War That Wasn't The Sufi and the Sultan

DETAILS : 

• Author : Fatima Hussain
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Munshirm Manoharlal Pub Pvt Ltd
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 12 December 2009
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 245 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8121511682
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9788121511681
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 550 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

The War That Wasn’t: The Sufi and the Sultan is a compelling historical analysis that explores the complex power dynamics between the Sufi saints and the ruling Sultans during the Delhi Sultanate. Focusing specifically on the legendary Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya and Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, the book examines the friction between spiritual authority (wilayat) and temporal power (sultanat). Fatima Hussain argues that while their relationship was marked by tension and ideological clashes, it rarely escalated into open warfare, existing instead in a state of "unresolved conflict." The work provides a nuanced look at how the Sufi khanqahs (hospices) acted as alternative centers of social and moral influence that often challenged the absolute authority of the throne.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Fatima Hussain is a distinguished historian and professor specializing in medieval Indian history, Sufism, and gender studies. She is known for her rigorous archival research and her ability to bring a socio-political lens to religious movements in the Indian subcontinent. Her academic work often focuses on the "subaltern" and spiritual spaces that existed outside the direct control of the medieval state. As a scholar, she has contributed significantly to the understanding of how Sufi orders (Silsilas) integrated into the local Indian fabric while maintaining a complex distance from the ruling elite. Her writing is respected for bridging the gap between deep academic inquiry and accessible historical narrative.