Book
A document attributed to the first Mughal emperor, urging tolerance towards Hindus; its authenticity is doubtful.
What it means
Babur (1483–1530) founded the Mughal empire in India. A “last will” in which he tells his son Humayun to respect Hindu sentiments and spare cows circulates in modern books, and historians doubt it. Babur’s own memoir, the Bāburnāma, is the reliable source for his views.
What the sources say
Whether or not the will is genuine, Islamic law told Muslim rulers to respect the religions of those under their rule, and the Mughal emperor Akbar later set out a policy of broad toleration.