Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s4.t4.16

c5.s4.t4.16

The status of slaves.—It is usual to assume that slaves had no defined status or rights under Muslim rule in Hindustan. Such an opinion is not warranted by facts. Theoretically speaking, since a slave was usually a convert to Islam he possessed the same rights as any other member of Muslim society which is still conspicuous for a certain amount of feeling of brotherhood and equality. Thus, his moral claims, though they might not receive due and full recognition, could never be denied.⁵ If he was originally a Hindu, and probably of a lower caste, the social change was decidedly for the better. Even if he had belonged to a higher caste, he had lost his status in Hindu society and could not go back to it except under very humiliating conditons.