Beyond Utterance: Abu'l Fazl's Philosophical Opening to the Akbarnama

The Akbarnama, the official chronicle of Emperor Akbar's reign penned by his trusted advisor Abu'l Fazl, doesn't begin with tales of conquest or administrative reforms. Instead, it opens with a deep, philosophical meditation on the very essence of Speech (Sukhan) and its intricate relationship with the divine.

Abu'l Fazl's introduction is far from a mere formality. It's a carefully constructed argument that lays the intellectual and spiritual groundwork for the monumental history that follows. He grapples with a fundamental paradox: how can limited human language adequately praise the boundless, incomparable Divine?

The Paradox of Speech

Abu'l Fazl acknowledges the power of Sukhan. It is the tool that allows the inner world to be built and the outer world's civilization to be conceived. It's the arena where thought finds expression and is received. Yet, he argues, when it comes to the ultimate truth, the Divine, language falls short. Our words, our concepts, are like desert sand compared to the ocean of God's knowledge. Direct praise of the "incomparable Deity" is, in his view, "beyond the field of existence" for human capacity.

"Letters and dots are the desert sand in Thy perfect path. In the universe of Thy wisdom, the city of speech is but some market-booths."

This isn't an argument for silence, but for understanding the limits of verbal expression when faced with the infinite.

Beyond Words: Praise Through Action

If direct verbal praise is insufficient, where does true devotion lie? Abu'l Fazl finds the answer not in utterance, but in Action. He argues that the "praise which is laid upon mankind as a duty" is to use the "night-illuminating jewel of reason" (a divine gift) to cleanse oneself and, for those in power, to improve the lives of others. For a ruler, the highest duty is "universal guardianship." For a subject, it is obedience to the just ruler and inner purification.

This leads to a crucial point: the works of the Creator are His perfect praise. And among His greatest works on Earth is the "perfect man" – embodied in a God-worshipping king like Akbar.

The Perfect Man as Divine Praise

Abu'l Fazl posits that describing the achievements – both spiritual and temporal – of a ruler who embodies divine qualities is, in itself, the highest form of divine praise. Akbar, in his view, is not just a king but a "Divine master-piece," a "collection of the artists of thought and wisdom, or rather master-piece of the eternal artificers."

By chronicling Akbar's reign, his justice, his wisdom, his benevolence, Abu'l Fazl is not merely writing secular history. He is, through the act of recording these deeds, offering a profound act of worship. The book itself becomes "adorned in order to the praise of the Creator," and the historical "design is subservient to the praise." Action (Akbar's rule) is the praise, and the recording of that action (the Akbarnama) is the means of conveying it.

Why This History Matters

Abu'l Fazl's introduction transforms the Akbarnama from a simple historical account into a theological and philosophical statement. He meticulously gathered records, interviewed witnesses, and sought the Emperor's own recollections to ensure accuracy. This dedication to preserving the facts of Akbar's reign is presented not just as historical diligence, but as a sacred task – an act of preserving and presenting the highest form of divine praise manifested in the world.

He contrasts his approach with older methods that relied solely on verbal panegyrics. His "new rendezvous on Reason's highway" is one where "action is praise," and the focus is on the "perfect man who is a God-worshipping king."

A Legacy of Action

Abu'l Fazl's intricate argument, while rooted in the philosophical traditions of his time, resonates even today. The idea that true worth and devotion are demonstrated through actions, particularly actions that benefit humanity and uphold justice, remains a powerful concept. Leaders, then and now, are ultimately judged not just by their pronouncements, but by their deeds and the impact they have on the world.

The Akbarnama, therefore, is more than a history book. It is a testament to a philosophy where the grandest praise is lived, and the chronicling of a just reign becomes a sacred act, preserving for posterity the actions deemed most worthy of divine acknowledgment.