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Q93 (IAS/2014) History & Culture › Medieval India › Mughal cultural history Official Key

Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The Ibādat Khāna (House of Worship) was a meeting house built in 1575 CE by the Mughal Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri to gather spiritual/religious leaders of different religious grounds[1]. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions on every Thursday[2]. Akbar had established an Ibadat Khana (1575), a hall of worship in which initially Muslim clerics gathered to discuss spiritual issues[3]. The place was originally prepared for Islamic scholars, but later it was opened for Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and others[4]. It was not a royal family mosque, nor Akbar's private prayer chamber, nor exclusively for nobles—it was specifically a venue where Akbar himself held interfaith discussions with religious scholars. In 1582, he discontinued the debates in the Ibadat Khana as it led to bitterness among different religions[3].

Sources
  1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibadat_Khana
  2. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
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Q. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was [A] the mosque for the use of Royal Family [B] Akbar's private prayer chamber [C] the hall in which…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 5/10 · 5/10

This is a textbook 'Sitter'. It appears directly in standard sources like TN Board Class XI and Spectrum. If you missed this, it indicates a gap in your core Medieval History preparation, specifically regarding Akbar's cultural and religious institutions.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri the mosque for the use of the royal family?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The Ibādat Khāna (House of Worship) was a meeting house built in 1575 CE by the Mughal Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri to gather spiritual/religious leaders of different religious grounds..."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly describes the Ibadat Khana as a 'meeting house' and 'House of Worship' built to gather spiritual/religious leaders for discussion.
  • Shows its primary purpose was interfaith debate and inquiry, not a private royal family mosque.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions on every Thursday to ..."
Why this source?
  • Calls Ibadat Khana a 'hall' where Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions.
  • Implies a public/intellectual function rather than a private royal prayer mosque.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Ibadat Khana, a place for interfaith dialogue, was established in 1575 at Fatehpur Sikri. The place was originally prepared for Islamic scholars, but later it was opened for Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and others."
Why this source?
  • Describes Ibadat Khana as 'a place for interfaith dialogue' established at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • States it was prepared for scholars of various religions and opened to multiple faiths, indicating a forum rather than a royal-family-only mosque.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
Strength: 5/5
“Akbar began his life as an orthodox Muslim but adopted an accommodative approach under the influence of Sufism. Akbar was interested to learn about the doctrines of all religions, and propagated a philosophy of Sulh-i-Kul (peace to all). Badauni, a contemporary author, who did not like Akbar's inter-religious interests, accused him of forsaking Islam. Akbar had established an Ibadat Khana (1575), a hall of worship in which initially Muslim clerics gathered to discuss spiritual issues. In 1582, he discontinued the debates in the Ibadat Khana as it led to bitterness among different religions. However, he did not give up his attempt to know the Truth.”
Why relevant

States Akbar established an Ibadat Khana (1575) at Fatehpur Sikri as a 'hall of worship' where religious clerics gathered and debates were held.

How to extend

A student could combine this with the fact that Akbar founded the building to infer it had a direct royal patronage/function rather than being an ordinary congregational mosque.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 7.1 Life in the Chishti khanqah > p. 154
Strength: 4/5
“The khanqah was the centre of social life. We know about Shaikh Nizamuddin's hospice (c. fourteenth century) on the banks of the river Yamuna in Ghiyaspur, on the outskirts of what was then the city of Delhi. It comprised several small rooms and a big hall ( jama'at khana) where the inmates and visitors lived and prayed. The inmates included family members of the Shaikh, his attendants and disciples. The Shaikh lived in a small room on the roof of the hall where he met visitors in the morning and evening. A veranda surrounded the courtyard, and a boundary wall ran around the complex.”
Why relevant

Describes a jama'at khana in a Chishti khanqah as a hall where inmates, family members and visitors lived and prayed—showing such halls served a mixed residential/ritual role rather than only public congregational worship.

