6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

310 SIX GLORIOUS EPOCHS OF INDIAN HISTORY
and enmity of the old Muslim Khans, Nizams, and other
co-religionists of theirs*^. For as a natural consequence of
intermingling of the two religious communities Muslims
serving in the armies of many Hindu States had come to form
a habit of rendering loyal service to their Hindu masters 1
The political service of a Hindu King was taboo formerly
when the Muslims first came to India, but by this time the
taboo had lost its intensity and in its stead such a loyal
service rendered to a Hindu master came to be considered
quite in conformity with the Muslim religious code ! Many
incidents illustrating this point have already occurred so far,
and will occur in the following pages too**. Although accept­
ance of any high office under a Hindu ruler was no more
considered contrary to the Muslim religious law, the staunch
Moulanas and Moulavis, however, looked upon such acts as
necessary exceptions and bore a secret grudge in their hearts
that they were time bombs laid under the Muslim political
power ! Never from the very beginning did the Hindus
consider it contrary to their religious code to fight in the
Muslim army on the side of the Muslims ! It was only the
exchange of food and women in marriage with the Muslims
which endangered the sanctity of their religion ! How
foolish and suicidal to think so !
786-A. This Hindu Emperor did not rest with the mere
declaration of his adherence to Hinduism, but he fearlessly
began to bring it into action in the presence of the Muslims.
Idols of Hindu gods and goddesses were immediately installed
in the holiest of places of Muslim civilization, the Diwan-i-
am and Diwan-i-Khas in the royal palaces of Delhi. All the
worships and all the religious rites in royal palaces began to
be performed according to the Hindu ritual. Loud cho.nting
of Hindu mantras and singing of Hindu devotional songs took
the place of the 'Ayats' in the Koran ! This Hindu Emperor
himself and the hundreds amongst his old Hindu battalions
who had remained Hindus from the beginning and who were
guarding the royal palace paid scrupluous attention to the
protection and proper worship of these new idols of Hindu Gods