Indian Muslims: Who Are They c7.17

c7.17

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. Akbar had abolished it, but under Aurangzeb this economic pressure was revived. Manucci notes that the Jiziyah was instituted to force the Hindus to become Muhammedans, to obtain relief from the insults of the collectors⁵¹ Aurangzeb was of the opinion that he had found in this tax an excellent means of succeeding in converting them.⁵² Customs duties on the Hindu traders were increased; on Muslims abolished.⁵³ If the economic stress could make some people convert just for a stipend of four annas a day, how many more would have accepted Islam on account of the compulsions of the Jiziyah.