The Ibadat Khana: Akbar's Interfaith Debate Chamber

In 1575, the Mughal Emperor Akbar built a 'House of Worship' at Fatehpur Sikri, inviting scholars from every major religion—Sunni and Shia Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Zoroastrians, Jews, and Jesuit Christians—to debate theology in his presence. This episode explores the Ibadat Khana's origins, the explosive debates that took place there, and how Akbar's growing disillusionment with orthodox Islam led him to issue the Din-i-Ilahi, a syncretic faith that combined elements of all religions. We also examine the political motivations behind Akbar's religious tolerance, the backlash from orthodox clerics, and the legacy of his Sulh-i-Kul policy of universal peace. Featuring key figures like the Jesuit priests Rodolfo Acquaviva and Francisco Henriques, the Jain monk Hira Vijaya Suri, and Akbar's historian Abu'l-Fazl, this episode offers a nuanced look at one of history's most remarkable experiments in interfaith dialogue. #IbadatKhana #AkbarTheGreat #MughalEmpire #FatehpurSikri #Din-i-Ilahi #Sulh-i-Kul #InterfaithDialogue #JesuitMission #HiraVijayaSuri #AbulFazl #SunniIslam #ShiaIslam #Hinduism #Jainism #Zoroastrianism #16thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo