Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c18.84

c18.84

In these circumstances, conversions to Islam became rare if not altogether out of the question. Some stray efforts at conversion no doubt continued to be made even during the eighteenth century, but without much success. For instance when in 1716 Banda the Sikh Guru with his 740 followers was given by Farrukh Siyar the choice between Islam and death, they all died to a man rather than become Musalman.⁶³ Similarly, according to T.W. Arnold, Tipu Sultan issued an order to the people of Malabar to become Musalmans, "and early in 1789 (he) prepared to enforce his proclamation with an army of more than twenty thousand men....Thousands of Hindus were accordingly circumcised and made to eat beef; but this monarch himself perished, early in 1799....Most of the Brahmans and Nayars who had been forcibly converted subsequently disowned their new religion."⁶⁴