The correct answer is: A. The Khots and Muqaddams.
The Khots and Muqaddams were the highest category of peasants during the Sultanate period. They were responsible for collecting taxes from the peasants and for maintaining law and order in their villages. They were also responsible for providing military service to the Sultan.
The Khud-kasht were peasants who owned their own land and worked it themselves. They were not subject to the same taxes as the other peasants and they had a great deal of autonomy in their villages.
The Pahi-kasht were peasants who worked on land that was owned by someone else. They were subject to taxes and they had less autonomy than the Khud-kasht.
The Muzarian were peasants who were landless and worked as laborers on the land of others. They were the lowest class of peasants and they had very little rights.
The Khots and Muqaddams were the most powerful and influential peasants during the Sultanate period. They were the intermediaries between the Sultan and the peasants and they played a vital role in the administration of the Sultanate.