Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) the mosque for the use of Royal Family
(b) Akbar’s private prayer chamber
(c) the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions
(d) the room in which the nobles belonging to different religions gathered to discuss religious affairs
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
- The Ibadat Khana was constructed by Akbar, the Mughal Emperor in 1575 AD at Fatehpur Sikri.
- It was established as a forum for spiritual leaders from diverse religious backgrounds to discuss and deliberate on the teachings of different religions.
- This place was also known as the Hall of Prayer, where renowned scholars, mystics, and theologians congregated to share their wisdom and knowledge.
- Akbar’s attempts to harmonize and unify different religions resulted in the creation of a new faith called Din-e-Ilahi or the Fate of the Divine.
- This faith amalgamated the principles of Islamic Sufism, Bhakti, and devotional movements, as well as some elements from Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
