Futuhat I Firoz Shahi ❲2024-2026❳

"I strove to rule according to the law of the Prophet and to administer justice."

The text is a masterclass in the theory of "Benevolent Despotism." Firoz Shah portrays himself as a father figure. He writes extensively about the Diwan-i-Khairat (Bureau of Charity) which supported widows and orphans. He lists the employment provided to the unemployed. However, a deep review reveals the limits of this benevolence. It was conditional. His charity was reserved primarily for the Muslim elite and the "faithful." While he was tolerant compared to his predecessors, he still records the destruction of Hindu temples in Orissa and the imposition of Jizya (poll tax) on non-Muslims with a sense of religious duty. futuhat i firoz shahi