The 'Fatawa-i-Alamgiri', a digest of Islamic (Hanafi) law compiled during Aurangzeb's reign, was prepared by a board of scholars headed by:

The "Fatawa-i-Alamgiri" (also called "Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya") was compiled during the reign of Aurangzeb by a board of Muslim scholars (ulema) headed by Shaikh Nizam Burhanpuri.

About the Fatawa-i-Alamgiri:

• It is a large collection of legal opinions (fatwas) and rules of Islamic law, based mainly on the Hanafi school of Sunni jurisprudence.
• It was compiled over several years, roughly between 1664 and 1672.
• About 500 scholars from India and other countries are said to have worked on it.
• It was written in Arabic, and later translated into Persian and other languages.
• It deals with matters such as worship, marriage, divorce, inheritance, trade, crime, punishment, taxes, and the duties of rulers.

Why it was compiled:

• Aurangzeb wanted to rule according to the Sharia (Islamic law).
• He wanted a single, authoritative guide that qazis (judges) could use in deciding cases, so that judgements would be uniform throughout the empire.
• It also reflected the influence of the orthodox ulema at his court.

Its importance:

• It became one of the most important works of Islamic law in South Asia.
• During British rule, the courts used it, along with other texts, to decide cases of Muslim personal law.
• It is still referred to by scholars and religious courts.

Other legal and religious works:

• Akbar's court had produced works promoting a more liberal and tolerant outlook.
• Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, a Naqshbandi saint, opposed Akbar's religious policies and called for a return to orthodox Islam; he is known as "Mujaddid Alf-i-Sani".
• Qazi Nurullah Shustari was a Shia scholar executed in Jahangir's reign.

Aurangzeb's religious policy:

• He appointed muhtasibs (censors of morals).
• He banned some court practices considered un-Islamic.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Abul Fazl was Akbar's historian.
• ✗Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was a Naqshbandi reformer of Jahangir's time.
• ✗Qazi Nurullah Shustari was a Shia jurist of an earlier period.