Muhammad Bin Tughlaq took his own decision regarding the matters of religious policy. The Sultan did not even permit the Ulema class to interfere in his administration. During his reign the Ulema class enjoyed monopoly over administration of justice. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq broke up that monopoly and appointed Qazis outside this class of people.
During early period of his reign, he neither sought recognition of Khalifa nor inscribed his name on his coins. The Sultan did nothing against Islam nor did he desire to flout the principles of Islam but he was not prepared to accept the interference of religion or that of any religious class in his administration. He used to change the decisions of Qazis whenever he found them unjust and discriminating. If a religious man was found guilty of corruption or rebellion, he was punished like any other ordinary person. Thus nobody was above the laws of the land. This is the reason why the Ulema class became antagonistic to Muhammad Tughlaq and spread discontentment against him.
Muhammad Tughlaq had to compromise with the Ulema during later years of his reign. He inscribed the name of Khalifa on his coins, sought recognition of his office from him in 1340 A.D. and invited Ghiyas-ud-din Muhammad, one distant relative of the Khalifa of Egypt, to his court. Muhammad Tughlaq was tolerant towards his Hindu subjects. He was the first Sultan of Delhi who distributed respectable offices to the Indian Muslims and the Hindus. In this field, he was ahead of his time.
With his entire liberal attitude, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq failed to get admiration and sympathy of his subjects. But the reason was not his attitude but the failure of his schemes and oppressive measures of his policies.
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