The Bliss of Integration- Impact of Muslim Religious Institutions During Qutb Shahs (1516-1687)

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The present book is an attempt at making an appraisal of the impact of culture and Muslim religious institutions and their role under Qutb Shahs (1516-1687).

The author has made an in-depth study of the religious policy of the Qutb Shahs of Deccan, their patronization of religious institutions, buildings, the Ashur Khanas, their period of construction, location, religious ceremonies and their salient features etc. with special reference to the part played by them in the contemporary society of the Deccan during the Qutb Shahi period.

The study deals with the Muslim institutions built and patronized during the rule of all Qutb Shahi sultans from Qutb-ul-Mulk to Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.

Born and brought up in one of the most distinguished noble families of Hyderabad, Dr. Tahseen Bilgrami is an alumnus of the Osmania University, Women's college, Hyderabad. She changed her line of subject to Social Sciences after graduating in the faculty of Life Science and Education and did her Masters in Ancient History, Cultural Heritage and Architecture. She did her M. Phil with distinction and Ph.D in History from the Osmania Uriversity.

During her career she never looked back and scaled many heights with astonishing qualities of an academician and as an administrator, that are present in her genes. She has contributed richly in the form of research projects and research articles that have been published in many research journals. She has presented her papers in National and International conferences and seminars in India and abroad, winning accolades for her writing and charismatic style of presentation and personality.

Among several studies on the medieval history of Deccan, not many have adequately dealt with religio-cultural developments. This is true, in particular, of the Dakhni culture that evolved during the illustrious Qutb Shahi rules. The present work, it is hoped, would fill the gap substantially.

Even though the Qutb Shahs ruled only for a period of about century and a half, their rule constituted a glorious epoch in the cultural history of Deccan. Persian Shia Muslims by origin, the Qutb Shahs were tolerant towards other faiths. There were no forcible conversions to Islam and the policy adopted towards the Hindus was based on the premises of two basic principles namely, religious toleration and indiscrimination in the exercise of the political rights. The Hindus belonging to different communities were also made a part of the state administration. Known in history for heavy taxation, the Qutb Shahi rule witnessed economic prosperity. Trade and commerce flourished.

This book is an attempt at making an appraisal of the impact of culture and Muslim religious institutions and their role under Qutb Shahs (1516-1687). The Muslim institutions and their role in social unification have not attracted the attention of the scholars much. Therefore, there is very little work published, dealing with Muslim institutions exclusively. Except the Mosques, no other Muslim institution has attracted the attention of these scholars.

I have made an in-depth study of the religious policy of the Qutb Shahs of Deccan, their patronization of religious institutions, bulidings, the Ashur Khanas, their period of construction, location, religious ceremonies and their salient features etc with special reference to the part played by them in the contemporary society of the Deccan during the Qutb Shahi period.

The study, in spite of its fairly wide canvas, does not include religious institutions of other religions. The work aims at studying the religious policy and its impact on the society within their kingdom. Therefore, the study has been restricted to the limits of the Qutb Shahi kingdom. The study deals with the Muslim instiutions built and patronized during the rule of all Qutb Shahi sultans from Qutb-ul-Mulk to Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.

The study is based on primary and secondary sources. The sources in regional languages were referred by getting the relevant matter translated.