The city competed with Herat as a center of Ghurid art, literature, and theology. In 1199, the Ghurid sultan, Ghiyath al-Din, ordered the empire to abandon the Karramiyya sect of Islam in favor of Shafi'i law. This decision was unpopular with the city's residents and led to riots.
The city and Herat were both important for Ghurid art, literature, and theology. In 1199, Sultan Ghiyath al-Din ordered the empire to switch from Karramiyya sect Islam to Shafi'i law. This change was unpopular with the city's residents and resulted in disturbances.