Answer:
The end of Mughal rule had a significant impact on Muslims in India. With the decline of the Mughal Empire, Muslims found themselves at a disadvantage as their local rulers were often Hindu, and Muslims became a minority in terms of population. This change in power dynamics resulted in Muslims feeling marginalized and losing their traditional positions of authority and influence. Many Muslims were disheartened by the failings of their own nobility and were shocked by the advance of the Marathas, a non-Muslim group. As a result, some Muslims favored the idea of Afghan rule, viewing a Muslim outsider as preferable to the non-Muslim Marathas. However, their hopes were dashed when Ahmad Shah, the Afghan ruler, returned to Afghanistan, further adding to their disappointment and uncertainty about their future in India. This period of political and social upheaval likely had a profound effect on the lives and identities of Muslims in India during that time.