SOCIAL CONDITIONS

SOCIAL CONDITIONS
During the rule of the Delhi Sultans, the Muslim n< was a powerful political force. Under weak rulers power and ambitions rose high and even threatene stability of the government. The Muslim nobility period was not homogeneous in character, but coml of various nationalities such as Turk, Afghan, Abyssl Egyptian and Arab. As such it lacked effective solie to stand against the despotism of the sultan.

A herec aristocracy is a stabilising force, but the Muslim no was a disruptive force which very, often menaced integrity of the state. The Muslim divines called ulemas were the authorit exponents of Islamic theology. They were a highly i ential body. Ala-ud-din Khalji was the first Sultan checked their pretensions and disregarded their ad Another such sultan was Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq earned the wrath of the ulemas. The office of the ulema not hereditary in nature or confined to anyone rac country.

The lower classes of the Muslim society consistiq soldiers, clerks and men employed in trade and indu did not enjoy luxurious living though they had all privileges of being citizens of the land. They could ris the highest position by way of merit or even through rt preference. Slavery was a popular institution. Slaves were} both by the Sultan and the nobles. However, the SuJ could grant manumission to any slave, so that he cea to be a slave from then on. Sultans such as Qutb-ud­-Aibak, lltutrnish and Balban were slaves at the beginn of their careers.

The Hindus formed the vast majority of the populati Their society was caste-ridden. Owing to the Turk .-tendem:y of seeking beautiful Hindu girls for wives, ch marriage became common as a form of protection difference in the standards of living between the wealt few and the many poor was very wide. The extortioru demands of rulers like Ala-ud-din Khalji and Muhamma bin- Tughlaq reduced the peasants to abject misery. An
Khusrau aptly observed, "Every pearl in the royal cro" is but the crystallised drop of blood fallen from the tearl eyes of the poor peasant."

Seclusion of women became a general practice at1 marriage of widows was unthinkable. Sati and jauhar we also prevalent during this period. Ibn Batutah was amaze to see Hindus drowning themselves in the Ganga to attai a holy jal samadlzi. The Hindus were also becoming ver superstitious.