Aurangzeb was
a Staunch believer of Islam. He spent his childhood and teenage as a hostage
with his brother Dara at his grandfather Jahangir’s palace.
When Jahangir
died in 1627, and Shah Jahan became the emperor, he went back to his parents.
He was made
the Governor of the Deccan, but at that time there was peace there.
He fought with
his brothers to become the emperor. He used cunning strategies such as taking
the side of one and later going against him.
He was not the
eldest but was able to defeat his elder brothers. Darahuja, and his younger brother
Murad to become the emperor.
Aurangzeb was
cruel not only towards his brothers but also towards his father. After he looks
over the imperial throne, he took his father Shah Jahan as a prisoner.
Simple
living
Few people
know that Aurangzeb led a plan and simple life, without the luxuries enjoyed by
the Mughal Emperors before him.
He believed in
Islam to the extent that he hated the Hindus. His intolerant attitude towards
other religions is evident from the fact that he imposed tax on non-believers,
destroyed temples of the Hindus and forced people to convert to Islam.
He was a
religious man who said his prayers even in the middle of a battle.
He did not
allow music, painting or any of the fine arts in the court. He enforced laws
against drinking and gambling.
He never took
money for himself from the treasury. This was really remarkable because the
other emperors had led very rich lifestyles.
He copied the
Islamic holy book ‘Quran’ himself and sold those works to earn his living.
Aurangzeb was
so careful not to spend the money of the empire that every day he would knit a
Haj Cap. He earned his living by selling these caps.
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