Aurangzeb Alamgir is described in the sources as a complex ruler whose character was defined by a rigorous devotion to justice, personal piety, military bravery, and administrative meritocracy. While his legacy is often debated, historical records highlight specific virtues he strove to embody during his forty-nine-year reign.

Commitment to Justice (Adl) 

Aurangzeb viewed the dispensation of justice as the primary function of a king, famously quoting the maxim, 'The stability of the foundation of sovereignty depends upon justice (adalat)'. Unlike his father, Shah Jahan, whom he criticized for prioritizing conquest over equitable governance, Aurangzeb maintained that 'he is the truly great king who makes it the chief business of his life to govern his subjects with equity'. Even critics such as the Italian traveller Niccolao Manucci acknowledged that the Emperor was 'always busy at something or another, wishing to execute justice and arrive at appropriate decisions'.

This commitment extended to his own family; he punished princes who failed in their administrative duties. For example, when his son Azam Shah failed to prevent a robbery on the Surat highway, Aurangzeb reduced his military rank, stating that for a prince, 'the punishment is the absence of investigation'. He held court daily, often twice a day, to personally review petitions and ensure the well-being of the people.

Personal Piety and Austerity 

Aurangzeb distinguished himself from his predecessors through a lifestyle of rigorous abstinence and religious devotion. He abstained from alcohol and opium—substances that had afflicted other members of the Mughal family—and memorised the Quran in the 1660s. In his later years, he engaged in pious pursuits such as sewing prayer caps and copying the Quran by hand.

His asceticism stood in stark contrast to the opulence usually associated with the Mughals. He requested a simple, open-air grave in Khuldabad, devoid of the monumental grandeur of the Taj Mahal or Humayun’s Tomb, reflecting his desire to face the afterlife unburdened by earthly vanity. Urdu sources also highlight his refusal to use the state treasury for personal expenses, relying instead on his own earnings from copying the Quran and sewing caps.

Meritocracy and Religious Tolerance in Administration 

Contrary to the popular image of him as a bigot, Aurangzeb cultivated a meritocratic administration. He employed more Hindus in the Mughal nobility than any prior ruler; between 1679 and 1707, the proportion of Hindus in the nobility rose to 31.6 per cent. He refused to dismiss officials based on their faith. When petitioned to deny advancement to Persians because they were Shias, Aurangzeb rejected the proposal, writing: 'What connection have earthly affairs with religion? ... If this rule were established, it would be my duty to extirpate all the (Hindu) Rajahs and their followers'.

He held his Hindu officers, such as the finance minister Raja Raghunatha, in high esteem. Decades after Raghunatha’s death, Aurangzeb continued to cite his advice on efficient governance to other administrators.

Protection of Religious Communities 

While Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of specific temples for political reasons, he also viewed himself as the protector of his non-Muslim subjects and their sacred sites. He issued numerous imperial orders (farmans) directing officials to shield temples from harassment. For instance:

• Benares (1659): He ordered that 'nobody unlawfully disturbs the Brahmins or other Hindus of that region, so that they might remain in their traditional place and pray for the continuance of the Empire'.

• Assam and Others: He confirmed land grants and revenues for temples such as the Umanand Temple in Guwahati and supported the Jangam (a Shaivite group).

• Jain Support: He granted land and relief to Jain communities at pilgrimage sites like Shatrunjaya and Mount Abu, and Jain vernacular texts from the period describe him as a 'brave and powerful king' who promoted tolerance.

Bravery and Military Acumen 

Aurangzeb was renowned for his physical courage and military skill. As a teenager, he famously faced down a raging war elephant named Sudhakar, spearing the animal even after being thrown from his horse—a feat celebrated in Persian poetry and court chronicles. As an emperor, he was a brilliant tactician who expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest geographical extent, incorporating the Deccan sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda and pushing the empire's borders to the tip of the subcontinent. Even in his eighties, he personally led armies and oversaw sieges, driven by a relentless work ethic.