Previous Year Question

Within the social and administrative structure of the Delhi Sultanate, the Ulema constituted the class of Muslim scholars possessing specialized knowledge of Islamic theology, Shariat and religious law.

During the Sultanate period, these scholars associated with high religious and judicial offices were collectively known as ‘Dastar-Bandan’.

‘Dastar’ means a turban, and Dastar-Bandan referred to distinguished learned persons who wore the turban. The distinctive turban symbolized their religious learning, office and social prestige.

The influence of the Ulema was not confined to purely religious affairs. Some of them served as Qazis, Muftis, Sadrs and other functionaries connected with religious law.

A Qazi adjudicated judicial matters according to the Shariat, while a Mufti provided religious-legal opinions or fatwas. Senior religious officials could also exercise influence within the administrative structure of the Sultanate.

However, not every member of the Ulema was necessarily a state official. The term represented a wider scholarly-religious class that could include both state-connected and independent scholars.

Sufi saints belonged primarily to the mystical spiritual tradition, whereas Khan and Malik were generally titles associated with political or military elites. Therefore, among the given options, the term Dastar-Bandan specifically referred to the Ulema.