religious leaders

36. Majumdar Revenue recorder Subordinates 1. Khajin or
Khajanchee revenue in
Cash ) Jalaluddin khalji
established Diwan –e-
Waquf who works like
Majumdar
Thakavi Loans to peasants
Sondhar Loans to peasants

37. Taxes abolished by FST
1 Mandwi barg
2 Dalalat-i-bazarah
3 Jazzari
4 Amiri-i-tarab
5 Gul-farushi
6 Jaizya Tambol
7 Chungi-i-gallah
8 Kitabi
9 Nilgari
10 Resman Farosi
11 Nakhud-i-biryan
12 Qimar-Khanah
13 Dadbegi
14 Koza Khist Pazi
15 Musadarat

38. Market Administration
Diwan-i-Rayasat
Head’s of the entire Market
Shshna-i-Mandi= Supertendent of
the Market
Rais Parwana= Permit officer of the
market
Alauddin Khalji
Sarai-Adal- A new cloth
market founded by Him.

39. Diwan-i-Rayasat
Malik Yakub - Central Grain Market
1. The first market was regulated by 8 laws called Zabita
2. The Barids (Intelligence) will report to Malik Kabul ulk
Khani , the Shahana-i-mandi
3. The collection of grains was deposited in the royal stores
4. Grain transport merchants should be under the controller
of grain market i.e Malik
5. Ihtikar (Hoarding) was prohibited
6. The procurement of grain will be carry by ‘Mustof-i-Sharif
or Shahnad
7. The king will have different independent source of
information - Barid (Intelligence) Munhians (Secret police)
8. Ashifs- it procurement during drought.

40. Market for Merchandise – Sari Adal
5 rules were related to Sarai Adi
1. Establishment of the Sarai Adl
2. Official Price List
3. Registration of Merchants Dept. Saudagar-imizani
4. Multani Merchants
5. The powers of Permit Officers Parwanas Rais

41. Market for Cattle, Horse & Slaves
Horse broker was registered and called Nihitaran-i-
Dalala
Main work was to fix the
price according the quality
Elimination of merchants and capitalists
Supervision of brokers
Repeated personal investigation by the king

42. Diwan-i- Insha
• The department of correspondence and records
of the royal court-Royal declarations drafts
held under the charge of a central ministers,
known as the DABIR-I-MAMALIK, Dabir-i-khas or
Amir Munshi.
• This department was the main source of
communication between the royal court and the
provincial and local governments, feudatory
chieftains, military generals and the foreign
powers.

43. • It drafted firmans of the sultan meant for the
grandees of the empire and letters for the
foreign rulers; and, in turn, received letters,
reports and petitions of the latter addressed
to the royal court or sultan.

44. Munsif-i-Mumaliq Auditor in Chief
Muktaufi-i-Mumaliq Auditor of States
Diwan-i- Mustakhraj Tax Recorder AK
Diwan-i- Waqf Expenditure Jalal-ud-din-Khilji

45. DIWAN-I- RASALAT Foreign Relations
RASALAT-I- MUMALIQ Chief of Foreign dept.
Diwan-i- INSHA Royal declarations drafts
BARID-I-MUMALIQ Chief of Espionage
INSHA-I-MAMALIQ Chief of correspondence
AMIR-I-HAJIB Meetings

46. Duties of the officers
Sur-ve-jadar Chief of the Body Guards
Wakil-i-dar Royal Palace
Mutsharrif Royal workshops
Amir-i-shikar Royal Hunt
Barbak Royal Court
Amir-i-Majlis Royal Celebrations

47. Diwan-i- Ishtikak Pension Dept. FST
Baskshi-i-Fauz Salaries to the soldiers
Diwan-i- Bandgan Dept. Of Slaves
1,80,000 under FST
Firoz Shah Tughlaq Established
Diwan-i- Khairat Charity- to help the
poor Muslim girl
parents in the marriage
time & orphans
Firoz Shah Tughlaq Established