Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c22.s4: Akbar's Regulations
Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c22.s4
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Akbar's Regulations
c22.s4.1
Political exigencies as well as humanism and religious cosmopolitanism, impelled Akbar to undertake measures which also put a brake on the rise of Muslim numbers through conversion. Briefly stated '"the main lines of his policy, (were) directed to obliterating all difference in treatment between Muslims and Hindus".²⁹ This in itself discouraged conversions to Islam.
c22.s4.2
²⁹ V. A. Smith, *Akbar, op. cit.* (II, n. 32), p. 48.
c22.s4.3
It has been seen in the earlier chapter that the largest number of converts were obtained during wars through enslavement. Many people embraced Islam to escape death; and captive women and children "used to be converted to Islam".³⁰ But early in his reign (1562) Akbar abolished the custom of enslaving helpless people in times of war.³¹ These humanitarian but revolutionary steps would have automatically put a check on large-scale conversions.
c22.s4.4
³⁰ S. R. Sharma, *The Religious Policy of the Mughal Emperors*, *op cit.*, (II, n. 37), p 21.
c22.s4.5
³¹ Du Jarric, *Akbar and the Jesuits*, pp 152-59. Oral orders for the abolition of this practice were given much earlier. See Du Jarric pp. 28, 30, 67, 70, 87, 92.
c22.s4.6
Akbar did not give any economic inducements for conversion. On the contrary he removed all modes of economic pressure which sometimes led conversions. He abolished the Jiziyah in 1564. Firoz Tughlaq is witness to the fact that its strict enforcement brought many converts to Islam. Akbar was determined to see this tax go, and probably finding that it still lingered in some places issued, in 1579, another declaration reiterating its abolition.³² Earlier in 1563 he had abolished the Pilgrim Tax on the Hindus.³³
c22.s4.7
³² R. P. Tripathi, *Some Aspects of Muslim Administration*, *op. cit.*, (XI, n. 36), p. 318.
c22.s4.8
³³ *Akbar Nama*, II, p. 190. Smith, *op cit* (II, n. 32., pp 47-48.
c22.s4.9
Thus in Akbar's time, because of the above mentioned and several other similar measures, conversions to Islam by force through enslavement, or economic pressure seem to have been restricted. Even the Mullas and Mashaikh could not have received any encouragement from the government for the work of proselytization. The hope "of obtaining *muwajib* and *ghanaim*" was perhaps still there, but for this conversion was not necessary as posts were thrown open to all without prejudice to religion or creed. Besides the effect on Muslim numbers of the conversions that might still have taken place, was offset by Akbar's order permitting such Hindus as had been forcibly converted to Islam to reconvert to their original faith.³⁴ All restrictions on Hindu worship and building of temples were also lifted.³⁵ Although contemporary accounts are silent as to the numbers that went back to Hinduism as a result of this permission; yet the facts that Jahangir severely punished those who adopted Hinduism of their own free will; Shahjahan once again made apostasy from Islam a capital crime; and Aurangzeb did his best at Muslim proselytization show that people were taking advantage of Akbar’s orders. Probably Akbar had only removed obstructions in a practice which was probably always prevalent. All these measures removed pressure on the Hindus to embrace Islam. Obviously conversions should have become rather scarce.
c22.s4.10
³⁴ Badaoni, *op cit* (II, n 40), II, 317.
c22.s4.11
³⁵ Du Jarric, *op cit* (n. 31), p. 75.