Did Aurangzeb spread Islam by the sword?

Answer 1

Aurangzeb didn't force Hindus directly to convert to Islam. Aurangzeb (1618-1707) was the sixth Mogul emperor of India and the last of the "Great Moguls." He extended the Mogul Empire to its farthest boundaries, but his reign was harsh and marked by revolts.

Committed to making India an orthodox Muslim state, Aurangzeb restricted Hindu festivals and destroyed many Hindu temples. Poll tax on Hindus was imposed in 1679 and he tried to enforce morals, and edicts were issued against drinking, gambling, prostitution, and narcotics. Employment of non-Moslems was restricted in the imperial bureaucracy. Such discriminatory policies naturally led to rebellions. Refer to link below.

It is to be noted that Quran rules state that no compulsion in religion and that people of other faiths should be treated kindly and with tolerance so far they don't attack Muslims or expel them from their homes or prevent them from practicing their ritual worships.

Answer 2

No. In fact, he didn't believe in any religion. He invented his own religion- Deen-i-Elahi. Like most of the rulers of the past, he aalso wanted to consolidate his empire and power. He, rather, married Hindu women, appointed Hindus on key posts in army and civil administration.

Answer 3

YES. Aurangzeb is actually quite well-known both in India and abroad for forcibly converting non-Muslims, especially Hindus to Islam. Aurangzeb is accorded the title of being the "Perfect Muslim Prince" since he was very strict in his implementation of religious-oriented law.

He offered a very compelling carrot-and-stick proposition. Wealth and power in the central government were offered to Hindus who would convert to Islam. He excused all non-Muslim courtiers from his audience and expelled Christian ministers from Western countries. Additionally, those who refused to convert, especially in areas prone to revolt, would sometimes be killed.

As further action against the Hindu majority, Aurangzeb destroyed several major Hindu temples such as the Kashi Vishwanath temple, Kesava Deo temple and Somnath temple, he also ended up killing many Hindus who stood as martyrs opposed to the destruction of their temples and holy places. Pandit Kripa Ram a Kashmiri Hindu narrated: "Through allurement and atrocities he [Aurangzeb] has converted many Hindus to Islam." He goes on to explain that the atrocities included "polluting Hindu girls with cruel men".

Aurangzeb executed the Ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur specifically for opposing the King's forcible conversion campaigns. Aurangzeb even offered him conversion or death; he chose to die a Sikh. Aurangzeb also killed his brother Dara Shukoh. It is debated as to whether this was part of his generally fratricidal nature (he killed his father, two other brothers, and imprisoned his own son) or because of Dara's interest in Hinduism.

Aurangzeb's actions and views were based on the morality that he espoused and are indicative of nobody's views but his. His great-grandfather Akbar the Great created a rather secular Mughal India where non-Muslims were well-tolerated and similarly his views are indicative of his morality. Each ruler should be judged as their own independent person and not by their country of rulership, religion, or ethnicity.

Please read more about Aurangzeb at the Related Links below.

• UCLA: Aurangzeb
• Francois Gautier: The Uncalled for Fascination with Aurangzeb
• BBC: Ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur
• Narendra Sehgal: Converted Kashmir (more polemical)

Answer 4

Yes Aurangzeb was a very cruel man, he even put his own old father in prison. He used the sword and forced people to convert to islam.

Answer 5

Yes he did force people to convert, as Aurangabad named after him has a huge Muslim population.