How to extend

One could extend that an Ibadat Khana (literally 'house of worship') in a royal khanqah-like setting might have been intended for private or restricted use (e.g., royal family and guests) rather than a large public mosque.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Fig. 6.15 > p. 160
Strength: 4/5
“The dargah of Shaikh Salim Chishti (a direct descendant of Baba Farid) constructed in Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's capital, symbolised the bond between the Chishtis and the Mughal state.”
Why relevant

Notes the dargah of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri symbolised the bond between the Chishtis and the Mughal state.

How to extend

A student might infer Fatehpur Sikri contained religious sites closely tied to the court, making it plausible that an Ibadat Khana there served courtly/royal religious activities.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Religious Policy of the Portuguese > p. 29
Strength: 3/5
“In September 1579, Akbar forwarded a letter to the authorities at Goa requesting them to send two learned priests. The Church authorities in Goa eagerly accepted the invitation, seeing in it a chance to convert the emperor to Christianity, and with him his court and the people. Jesuit fathers, Rodolfo Aquaviva and Antonio Monserrate were selected for the purpose. When they reached Fatehpur Sikri on February 28, 1580, they were received with honour.”
Why relevant

Records that Jesuit priests were invited to and received at Fatehpur Sikri, indicating the court used Fatehpur Sikri buildings to host high-profile religious encounters.

How to extend

One could reason that structures used for such elite inter-religious debates (like the Ibadat Khana) were likely oriented to royal/private use rather than ordinary parishioners.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Architecture > p. 217
Strength: 3/5
“Built by Indian artisans and designed by Persian architects it set a pattern to be followed in the future. The Agra fort built with red sandstone is a specimen where Rajput architectural styles were also incorporated. The new capital city of Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri, enclosed within its walls, several inspiring buildings. Mughal architecture reached its apex during the reign of Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal is a marble structure on an elevated platform, the bulbous dome in the centre rising on a recessed gateway with four cupolas around the dome and with four free-standing minarets at each of its corners is a monument of universal fame.”
Why relevant

States Fatehpur Sikri was a new capital enclosing 'several inspiring buildings', implying religious/palatial structures within the royal complex.

How to extend

Combining this with the Ibadat Khana being established there supports checking whether it was part of the royal precinct and thus served the court/royal family.

Statement 2
Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri Akbar's private prayer chamber?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The Ibādat Khāna (House of Worship) was a meeting house built in 1575 CE by the Mughal Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri to gather spiritual/religious leaders ... so as to conduct a discussion and debates"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly calls the Ibadat Khana a 'meeting house' built by Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • States its purpose was to gather religious leaders for discussions and debates, not solely private prayer.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In his eagerness to learn about different religions, Akbar built hall of prayer at Fatehpur sikri in 1575 known as the Ibadat Khana. At this place, he invited selected mystics, intellectuals and theologians, and held discussions"
Why this source?
  • Describes the Ibadat Khana as a 'hall of prayer' built to hold discussions with mystics, intellectuals and theologians.
  • Emphasises its use for inter-religious dialogue rather than as a private chamber for Akbar's personal prayer.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Ibadat Khana, a place for interfaith dialogue, was established in 1575 at Fatehpur Sikri. The place was originally prepared for Islamic scholars, but later it was opened for Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and others."
Why this source?
  • Describes Ibadat Khana as 'a place for interfaith dialogue' established at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Notes it was opened to scholars of many faiths and that Akbar presided over debates there, indicating a public/official forum.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
Strength: 5/5
“Akbar began his life as an orthodox Muslim but adopted an accommodative approach under the influence of Sufism. Akbar was interested to learn about the doctrines of all religions, and propagated a philosophy of Sulh-i-Kul (peace to all). Badauni, a contemporary author, who did not like Akbar's inter-religious interests, accused him of forsaking Islam. Akbar had established an Ibadat Khana (1575), a hall of worship in which initially Muslim clerics gathered to discuss spiritual issues. In 1582, he discontinued the debates in the Ibadat Khana as it led to bitterness among different religions. However, he did not give up his attempt to know the Truth.”
Why relevant

Explicitly names the Ibadat Khana (1575) as a 'hall of worship' where Muslim clerics gathered to discuss spiritual issues, indicating a public/communal deliberative function rather than a small private prayer room.

