List of Paragraphs
- [1. Statistics and distribution.]
- [2. Occupations.]
- [3. Muhammadan castes.]
- [4. The four tribal divisions.]
- [5. Marriage.]
- [6. Polygamy, divorce and widow-remarriage.]
- [7. Devices for procuring children, and beliefs about them.]
- [8. Pregnancy rites.]
- [9. Childbirth and naming children.]
- [10. The Ukīka sacrifice.]
- [11. Shaving the hair and ear-piercing.]
- [12. Birthdays.]
- [13. Circumcision, and maturity of girls.]
- [14. Funeral rites.]
- [15. Muhammadan sects. Shiah and Sunni.]
- [16. Leading religious observances. Prayer.]
- [17. The fast of Ramazān.]
- [18. The pilgrimage to Mecca.]
- [19. Festivals. The Muharram.]
- [20. Id-ul-Fitr.]
- [21. Id-ul-Zoha]
- [22. Mosques.]
- [23. The Friday service.]
- [24. Priests, Mulla and Maulvi.]
- [25. The Kāzi.]
- [26. General features of Islām.]
- [27. The Korān.]
- [28. The Traditions.]
- [29. The schools of law.]
- [30. Food.]
- [31. Dress.]
- [32. Social rules. Salutations.]
- [33. Customs.]
- [34. Position of women.]
- [35. Interest on money.]
- [36. Muhammadan education.]
1. Statistics and distribution.
Muhammadan Religion.—The Muhammadans numbered nearly 600,000 persons in the Central Provinces in 1911, or about 3 per cent of the population. Of these about two-fifths belong to Berār, the Amraoti and Akola Districts containing more than 70,000 each; while of the 350,000 returned from the Central Provinces proper, about 40,000 reside in each of the Jubbulpore, Nāgpur and Nimār Districts. Berār was for a long period governed by the Muhammadan Bahmani dynasty, and afterwards formed part of the Mughal empire, passing to the Mughal Viceroy, the Nizām of Hyderābād, when he became an independent ruler. Though under British administration, it is still legally a part of Hyderābād territory, and a large proportion of the official classes as well as many descendants of retired soldiers are Muhammadans. Similarly Nimār was held by the Muhammadan Farūki dynasty of Khāndesh for 200 years, and was then included in the Mughal empire, Burhānpur being the seat of a viceroy. At this period a good deal of forcible conversion probably took place, and a considerable section of the Bhīls nominally became Muhammadans.
Beggar on artificial horse at the Muharram festival
When the Gond Rāja of Deogarh embraced Islām after his visit to Delhi, members of this religion entered his service, and he also brought back with him various artificers and craftsmen. The cavalry of the Bhonsla Rāja of Nāgpur was largely composed of Muhammadans, and in many cases their descendants have settled on the land. In the Chhattīsgarh Division and the Feudatory States the number of Muhammadans is extremely small, constituting less than one per cent of the population.
2. Occupations.
No less than 37 per cent of the total number of Muhammadans live in towns, though the general proportion of urban population in the Provinces is only 7½ per cent. The number of Muhammadans in Government service excluding the police and army, is quite disproportionate to their small numerical strength in the Provinces, being 20 per cent of all persons employed. In the garrison they actually outnumber Hindus, while in the police they form 37 per cent of the whole force. In the medical and teaching professions also the number of Muhammadans is comparatively large, while of persons of independent means a proportion of 29 per cent are of this religion. Of persons employed in domestic services nearly 14 per cent of the total are Muhammadans, and of beggars, vagrants and prostitutes 23 per cent. Muhammadans are largely engaged in making and selling clothes, outnumbering the Hindus in this trade; they consist of two entirely different classes, the Muhammadan tailors who work for hire, and the Bohra and Khoja shopkeepers who sell all kinds of cloth; but both live in towns. Of dealers in timber and furniture 36 per cent are Muhammadans, and they also engage in all branches of the retail trade in provisions. The occupations of the lower-class Muhammadans are the manufacture of glass bangles and slippers and the dyeing of cloth.[1]