Identify the relationship between the Sufis and the State from the eighth to the eighteenth century.

SUFI AND THE STATE

1. The sufis accepted unsolicited grants and donations from the political elites and the Sultans in turn set up charitable trust and granted tax free land.

2. The donations were used to meet the immediate requirements such as food, clothing etc for the disciples.

3. The moral high status of the sufis attracted people from all walks of life. So the kings wished to secure their support.

4. The Turkish sultans not only associated themselves with the sufis but also sought their legitimating especially because the majority of their subjects were non-Muslims.

5. The sultans also depended on sufis to interpret the Sharia.

6. Besides, it was believed that the Auliya could intercede with god to improve the materials and spiritual conditions of ordinary human beings. As a result the kings often wanted their tombs to be in the vicinity of Sufi shrines.

7. There were also instances of conflict between the sufis and the sultans.

8. To assert their authority both expected certain rituals to be performed such as prostration and kissing of the feet etc.

9. Occasionally the Sufi saint was addressed with high sounding titles. For example: the disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya addressed him as “Sultan-a-Mashaikh”. (Sultan among Shaikhs)

10. Although the sufis believed in simple and avoidance of worldly powers, they expected unsolicited grants and donations from political elites.