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Who built the Ibadatkhana at Fatehpur Sikri?
Explanation
The Ibadat Khana, or 'House of Worship', was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1575 CE at his capital city, Fatehpur Sikri [c3][t1]. Initially, the hall was established for Muslim clerics to gather and discuss spiritual issues [c3]. However, Akbar's growing interest in the doctrines of various religions led him to open the debates to theologians and professors of different faiths, including Hindus, Christians, Jains, and Zoroastrians, by 1578 [t2][t4]. These discussions were held every Thursday evening and were intended to foster interfaith dialogue and help the Emperor in his search for spiritual truth [t2][t5]. Due to the bitterness and conflicts that arose among the different religious representatives, Akbar eventually discontinued the debates in 1582 [c3]. The construction of the Ibadat Khana remains a significant symbol of Akbar's policy of 'Sulh-i-Kul' or universal peace [c3].
Sources
- [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
- [2] https://www.worldhistory.org/Ibadat_Khana/