How to extend

A student could combine this with basic architectural scale expectations (a 'hall' implies larger, communal space) and maps/plans of Fatehpur Sikri to test if it fits a private chamber or a larger audience hall.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 7.1 Life in the Chishti khanqah > p. 154
Strength: 4/5
“The khanqah was the centre of social life. We know about Shaikh Nizamuddin's hospice (c. fourteenth century) on the banks of the river Yamuna in Ghiyaspur, on the outskirts of what was then the city of Delhi. It comprised several small rooms and a big hall ( jama'at khana) where the inmates and visitors lived and prayed. The inmates included family members of the Shaikh, his attendants and disciples. The Shaikh lived in a small room on the roof of the hall where he met visitors in the morning and evening. A veranda surrounded the courtyard, and a boundary wall ran around the complex.”
Why relevant

Describes a khanqah's layout with a large hall (jama'at khana) where inmates and visitors lived and prayed—showing Islamic institutions commonly used halls for communal worship and debate.

How to extend

Use the pattern that Sufi/Islamic devotional complexes used halls for gatherings to infer whether Ibadat Khana likely followed that communal model rather than being a private chamber.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Fig. 6.15 > p. 160
Strength: 3/5
“The dargah of Shaikh Salim Chishti (a direct descendant of Baba Farid) constructed in Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's capital, symbolised the bond between the Chishtis and the Mughal state.”
Why relevant

Places the dargah of Shaikh Salim Chishti in Fatehpur Sikri, confirming the city was an important religious centre for Akbar and likely hosted institutional religious structures.

How to extend

A student could correlate Fatehpur Sikri's role as a religious centre with the likelihood that structures like Ibadat Khana served public/official religious purposes in the imperial capital rather than being merely private.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Religious Policy of the Portuguese > p. 29
Strength: 3/5
“In September 1579, Akbar forwarded a letter to the authorities at Goa requesting them to send two learned priests. The Church authorities in Goa eagerly accepted the invitation, seeing in it a chance to convert the emperor to Christianity, and with him his court and the people. Jesuit fathers, Rodolfo Aquaviva and Antonio Monserrate were selected for the purpose. When they reached Fatehpur Sikri on February 28, 1580, they were received with honour.”
Why relevant

Notes that Jesuit priests were invited to Fatehpur Sikri and received with honour, illustrating that Akbar used Fatehpur Sikri as a venue for inter-religious dialogues and receptions.

How to extend

Combine with the 'hall for discussions' description to argue the Ibadat Khana was more likely an official space for dialogues and receptions than a private prayer closet.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > A church in Khambat > p. 150
Strength: 2/5
“This is an excerpt from a farman (imperial order) issued by Akbar in 1598: Whereas it reached our eminent and holy notice that the padris (fathers) of the Holy Society of Jesus wish to build a house of prayer (church) in the city of Kambayat (Khambat, in Gujarat); therefore an exalted mandate … is being issued, … that the dignitaries of the city of Kambayat should in no case stand in their way but should allow them to build a church so that they may engage themselves in their own worship. It is necessary that the order of the Emperor should be obeyed in every way. Ü Who were the people from whom Akbar anticipated opposition to his order?”
Why relevant

Shows Akbar issuing farmans allowing construction and use of non-Muslim prayer places, reflecting imperial patronage of public worship spaces and tolerance policies.

How to extend

A student could extend this pattern to infer that Akbar was inclined to establish or endorse communal places of worship and discussion (supporting the idea of Ibadat Khana as a public/official hall).

