Muslim Rule in India

Until 711 C.E., India had faced many invaders, but no substantial challenges on both a military and cultural level. 

The Persians and Greeks had confronted India with highly developed civilizations, but also had reached the limits of their expansion by the time they arrived there. 

The various nomadic peoples who entered India between the second century B.C.E. and eighth century C.E. may have been more potent military threats, but their cultures were thoroughly absorbed by India. 

However, in 711 C.E., India faced for the first time a vital people with a culture and religion both as sophisticated and powerful as its own: Islam.

Islam in India has had a fascinating, and powerful impact.

Indeed, Islam has become woven into the very fabric of Indian civilization and culture.

Muslims arrived in India during the life of Muhammad the Prophet, establishing mosques and organizing missionary endeavors in the seventh century C.E. 

Those missionary efforts proved successful, rooting Islam firmly into Indian life.

As often happens with missionary movements from all religions, merchant and trade endeavors went hand in hand with missionary work. 

Arabs had had a presence in India before the birth of Muhammad.

That probably facilitated making inroads for Islam, since Arab traders established in India who converted to Islam already had a base of operations established in the phenomenally diverse religious and cultural landscape of India.

Muhammad bin Qasim in A.D. 712.

After the foundation of Muslim rule in India, Islam spread far and wide and brought about a great change in the social and religious outlook of the people.

Muhammad Bin Qasim, the great Muslim hero and commander, entered India as a conqueror and lived there for three years. He introduced Islamic system and left an indelible impact on Indian society by the example of his character and generosity.

Islam, as a faith and system of life, won many followers in sub-continent because of its simple and humanitarian principles.

Before the advent of the Muslims many foreign tribes had come to India, but all of them had been assimilated into Indian society. This however was not possible in case of the Muslims.

The basic social and religious ideas of Islam differed so widely from those of Hinduism that Muslim invaders could not be absorbed in Indian society Islam was a well-defined faith and its monotheistic belief and exclusive religious outlook made its absorption into Hinduism impossible.

During their stay in India from 12th century A.D. to 18th century A.D., the Muslims converted a considerable number of native people into Islam.

Yet throughout this period the Muslims remained a minority community. However gradually Hindus and Muslims came in close contact with each other in various fields like administration, literature and in religions.

History has shown that when two civilizations, however opposed and different, come in close contact for centuries, both are bound to be influenced by each other. This is what has happened in India in the medieval period.

The idea of brotherhood of man, the belief in one God, a total surrender to God, which are the basic principles of Islam made a deep impression on the minds of Indian thinkers and reformers of the period.

Finally, as a result of Hindus and Muslims interacting with each other two religious movements developed, namely Sufism among the Muslims and Bhakti among the Hindus.

MAJOR ISLAMIC IMPACTS ON INDIAN SOCIETY

(i) Religious Impact:Before the coming of Islam to India, the people were divided in several religious factions and an intense struggle was going on between Hinduism and other religions. When Islam was introduced to the people of the sub-continent, it attracted many followers because of its simple and easily understandable principles.

The introduction of Islam completely transformed the Indian society into a well knit social fraternity.

Islam came as blessing for the oppressed classed in India whose life had become miserable because of the deep rooted caste system Most of the Indian Muslims converted to Islam were belonged to the lower classes of the Indian society.

Besides these Muslims there are also Muslims who belonged to the ruling families of the different Indian kingdoms. Some of these rulers were Hindus who actually belonged to the warrior castes of the Hindu society and adopted Islam.

Islam brought a new way of life for them which they had never experienced before in the Hindu society.

The respectable way of life, shown to them under Islam, gave them a feeling of being human beings.

Islam infused a different thinking and sentiments among the people of the sub-continent.

Social Impact:

India was divided into several sects and class when Islam reached here.

Since Islam propounds that all human beings are equal and accordingly make no discriminations on the basis of caste or creed.

Islam had its deep impact on the social life too.

The practice of purdah has been the result of the impact of Islam.

Since the Hindu society was living in isolation for several thousand years under a tight Brahminic control, it had lost its vigor and vitality.

Bottled in their own customs and rites the Hindus were politically divided and militarily weak. This naturally resulted in a major shake up by the Muslim who was strong and better equipped.

A sense of homogeneity and oneness grew in the social set-up after the arrival of the Muslims in India.

Indian society was now a well knit whole and a sense of centralism had evolved amongst the various sections of society.

With the arrival of the Muslims, India established relations with the other countries of the world. Diplomatic and trade links were established.

