The arrival of Islam in South Asia began through trade contacts between Arab traders and parts of southern India in the early centuries CE. As these traders adopted Islam, they helped spread the new religion. The Muslim conquest of Sindh by Muhammad bin Qasim in 711 CE marked the first establishment of Muslim political rule in the region. Bin Qasim's successful campaign was launched in response to attacks on Arab merchant ships by pirates based in Sindh. Overall, Islam spread both peacefully through Sufi missionaries and merchants as well as through subsequent military campaigns by Turkic dynasties between 1000-1526 CE. The new religion had a significant impact on the culture and society of South Asia, influencing language

1. Arrival of Islam in South Asia
Long before the advent of Islam in Arabia, the Arabs used to visit the coast
of Southern India, which then provided the link between the ports of South
and South East Asia.
After the Arab traders became Muslim, they brought Islam to South Asia.
A number of local Indians living in the coastal areas embraced Islam.
However, it was the Muslim conquests in Persia, including the provinces of
Kirman and Makran, which brought the Arabs face to face with the then ruler
of Sindh, who had allied with the ruler of Makran against the Muslims.
But, it was not until the sea borne trade of the Arabs in the Indian Ocean was
jeopardized that serious attempts were made to subjugate Sindh.

2. During the reign of the Umayyad Caliph Walid bin Abdul Malik, Hajjaj
bin Yousaf was appointed as the governor of the Eastern Provinces. At
that time, Raja Dahir, a Brahman, ruled Sindh. However, the majority of
the people living in the region were Shudders or Buddhists. Dahir
treated members of these denominations inhumanly. They were not
allowed to ride horses or to wear a turban or shoes.Sindhi pirates,
protected by Dahir, were active on the coastal areas and whenever they
got a chance, they plundered the ships passing by Daibul.Pirates
plundering Arab merchant ship

3. During those times, some Muslim traders living in Ceylon died and the ruler of
Ceylon sent their widows and orphans back to Baghdad. They made their journey
by sea. The King of Ceylon also sent many valuable presents for Walid and Hajjaj.
As the eight-ship caravan passed by the seaport of Daibul, Sindhi pirates lootedit
and took the women and children prisoner. When news of this attack reached
Hajjaj, he demanded that Dahir return the Muslim captives and the looted items.
He also demanded that the culprits be punished. Dahir replied that he had no
control over the pirates and was, therefore,powerless to rebuke them. On this
Hajjaj decided to invade Sindh. Two small expeditions sent by him failed to
accomplish their goal. Thus, in order to free the prisoners and to punish the guilty
party, Hajjaj decided to undertake a huge offensive against Dahir, who was
patronizing the pirates.

4. Arrival of Islam in South Asia
❖The historical relation between Arab peninsula and India (Bangladesh, India
and Pakistan) started long before the rise of Islam. Islam came to India by the
Arab traders first in the southern parts of India.
❖When Islam came in the Arab peninsula, its relations got a new dimension.
Muslim, whoever or whatever his/her profession, would involve in preaching
Islam generally.
❖Then Turks came to India to spread Islam in the middle of the 10th century.
❖Then, the continuous and increasing presence of the religious preachers and
teachers with the establishment of political authority made them important
personalities in the society.
❖Their efforts in spreading Islam based on some principles of tolerance,
equality, justice, mutual respect rather than garrison, made the Islamization
spread swiftly.

5. For Long Centuries, India, In A Memorable Phrase, Was “On The Way To Everywhere” .
What brought the Arabs in Subcontinent?
Trade brought Arabs to India’s southern seacoasts and to the coasts of Sri lanka, where small
Muslim communities were established at least by the early eighth century.
These traders played key economic roles and were supported by Non-Muslim kings like the
Zamorin of Calicut (kozhikode) who welcomed diverse merchant communities.
The Coastal areas had long served as central points for the transshipment of high value goods
between China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
In addition to the spices, teak, and sandalwood locally produced. the Muslim populations grew
through intermarriage, conversion, and the continued influx of traders.

6. Pre-Islamic Society
In the pre Islamic period Hinduism was the religion of the people of
both the north and south India.
Worship of Hindu gods and the religious verses in the local language
were provoked among the masses.

7. Path for the Muslim Rulers to enter the region
After the death of Harsha,(An Indian Ruler who ruled for forty years) the
North India broke down into different small empires.
The political leadership was passed to the Rajputs who were an upper
class of former princes, feudal or army officials of the foreign races like
Sakas, the Pahlavas and the Huns.
The Rajputs claimed that they were the descent of old Hindu gods
Surya, Chandra and Agni etc.
All this clan clashes and religious rivalry opened the path for Muslim
invaders to enter the region.

8. Fight among the Kingdoms
The emperors of these small dynasties were all the time fighting with each other
and gave no importance to the mutual national outlook and this resulted into
drastic changes in the social as well as religious sphere of the region:
❑The Buddhism merged into Hinduism and Jainism withdrew into the
background.
❑The spirits of sectarianism rise among the different clans and the rulers to get
support of the religious leaders and to win the hearts of the masses, spent
lavishly on temples and religious rituals.
❑The religious texts were written down and all people have to adhere to it in
their daily life.

