.
For a better understanding of his religious policies, like Satish Chandra does, we too can bifurcate the entire process into three phases:.
First Phase.
In the first few years of Akbar's reign the Mughal court was dominated by the Orthodox Ulama and it wielded a great deal of control over the Emperor. Thus, in his private conduct Akbar behaved like an orthodox muslim. He religiously observed his daily prayers, cleaned the mosque with his own hands and even sent delegations to haj. Satish Chandra has argued that his deference towards the leading orthodox Sunni personalities prevented any overt breach with the ulama and he gave them full and independent control over religious affairs. In this period Akbar was deeply devoted to Makhdumul Mulk Abdullah Sultanpuri and Sudur Shaikh Abdun Nabi. During this period as Akbar was busy consolidating his hold over the Empire and his own position, the ulama dominated affairs. Shaikh Abdun Nabi was appointed the sadr and according to Badauni no other sadr has ever been as powerful as Abdun Nabi was during this period. People belonging to other sects like Shi'ite, Mahdawi etc were persecuted for their belief and orthodox elements were promoted at the Mughal court. .
However, it would be wrong to assume that Akbar was completely under their influence and was unable to bring about any significant changes in the traditional orthodox Sunni set up. For instance, Akbar abolished the practice of enslaving families of prisoners' of war. Abul Fazl states that this enabled Akbar to make the wildest and most rebellious factions in the farthest places of India submit to his rule. In 1562, he abolished the pilgrim tax imposed on Hindus when they undertook pilgrimages to their sacred and holy spots like Mathura, claiming it to be a mark of discrimination against non-muslims as a similar tax was not imposed on the Muslims. Moreover, he also married Raja Bhar Mal's daughter Bai Haraka.