Page:Thomas Patrick Hughes - Notes on Muhammadanism - 2ed. (1877).djvu/166

Rh From what we have written, it will be seen that a Muslim can have no religious scruples to eat with a Christian, as long as the food eaten is of a lawful kind. Sayyid Ahmad Khán Bahadur, C.S.I., has written a treatise proving that Muhammadans can eat with the Ahl-i-Kitáb, namely, Jews or Christians. The Muhammadans of India, whilst they will eat food cooked by idolatrous Hindus, refuse to touch that cooked either by Native or European Christians; and they often refuse to allow Christians to draw water from the public wells, although Hindus are permitted to do so. Such objections arise solely from jealousy of race, and an unfriendly feeling towards the ruling power. In Afghanistan and Persia, no such objections exist; and no doubt much evil has been caused by Government allowing Hindustani Musulmans to create a religious custom which has no foundation whatever, except that of national hatred to their English conquerors.