Sufism, Culture, and Politics: Afghans and Islam in Medieval North India

This book provides a political history of north India under Afghan rulers in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Focusing on interconnections between religion and politics, it also raises questions of paramount concern to an understanding of Islam in medieval north India. The first of the three sections explores the Afghan attempts at empire-building under the leadership of Sher Shah Sur and their interface with the Mughals. Discussing the incorporation of the Rajputs in the Afghan imperial project, the second part deals with the prevalent ideals and institutions of governance. The last segment investigates the social and political role of the Sufis. The volume also questions the over-emphasis on the Sultanate and Mughal periods in Indian history writing, while projecting a dynamic view of the Afghan period.

This book will be important for students and scholars of medieval Indian history as well as those interested in Islamic, religious, and cultural studies.

Raziuddin Aquil is Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi. He was previously Fellow in History, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta.