The Advent of Islam in Bengal; an Economic Perspective

Md. Thowhidul Islam

1
Abstract: This article aims at examining the causes to the advent of Islam in
Bengal with a view to identify the economic perspectives. Islam took about six
hundred years for its advent in Bengal with political conquest by Bakhtiyar Khilji
in the early 1
th
century! while it had come in "rab at the beginning of #
th
century.
But long before the conquest of Bengal by Bakhtiyar Khilji! the "rab traders
established commercial relation with the coastal lands of Bengal and Islam began
to enter into Bengal with the hands of these early "rab Muslim traders. $ith the
beginning of this early advent! Islam started to enter into Bengal by both the sea
and land routs on different circumstances. Though there were many other grounds
for the advent of Islam in Bengal! but the economic perspectives were the
foremost and forerunner than the others.
1.
Introduction
The religion of Islam began to enter into the Indian %ub&'ontinent within one hundred
years of its advent in the early #
th
century in "rabian (eninsula through the (rophet Mohammad
)s.m*. (rimarily it started with the conquest of Sind and Multan in the early +
th
century by an
"rab lieutenant of Hajjaj bin Yusuf! the viceroy of eastern province of the ,mayyad 'aliphate!
Muhammad bin Qashim! though this conquest did not leave a permanent rule in the sub&
continent! but left only religio&cultural impact on the people of Indus -alley. Moreover! the wave
of this conquest could not penetrate deep into the heart of this subcontinent! not to speak of her
eastern regions like Bengal.
1
It took about five hundred years for Muslim political power to
reach Bengal! when Bakhtiyar Khilji brought Bengal under Muslim rule in the early 1
th
century
defeating the Sena king Lakhman Sena. .eally it is difficult to identify the exact year of the
advent of Islam in Bengal due to the paucity of historical sources. Most of the modern historians
considered the year of 1/01 ".2. as the year of Bakhtiyar Khilji3s victory over Bengal.
/
"ccording to unconfirmed traditions! some Muslim %ufi&saints came to Bengal even before the
political conquest. $e will try to identify the economic background and perspective for the
advent of Islam in Bengal in this paper.
2.
Early Ara !uslims Economic "ontact #ith Bengal through the $ater#ays:
The commercial relation of Indian %ub&'ontinent particularly of Bengal with "rab world
was established between the merchants of the two parts probably soon after /+00 B.'. 4rom
historic times in Mesopotamia Indian cotton was known by the name of Sindhu! and it passed
into 5reek in the form of Sindon. 2uring the period between the decline of the 5reeco&.oman
trade with Indian %ub&'ontinent in the third century ".2.! a number of important political
changes took place affecting Indo&"rab trade relation! and causing the transfer of the traffic into
the hands of (ersia. In the century before the rise of Islam! the (ersians were supreme in the
1
6ecturer in Bangladesh %tudies! International Islamic ,niversity 'hittagong.
1
"rabian %ea trade. Their boats frequented the harbours of India. %ea&going ships from India
sailed as far as Al-Madain up to the Tigris! and Al-Ubulla had been termed as Arj al-Hind!

the
marches of India. 7owever! after the advent of Islam the "rabs re&established their control over
the sea trade.

Islam entered into Bengal both by land and water routes. By land! the Turkish conquerors
came first with the religion of Islam and their culture at the time of Bakhtiyar3s invasion into
Bengal! while the "rab traders came through the waterways. 6ong before the Turkish conquest!
8arly "rab Muslims had established commercial contact with the costal lands of Indian %ub&
'ontinent including Bengal. 4rom the very beginning! the "rab Muslims were trade oriented
nation due to the lack of agricultural facilities in "rabian (eninsula as most of the "rab lands
were desert. They were the foremost seafaring and maritime people of the then world. They
carried on extensive maritime trade between the 8astern "sian countries and the western
8uropean nations. 4rom geographical study! it is quite clear that even before the advent of Islam!
"rab regions played an important role as a bridge between the trade of 8ast and $est through
the sea routes of Mediterranean %ea! .ed %ea and (ersian 5ulf. "fter the advent of Islam the
"rab Muslims established absolute control over these sea routes including "rab %ea! Indian
9cean till to the (acific. The $estern Mediterranean having become a Muslim lake.
1
"rab
dominance over the trade routes of sea became a reality in the 10th century. There were ma:or
settlements of "rab traders scattered along the west and south coast of Indian %ub&'ontinent and
%ri 6anka! with similar facilities extending into the chain of Islands at the %outh 'hina %ea and
the (hilippines. Indeed so dominant and pervasive was "rab traders control of this trade route!
that the 8uropeans were driven to despair trying to work out how to carve out profitable routes
for themselves. K A !i"ami wrote as follows;
<India=s relation with the "rab world go back to hoary past. 6ong before the rise of Islam!
there was brisk commercial contact between India and "rabia and the "rab traders carried
Indian goods to the 8uropean markets by way of 8gypt and %yria. #l$hinstone has rightly
observed that from the days of %oshe$ to the days of Mar&o 'olo and (as&o de )ama the "rabs
were the captains of Indian commerce. There were large number of "rab colonies on the
western coast of India and many Indian settlements in the "rab countries>.. $hen Islam
spread and the "rabs got converted to Islam! these colonies continued to flourish as before. The
Indian *ajas appointed Muslim :udges ! known as hunurman! to decide their cases and
provided all facilities to them to organise their community life. 'ommercial contact led to
cultural relations and while large number of "rab navigational and other terms were adopted by
the Indians! Indian customs! institutions and practices found their way to "rabia. (hilologists
have traced three Sanskrit word misk )Musk*! "anbil )ginger* and kafur )camphor* ? in the
@uran.
A

Thus the coastal areas of India including Bengal turned into the important commercial
centres of world trade! where the "rab traders had to stay in the midway to the %outh&8ast "sian
countries till to the 4ar 8ast of 'hina. In course of time! they extended their commercial
activities to the entire coastal regions of south "sia including Bengal! Burma! Malaysia!
Indonesia and as far as 'hina. %o the Indian and Bengal costal regions were as a transition Bone
between the trade of west and the 4ar 8ast of 'hina.
C
"s is well known! the piratical capture of
some "rab vessels! while coming from +eylon! off the coast of ,ebal of Sind led to the conquest
of Sind in #1/ ".2. led by Muhammad bin Qashim It not only secured the "rab navigation but
/
also encouraged and gave an impetus to their commercial activities on the entire sea routes.
,nfortunately we have no detail of this early contact between "rab and Bengal. %ome indirect
references are found by the "rab 5eographers! which may be identified with places in 8astern
India in 5eneral and Bengal in particular. Sulaiman wrote in his Silsilt-ut--a.arikh in this
connection;
<These three states )DurB! Balhara and Tafak* border on a kingdom called *uhmi! which is at
war with that of %ur". The king is not held in very high estimation. 7e is at war with Balhara as
he is with the king of %ur". 7is troops are more numerous than those of Balhara! the king of
%ur" or the king of -afak. It is said that when he goes out to battle! he is followed by about
A0!000 elephants> It is stated that there are from ten to fifteen thousand men in his army who
are employed in fulling and washing clothes> It is made of cotton! and we have seen a piece
of it. Trade is carried on by means of Kauris! which are the current money of the country.E
#
Modern scholars have tried to identify the kingdom of *uhmi of Sulaiman=s description.
"ccording to Hodi/ala the kingdom of *uhmi may be identified with the kingdom of
,harma$ala in Bengal )##0&+10*.
+
Sulaiman=s descriptions of 8lephants! fine cotton textiles!
+o.rie as the medium of exchange suggest that the reference was to Bengal. Because of all later
writers as Minhaj! 0bn Batuta and almost all 8uropean travelers gave similar information about
Bengal. Masudi said <The kingdom of *ahma extends both along the sea and the continent. It is
bounded by inland state called the kingdom of Kaman.E
F
Kaman is a variant form of Kamru$
and so the kingdom of *ahma may be identified as Bengal. 0bn Khurdadbih said that %a"irat al-
*ami comes after Sarandi$ and contains peculiar unicorn animals and little naked people.
10
Ya1ut identified it as the farthest land of India towards the %trait of Malacca.
11
"ll these
descriptions indicate the location of *ami or *ahma off the coast between the Bay of Bengal and
the straits of Malacca. $e know that *amu or *ame was a state on the eastern coast of the Bay
of Bengal comprising some districts of 'hittagong! now which is a small town of 'ox=s BaBar
district of Bangladesh. The 8nglish traveler *al$h 2it&h who visited Bengal in 1A+A&+C! also
referred to the kingdom of *ame.
1/
%o it may be assumed that the %a"irat al-*ami of "rab
5eographers was the state of *ami )now .amu* on 'hittagong coast.
Ubaidullah 0bn Khurdadhbih while discussing the places of trade interest on the coast of
Indian 9cean after <Sarandi$E )'eylon* and the river <KudafaridE )5odavari on the east Indian
coast* referred to a port called <SamandarE where rice was produced and to which aloe&wood
was brought down for export from a distance of 1A or /0 days through sweet water from a
territory named Kamrun.
1
Al 0drisi also mentioned the port of Samandar as
<Samandar is a large town! commercial and rich! where there are good profits to be made. It is
a town dependent upon Kanauj! king of this country. It stands upon a river which comes from
the country of Kashmir. .ice and various grains! especially excellent wheat! are to be obtained
here. "loe wood is brought hither from the country of Kamrut )Gamrup* 1A days distance! by
river of which the waters are sweet. The aloe&wood which comes from this country is of a
superior quality and of a delicious perfume. It grows in the mountains of Karan. 9ne day=s sail
from this city there is a large island well peopled and frequented by merchants of all countries.
It is four days distance from the island of Sarandi$. To the north at seven days distance from
Samandar! is the city of Kashmir the inner! celebrated throughout IndiaH which is under the rule

