The Ibadat Khana, a special “House of Worship” where religious discussions were held, was built by which Mughal emperor?

Introduction / Context:
The Ibadat Khana, or “House of Worship”, at Fatehpur Sikri is an important symbol of religious dialogue and experimentation during Mughal rule. It reflects the interest of a particular emperor in discussing faiths and seeking a broader understanding of religion. Examinations often ask which emperor built the Ibadat Khana to test knowledge of Mughal religious policies and architectural history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The structure is called Ibadat Khana, literally “House of Worship”.
• It was used for inter religious and theological discussions.
• Options are Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Aurangzeb.
• We assume the reference is to the famous building at Fatehpur Sikri near Agra.

Concept / Approach:
The emperor most associated with religious tolerance, intellectual curiosity, and inter faith debates is Akbar. He established the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri as a place where scholars of different religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism, could discuss theological issues. Babur and Humayun did not build such a structure, and Aurangzeb is known instead for a more orthodox stance. Therefore the building clearly belongs to the time of Akbar.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Ibadat Khana was located at Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's capital for part of his reign. Step 2: Remember that Akbar organised discussions and debates among religious scholars there as part of his search for spiritual understanding. Step 3: Note that no similar “House of Worship” is associated with Babur, Humayun, or Aurangzeb. Step 4: Match this information with the options and select Akbar as the correct emperor.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks that describe Akbar's religious policies, such as Sulh i Kul (universal peace) and his interest in founding a new religious synthesis, usually mention the Ibadat Khana in detail. They clearly identify Akbar as the builder. This repeated association across multiple sources is a strong confirmation that Akbar is the right answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Babur: Founder of the Mughal empire, but he did not build the Ibadat Khana and his period was more focused on consolidation through battles.
Humayun: His reign was unstable and interrupted by exile, and he did not construct such an institution of religious debate.
Aurangzeb: Known for a more orthodox interpretation of Islam and not for hosting multi religious debates in a dedicated structure.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Akbar's monuments with those of other emperors like Shah Jahan or Aurangzeb. However, Fatehpur Sikri, the Ibadat Khana, and experiments in religious policy are all strongly tied to Akbar's name. Remembering Fatehpur Sikri as Akbar's capital and linking it with Ibadat Khana helps fix this fact firmly in memory.

Final Answer:
The Ibadat Khana was built by the Mughal emperor Akbar.