Gavin Howe
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is a controversial figure in Indian history, known for his strict Islamic laws and taxes, imposed on non-Muslims in his empire. With a conservative and aggressive approach to governance, Aurangzeb's policies have been criticised for their religious intolerance and abandonment of the pluralism practised by his predecessors. The reintroduction of the Jizya tax, a military levy on non-Muslims, and the doubling of customs duties for Hindus are examples of his controversial tax policies. In addition, Aurangzeb's destruction of Hindu and Sikh temples and his persecution of non-Muslims have also been scrutinised. However, some historians argue against these criticisms, claiming that his actions were politically rather than religiously motivated, and that he employed a significant number of Hindus in his administration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Islamic laws imposed on | Non-Muslims |
| Taxes imposed on | Non-Muslims |
| Religious tax imposed | Jizya |
| Jizya tax rate depended on | Socioeconomic status |
| Jizya tax collectors | Muslims |
| Jizya tax exempted for | Rajput and Maratha state officials, Brahmins, women, children, elders, the handicapped, the unemployed, the ill, and the insane |
| Jizya tax waived for | Regions hit by calamities |
| Other taxes | Customs duties doubled for Hindus |
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What You'll Learn
Aurangzeb imposed the Jizya tax on non-Muslims
Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, was known for his strict and aggressive religious opinions and policies. He was a staunch Muslim and is credited with constructing numerous mosques and patronizing works of Arabic calligraphy. He is believed to be the last effective Mughal emperor.
During his reign, Aurangzeb imposed the Jizya tax on non-Muslim subjects. Jizya was a military tax imposed on non-Muslim subjects in lieu of military service. The specific amount varied according to the socioeconomic status of the subject, and tax collection was often waived for regions hit by calamities. The collectors of the tax were mandated to be Muslims.
The imposition of the Jizya tax on non-Muslims was one of the policies that led to Aurangzeb being criticized for abandoning his predecessors' legacy of pluralism and religious tolerance. His critics argue that his ruthlessness and religious bigotry made him unsuitable to rule the mixed population of his empire. The Jizya tax was also one of the factors that led to numerous rebellions during his reign.
Supporters of Aurangzeb, however, argue that his strict actions for the expansion of Islam were a result of hatred from Hindus towards him as a ruler. They claim that the re-imposition of the Jaziya tax was to raise revenue for the betterment of the empire, and since Hindus were a larger group, it was logical to collect higher taxes from them. They also propose that Aurangzeb built more temples than he destroyed.
The Jizya tax was not uniform and had different rates for different groups of people. The tax was imposed on various non-Muslim communities, including Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh communities. Certain groups were exempt from paying the tax, including women, children, elders, the handicapped, the unemployed, and the ill.
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He doubled custom duties on Hindus while abolishing them for Muslims
Aurangzeb, the sixth emperor of the Mughal Empire, has been the subject of much praise and controversy. He ruled for almost 49 years, from 1658 to 1707, and expanded the territory of the Mughal Empire to the widest in history, covering 4 million square kilometres. He was a very ambitious, aggressive, and capable military leader, and his empire was one of the largest in Indian history.
Aurangzeb's critics argue that his ruthlessness and religious bigotry made him unsuitable to rule the mixed population of his empire. They assert that he abandoned the legacy of pluralism and tolerance of his predecessors, citing his persecution of Shias, Sufis, and non-Muslims, and his imposition of Islamic laws and taxes. One such tax was the jizya, a military tax on non-Muslim subjects in lieu of military service, which Aurangzeb reimposed in 1679 after a hundred-year abatement. This move was sharply criticised by many Hindu rulers, family members, and Mughal court officials. Aurangzeb also doubled custom duties on Hindus while abolishing them entirely for Muslims.
Supporters of Aurangzeb argue that his strict actions towards non-Muslims, such as the re-imposition of the jizya tax, were driven by the need to raise revenue for the betterment of the empire. They claim that since Hindus were the majority, it made sense to collect higher taxes from them. Some also propose that Aurangzeb built more temples than he destroyed and that he opposed bigotry against Hindus, employing more Hindus in his imperial bureaucracy than his predecessors.
Modern historians reject the notion that Aurangzeb's temple destructions were guided by religious zealotry, instead attributing them to the association of temples with sovereignty and power. They also argue that the criticism of Aurangzeb's destruction of temples is exaggerated, noting that he also provided funds for temple maintenance.
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He destroyed Hindu and Sikh temples
Aurangzeb, the sixth emperor of the Mughal Empire, was a staunch Muslim with a conservative Islamic mindset. He is known for his strict and aggressive religious opinions and policies, particularly against non-Muslims. While there are differing interpretations of his actions, many reports suggest that he was an orthodox ruler with a strong anti-Hindu stance.
