A History of the Mahrattas v1.c17.89

v1.c17.89

To reconcile such a measure with that character for wisdom which has been assigned to Aurungzebe is impossible; it would even be inexplicable in a person of ordinary capacity, but the workings of fanaticism always warp the understanding, and Aurungzebe may have supposed that his undertaking merited divine favour, by giving the people about to be conquered the alternative of conversion or taxation. There could be no political reason for such an edict, although his apologists may point out the mean one of gratifying the Mahomedan vulgar, and affording an earnest of what his emissaries professed at Beejapoor and Golcondah, that he was coming to the Deccan for the purpose of suppressing idolatry and placing Mahomedan power on such a footing as would in future uphold the dignity of the faith of Islam.