9. Social Stratification(‫بندی‬ ‫)درجہ‬
❑There were cast systems among the people and it caused social stratification.
This system of social stratification weakened the social and political condition
as the people were not satisfied with their condition.
❑The suppression of the powerful over the weak was massive at that time.
❑Pre-Islamic India was entirely based on a caste system in which society was
broken into separate parts, conversion to Islam happened in a step-by-step
process. Often, entire castes would convert to Islam at a time.
❑In the caste system, who you are born to determines your position in society.
There was no opportunity for social mobility or to achieve greater than what
your parents achieved. By converting to Islam, people had the opportunity to
move up in society, and no longer were submissive to the Brahman caste

10. What Attracted the Hindus ?
Egalitarianism(‫پسندی‬ ‫)مساوات‬
In Islam, everybody is equal: no high or low, no high-caste or
outcaste.
Seeing this liberty and equality, large numbers of low-caste Hindus
eagerly converted to Islam; this saved them from the oppressed
and humiliating life offered by the Hindu society.

11. Early History of Islam in South Asia
Trade Relations
Newly Islamized Arabs were Islam's first contact with India.
The first ship bearing Muslim travellers was seen on the Indian coast as
early as 630 AD.
Arab traders used to visit the Malabar region, which linked them with the
ports of South East Asia.
India was among of the regions which came to know with Islam in the
first phase of 8th century.
During the reign of 2nd Caliph of Islam, the first expedition was sent to
the region but its target met the goal when Muhammad bin Qasim
captured the Sindh.
This event can be regarded as the first step of the establishment of
Muslim Rule in India.

12. Threats from sea pirates
• Inter sea trades was very significant for the Arabs. There was a threat from Indian
pirates to the Arab commerce which led the newly appointed governor to send
expedition to protect sea routes.
• In 697 al-Hajjaj, the powerful viceroy of Iraq and the eastern part of the Caliphate,
appointed Said ibn Aslam al Kilabi as the governor of Makran.
• But the governor was killed by two Arab rebels known as the Ilafi brothers.
• One was killed but another took shelter to Dahir, the king in Sindh in Aror.
• This event marked the turning point in the history of this region.
• Al-Hajjaj repeated appeals to Dahir asking the insurgents to the Caliphate but
appeals were refused.

13. Historic invasion under Muhammad Bin Qasim
Plunderingof ships by pirates of Debal while returning to Iraq in 709 CE. This act of piracy angered Al-
Hajjaj and Caliph as well. Al-Hajjaj asked themreturned but again refused.
Two militaryexpeditions were sent but failed.
It was at this point that the historicArab invasion of Sind took place underthe commander of Muhammad bin
Qasim ath-Thaqafi with a better organized and equipped than previous‟.
He succeeded on Debal and the fortified city fell to him in October711. And within some two and half years
it resulted in the fall of the vast kingdom of Sind.
Bin Qasim continuedto take controlover major city of Brahmanabad, ancient city of Multan and extended
up to the bordersof the kingdom of Kashmir, the farthest frontier of Dahir‟s kingdom in north.
He was forwarding for the conquest but was recalled by the new Caliph and the expedition was abandoned.
And the Muslim conquest delayed for threecenturies in the northern India.

14. Did Islam spread by force or by peace:
The caste system, which originated from Hindu belief, divided
society up into very strictly controlled social classes.
Buddhists were generally oppressed by the Hindu princes
throughout the country.
Many Buddhists and lower castes welcomed the Muslim armies,
who carried the promise of an equal society.
In fact, the first Muslims of Indian origin were probably from the
lower castes, as Islam offered them an escape from the
oppressive system.

15. With the conquest of Sindh, Muhammad bin Qasim showed that Islamic laws
protection of religious minorities was for the Christians, Jews, Buddhists and
Hindus in the subcontinent. They were given religious freedom and were not
forced to convert.
Muhammad bin Qasim promised security and religious freedom to all Hindus
and Buddhists under his control.
For example, the Brahman caste continued their jobs as tax collectors and
Buddhists monks continued to maintain their monasteries
Todays India a Hindu majority country would not be possible if there was
force conversion. Even Delhi today‟s capital of India was the capital of
Muslim Rule for centuries.
.

16. Islamization and the Turks (1000-1526 A.D.):
Compared to the Arabs, Turkish raids into India were much more ruthless and
destructive.
The first of these raiders, Mahmud of Ghazni, earned the title of "the Idol
Smasher" for the damage he did to Hindu Temples, while the ruler, Ala al-Din,
similarly came to be called "the World Burner."
These raids and invasions especially hurt Buddhism, as kings in East India were
no longer able or willing to patronize Buddhist monasteries.
This led many Buddhists either to convert to Islam or flee to Tibet and
Southeast Asia. As a result, Buddhism virtually died out as a religion in India
although its influence elsewhere continued to spread.

17. Role played by Sufi missionaries
The Sufis' unorthodoxapproach towards Islam made it easier for
Hindus to accept the faith.
• Hazrat Khawaja Muinud-din Chisti,
• Nizam-ud-din Auliya,
• Shah Jalal,
• Amir Khusro,
• Sarkar Sabir Pak,
• Waris Pak
Trained Sufis for the propagation of Islam in different parts of India.

18. Impact of Islam on South Asia
The culture was significantly impacted.
Cooking was heavily influenced from the Turks and Persians. Paneer
was introduced to Indians by the Turks.
Language was significantly changed. Hindustani evolved from the
combination of Hindi which was Sanskrit focused and Urdu which has
Persian influence.
Persian words still echo in the courts of India today. It is now said that
Hindi loses it sweetness and taste if you remove Urdu words from it.
Clothing attire was developed commonly where the invaders
adopted parts of Indian styles into their own.
Clothing was also changed to cope the weather. Ornaments and
jewelry evolved into a total new variety.

19. Purda System and Marriage:
The ‘Purda System’ became prevalent in Hindu society by following
Islamic practices.
The Hindu women who were living in seclusion at home now
moved outside their houses in the palanquinscovered with
curtains.
In the royal harem of Hindu rulers, Purda system was rigidly
enforced.

20. Thankyou………………….