The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D. c8.s12: Religious policy

c8.s12.1

Except in the beginning, the Arab religious policy in Sindh was one of partial toleration. The Hindus were allowed to worship their gods in their temples and in their homes. They were, however, required to pay the jizya. Some of the modern writers have called this tax a military tax charged from the Hindus for they were not required to render military service while the Muslims, who were required to render such service, were free from it. This view is erroneous, for the tax was charged from all the Hindus whether they rendered military service to the State or not. It was a religious tax. It was levied according to three grades into which the non-Muslim population was divided. The charge for the first grade was silver equal to 48 *dirhams*, for the second grade 24 *dirhams* and for the third grade 12 *dirhams*.