Cultural Impacts:

The impact of Islam could be seen on the cultural life of the Indians too.

The Hindus to a great extent have adopted the thoughts and belief of Islam.

The impact of Islam on Indian culture has been inestimable.

It permanently influenced the development of all areas of human like language, dress, cuisine, all the art forms, architecture and urban design, and social customs and values.

Conversely, the languages of the Muslim invaders were modified by contact with local languages, to Urdu, which uses the Arabic script.

The Farsi language was introduced in the sub-continent by the Muslims.

At the time of the Mughal, Farsi became the official language in the whole sub-continent. Even the Hindus used this language for communication. By the interaction of these languages new languages like Urdu and Hindi emerged

In the rule of Delhi Sultans, there are constructions which are designed by Muslims and built by Hindus who could not shun their artistic excellence which they have shown in temple constructions.

The materials used in temples were used later for the construction of Mosques which led to consist of Hindu element in Islamic constructions. Sometimes, they have only morphed the temple into Mosque by changing roof.

Islamic influence was visible in the miniature paintings of that time. Due to Muslim influence there was a wide transformation in Hindu Art and cultural activities.

Sufi created the spirit of tolerance.

Muslim influence brought music out of the temples into the courts and chambers of royal families.

Some of the Muslim Mughal rulers, who loved music and helped it grow, enriched North Indian music by incorporating Persian elements.

New types of music like the Khayal, Thumri and Tarana were introduced.

The Muslim conquest of India left a considerable impact on the Indian architecture and there was a unique development in art during the Muslim rule.

Muslim architecture frequently mingled with the Hindu style of buildings.

The Hindu temples, their pillars and domes reflected some glimpses of Muslims architecture.

In the new buildings red stone and marble was used which was a significant characteristic of the Muslim way of construction.

Impact on Literature:

In every country that was conquered including India, the first duty of Islam was to build a mosque in which Allah would be worshipped.

Attached to the mosque was a school (Madersa) where people were taught to read and study the Quran.

From this initial point they enlarged the study of science, literature and art. Schools were founded, great universities established, and libraries were built, which laid the permanent foundation of knowledge.

The old languages Sanskrit and Parakrit were influenced by Arabic and Persian and later on by Turkish language. By the interaction of these languages new languages like Urdu and Hindi emerged. 

The arrival of Muslims in the sub-continent marks a new development in the art of recording historical events. Historical literature which existed before the arrival of the Muslims was mostly legendary and unauthentic.

Sufis played an important role in the spread of Islam in India.

Their success in spreading Islam has been attributed to the parallels in Sufi belief systems and practices with Indian philosophical literature, in particular nonviolence and monism.

The Sufis' unorthodox approach towards Islam made it easier for Hindus to accept the faith. Hazrat Khawaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, Nizam-ud-din Auliya, Shah Jalal, Amir Khusro, Sarkar Sabir Pak, and Waris Pak trained Sufis for the propagation of Islam in different parts of India.

Once the Islamic Empire firmly established in India, Sufis invariably provided a touch of color and beauty to what might have otherwise been rather cold and stark reigns.

The Sufi movement also attracted followers from the artisan and untouchable communities; they played a crucial role in bridging the distance between Islam and the indigenous traditions.

Sufis passionately advocated peaceful conversion of Hindus to Islam.

Pattern of development

For 1000 years following the entry of the Arab Muslims into India, a basic pattern of development emerged. Muslims would come into North-western India and expand to the south and east. 

Eventually, India's environment would slow them down, as Islamic and Indian civilizations would leave their marks on each other. 

Then another group of Muslims would come in and repeat the process.

This pattern repeated itself in three successive waves: the Arabs in the eighth century, various Turkish peoples starting around 1000 C.E., and the Mughal dynasty that entered India in 1526. 

This cycle may have continued repeating itself except for the intrusion of the British who would present India with a new cultural challenge.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (India's Prime Minsiter 1947-64) in ‘The Discovery of India,’ 1946, p. 218, 225.

“The impact of the invaders from the north-west and of Islam on India had been considerable. It had pointed out and shone up the abuses that had crept into Hindu society - the petrification of caste, untouchability, exclusiveness carried to fantastic lengths.

The idea of the brotherhood of Islam and the theoretical equality of its adherents made a powerful appeal especially to those in the Hindu fold who were denied any semblance of equal treatment.”

Humayun Kabir in 'The Indian Heritage,' 1955, p. 153.

“Islam's democratic challenge has perhaps never been equaled by any other religious or social system. Its advent on the Indian scene was marked by a profound stirring of consciousness.