Statement 3
Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri the hall in which Emperor Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
Presence: 5/5
“Akbar began his life as an orthodox Muslim but adopted an accommodative approach under the influence of Sufism. Akbar was interested to learn about the doctrines of all religions, and propagated a philosophy of Sulh-i-Kul (peace to all). Badauni, a contemporary author, who did not like Akbar's inter-religious interests, accused him of forsaking Islam. Akbar had established an Ibadat Khana (1575), a hall of worship in which initially Muslim clerics gathered to discuss spiritual issues. In 1582, he discontinued the debates in the Ibadat Khana as it led to bitterness among different religions. However, he did not give up his attempt to know the Truth.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states Akbar established an Ibadat Khana (1575) described as a hall of worship where clerics gathered to discuss spiritual issues.
  • Notes that debates were held there and later discontinued (1582) because they led to bitterness among different religions — implying inter-religious debate took place.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Religious Policy of the Portuguese > p. 29
Presence: 4/5
“In September 1579, Akbar forwarded a letter to the authorities at Goa requesting them to send two learned priests. The Church authorities in Goa eagerly accepted the invitation, seeing in it a chance to convert the emperor to Christianity, and with him his court and the people. Jesuit fathers, Rodolfo Aquaviva and Antonio Monserrate were selected for the purpose. When they reached Fatehpur Sikri on February 28, 1580, they were received with honour.”
Why this source?
  • Records that Akbar invited Jesuit fathers to Fatehpur Sikri (received with honour in 1580), indicating engagement with Christian scholars at his court.
  • Supports the claim that Fatehpur Sikri was a venue for discussions involving scholars of other religions.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 41
Presence: 3/5
“Compare the maps in Figs. 2.3, 2.12 and 2.16. What differences do you notice? What is the 'reshaping' that has occurred? Despite being illiterate, Akbar became keen to explore Persian and Indian texts, and showed great interest in classical Indian thought and often invited scholars to his court (Fig. 2.17). He established a 'house of translation' at Fatehpur Sikri where he had major Sanskrit texts translated into Persian, including the Mahābhārata (Razmnama in Persian, or the 'Book of War'), the Rāmāyaṇa (with 176 beautiful miniature paintings), the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Pañchatantra. Akbar's son Jahangir shared with his father a love for art and architecture and tried to expand the empire into the Deccan.”
Why this source?
  • Describes Akbar inviting scholars to his court and establishing a house of translation at Fatehpur Sikri for Sanskrit works, showing active engagement with non-Muslim intellectual traditions.
  • Reinforces the broader pattern of inter-religious and scholarly exchange at Fatehpur Sikri that contextualises the Ibadat Khana's debates.
Statement 4
Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri the room where nobles of different religions gathered to discuss religious affairs?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
Presence: 5/5
“Akbar began his life as an orthodox Muslim but adopted an accommodative approach under the influence of Sufism. Akbar was interested to learn about the doctrines of all religions, and propagated a philosophy of Sulh-i-Kul (peace to all). Badauni, a contemporary author, who did not like Akbar's inter-religious interests, accused him of forsaking Islam. Akbar had established an Ibadat Khana (1575), a hall of worship in which initially Muslim clerics gathered to discuss spiritual issues. In 1582, he discontinued the debates in the Ibadat Khana as it led to bitterness among different religions. However, he did not give up his attempt to know the Truth.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly identifies the Ibadat Khana (1575) at Fatehpur Sikri as a hall for religious/spiritual discussions.
  • States debates involved more than one religion (debates were discontinued in 1582 because they led to bitterness among different religions).
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Religious Policy of the Portuguese > p. 29
Presence: 4/5
“In September 1579, Akbar forwarded a letter to the authorities at Goa requesting them to send two learned priests. The Church authorities in Goa eagerly accepted the invitation, seeing in it a chance to convert the emperor to Christianity, and with him his court and the people. Jesuit fathers, Rodolfo Aquaviva and Antonio Monserrate were selected for the purpose. When they reached Fatehpur Sikri on February 28, 1580, they were received with honour.”
Why this source?
  • Records that Akbar invited and received Jesuit priests at Fatehpur Sikri (1580), indicating Christian participation in courtly religious dialogue.
  • Supports the presence of religious interlocutors from different faiths at Fatehpur Sikri.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 41
Presence: 4/5
“Compare the maps in Figs. 2.3, 2.12 and 2.16. What differences do you notice? What is the 'reshaping' that has occurred? Despite being illiterate, Akbar became keen to explore Persian and Indian texts, and showed great interest in classical Indian thought and often invited scholars to his court (Fig. 2.17). He established a 'house of translation' at Fatehpur Sikri where he had major Sanskrit texts translated into Persian, including the Mahābhārata (Razmnama in Persian, or the 'Book of War'), the Rāmāyaṇa (with 176 beautiful miniature paintings), the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Pañchatantra. Akbar's son Jahangir shared with his father a love for art and architecture and tried to expand the empire into the Deccan.”
Why this source?
  • Describes Fatehpur Sikri as a centre where Akbar invited scholars and set up a house of translation, showing the site’s role in cross-religious and intellectual exchange.
  • Corroborates the broader pattern of interfaith scholarly engagement at Fatehpur Sikri.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC Medieval History questions often focus on 'Terms' and 'Institutional Structures'. The pattern is consistent: Term -> Definition/Function. Ensure you know the specific utility of buildings like Ibadat Khana, Maktab Khana, and Sarais.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from TN Board Class XI (p. 207) and Spectrum (p. 29).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Mughal Architecture and Religious Policies (Akbar's quest for Truth).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the timeline: Ibadat Khana (1575) -> Mahzar (1579) -> Din-i-Ilahi (1582). Also, know the specific functions of other Fatehpur Sikri structures: Buland Darwaza (Gujarat victory), Panch Mahal (recreational), and Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying monuments, do not just memorize the builder. Memorize the *functional purpose* (Administrative vs. Religious vs. Residential). UPSC tests the 'Why' and 'What' more than the 'When'.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Ibadat Khana and Akbar's religious experiments
💡 The insight

