A History of Agriculture in India v2.c62.s2: Conversion of Hindus

v2.c62.s2.1

The Sultan encouraged proselytization to Islam. In his Fatuhat he states, ‘I encouraged my infidel subjects to embrace the religion of the prophet, and I proclaimed that every one who repeated the creed and became a Musulman should be exempt from the jizya, or poll-tax. Information of this came to the ears of the people at large, and great numbers of Hindus presented themselves, and were admitted to the honour of Islam. Thus they came forward day by day from every quarter, and, adopting the faith, were exonerated from the *jizya*, and were favoured with presents and honours.' This explains the origin of a large part of the existing Muslim population of India. *Jizya* was imposed even on Brahmanas, who were so far exempt from this type of taxation.