It modified the basis of Hindu social structure throughout northern India.”

Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Presidential Address to the Fifty-fifth Session of the Indian Congress, Jaipur, 1948.

“(The Muslims had) enriched our culture, strengthened our administration, and brought near distant parts of the country... It (the Muslim Period) touched deeply the social life and the literature of the land.”

Brooks Adams in 'The Law of Civilization and Decay,' London, 1898, pp. 313-17.

"Very soon after Plassey the Bengal plunder began to arrive in London, and the effect appears to have been instantaneous, for all authorities agree that the Industrial Revolution, the event that has divided the l9th century from all antecedent time, began with the year 1760....Plassey was fought in 1757, and probably nothing has ever equaled the rapidity of the change which followed....In themselves inventions are passive, many of the most important having laid dormant for centuries, waiting for a sufficient store of force to have accumulated to have set them working. That store must always take the shape of money, and money not hoarded, but in motion."...Before the influx of the Indian treasure, and the expansion of credit which followed, no force sufficient for this purpose existed....The factory system was the child of 'Industrial Revolution,' and until capital had accumulated in masses, capable of giving solidity to large bodies of labour, manufactures were carried on by scattered individuals....Possibly since the world began, no investment has ever yielded the profit reaped from the Indian plunder, because for nearly fifty years Great Britain stood without a competitor."

Sir William Digby in 'Prosperous India: A Revelation,' p. 30.

"England's industrial supremacy owes its origin to the vast hoards of Bengal and the Karnatik being made available for her use....Before Plassey was fought and won, and before the stream of treasure began to flow to England, the industries of our country were at a very low ebb."

N.S. Mehta, in 'Islam and the Indian Civilization,' reproduced in 'Hindustan ke Ahd-i-Wusta ki ek Jhalak,' by S.A. Rahman.

“Islam had brought to India a luminous torch which rescued humanity from darkness at a time when old civilizations were on the decline and lofty moral ideals had got reduced to empty intellectual concepts.

As in other lands, so in India too, the conquests of Islam were more widespread in the world of thought than in the world of politics.

Today, also, the Islamic World is a spiritual brotherhood which is held together by community of faith in the Oneness of God and human equality.

Unfortunately, the history of Islam in this country remained tied up for centuries with that of government with the result that a veil was cast over its true spirit, and its fruits and blessings were hidden from the popular eye.”

Prof. K.M. Panikkar in 'A Survey of Indian History,' 1947, p. 163.

“One thing is clear. Islam had a profound effect on Hinduism during this period. Medieval theism is in some ways a reply to the attack of Islam; and the doctrine of medieval teachers by whatever names their gods are known are essentially theistic.

It is the one supreme God that is the object of the devotee's adoration and it is to His grace that we are asked to look for redemption.”

Zaheeruddin Babar in his Autobiography 'Tuzuk-i-Babari,'

“There are neither good horses in India, nor good meat, nor grapes, nor melons, nor ice, nor cold water, nor baths, nor candle, nor candlestick, nor torch.

In the place of the candle, they use the divat. It rests on three legs: a small iron piece resembling the snout of a lamp... Even in case of Rajas and Maharajas, the attendants stand holding the clumsy divat in their hands when they are in need of a light in the night.

“There is no arrangement for running water in gardens and buildings. The buildings lack beauty, symmetry, ventilation and neatness. Commonly, the people walk barefooted with a narrow slip tied round the loins. Women wear a dress ...”

Dr. Gustav le Bon in 'Les Civilisations de L'Inde' (translated by S.A. Bilgrami).

"There does not exist a history of ancient India. Their books contain no historical data whatever, except for a few religious books in which historical information is buried under a heap of parables and folk-lore, and their buildings and other monuments also do nothing to fill the void for the oldest among them do not go beyond the third century B.C.

To discover facts about India of the ancient times is as difficult a task as the discovery of the island of Atlantis, which, according to Plato, was destroyed due to the changes of the earth... The historical phase of India began with the Muslim invasion.

Muslims were India's first historians."

“The coming of Islam and of a considerable number of people from outside with different ways of living and thought affected these beliefs and structure.

A foreign conquest, with all its evils, has one advantage: it widens the mental horizon of the people and compels them to look out of their shells.

They realize that the world is a much bigger and a more variegated place than they had imagined.

So Muslims had affected India and many changes had taken place.

The Moghals, who were far more cultured and advanced in the ways of living , brought great changes to India.

In particular, they introduced the refinements for which Iran was famous.”