In the era of Mughals, free Haj pilgrimage was arranged for the journals.
Many information about the history of the Mughals is surprised. Such is the Haj pilgrimage of the Mughal era. Although a long-wide group of Sultanate used to go to Hajj, but many times even on the sentence, the people of the court were sent to Haj. The number was not less among those who got such punishment. There were two ways for Hajj during the Mughal era. Either the sea route is chosen or the road. The road was more disturbing. The road was bad and there was a danger of enemies attacks. This was the reason that the Haj pilgrims of Hindustan used to reach through the sea route through the Red Sea.
However, the journey was not easy due to the control of the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean. For this route, the Portuguese had to take permission and pass.
What facilities did the Mughals provide to the passengers?
How big priority was Haj pilgrimage for the Mughals can be understood from the reign of Akbar. Akbar started the free Haj pilgrimage. Passengers were sent for Haj on royal expenses. The shelter site in Mecca was also constructed for the passengers going from Hindustan.
Passengers were departed from the port of Surat. The process of helping Haj pilgrims from Akbar continued till the era of Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb, the most staunch king of the Mughals, deployed two royal ships for the Haj pilgrimage. Emperor’s daughter Jebunnisa also continued to provide many facilities to the passengers.
How many were sent to Haj for punishment?
In the era of Mughals, people were also sent for Haj as a punishment. According to the report of Arab News, many reasons were given for Haj pilgrimage during the Mughal era. Passengers used to reach here to study religious travel and religion, but passengers were also sent for Haj as a punishment. Those who became a challenge for the Mughal Sultanate and vidoh were sent on Haj pilgrimage as exile.
Historians say that Humayun made his own brother blind and sent for Haj in 1553. The chief advisor Bairam Khan, who raised Akbar, was sent to Haj in displeasure. Not only this, Jahangir did the same with his Persian doctor Hakim Sadra. Hakim was sent to Mecca on a period of punishment for not doing proper treatment. Aurangzeb had ordered Qazi ul-Kujjat to resign from the post and go for Haj pilgrimage.
Interestingly, the emperors who provided all the facilities did not take Haj pilgrimage. Yes, there are stories of women of Mughal Sultanate doing Haj pilgrimage. Haji Begum is called the first Mughal woman to visit Hajj, who later became Humayun’s Begum.Many historians also claim that Babur’s daughter and Akbar’s aunt were the first Mughal princess to visit Haj. After this, Akbar’s Begum Salima went on Haj pilgrimage with 40 women.
Also read: Who used to treat Mughals, foreign surgeons, Vaidya or Greek Hakim?