At any rate there was sufficient ground for the chastisement which
Akbar now visited upon the high clergy. In the year 1579 a decree was
issued which assigned to the Emperor the final decision in matters of
faith, and this was subscribed to by the chiefs of the Ulemas,--with
what personal feelings we can well imagine. For by this act the Ulemas
were deprived of their ecclesiastical authority which was transferred
to the Emperor. That the Orient too possesses its particular official
manner of expression in administrative matters is very prettily shown
by a decree in which Akbar "granted the long cherished wish" of these
same chiefs of the Ulemas to undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca, which
of course really meant a banishment of several years. Other unworthy
Ulemas were displaced from their positions or deprived of their
sinecures; others who in their bitterness had caused rebellion or
incited or supported mutiny were condemned for high treason. The rich
property of the churches was for the most part confiscated and
appropriated for the general weal. In short, the power and influence
of the Ulemas was completely broken down, the mosques stood empty and
were transformed into stables and warehouses.
Akbar had long ceased to be a faithful Moslem.
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