Final answer:
Nur Jahan became the most influential woman in Jahangir's court due to her active participation in the government and diplomacy, and her role in the imperial succession. The precedent for female influence in the court and Jahangir's own reliance on her abilities helped her avoid the fate of Raziya Sultana, who faced rebellion for breaking Islamic conventions and attempting to rule directly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nur Jahan was able to establish herself as the most influential woman in Jahangir’s court due to several factors. As Jahangir’s health declined due to his heavy drinking, Nur Jahan, his favorite wife, stepped forward to fill the power vacuum. She assumed significant power in the government, took part in public rituals, engaged in diplomacy, and even issued imperial edicts. Her Persian Muslim background provided her with some political advantages, and she played a crucial role in securing the succession for her stepson, Shah Jahan, by arranging his marriage to her niece.
Unlike Raziya Sultana, whose reign ended due to rebellion and who faced significant resistance due to breaking Islamic conventions by dressing as a man and ruling in a male-dominated environment, Nur Jahan benefitted from a more stable situation. Jahangir's patronage of Muslim scholars, due in part to discontent with Akbar's religious policies, may have helped prevent the kind of rebellion Raziya faced. The established influence of female figures in the court, evident in the Sultanate of Women, also provided a precedent for Nur Jahan's role in governance. Moreover, unlike Raziya, who faced pushback from those uncomfortable with a woman ruler, Nur Jahan exercised her authority as the power behind the throne rather than as a sovereign in her own right, which may have allowed her to avoid direct challenges to her authority based on her gender.