Firoz Shah Tughlaq is the Tughlaq dynasty’s third and most powerful king. He was the son of Rajab, the youngest brother of Ghiyath Ud-din-Tughlaq, and received special attention from his uncle in state matters. Following Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s death, the nobles and religious leaders approached his cousin Feroz to accept the throne. Firuz had a religious judgement in person. During his reign, the study of Islamic Law was encouraged, and many books on the subject were compiled. Firoz Shah Tughlaq tried to apply the rules against untraditional sects such as Isma’ili Shi’ah and non-Muslims. He also imposed some taxes like Zakat, Kharaj, Kham and Jizya. 

Who was Firoz Shah Tughlaq? 

Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq was a Muslim ruler of Turkish reign who ruled over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. Following the death of his cousin Muhammad bin Tughlaq at Thatta in Sindh, where Muhammad bin Tughlaq had gone to pursue Taghi, the ruler of Gujarat, he succeeded him. For the first time in the history of the Delhi Sultanate, a situation arose in which no one was willing to accept power. The camp followers persuaded Firoz to accept the responsibility after much persuasion.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq was not like his ancestors when it came to the ruling. 

He didn’t even try to claim the areas that were split away, let alone conquer new ones. While he was in power, many regions gained autonomy. Firoz Shah also made significant commitments to Islamic scholars.  He boycotted the kingdom’s practices that scholars deemed un-Islamic to keep them on his side and was the one who initiated Jaziya’s imposition. He established the idea of inherited wealth in the military forces, allowing officers to recover and bring their kids to serve in the army in their place. They were, however, compensated in the form of land rather than cash.

Achievements of Firuz Shah Tughlaq: 

Firoz Shah Tughlaq made significant contributions to architecture development in his dynasty. Among other things, he built river canals, hospitals, schools, reservoirs, and rest stops. In addition, he rebuilt the Qutub Minar, which an earthquake had impacted.

• Firoz Shah Tughlaq constructed the Diwan-i-Khairat or charity office.
• He developed the Diwan-i-Bundagan or slave bureau.
• He built a Sarais (rest stop) for the convenience of merchants and other travellers.
• He went with the Iqtadari framework.
• He is credited with establishing four new towns: Jaunpur, Fatehabad, Firozabad, and Hissar.
• He founded hospitals such as Darul-Shifa, Bimaristan, and Shifa Khana.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq also constructed many canals:

1. From Sutlej to the Ghaggar
2. From Mandvi Simour Hills to Hansi in Haryana 
3. From the Yamuna to the city of Hisar
4. Ghaggar to Firozabad

Taxes imposed under Firoz Shah :

As per the Quran, only four kinds of taxes were sanctioned on the citizens during Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s reign, Zakat, Kham, Jizya and Kharaj:

1. Zakat: Zakat is a religious responsibility including all Muslims who achieve the requirements to help the poor. It is a strictly enforced charity donation frequently regarded as a tax. Zakat payment and disputes have played a significant role in Islamic history, most prominently during the Ridda wars.

1. Kham: Khams is a 20% tax that should be paid on each ghanima-related object. Within Islam, there are varying judicial cultures concerning ghanima and, as a result, how much farther khams must be. Khams included a 20% tax collected on essential nutrients obtained in state-controlled areas in certain localities. Khums is distinct from other Islamic taxes like zakat and jizya.

1. Kharaj: The concept of the kharaj began as a response to changes in the classification of non-Muslims and new converts to Islam in newly liberated Islamic regions. These territories’ indigenous Jewish, Christian, or Zoroastrian populations were allowed to convert to Islam or sustain their past religious alliances. Individuals who did not want to convert were supposed to pay a special tribute known as the jizyah, mainly in a poll tax or head tax.

1. Jizyah: The jizyah is explained in the Quran as a tax charged on another unlawful act faction of the Citizens of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab; non-Muslim groups recognised in the Quran as acquiring divine scripture) who enforce their own religious and moral principles (9:29). Initial scriptures identified the rebellion in this verse as the hostile Byzantines, for whom the rumours of intervention of Muslim estates triggered the Tabak military campaign in 630.

   Conclusion

   So now we know that Firoz Shah Tughlaq was well-known for his kind and brave nature and his incredible architectural designs. Feruz had a religious judgement in person. During his peri, the study of Islamic Law was encouraged, and many books on the subject were compiled. Well, after the death of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, he took the throne of the Delhi Sultanate. He ascended the throne, but he was neither an able office manager nor a forgiving ruler, and he failed to reclaim the lost Deccan territories. His victories included the capture of Jajnagar, Nagarkot fort, and sections of Sindh. In the given article, you’ll get all the relevant information about Firoz Shah Tughlaq.