Islam did try hard, but the Hindus resisted

Submitted by B.N.Gururaj (India), Mar 25, 2009 at 23:18

If I have still remained Gururaj and not become Ahmed, it is not because Islam did not try hard to convert India into Dar-ul-Islam. But, the Hindus resisted fiercely. While countries like Turkey, Siriya, Iraq and Persia fell to the sword of Islam within decades after the Prophet's death, It took five centuries to establish first Islamic rule in India. Between 636AD (the first Islamic raid on Thane, Maharashtra) and 1199 AD (battle of Tarrain, in which Rajput King Prithvi Raj Chauhan lost to Mumahad Ghori), Islam did try hard, especialy through Muhmad of Ghazni. But, the Hindu resistence held the fort.

Islamic rule under the Delhi Sultanate remained a blood soaked rule, soley held in place by sword not by peace, that Islam is supposed to represent. It was far worse than the rule under the Mughals. The rule was no better under zealots like Aurangzeb and Tipusultan, not to speak of petty sultans like Bahmani, Golkanda etc. In a vast country where the invading Muslims were still a minority, it was found that granti Zimmi status as per Hanafi law made the task of the Muslim Rulers easier, and ensured regular revenue by way of back-breaking Jezia, the religious tax, which was as high as 50% during Allaudin Khalji's rule in the thirteenth century.

When the British took over the rule of India, Islamic rule in India had already become weak within decades of Aurangzeb's death. The mughal emperror was only a nominal head. Due to Jat upraising in Uttar Pradesh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maratha empire which occupied most of western and northern India. British did not take away power from Muslims. They snatched the country from the hands of the Hindus.

If Tipu Sultan deserves the credit for using rockets in combat, that does not detract the fact that he persecuted the Hindus in Malabar. One has nothing to do with the other.

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