of Kanauj. 4rom Kashmir to Kamrut four days. 4rom Kashmir to Kanauj about seven days.
This is a fine commercial city which gives the name to the king of the country.E
11

4rom the above description of "rab geographers! it is clear that the port of Samandar is
located :ust after the 8ast Indian coast. 0bn Khurdadbih particularly mentioned it is after the
river of )oda/ari towards the east! which indicates to be the Bengal coastal regions. Both of 0bn
Khurdadbih and Al 0drisi spoke about the abundance production of rice! which is till now the
chief agricultural production of south&eastern part of Bengal. The aloe&wood was exported from
Kamrut or Kamrun! which is modified form of Kamru$! a district of Assam. In ancient times it
was applied to a wider area.
1A
This hilly region was famous for producing enough aloe&wood.
1C
The rivers of Brahma$utra and %amuna passing through Assam! :oined near of 2haka and with
the river )an3es or 'adma at Baker3anj and these combined stream fallen into the Bay of
Bengal. This was evidently the <sweet waterE route of "rab 5eographers! which was used in
exporting aloe&wood. "ccording to Al-0drisi=s statement Samandar is situated in an inlet on the
bank of a large river. There is no other mentionable inlet on the whole coastline from +eylon to
Burma where a large river falls except south&eastern part of Bengal through which the combined
stream of three rivers )an3es )(adma*! Brahma$utra )Damuna* and Me3hna fallen into the Bay
of Bengal. The statement also suggests that the river on the mouth of which Samandar located!
came from the land of Kashmir. The river )an3es or now 'adma in Bangladesh only the river
came from )an3otri glacier of 7imalayan Mountain which is very close to Kashmir. The rivers
of )an3es and Brahma$utra coming from 7imalayan Mountains met together at )oalanda3hat
of *ajbari district of Bangladesh and this combined stream of two rivers met with Me3hna at
+hand$ur and fallen into the Bay of Bengal in the name of Me3hna which formed the only
navigable inlet between +eylon and Burma. The statement <dependent upon Kanauj! king of this
countryE refers to another point. 9riginally Kanauj is a city of Iorth&India! which was brought
under the sway of the kingdom of ,harma$ala )#A/&+/* of Bengal. (robably for that imperial
tradition Al-0drisi gave this relative statement. "ccording to his statement there is an island one
day=s distance from Samandar and four day=s from Sarandib )'eylon*. It obviously refers to the
island of Sandh.i$ which located at the mouth of the rivers of )an3es )(adma*! Brahma$utra
)Damuna* and Me3hna to the Bay of Bengal. It was a large and flourishing commercial center.
1#
%o the port of Samandar is situated at the near of the island of Sandh.i$. ,r Abdul Karim
identified Samandar as the port of 'hittagong
1+
and ,r M Mohar Ali tried to identify it as
present +hand$ur.
1F
$hatever 'hittagong or +hand$ur! Samandar was obviously identified as a
port of Bengal. 4rom the description of "rab geographers we also may evidently conclude that
there was a strong relation between "rab and the coastal lands of Bengal and this relation was
purely commercial based on the trade of export and import. The "rab traders built up this
relation only for trading interest. They exported and imported various delicious and valuable
items as rice! sugar! aloe&wood! medicinal&wood whose leaves produced bitter :uice! cotton
cloths such as Muslin )very fine cotton garments*! ivory! rhino horns and otter skins! horses!
perfumes! spices! (ersian luxurious items and many other commodities from and to Indian
territories along with Bengal! %outh&"sian countries including 4ar 8ast of 'hina! "rab! 8gypt!
%yria! (ersia! and many other 8uropean countries.
%.
1
Archeological evidence:
This early commercial relation between "rab and Bengal is evidently supported by local
archeological discoveries. "rcheologists have discovered three silver coins; one at the ancient
Buddhist site at 'ahar$ur in *ajshahi district of north Bengal in 1F#&+! which belonged to the
great "bbasid 'aliph Harun al-*ashid )#+C&+0F* and dated on #++ ".2.
/0
Two others found at
the ruin of Mainamoti in +omilla district.
/1
Though the proper identification of the second coins
is difficult for want of information! it seems that these also belonged to the "bbasid period. It is
assumed that these coins brought here by the "rab traders in the +
th
or F
th
century. %o the
presence of "rab coins in the deep inland of Bengal proved the presence of "rab traders as the
coins generally bear the trading identity. The "rab traders might be reached at +omilla or
