HistoryMedieval India: Bhakti Sufi Traditions

A historian finds a record of a Sultan who set aside the income of ce…

A historian finds a record of a Sultan who set aside the income of certain properties as a charitable trust to support a Chishti hospice. Which term was used for such endowments?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Auqaf

Option (1) Inam — Incorrect. Inam was tax-free land granted by the Sultans. It was land given free of tax.

Option (2) Auqaf — Correct. Auqaf were charitable trusts that the Sultans set up as endowments for hospices. The record describes such a trust.

Option (3) Futuh — Incorrect. Futuh was unasked-for charity that visitors gave to the hospice. It came from visitors as they came.

NCERT (2026-27): “7.4 Sufis and the state
A major feature of the Chishti tradition was austerity, including maintaining a distance from worldly power. However, this was by no means a situation of absolute isolation from political power. The sufis accepted unsolicited grants and donations from the political elites. The Sultans in turn set up charitable trusts (auqaf ) as endowments for hospices and granted tax-free land (inam).”