Ziauddin Barani and Abul Fazal were two Muslim thinkers from different eras who had differing views on religion and the role of the king. Barani lived in a time when Islam was establishing roots in India and advocated for the superiority of Islam. Abul Fazal lived during the religiously diverse Mughal Empire and promoted religious equality and secularism. Both believed justice was important for a king, but Barani tied it more closely to Islamic law while Abul Fazal focused on welfare. They similarly saw value in strong armies but Barani emphasized expansion more.

1. PREPARED BY:SAQIB FIKREE AND NISAR
AHMAD KAMRAN
ROLL NO:872&871
BA(H) POLITICAL SCIENCE, 5 TH SEMESTER.
RAMANUJAN COLLEGE,UNIVERSITY OF DELHI.
Comparative study of two Muslim
thinkers(ZIA BARANI&ABUL FAZAL).

2. THREE BASIC PRINCIPLES
The divine law, Shariat based on
Quran.
The historical traditions of the
early years.
The consensus and solidarity of
the Islamic community.

3. INTRODUCTION
 Ziauddin Barani:
 Pre_mughal era , khilji dynasty.
 Got education in Arabic and Persian.
 Well educated in Islamic theology and history.
 Abul Fazal:
 Mughal era.
 Well educated family background.
 Popular historian.

4. CONTEXT
 Ziauddin Barani:
 Lived in a period when Islam was finding
its roots.
 Population was still hostile to it.
 There was a clear antipathy to all local
religions.
 Religious enthusiasm was combined with
messianic zeal.

5. Continues
 Abul Fazal:
 Living in a period when Islam was at its
best.
 Mughal empire period was peaceful,
religious and cultural flourishing between
Hindus and Muslims.
 New structure gave rise to novel integral
culture, that had elements from both Hindu
and Muslim thoughts.

6. IDEAL KING
 Barani made distinction between the personal
life of the king and his political role.
 King should be noble born, ideal person,
belonging to the family of monarchs with
innate sense of justice.
 For Abul Fazal king should work for the
welfare of the people, should have tolerance,
strong sense of justice, provide stability, and
ensure economic prosperity.

7. RELIGION
 Both Abul Fazal and Barani had totally
different views on religion.
 Barani was more conservative and
fundamentalist as compared to Abul Fazal.
 Abul Fazal religious thoughts were based
on equality of all and secularism.
 while Barani insisted on superiority of
Islam.

8.  Abul Fazal was influenced by composite
culture of his time. Abul Fazal: King should
not depend on religion as society is Poly
religious.
 Abul Fazal was influenced by composite
culture of his time.
 Abul Fazal did not consider Islam superior.
 Islamic community called Abul Fazal as a
kafir, rebel, Hindu and Agnipujak.
continues

9. JUSTICE
Justice was An essential element for both Barani
and Abul Fazal.
For Abul Fazal the foremost duty of the king is to
establish justice.
Barani argued that justice should be based on
koranic laws.
He believed that without justice, the koranic laws
are arbitrary decrees.
Barani “Everything against Quran is tyranny”

10. RATIONALITY
 Barani is against rationality that goes against Quran.
 For him philosopher and rationales are internal
enemies.
 Science should not be as a subject method of the
education at all.
 Supremacy of Quran, prophet teachings, and religious
laws.
 Abul Fazal accepted rationality in the affairs of the
government.
 For him all subjects are equal in claim for benevolence
and rationality.

11. Governance and sovereignty
 In the political field their views are same.
 Both were concerned with social stability.
 According to Barani anyone who is capable
to have more influence than king, king loses
sovereignty.
 Necessary element for sovereignty:

12. CONTINUES
 1:enforcement of Shariat. 2:check on
immoral and sinful acts. 3: dispensing of
justice.
 According to Abul Fazal king should
establish sovereignty by considering
himself as agent of the God.
 King can lose his sovereignty by
discrimination on the basis of caste,
religion, class…..

13. Army
 Both believed in strong army.
 For Barani the sultanate ultimately rest on the power
the army.
 Main functions of the army is security and expansion of
the state.
 King should have great care in its efficiency, checking
corruption, and conspiracies.
 Qalb an army for protection of the king.
 Abul Fazal: king should have strong army.
 For smooth functioning of administration.
 Cavalry, infantry, artillery, camel, and elephants.

14. TO CONCLUDE:
 Both Abul Fazal and Barani have typical elements in their
thoughts.
 Barani had two anxieties. 1: to maintain status quo. 2: use of
terror should be constrained in relation to status groups.
 These anxieties are not present in Fazal thoughts.
 Fazal was concerned with two things, Benevolence and
rationality.
 Barani state was located at force, while Fazal state was not
located at force.
 Barani state was based on theology, but Fazal state was not
based on theology.
 Barani insistence on force is much practical and realistic.
 Fazal state seems to be idealistic.

15. END!
THANKS FOR ATTENTION