Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was

The Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 CE. Akbar, known for his policy of religious tolerance and his intellectual curiosity, constructed this hall with the specific purpose of holding discussions and debates with religious leaders, philosophers, and theologians from various faiths. Initially, these discussions were limited to Muslim scholars, but later, Akbar opened them to scholars of other religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and even atheists. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of different faiths and promote inter-religious dialogue. These discussions ultimately contributed to the development of his concept of Din-i-Ilahi and Sulh-i-Kul (peace for all). Therefore, the Ibadat Khana was a hall dedicated to inter-religious discussions, not a private prayer chamber, a mosque for the royal family, or merely a room for nobles to discuss religious affairs.