References mention the Ibadat Khana (1575) as a hall of worship where Akbar invited Muslim clerics and held inter-religious debates, linking it directly to Akbar's policy of Sulh-i-Kul.

Understanding Ibadat Khana is high-yield for questions on Akbar's religious policy and his interaction with different faiths. It connects to themes on Sulh-i-Kul, court patronage, and the role of the emperor in religious debates. Candidates should memorise its purpose, dates, and outcome (debates discontinued in 1582) and relate it to broader Mughal statecraft and Sufi influences.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Religious Policy of the Portuguese > p. 29
🔗 Anchor: "Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri the mosque for the use of the royal family?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Khanqah / Jama'at Khana functions in Sufi practice
💡 The insight

Evidence describes the jama'at khana as a communal hall in Sufi khanqahs used for living and prayer, providing background on what such halls were used for.

Grasping the institutional role of khanqahs and jama'at khanas helps answer questions on Sufi institutions' social and religious functions and their links with rulers. It aids comparative questions (mosque vs khanqah vs royal chapel) and should be prepared by studying typical layouts, users, and purposes of Sufi centres.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 7.1 Life in the Chishti khanqah > p. 154
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Fig. 6.15 > p. 160
🔗 Anchor: "Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri the mosque for the use of the royal family?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Fatehpur Sikri as an imperial complex and its religious structures
💡 The insight

References note Fatehpur Sikri housed several important structures (including the dargah of Salim Chishti) and was Akbar's new capital, situating Ibadat Khana within a larger royal and religious landscape.

Knowing Fatehpur Sikri's layout and the mix of royal, religious and Sufi monuments is useful for questions on Mughal urbanism, royal patronage of religion, and architecture. Candidates should link specific buildings (dargah, Ibadat Khana) to Akbar's policies and court life to answer source-based and essay questions effectively.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Architecture > p. 217
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Fig. 6.15 > p. 160
🔗 Anchor: "Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri the mosque for the use of the royal family?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Ibadat Khana — a hall of worship and debate
💡 The insight

Reference [1] identifies the Ibadat Khana as a 'hall of worship' where Muslim clerics gathered to discuss spiritual issues, directly relevant to whether it was a 'private prayer chamber'.

