Answer: Option C
Ziauddin Barani was a 14th-century Muslim historian who served as a courtier and chronicler in the Delhi Sultanate. He wrote several books on the history of the Delhi Sultanate, including the "Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi," which covers the period from 1351 to 1388 CE.
The statement "When he attained kingship, he was quite independent of rules and orders of Shariat" refers to the policies and practices of Sultan Alauddin Khilji, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1296 to 1316 CE. Alauddin Khilji was one of the most powerful and successful rulers of the Delhi Sultanate, and he is known for his military conquests, administrative reforms, and patronage of the arts and culture.
Barani makes this statement in the context of describing the reign of Alauddin Khilji, who is said to have disregarded the rules and orders of Islamic law or Shariat in order to consolidate his power and maintain his authority. Alauddin Khilji is believed to have acted independently of the Muslim clergy and religious scholars, and he is said to have pursued policies that were aimed at strengthening his own position and suppressing any opposition or dissent.
Some of the policies that Alauddin Khilji implemented during his reign, which were seen as being contrary to the principles of Islamic law, include:

• Imposing price controls on essential commodities in order to ensure that the common people had access to basic necessities.
• Introducing a system of espionage and surveillance to monitor the activities of his officials and potential rivals.
• Establishing a standing army of professional soldiers, who were paid regular salaries and were loyal to the state rather than to individual nobles or commanders.

Despite these policies, Alauddin Khilji is also remembered for his support of the arts and culture, and for his patronage of scholars and intellectuals. He is credited with establishing the first madrasa or Islamic seminary in Delhi, which became a center of learning and scholarship.