‘Zawabit’, during the medieval history of India, referred to which of the following?

• In a formal sense, the state was Islamic. The Sultans were keen to emphasize the Muslim character of the state and to follow the Holy Law (Sharia) as far as possible.

• However, the Sultans did not allow the Muslim divines to dictate the policy of the state.

• The Sultans had to supplement the Muslim law by framing their own regulations (Zawabit). Alauddin Khalji told the leading Qazi of the city that he did not know what was lawful or unlawful, but framed laws according to the needs of the state. This is why the historian Barani refused to consider the state in India as truly Islamic, but one based on worldly or secular considerations (Jahandari).