Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c18.44

c18.44

The poor converted more easily and in larger numbers. Of the temptations given for conversion were at audience with the Emperor, a robe of Honour, and a daily allowance which sometimes was as low as four annas or as high as seven rupees.³³ A Deccanese was converted to Islam and given Rs. 2,000.³⁴ Obviously economic inducement was a great temptation for the poor. Criminals were given remission from sentence if they converted to Islam. The *Maasir-i-Alamgiri* mentions a case in which a Hindu clerk killed the seducer of his sister, but escaped execution by embracing Islam.³⁵ There were many more similar cases.³⁶ On September, 1681, an order was issued that all prisoners who would accept Islam were to be set at liberty.³⁷ The practice was so common that no specific cases need be mentioned.