India has a great history and a great civilization, one of the oldest and most advanced civilizations. Since the Islamic religion is an international religion (for all nations), its teachings spread to all parts of the world, east and west. India was one of the countries in which Islam spread. Islam spread in India through two ways: the first was the Islamic conquests, which continued throughout the early Islamic eras.
The second way was the peaceful call that was carried out through trade and the role of Muslim preachers and rulers, as well as marriage between Indian society and societies that embraced Islam from Arabs and others.
India Before Islam
When we review the conditions of India before Islam, we find that moral, social and ideological decadence was the apparent feature, and this decadence appeared clearly from the beginning of the sixth century AD Among the manifestations of this decadence are the obscene abundance of deities and gods, rampant sexual desire, unfair class disparity, and unjust social privilege.
In India before Islam, a group of religions existed, including Hinduism, the oldest of these religions in India, followed by Buddhism, which spread about five hundred years before Islam, and a small number of those who embraced Christianity and Judaism. In ancient times, India included: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
We cannot pinpoint the exact date of the first contact between India and the Arabs, but it is historically proven that the Arabs had commercial relations with India before Islam; their ships reached most Indian cities; and they even went to the Bay of Bengal, the Malay countries, and the islands of Indonesia, until they formed Arab communities in some of these countries.
Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) And The Spread Of Islam In Northern India:
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not directly lead invasions into northern India, as his lifetime preceded major Islamic conquests in the subcontinent. However, his teachings and the early Islamic expansions under his successors played a pivotal role in the spread of Islam in the region. Following the Prophet’s death, Muslim armies began advancing into India, starting with the conquest of Sindh in 711 CE by Muhammad bin Qasim.
Over time, both military incursions and peaceful efforts by traders and missionaries contributed to Islam’s growth in northern India.
The Spread Of Islam In India
Islam’s journey into India dates to the earliest years of its existence. During the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) time, he sent a letter to the King of Malabar (Kerala) in the 7th century (628 AD) inviting him to embrace Islam
It is also narrated that the King of Kodungallur, Cheraman Perumal, visited the Prophet, and several groups of Arab Muslim missionaries, led by figures such as Malik ibn Dinar and Sharaf ibn Malik, arrived in the Malabar region, spreading Islam and building numerous mosques, especially in the city of Kodungallur
These early Muslim traders and missionaries played a significant role in the spread of Islam through their honest dealings and peaceful interactions with the local communities. As a result, Muslims were able to establish their faith across various ports and cities, where they built mosques and practiced their religious duties freely, benefiting from the trust placed in them by local rulers due to their vital role in the flourishing trade between the Arabian Peninsula and India
The Rashidun Caliphate’s Efforts For The Spread Of Islam In India
During the reign of the second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), the idea of spreading Islam to India began to take shape. Historians like al-Baladhuri mention that Umar appointed Uthman ibn Abi al-As al-Thaqafi as governor of Bahrain and Oman in 15 AH (636 CE). Uthman sent his brother, al-Hakam ibn Abi al-As, to Bahrain and Oman, launching preliminary expeditions towards India. However, these efforts were hindered by concerns over the potential perils of maritime expeditions, particularly given the uncertain conditions at sea during that time.
Under the rule of the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), there were increased efforts to explore the region of India, with a series of exploratory missions. He appointed Abdullah ibn Amir to Iraq and instructed him to send a well-informed representative to the Indian frontier. A notable mission was sent to the region of Sindh in India, where the envoy, Hakeem ibn Jablah, described the area as having abundant water but difficult conditions. Despite his cautionary report, the Rashidun Caliphate did not launch a full-scale campaign in the region at that time.
During the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), there was a brief but successful military intervention in the region. Al-Harith ibn Murrah led a campaign in the area and achieved a notable victory, capturing valuable booty and prisoners of war. This further highlighted the strategic importance of the region and the potential for spreading Islam through military and non-military means.
The Umayyad Caliphate’s Involvement For The Spread Of Islam In India
The Umayyad Caliphate, under the leadership of Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him), renewed efforts to open the Indian subcontinent to Islam. In 44 AH (665 CE), Muawiya sent al-Muhallab ibn Abi Sufra with an army to invade the Sindh region, marking the beginning of formal military expeditions into India. The initial expeditions were met with fierce resistance, but the Umayyad forces managed to secure some territories.
The most significant military conquest came under the leadership of Muhammad ibn Qasim, who was sent by the Umayyad caliphate in 92 AH (711 CE) to lead a large-scale campaign against the Hindu king Raja Dahir of Sindh. After his forces secured victory at the Battle of Debal, Muhammad ibn Qasim continued to expand Islamic rule over the region, defeating Raja Dahir and establishing a foothold for Islam in northern India. Muhammad ibn Qasim’s conquest marked a pivotal moment in the spread of Islam, as it opened up significant portions of India to the Islamic world.
The conquest of Sindh allowed Islam to begin its expansion into the Indian subcontinent, where mosques and Islamic institutions were established, and the faith began to take root among local populations. Despite the fall of Muhammad ibn Qasim from power after his removal in 96 AH, the influence of Islam continued to grow, especially in the Sindh region.
Islamic Expansion Under The Abbasids In India
With the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate, efforts to expand Islam into India continued but with varying degrees of success. The early Abbasid caliphs, including Al-Saffah and Al-Mansur, were particularly enthusiastic about maintaining and strengthening Islamic influence in the region. During Al-Saffah’s reign (132-136 AH), the caliph sent Musa ibn Khabir to Sindh, where he was able to briefly take control, but soon faced a revolt from local forces.
The most notable Abbasid military effort came under the caliphate of Al-Mansur (136-158 AH), who sent numerous expeditions to the Indian subcontinent. One of the most successful campaigns was led by Amr ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim, who completed the consolidation of Islamic rule in Sindh and expanded further into regions like Kashmir and Multan.
In the period that followed, the Abbasid caliphs, including Al-Hadi (158-169 AH) and Harun al-Rashid (170-193 AH), continued to support military expeditions into India. Harun al-Rashid sent a number of military campaigns to further stabilize the region, such as the expedition led by Ishaq ibn Sulayman al-Hashimi, which ended in failure. However, his successor Caliph Al-Ma’mun (198–218 AH) continued to see India as an area of strategic importance for the Abbasid Caliphate, with several governors appointed to ensure its inclusion within the wider Muslim empire.
The Role Of Trade And Cultural Exchange
While military campaigns were instrumental in spreading Islam in India, trade played a crucial role. Muslim merchants and traders had established significant influence along the western coasts of India, particularly in Gujarat and Malabar. The steady flow of Muslim traders facilitated cultural exchanges, enabling the spread of Islam in a non-coercive manner. These traders were not only responsible for bringing goods but also for introducing Islamic culture, practices, and values to the Indian subcontinent. Many local rulers found it beneficial to establish relationships with Muslim merchants and, over time, some embraced Islam, incorporating it into their courts and administrations.
Conclusion
The spread of Islam in India was a gradual process, shaped by a combination of military campaigns, trade, and cultural exchange. From the early missions sent by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the subsequent military efforts under the Rashidun, Umayyad, and Abbasid caliphates, Islam’s presence in India grew steadily. The victories of Muhammad ibn Qasim and the ongoing work of Muslim traders ensured that Islam’s influence expanded across the subcontinent, where it would eventually become one of the most prominent religions in the region.
Although the early conquests did not result in the immediate widespread conversion of the entire subcontinent, they laid the groundwork for the eventual establishment of Islamic empires, cultures, and communities throughout India. The long-lasting influence of Islam in India is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the faith in diverse cultural and political landscapes.
