Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c6.s1.53

c6.s1.53

Even in northern India, where Muslims were in good numbers, there is great doubt if Europeans could always distinguish a Hindu from a Muslim. Just as to Indians, all Europeans of various nationalities look alike, similarly many Europeans in all probability could not always differentiate between a Hindu and a Muslim in medieval times. After all the majority of Muslims were Hindu converts and their physiognomy did not change with conversion to Islam. Besides, Hindus and Muslims usually dressed alike. As early as the tenth century Ibn Hauqal was struck by the fact that "the Muslims and infidels in this tract (Kambaya to Saimur) wear the same dresses, and let their beards grow in the same fashion. They use fine muslin garments on account of the extreme heat. The men of Multan dress in the same way."³⁶ While it can only be assumed that the high classes of both the communities in the Sultanate period dressed alike, they are actually found to be doing so in the Mughal period. Hindu converts to Islam, especially of the lower classes, did not change their way of dressing with change of faith. That Hindus and Muslims looked alike is also proved by the fact that many rulers of the Sultanate and Mughal times enforced regulations requiring Hindus to wear distinguishing marks on their dresses so that they might not be mistaken for Muslims.³⁷ Qazvini says that Shahjahan had ordered that Hindus be not allowed to dress like Muslims.³⁸ The *Fatawa-i-Alamgiri* also recommended that the Hindus should not be allowed to look like Muslims.³⁹