Akbar’s religious policy in the early phase of his reign: A complex story

The author’s earlier thesis that Akbar in his early years tended mainly to follow a policy aiming to please orthodox Muslim elements possibly oversimplified a complex situation, as if Akbar had either to be orthodox or tolerant. In a fresh review of the entire debate, it is here argued that the picture remained complex until about 1578, with Akbar’s own political interests and personal inclinations often pulling policy on the ground in different directions. It was only after 1578 that tolerance in the form of Sulh-i Kul (absolute peace) became his major principle for dealing with different sections of his subjects.