• The English were the successors of the Muslim rulers in India, and at the time of British expansion, Muslims held all positions of profit, prestige, and influence.

• When the British took over power, the relationship between the Muslims and the British was marked by hostility, as the Muslims had lost their previous dominance.

• The British followed a policy of crushing the Muslims, which led to economic and intellectual decline within the Muslim community.

• According to Mohammad Norman, the British believed that the only way to expand and sustain their new power was to destroy the Muslims, adopting policies aimed at their economic ruin, intellectual stagnation, and general degeneration.

Condition of Muslims before 1871

• The Permanent Settlement of Bengal elevated Hindu collectors to land-holders, giving them proprietary rights in the soil and allowing them to accumulate wealth that would have gone to Muslims under their own rule.

• The Muslims were welcomed into service by the English East India Company, but between 1852 and 1862, out of 240 natives admitted as pleaders to the High Court, only one was a Muslim.

• The British Government clearly stated that jobs should be given to Hindus and not Muslims in certain cases.

• The educational policy of the British led to an increase in unemployment among Muslims and the closing of other opportunities for them.

• The economic policies of the British impoverished the Indian Muslims, limiting their recruitment in the Army, crippling their arts and crafts, and rendering them helpless.

• These policies contributed to the catastrophe of 1857, which could not have been avoided by human policies.

• Before the Mutiny of 1857, Muslims revolted against the British under the Wahabi leaders, whose movement was both religious and revolutionary.

• The Wahabi Movement spread a wave of enthusiasm across the country, though it was ruthlessly suppressed by the British.

• The prime movers of the Mutiny of 1857 were the Muslims, particularly Wahabis.

• After 1858, the British treated Muslims severely, believing them to be responsible for the Mutiny.

• In 1871, out of 2,141 employees of the Bengal Government, only 92 were Muslims, 711 were Hindus, and 1,338 were Europeans.

• This situation persisted until the 1870s, when a change occurred in the British attitude towards Muslims.

• Sir William Hunter’s book, The Indian Mussalmans, published in 1871, marked the beginning of this change, arguing that Muslims were too weak for rebellion.

• It was concluded that it was now more expedient for the British to ally with Muslims rather than continue to oppose them.