Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c18.50

c18.50

Imposition of the Jiziyah brought a better crop of converts. We have seen that under Firoz Tughlaq the strict imposition of Jiziyah had compelled many people to become Musalmans. Under Aurangzeb similar economic pressure would have brought about the same results. Manucci notes that the Jiziyah was instituted "to force the Hindus to become Muhammedans. Many who were unable to pay turned Muhammedans, to obtain relief from the insults of the collectors.³⁸ Aurangzeb "was of the opinion that he had found in this tax an excellent means of succeeding in converting them."³⁹ Customs duties on the Hindu traders were increased ; on Muslims abolished.⁴⁰ As seen earlier, if the economic stress could make some people convert just for a dole of four annas per day, how many more would have accepted Islam on account of the compulsions of the Jiziyah.