The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c12.s4.7

c12.s4.7

In short, the policy of Muslim rulers was to keep the Muslim minority in a privileged position and see to it that there was no integration between the two communities. Muslim rulers were so allergic to the prosperity of the Hindus that they expressed open resentment at the Hindus dressing well,⁵² riding horses or travelling in palanquins like Muslims.⁵³ Many rulers of the Sultanate and Mughal time enforced regulations requiring Hindus to wear distinguishing marks on their dresses so that they may not be mistaken for Muslims.⁵⁴ Qazvini say that Shahjahan had ordered that Hindus should not be allowed to dress like Muslims.⁵⁵ The *Fatawa-i-Alamgiri* also recommended that the Hindus should not be allowed to look like Muslims.⁵⁶ Many local officers also issued similar orders in their *Jagirs*.⁵⁷ All these regulations were in accordance with the tenets of Islam. The order of the Prophet was, Do the opposite of the polytheists and let your beard grow long.⁵⁸