Hajj and Mughal Emperor Akbar

Extremely rare Photograph of Holy Kaba 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Akbar is the most eulogized Mughal Emperor. Historians have written volumes on his personality, character, victories and religious tolerance. His Deen-e-Ilahi(Divine Faith) too has found enough place on the pages of history. But his contribution to encourage Hajj pilgrimage from India has so far remained a somewhat neglected topic. The blogger thought it appropriate to write on the issue as devotees from all over the world are now very close to perform Hajj. May Allah accept their pilgrimage and protect them from any mishap.(Ameen)   

Akbar was the first Mughal emperor to organize Hajj at state expenses and provided subsidiary to pilgrims. He established a hospice for devotees at Mecca and ordered a caravan to be sent from India every season.he also appointed a senior noble as Mir Hajj and directed his top courtier Abdur Rahim Khan Khana to set aside three of his own ships namely Rahimi, Karimi and Salari for free transportation of pilgrims to port town of Jeddah. He did so after signing a treaty with Portuguese for safe passage of pilgrim ships in Red Sea. These ships weighed between 1400 to 1600 tons with a carrying capacity of 1700 pilgrims each.

Not only this, Akbar’s Mir Hajj carried with him more than Rs.6 lakhs from 1576-1582 AD and goods for distribution among the people of Mecca and Medina. Under Akbar’s instruction, he also carried with him thousands of Khilats(robes of honor) and expensive gifts for the sheriff of Mecca.   

Prior to Akbar’s regime, no Mughal royal lady had performed Hajj. As Akbar ensured safe passage to Jeddah  Bega Begam or Hajji Begam, wife of a noble of Humayun who later became Humayun’s wife became the first to perform, Hajj among the royal ladies. Gulbadan Begam, the daughter of the emperor Babar and aunt of Akbar, Emperor’s own wife  Salima Begam and 40 other women also performed Hajj during Akbar’s period. They  had boarded on ship Salimi and reached  Mecca in 1576 AD after an adventurous voyage .these royal ladies stayed in Mecca till 1582 and performed Hajj four times and Umrah(lesser pilgrimage) several times during their stay in the holy city.

Before Akbar, Indian Muslims had only two options either to travel by the overland caravan or by the ships. Due to various problems associated with land route, most of the pilgrims preferred ships. But the presence of Portuguese pirates in Persian Gulf and Red Sea was too tough and perilous. By entering into an agreement, Akbar removed the danger of Portuguese and made the journey to  Mecca very smooth and exclusive. As the numbers of devotees swelled due to initiatives taken by Akbar, the prime embarkation port at Surat came to be known as known as Bab-ul-Makkah.(Gateway to Mecca)