Questions on Mughal institutions often test the precise function of places like the Ibadat Khana (public hall for debate vs. private chamber). Mastering this helps answer source-based and comparative questions on Akbar's religious experiments; prepare by noting definitions and functions from standard texts.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
🔗 Anchor: "Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri Akbar's private prayer chamber?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Akbar's religious policy: Sulh-i-Kul and inter-religious debates
💡 The insight

Reference [1] links the Ibadat Khana to Akbar's accommodative policy (Sulh-i-Kul) and shows it was used for interfaith discussion, not merely private devotion.

UPSC frequently asks about Akbar's religious experiments and Sulh-i-Kul; understanding the institutional instruments (debates, invitations to Jesuits) enables answers on policy purpose, outcomes, and limits. Study NCERT/standard sources for examples and chronology.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Religious Policy of the Portuguese > p. 29
🔗 Anchor: "Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri Akbar's private prayer chamber?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Fatehpur Sikri as a centre of religious interaction
💡 The insight

References [2] and [3] situate important religious links at Fatehpur Sikri (Chishti dargah; Jesuit visitors), contextualising the Ibadat Khana within a public, syncretic court setting.

Knowing Fatehpur Sikri's role links architecture, patronage, and religious policy questions — useful for culture/administration/modern history intersections in UPSC. Focus on places, patrons, and examples of religious engagement.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Fig. 6.15 > p. 160
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Religious Policy of the Portuguese > p. 29
🔗 Anchor: "Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri Akbar's private prayer chamber?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Ibadat Khana and Akbar's religious debates
💡 The insight

The statement concerns the Ibadat Khana specifically; reference [1] names it and describes the debates that took place there.

High-yield for Mughal history questions on Akbar's religious experiments and court practices. It connects directly to questions on Sulh‑i‑Kul and the outcomes of imperial patronage of debate. Prepare by memorising the purpose, dates (c.1575, discontinued c.1582) and consequences mentioned in standard texts.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Akbar's Religious Policy > p. 207
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Religious Policy of the Portuguese > p. 29
🔗 Anchor: "Was Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri the hall in which Emperor Akbar held discussi..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Maktab Khana' (House of Translation). Mentioned in NCERT alongside Ibadat Khana, this was where Akbar had Sanskrit texts like Mahabharata (Razmnama) and Ramayana translated into Persian. It is the logical next question.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Etymology + Role Analysis. 'Ibadat' means worship/devotion. 'Khana' means house. Options A and B suggest exclusivity (Royal Family/Private). Option D suggests 'Nobles' (Administrative/Political). Option C involves 'Scholars' (Theological). Given Akbar's historical reputation as a seeker of truth and debater, a hall for 'scholars' (C) is the only fit for his personality type compared to a private prayer room.

🔗 Mains Connection

Connects to GS-1 (Indian Heritage/Culture) and GS-2 (Secularism). Akbar's Ibadat Khana represents the 'Sulh-i-Kul' (Peace to all) approach, a pre-modern precursor to Indian secularism, contrasting with the European state-religion models of the same era.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2008 · Q29 Relevance score: 3.19

Who built the Ibadatkhana at Fatehpur Sikri?

CDS-II · 2007 · Q72 Relevance score: 3.19

Who built the Ibadatkhana at Fatehpur Sikri?

NDA-I · 2017 · Q96 Relevance score: 2.39

Which one of the following statements about Fatehpur Sikri is NOT correct ?

CAPF · 2013 · Q70 Relevance score: 2.11

Akbar’s Ibadat Khana was the place where

CDS-I · 2003 · Q20 Relevance score: -0.40

Which one of the following structures was constructed by Emperor Akbar in Fatehpur Sfcri?