The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c11.s6.8

c11.s6.8

Muhammad bin Tughlaq became notorious for enslaving captives, and his reputation in this regard spread far and wide so that Umri writes about him thus: The Sultan never ceases to show the greatest zeal in making war upon the infidels Everyday thousands of slaves are sold at very low price, so great is the number of prisoners.¹¹⁹ Ibn Battutas eye-witness account of the Sultans arranging marriages of enslaved girls with Muslims on a large scale on the two Ids confirms the statement of Al Umri. First of all, writes he, daughters of *Kafir* (Hindu) Rajas captured during the course of the year, come, sing and dance. Thereafter they are bestowed upon Amirs and important foreigners. After this the daughters of other *Kafirs* dance and sing the Sultan gives them to his brothers, relatives sons of Maliks etc. On the sixth day male and female slaves are married.¹²⁰ It was a general practice for Hindu girls of good families to learn the art of dancing. It was a sort of religious rite. They used to dance during weddings, festivals and *Pujas* at home and in temples. This art was turned ravenous under their Muslim captors or buyers.