Iqta' facts for kids

An iqta was a special system used in some Muslim countries, especially during medieval times. Think of it as a way for rulers to manage their land and collect taxes. Instead of the ruler collecting taxes directly from everyone, they would give a piece of land, called an iqta, to a person known as a muqti or iqtadar. This muqti would then be in charge of that land.

The muqti's main job was to collect taxes from the people living on their iqta. They also helped with the general running of the area. After taking out what they needed for their own expenses and to pay for soldiers, they had to send the rest of the money, called Fawazil, to the main ruler or sultan.

Usually, an iqta was not passed down from parent to child. The ruler could take it back or give it to someone else. However, in India, a ruler named Firuz Shah Tughlaq later made some iqtas hereditary, meaning they could be passed down in families.

The muqti and the ruler depended on each other. The muqti got land and a way to earn money, and the ruler got taxes and soldiers without having to manage every small area themselves. There were different kinds of muqtis. Some were in areas fully controlled by the ruler, while others were in places where the ruler had less power and the muqti had to work harder to control the land.

History of the Iqta System

The idea of giving land to people to manage and collect taxes wasn't new. Some scholars, like Al-Mawardi, believed that early forms of this practice existed even during the time of the Companions of the Prophet. For example, it's said that Prophet Muhammad gave land to Zubayr, who then used it for training horses. This suggests that unclaimed land could be given to people who would make it useful.

The Buyids' Changes

The Buyid dynasty in Persia (modern-day Iran) made the iqta system more organized. They brought together different areas and turned them into iqtas. Unlike most iqtas, the ones under the Buyids were often passed down through families. If a muqti had many sons, the land would be divided among them.

The Seljuk Era

Later, in the Seljuk Empire, a smart official named Nizam al-Mulk helped to make the iqta system even more common. He wrote a famous book called Siyasatnama, which explained how the system should work.

Nizam al-Mulk made it very clear that muqtis could only collect taxes. They had no right to bother the people living on their land in any other way. People were supposed to be safe in their homes and with their belongings once they paid their taxes. If a muqti treated them unfairly, the people could complain directly to the ruler. This showed that the land truly belonged to the Sultan, and the muqti was just managing it for him.

Muqtis also had important duties to the Sultan. They had to keep an army ready and provide soldiers whenever the Sultan needed them. The money they collected from the iqta was meant to cover their own costs, pay their soldiers, and then send the rest to the Sultan. So, a muqti was like a tax collector and an army leader all in one!

Mamluk Sultanate in India

When the Mamluks ruled in India, Sultan Iltutmish set up an iqta system based on earlier ideas. In India, the main job of the muqtis was simply to collect taxes. They didn't have many other rights over the people, as long as the taxes were paid. The money collected was used to pay for the muqti's army, which could be called upon by the Sultan at any time. This helped the Sultan quickly gather a strong army. A small part of the money was sent to the Sultan, but most was used locally. These iqtas were often given for great military service or loyalty, and unlike the original system, they were usually hereditary.

Later, Sultan Balban changed the system. He divided his empire into smaller iqtas and was against making them hereditary. He wanted to limit the power of the nobles and make sure he, as the king, had the most authority. He even got rid of a group called the Council of Forty, which had shared power with the king. Balban also had a strong spy network to keep an eye on things.

Muhammad bin Tughluq made another big change. He separated the jobs of collecting taxes and running the administration. He appointed a different officer, called an amir, to handle the administration. He also started paying soldiers directly from the central treasury to stop corruption.

The iqta system was brought back by Firuz Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq dynasty. He made the iqta assignments hereditary again to keep the nobles happy.

Alauddin Khalji focused on moving iqtadars around to prevent them from becoming too powerful in one area. He also increased the government's role in overseeing iqtas and appointed an officer called Diwan-i-bajarat to figure out how much money each iqta should bring in.

See also

In Spanish: Iqtá para niños

• Tax farming
• Kharaj
• Jizya