Sultanates and Sufis in South Asia: An Analytical Study of Suhrawardi Order in Delhi Sultanate
Keywords:
Baha-ud-Din Zakariya; Suhrawardi Order; Balban; Delhi Sultanate; Iltutmish; Sufi–State Relations; Political Patronage; Khanqah System; Medieval South Asia; Islamic GovernanceAbstract
This study examines the political and spiritual interactions between Baha-ud-Din Zakariya of Multan, the leading figure of the Suhrawardi Sufi order in South Asia, and two prominent Delhi Sultanate rulers, Sultan Iltutmish (r. 1211–1236) and Sultan Balban (r. 1266–1287). Unlike the Chishti order’s deliberate distance from state affairs, the Suhrawardi approach under Zakariya embraced selective political engagement, state patronage, and mediation in administrative matters. Through his khanqah in Multan, Zakariya established a structured spiritual institution that also functioned as a hub of political influence, facilitating the integration of Sufi authority within the Sultanate’s governance model. Drawing on historical chronicles, Sufi biographies, and secondary scholarship, this paper analyzes how Zakariya’s relationship with the Delhi court shaped both religious authority and state legitimacy. The findings reveal that these interactions not only reinforced the Sultanate’s control over frontier regions but also redefined the role of Sufis as active participants in the political and administrative life of medieval India.
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