Did Aurangzeb Intend to Become the Caliph of the Islamic World? What Could Be the Reason Behind His Orthodoxy?

Ankit Gupta | Mar 08, 2025, 22:25 IST

Aurangzeb was not just a devout Mughal emperor; he harbored ambitions of becoming the Caliph of the Islamic world. Unlike his predecessors, he systematically dismantled religious pluralism, imposed strict Sharia law, and sought to establish an Islamic theocracy independent of Ottoman influence. His relentless expansionist wars, framed as jihad, and his crackdown on Hinduism, Sufism, and cultural expressions were not just acts of orthodoxy but calculated steps to project himself as the supreme leader of Islam.

The Mughal Emperor Who Dreamed of a Caliphate

Did Aurangzeb aspire to become the Caliph of the Islamic world? Historians often depict him as a pious yet ruthless Mughal emperor, but a deeper examination of his reign suggests something far more ambitious—an attempt to establish an independent Caliphate, free from Ottoman influence, and governed strictly by Islamic law. His systematic dismantling of religious pluralism, aggressive expansionist policies, and defiance of existing Islamic power structures hint at a man who saw himself as the rightful leader of the Muslim world.
Aurangzeb’s reign wasn’t merely about enforcing Sharia; it was about reshaping the very identity of the Mughal Empire into a theocratic state that mirrored the early Islamic Caliphates. His calculated moves, from banning music to waging ‘jihad’ against Hindu rulers, were not just acts of orthodoxy but deliberate steps to project himself as the supreme Islamic ruler of his time. This article explores how Aurangzeb, driven by religious zeal and political ambition, sought to elevate himself as the ultimate Caliph—a dream that led to the very unraveling of his empire.

The Rise of a Radical Visionary: Aurangzeb’s Path to Power

Aurangzeb’s early life was marked by intense rivalry with his elder brother, Dara Shikoh, a liberal Sufi scholar who embraced Hindu-Muslim syncretism. But Aurangzeb had no patience for such inclusivity—he saw it as heresy. He methodically eliminated Dara, declaring him an apostate, and ascended the throne in 1658 after deposing his father, Shah Jahan.
Unlike his predecessors, who balanced governance with diplomacy, Aurangzeb sought absolute theocratic rule. He immediately positioned himself as a warrior of Islam, adopting the title Alamgir (Conqueror of the World), signaling his ambition beyond mere kingship. From the moment he seized power, he was no longer just a Mughal emperor—he was a man on a divine mission.

Aurangzeb vs. The Ottoman Caliph: A Challenge to Islamic Authority?

Undeniable Rage in an Ambitious Eye

For centuries, Muslim rulers across the world acknowledged the Ottoman Sultan as the Caliph, the supreme leader of Islam. However, Aurangzeb made no such gesture. Unlike earlier Mughal rulers who maintained cordial relations with the Ottomans, Aurangzeb neither sought their approval nor paid homage.
His defiance was more than symbolic—it was strategic. By enforcing strict Islamic laws, reintroducing the jizya tax on non-Muslims, and aggressively expanding his empire under the banner of Islam, Aurangzeb positioned himself as an independent Islamic authority. He wanted to be recognized as the world’s foremost Muslim ruler, untethered from the Ottoman Caliphate’s influence.
Letters from Aurangzeb’s court reveal his deep engagement with Islamic scholars in Mecca and Medina, seeking endorsements for his policies. Was he subtly lobbying for recognition as an alternative Caliph? His actions suggest that he was laying the groundwork for such a claim.

The Purge of ‘Heresy’: A Calculated Move to Solidify Caliphal Authority

Aurangzeb’s Islamic ambitions were not limited to personal piety—they were enforced with an iron fist. The first step in his grand vision was the purging of anything that contradicted his version of Islam.

1. The War on Hinduism and Religious Pluralism

Thousands of Hindu temples were destroyed, including the Kashi Vishwanath and Keshav Rai temples.
The jizya tax, abolished by Akbar, was reinstated to humiliate and financially weaken non-Muslims.
Hindu officials were systematically removed from key positions in administration and the army.

2. The Suppression of Sufism and Liberal Islam

Sufi practices that promoted Hindu-Muslim unity were discouraged.
Saints and scholars who deviated from Aurangzeb’s rigid interpretation of Islam were either exiled or executed.

3. The Abolition of Art, Music, and Cultural Expression

Court musicians were dismissed, and all forms of artistic expression were deemed un-Islamic.
Poets and scholars who had once thrived under Mughal patronage found themselves silenced.

These actions weren’t merely about religious orthodoxy—they were about cementing his image as a Khalifa (Caliph) of the purest form of Islam. Aurangzeb was systematically erasing all traces of cultural pluralism to make way for a state governed solely by Islamic law.

Aurangzeb’s ‘Jihad’: Expansionism Disguised as Religious Duty

If one examines the military campaigns of early Islamic Caliphs, a striking similarity emerges with Aurangzeb’s expansionist wars. He saw himself as a Ghazi (holy warrior), launching relentless campaigns against Hindu and Sikh kingdoms.
His wars against the Marathas, Rajputs, and the Deccan Sultanates were framed not just as territorial conquests but as religious duty. Even Mughal chroniclers describe his invasions in terms of ‘holy war,’ reinforcing the idea that Aurangzeb believed he was expanding an Islamic empire, not just the Mughal state.
This was classic Caliphal behavior—early Islamic rulers had justified their conquests as efforts to spread the dominion of Islam, and Aurangzeb followed the same pattern.

The Fall of the Would-Be Caliph: How Aurangzeb’s Vision Backfired

Aurangzeb’s dream of a Mughal Caliphate ultimately led to his downfall. His rigid religious policies alienated large sections of his empire. Instead of unifying his subjects, he bred resentment:

1. Hindu and Sikh Resistance Reached Unprecedented Levels

The Marathas, led by Shivaji and later Sambhaji, waged relentless guerrilla warfare.
The Sikh community, under Guru Gobind Singh, openly revolted against Mughal rule.
Rajput loyalty, once a pillar of Mughal strength, crumbled under Aurangzeb’s oppressive policies.

2. Economic Collapse Due to Religious Extremism

The reimposition of the jizya tax crippled trade and alienated Hindu merchants.
The banning of music and arts drained the empire of cultural patronage and innovation.
Endless wars drained the treasury, leaving the empire financially exhausted.

3. The Mughal Empire Became Unmanageable

Unlike earlier rulers who consolidated power strategically, Aurangzeb overextended the empire.
The Deccan campaigns lasted decades with little strategic gain.
His successors inherited an empire on the brink of collapse, leading to the rapid decline of Mughal rule after his death.

Aurangzeb’s Legacy—The Last Attempt at an Islamic Empire in India

The Emperor Who Dreamed of a Caliphate

Was Aurangzeb’s ambition to become the Caliph of the Islamic world the reason for the Mughal Empire’s downfall? The evidence suggests so. His relentless pursuit of an Islamic state, modeled after the Caliphates of old, was completely incompatible with the diverse and pluralistic nature of India.
By alienating Hindus, Sikhs, and even liberal Muslims, Aurangzeb destroyed the very foundation that had made the Mughal Empire strong. His ruthless policies, meant to establish a theocratic rule, instead accelerated the disintegration of his empire.
Had Aurangzeb succeeded in his dream, India might have become a strict Islamic state under a self-proclaimed Caliph. But his failure ensured that the Mughal Empire, once the most powerful kingdom in the world, crumbled into irrelevance within decades of his death.
Aurangzeb wanted to be the Khalifa of the Islamic world, but history remembers him as the emperor who lost everything in pursuit of an impossible dream.