One of the most notable acts of Aurangzeb's reign was the destruction of Hindu and Sikh temples. He ordered the demolition of temples at Kashi (Varanasi), Mathura, and Kalkaji, including the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The Islamic record "Masir-i-Alamgiri" mentions instances of Aurangzeb's cruelty, such as the demolition of the Kalka Temple in Delhi, justified by the large gatherings of Hindus. He also ordered the destruction of temples in Ujjain, Cuttack, Orissa, and Medinipur in Bengal, demonstrating his religious fervor.
The Sita-Rama Temple at Soron and the Devi Patan Temple in Gonda were also destroyed during Aurangzeb's reign. Additionally, he prohibited the construction of any new Hindu temples and encouraged conversions to Islam. According to critics, his actions led to the persecution of non-Muslims and the abandonment of the legacy of pluralism and tolerance established by his predecessors.
However, some historians dispute these claims, arguing that the extent of temple destruction has been exaggerated. They suggest that Aurangzeb also contributed to temple maintenance and employed a significant number of Hindus in his imperial bureaucracy, indicating a more nuanced approach to religious relations during his rule.
Overall, Aurangzeb's legacy remains controversial, with ongoing debates about the motivations behind his actions and the impact they had on the diverse population of his empire.
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He banned un-Islamic ceremonies
Aurangzeb was the sixth Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707. He was a staunch Muslim and is known for his strict and aggressive religious opinions and policies. He is believed to have memorized the Quran and other Islamic scriptures and observed Islamic rituals keenly.
Aurangzeb banned several un-Islamic ceremonies during his reign. He banned the Zoroastrian festival of Nauroz and other un-Islamic ceremonies. He also prohibited the practice of Sati, a Hindu custom where a widow was burned when her husband died. In addition, he stopped the ceremony of weighing the emperor against gold and silver on his two birthdays according to the lunar and solar calendars.
Aurangzeb also imposed Islamic laws and taxes on non-Muslims. He reimposed the Jizya tax, a military tax on non-Muslim subjects in lieu of military service, which had been previously abolished. The amount varied based on socioeconomic status, and certain groups were exempt. He also doubled custom duties on Hindus while abolishing them for Muslims.
Aurangzeb's religious policies are a subject of debate, with critics arguing that his persecution of non-Muslims and imposition of Islamic practices led to rebellions. His reign is characterized by rapid military expansion, and he is credited with contributing to the expansion and development of the Mughal Empire. However, his legacy is complicated due to his conservative views and actions against non-Muslims.
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He enforced Islamic law on non-Muslims
Aurangzeb was a brilliant administrator, an ambitious and aggressive warrior, and a cunning diplomat who imposed Mughal power over most of India. However, his legacy is complicated due to his strict and aggressive religious opinions and policies. He is often considered a narrow-minded bigot who ruined his empire by attempting to impose unworkable Islamic discriminations on the non-Muslim majority he ruled.
Aurangzeb was a staunch Muslim and a true anti-Hindu ruler. He is believed to have memorized the Quran and observed Islamic rituals keenly. He also transcribed the Quran into other languages. He is known for his conservative Islamic mindset and anti-Hindu activities. He enforced Islamic law on non-Muslims, which included the imposition of Sharia and Jizya religious tax on non-Muslims, doubling custom duties on Hindus, banning the celebration of Zoroastrian festivals and other non-Islamic ceremonies, and encouraging conversions to Islam.
Jizya was a military tax imposed on non-Muslim subjects in lieu of military service. The amount varied according to the socioeconomic status of the subject, and tax collection was often waived for regions affected by calamities. Monks, women, children, elders, the handicapped, the unemployed, the ill, and the insane were exempt from this tax. While some argue that the re-imposition of Jizya was to raise revenue for the betterment of the empire, others claim it was done to foster religious intolerance.
Aurangzeb also compiled Islamic law into a codified book, the Fatawa-i Alamgiri, to be easily followed as a guidebook for officials to enact Islamic law and end socially corrupt practices. He sent officials throughout his empire to compel Muslims to observe the prayers, fasts, and laws of Sunni Islam, and he invested heavily in the recruitment and training of Sunni lawyers, judges, censors, and clergy. He also ordered subahdars to punish Muslims who dressed like non-Muslims.
Overall, Aurangzeb's policies replaced the traditional Mughal toleration with a puritanical Sunni Islam that offended India's Hindu majority, leading to numerous rebellions and the empire's irreversible decline.
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Frequently asked questions
Aurangzeb imposed Islamic laws and taxes on non-Muslims in his kingdom. He is known for his strict and aggressive religious opinions and policies, as well as his conservative Islamic mindset.
The religious tax imposed by Aurangzeb on non-Muslims was called Jizya.
There are differing opinions on why Aurangzeb imposed the Jizya tax. Some believe it was due to his hatred of Hindus and his desire to expand Islam, while others argue that it was to raise revenue for the betterment of the empire.
