Which of the following reasons was responsible for Akbar's moving away from the orthodox Islamic ways of understanding religions towards a self-conceived eclectic form of divine worship focused on light and the sun?

The interfaith debates organised by him in the ibadat khana at Fatehpur Sikri among learned men of various religions.

The correct answer is Option 1 - The interfaith debates organised by him in the ibadat khana at Fatehpur Sikri among learned men of various religions.

Akbar’s quest for religious knowledge led to interfaith debates in the ibadat khana at Fatehpur Sikri between learned Muslims, Hindus, Jainas, Parsis and Christians. Akbar’s religious views matured as he queried scholars of different religions and sects and gathered knowledge about their doctrines. Increasingly, he moved away from the orthodox Islamic ways of understanding religions towards a self-conceived eclectic form of divine worship focused on light and the sun. We have seen that Akbar and Abu’l Fazl created a philosophy of light and used it to shape the image of the king and the ideology of the state. In this, a divinely inspired individual has supreme sovereignty over his people and complete control over his enemies.