We can discuss the reign of Firoz Tughluq under tow heads: domestic policy and foreign policy. As regard domestic policy, the immediate task of the new Sultan was to win over the people to his own side.
This he did by remitting all the debts due to the state from the subjects and by abstaining from any endeavor to recover the treasure which had been frittered away by Khwaja-i-Jahan in his efforts to establish his nominee on the throne. For the first year of his reign Firuz was fully employed in restoring peace and order in the kingdom.
The new Sultan set before himself the idea of looking after the welfare of the people and he did all that he possibly could to add to their material prosperity and comforts in life. He introduced a large number of reforms in various fields and thereby won the good will of the people in spite of his incompetence in the military field.
The author of Futuhaf i-Firuz Shahi observes: “In the reigns of former kings the blood of many Mussalmans had been shed and many varieties of torture employed. Amputation of hands and feet, ears and noses, tearing out the eyes, pouring molten lead into the throat, crushing the bones of the hands and feet with mallets, burning the body with fire, driving iron nails into the hands, fetes and bosom,-cutting the sinews, sawing men asunder; these and many similar tortures were practiced. The great and merciful God made me, his servant, and hope and seek for his mercy by devoting myself to prevent the unlawful killing of Mussalmans and the infliction of any kind of torture upon them or upon any men
ADVERTISEMENTS:
“Through the mercy which God has shown to me these severities and terrors have been exchanged for tenderness, kindness and mercy. Fear and respect have thus taken firmer hold of the hearts of men and there has been no need of executions, scourging, tortures or terrors.”