Based
upon this idea, and perhaps also in the hope that the Ulemas would be
discomfited Akbar founded at Fathpur Sikri, his favorite residence in
the vicinity of Agra, the famous Ibadat Khana, literally the "house of
worship," but in reality the house of controversy. This was a splendid
structure composed of four halls in which scholars and religious men
of all sects gathered together every Thursday evening and were given
an opportunity to defend their creeds in the presence and with the
cooperation of the Emperor. Akbar placed the discussion in charge of
the wise and liberal minded Abul Fazl. How badly the Ulemas, the
representatives of Mohammedan orthodoxy, came off on these
controversial evenings was to be foreseen. Since they had no success
with their futile arguments they soon resorted to cries of fury,
insults for their opponents and even to personal violence, often
turning against each other and hurling curses upon their own number.
In these discussions the inferiority of the Ulemas, who nevertheless
had always put forth such great claims, was so plainly betrayed that
Akbar learned to have a profound contempt for them.
In addition to this, the fraud and machinations by means of which the
Ulemas had unlawfully enriched themselves became known to the Emperor.
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