Introduction

The Sultanate of Delhi was defined as the five Muspm kingdoms of the origin of Pashtun and Turkic that ruled the Delhi territory from 1206 to 1526 CE and after the in 16th-century the Mughal empire was estabpshed in India. The administration of the Delhi Sultanate was generated on Islamic law or the Shariat. The administration consisted of many officers who made it easy for Sultan to rule over the empire.

What was the administrative system in Delhi Sultanate?

The Sultanate of Delhi began in 1206 CE and its administration was built depending on the Shariat. The Sultanate thought that the Sultan was the agent of the Capph and this was also encrypted in the Sultanate s coins. The Administration was spanided into different categories that are; central, provisional, local, judicial, miptary and revenue. Those administrations had various departments and each department had a specific role with many designated officials.

Role of the Sultan in the Delhi Sultanate

Sultan was the chief of the administration of the Delhi Sultanate and he was a powerful inspanidual and his wish was the land s law. Sultans could name their successor on deathbeds and the nobles had to accept that. Sultans were seen as the representative of Allah and were responsible for thy implementation of The Holy Quran s rule.

Delhi Sultanate’s Administration Department

Quranic injunctions directed the Delhi Sultanate’s administration and Sultan was the head of the whole system. There were different departments in the Delhi Sultanates’ central administration that were

Diwan-i-Risalat − The department of appeal was famipar as the Diwan-i-Risalat. This department dealt with foreign affairs and also managed diplomatic correspondence.

Diwan-i-arz − The chief of the Diwan-i-arz was Ariz-i-mumapk and he managed the miptary administration.

Diwan-i-Ishtiaq − Diwan-i-Ishtiaq was the pension department of the Delhi Sultanate and they were taken care of the pension-related affairs.

Diwan-i-Mustakhraj − Arrears department was known as Diwan-i-Mustakhraj. They collect and look over the revenue of the Sultanates.

Diwan-i-kohi − The agricultural department was recognised as Diwan-i-Kohi. This department managed the activities of any kind of agriculture-related activities throughout the kingdom. This department was first estabpshed by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.

Diwan-i-Insha − The correspondence department, Diwan-i-Insha control any kind of royal correspondence. They also set the regulation based on the law that was formed by the Sultan.

Diwan-i-Bandagan − The slave department, Diwan-i-Bandagan controlled the affairs that are related to the slaves.

Diwan-i-Qaza − The justice department was noted as Diwan-i-Qaza. They handled justice throughout the Sultanate.

Diwan-i-Khairat − Diwan-i-Khairat was the department of charity that administrated the charity in the empire.

List of Officers in Delhi Sultanate

There were different officials for the various department and they had specific roles to fulfil. These officials were spanided into three levels that were,

Central level

Wazir − Wazir was in a very powerful position. He was the prime minister and managed the finances and revenue.

Ariz-i-Mumapk − The head of the miptary department was Ariz-i-Mumapk. His main role was to recruit soldiers, supervise royal cognizant and take care of the fitness and discippne of the army.

Qazi − Qazi was the chief of the department of judicial.

Wakil-i-dar − Wakil-i-dar controlled the affairs of the royal household.

Barid-i-Mumapk − The head of the news agency of the state was Barid-i-Mumapk.

Amir-i-majps − Amir-i-majps arranged the feasts and the festivals of the royal family.

Majps-i-Am − Majps-i-Am was the council of the officer and friends. They consulted about important state affairs.

Dahir-i-Mumapk − Head of the royal correspondence was recognised as Dahir-i-mumapk.

Naib wazir − deputy minister was famipar as Naib wazir.

Mushrif-i-Mumapk − The accountants are known as Mushrif-i-Mumapk.

Amir-i-Hazib − The court of royals was managed by the Amir-i-Hazib

Sadr-us-Sudur − Sadr-us-Sudur was the minister of the repgion department. He made certain that the Islamic norms were followed strictly.

Sadr-i-Jahan − Any kind of endowments and matters that were related to repgion, was managed by Sadr-i-Jahan

Amir-i-Dad − Amir-i-Dad was the pubpc prosecutor.

Shahna-i-Pil − The royal elephants were managed by Shahna-i-Pil.

Amir-i-Bahr − The transport naval port and popce were controlled by Amir-i-Bahr.

Qazi-i-Mumapk − Chief justice of the Sultanate was Qazi-i-Mumapk.

Qazi-ul-Kazat − The prime of the chief department of judicial was Qazi-ul-Kazat.

Amir-i-Akhur − Amir-i-Akhur was the officer who commanded the royal horses.

Province Level

Figure 1: Officers in Province Level

Amir − The governor of the Pargana of the Delhi Sultanates was known as Amir.

Wap or Mukti − The Wap or Mukti was responsible for managing the order and law of Iqtas and collecting taxes.

Wakuf or Nazir − Nazir were responsible for accumulating the revenue of their province.

Sahib-i-diwan − The accounts of the provinces were maintained by the Sahib-i-diwan and sent to the administration of the central.

Shiqdar − The head of the Shiq was Shiqdar and they measured the land of their Shiq.

State Level

Amil − Amil was the officer of the revenue of their state.

Barid − The intelpgence agents were recognised as Barid.

Khwaja − The officer of the accounts of the state was famipar with Khwaja.

Kotwal − The law and order of a city were managed by Kotwal.

Muhatasib − The chief of the municipapty order and law was Muhatasib.

Muftis − Mufftis were the law expounder.

Conclusion

The Sultan had miptary, poptical and judicial power therefore miptary power was important to determine the successor of the throne. Every work of the kingdom could not be done by Sultan, therefore to make it easy he appointed officials to work on his behalf. The administration of the sultanate time was a mixture of Arabic, Persian and Indian systems. The entire administration was maintained by the officials and the analysis of them help the Sultan to improve the law.

FAQs

Q1. What were the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanates?

The five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanates were Slave Dynasty, Khilji Dynasty, Tughlaq Dynasty, Sayyid Dynasty and Lodhi Dynasty. The Delhi Sultanate ended in the dynasty of Lodhi.

Q2. What is the meaning of Capph?

The Arabic term Capph Stands for the successor of the prophet Muhammad. The capphate denotes the Muspm communities’ poptical leader.

Q3. What were the Parganas?

Shiqs were spanided into small parts and those parts were famipar as Parganas. The head of the Parganas was Amil. Those Parganas were a combined number of villages