Muslim Rajputs
Muslim Rajputs or Musulman Rajputs (Urdu: مسلمان راجپوت) are patrilineal descendants of the ancient ruling class of Northern India who embraced Islam. Today, Muslim Rajputs can be found in Northern and Western India as well as Punjab and Sindh in Eastern Pakistan. They are further divided into different clans.
History
The term Rajput is traditionally applied to the original Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi and Agnivanshi clans, the ancient Kshatriya clans of South Asia.
Conversion to Islam and Ethos
The Rajput conversions sometimes attracted opposition.
An example of the opposition occurred in Rajgarh State during the viceroyalty of John Lawrence between 1858-69. At that time, the ruling Rajput chief of Rajgarh began to follow Islamic traditions, infuriating his Hindu peers to such an extent that he chose to abdicate the royal throne. A subsequent inquiry determined that he had been a good ruler and that his subjects had been satisfied with his rule. A year later, the former ruler declared the Kalima Muslim affirmation of embracing Islam. This case established for the British Raj the precedent that no leader or ruler can be replaced simply because of his change of creed. Regardless of the feelings of his peers, it was the quality of his rule that mattered.
