The Mughals’ love for alcohol has been a part of their heritage.
Babar, who laid the foundation of the Mughal Sultanate in India by defeating Ibrahim Lodi in the field of Panipat, may have been a Muslim but he himself consumed alcohol, whereas alcohol is considered haram in Islam. Similarly, during the Mughal period, many Mughal emperors were crazy about alcohol. They also had their own reasons for this. However, one of these Mughal emperors was Aurangzeb, who never touched alcohol. Let us know how many Mughal emperors were crazy about alcohol and what arguments they used to give?
Babar, who established the Mughal rule in India, himself drank alcohol. He himself had mentioned this addiction in his book. He also used to drink opium. Most of the princes and emperors after Babar consumed alcohol.
Babar advised his son to drink alcohol
Babar had also advised his son Humayun to drink alcohol. On his advice, Humayun started consuming alcohol. Babar even reprimanded Humayun for staying away from alcohol. Apart from this, Humayun was also addicted to opium. He also used to drink opium. Historians say that Humayun had become so addicted to opium that he remained drowsy and intoxicated throughout the day.
Mughal emperor Babar and son Humayun.
Akbar was addicted to alcohol and opium
Akbar, who became the emperor after Humayun at the age of just 13, also drank a lot of alcohol and consumed a lot of opium. Historians say that Akbar sometimes became so intoxicated that he lost control over himself.
During the time of Akbar, his sons also got addicted to alcohol. Even the death of his two sons was due to alcohol. Murad and Daniyal died at the age of just 28 and 32 due to excessive alcohol consumption.
Akbar was addicted to opium along with alcohol.
Akbar’s son Jahangir was most addicted to alcohol.
Known for his architectural and administrative contributions during his reign, Jahangir i.e. Salim is also known as the biggest drunkard and opium addict. Jahangir’s addiction to alcohol and opium was so severe that both his personal life and governance were greatly affected. In fact, Akbar’s son Salim alias Jahangir was addicted to alcohol from a very young age.
From the age of 15, he started giving alcohol mixed with rose water to treat cough. The use of alcohol, which started as a therapy, gradually became an addiction. Later, during a war against the Afghan rebellion, someone advised Jahangir to consume alcohol to relieve fatigue, and his dependence on alcohol increased further.
Jahangir used to drink about 20 cups of liquor in a whole day. Photo: Getty Images
Mentioned in autobiography also
Jahangir’s love for alcohol is also mentioned in his autobiography Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri. It is said that Jahangir used to drink about 20 cups of liquor in a whole day. He used to drink 14 cups of liquor during the day and 6 cups at night. Not only this, to fulfill his hobby, Jahangir used to order liquor from Iran and Central Asia. Many times he used to drink cocktails by mixing various liquors. In Kabul, he had built two round basins cut out of rock, each of which held two maunds of liquid. Jahangir used to fill them with liquor and have parties.
The staunch Aurangzeb never drank alcohol.
Alcohol had such a bad effect on Jahangir that he became weak and there came a time when he could not drink even a glass of alcohol. Doctors had warned Jahangir that if he did not stop drinking alcohol, he would not survive more than six months. After this, Jahangir started consuming opium and other dry intoxicants and his governing ability started weakening.
For this reason, gradually Jahangir’s wife Noorjahan started dominating the administrative work. It is another matter that in view of the increased use of tobacco and its harm, Jahangir had banned it. Nevertheless, its use continued to increase during the time of Shahjahan. Shahjahan also used to consume alcohol.
Aurangzeb was considered to be the most fanatical among the Mughal emperors and like other emperors, he was fond of women, but seeing the ruin of his family due to alcohol, he never touched alcohol. It is said that due to his fanaticism towards Islam he did not drink alcohol.
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Various arguments for alcohol consumption
Firstly, the Mughal emperors had inherited the addiction of alcohol, secondly, they also consumed alcohol due to social work. That is why most of the Mughal emperors and princes were addicted to alcohol and opium. His biggest argument behind drinking alcohol was that it could deceive one’s age. That is, Mughals used to consume alcohol to look young. Apart from this, he used to argue that drinking alcohol provides relief from stress. Therefore, due to excessive work pressure and stress, he used to drink alcohol. There was also an argument that drinking alcohol became a compulsion to accompany people in parties and celebrations. Despite being a Muslim, Jahangir used to quote Sufi poet Hafiz to justify the consumption of alcohol –
Saki, illuminate my cup with the light of wine
Singers, sing that the world is as I wish.
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