'ahar$ur through the rivers of Me3hna and 'adma from the coast of 8astern Bengal. .ecently a
mosque of CF ".7. has been discovered at the village of Ara of 'an&ha3ram union in the district
of Lalmonirhat.
//
"ccording to the findings! it was established after + years of the incident of
Karbala and /1 years before the expedition of Muhammad bin Qashim in Sind. 9n the
discovered bricks there was mentioned the year of CF Hijri with the Kalima-i--ayibah or holy
sentence. Though it is hitherto under the consideration for recognition of the archeologists! if it
is approved as historical evidence! this will also witness the presence of Islam along with
considerable number of Muslim settlement in Iorth Bengal. Basing on these archeological
evidences we may conclude that the 8arly "rab Muslims had a strong commercial relation with
Bengal prior to the Muslim political conquest by the Turks.
&.
Ara !uslim 'ettlement and (ocal Traditions:
The "rab traders in course of their trade! settled down in Malabar! +eylon! %a/a!
Sumatra! Malaya and other places on their trade routes. %o it is assumed that some of them
might have settled in the fertile coastal lands of Bengal as it was prosperous with various
valuable commodities as 'otton! %pices! and $oods in particular. Though the question of this
early "rab settlement hitherto an arguable issue among the scholars! some of them tried to prove
"rab Muslim rule in the north Bengal in the +
th
century.
/
,r #namul Ha1 explained that the
"rab Muslim settlers in 'hittagong region had gradually grown to be a compact and influential
community and had in course of time organised an independent principality of their own
comprising the coastal belt of 'hittagong and Ioakhali 2istricts! and that the ruler of this
Muslim principality bore the title of Sultan.
/1
7is explanation was based on some Arakani
chronicles. In such a chronicle Ging -su-la--ain3 -san-da-ya )FA1&FA#* defeated one -hu-ra-tan
and erected a victory memorial at a place -set-ta-3oin3 )'hittagong*.
/A
"ccording to him! -hu-
ra-tan is an Arakani form of "rabic word Sultan which is used as a title for the ruler. ,r M A
*ahim also supported this explanation and said that <Surtan is an Arakenese corruption of
Sultan.E
/C
2oubts also expressed about the possibility of such early "rab settlement before the
military conquest.
/#
Besides this Arakani anecdote! the geographical location of 'hittagong is
also in favour of the theory of early "rab settlement as it is situated at the eastern end of the 5ulf
formed at the mouth of the combined flow of three ma:or rivers the )an3es! the Brahma$utra
and the Me3hna. The great admixture of "rabic words and phrases in the local dialect of
'hittagong also supports the theory of 8arly "rab settlement. Moreover! the name of 'hittagong
is also an "rabic origin. (robably the "rab merchants called it as Shat-al-)an3ha in "rabic with
A
meaning the valley or the bank of )an3ha. This expression gradually changed into the local
form of +hat3aon which 0bn Batuta called Sadka.an
/+
and finally formed into 'hittagong.
"bout half of the vocabulary of local language of 'hittagong is pure "rabic or derived from
"rabic root. The influence of "rabic language on the dialect of 'hittagong also may be a curious
research issue. The names of many places and people bear "rabic influence. Many social
customs also preserve the "rabic tradition. This deep "rabiciBation of locality is only the result
of long and constant intercourse with a siBable group of "rab resident in the locality.
/F
The later
visitors as Barbosa of (ortuguese )1A1+* also found the port city with inhabited mainly by the
"rab Muslims and others who conducted prosperous trade with other parts of %outh 8ast "sian
coastal territories as +oromondol4 Malabor4 +ambay4 'e3u4 Sumatra4 Mala&&a4 +eylon etc.
0
The
principal factor behind such settlement was mainly to secure their trade and ensure the supply of
trading commodities. It was necessary for the "rab big merchants to have settled down some of
their agents nearer to the ports or trade centres to supervise their business! provide security!
ensure supply and maintain communication between "rab and local traders. %ometimes natural
calamities also caused shipwrecks and compelled the survivors to seek shelter in the near by
coastal lands. "n Arakani chronicle mentioned that few "rabs after a shipwreck off the coast of
Arakan were settled by the king Ma-ba-toin3 )#+0&+10*.
1
The social condition of the then Bengal was also in favour of such an early "rab Muslim
settlement. The Sena .ulers in Bengal had originally come from south&India and established in
Bengal by suppressing the Buddhist 'ala rulers. They also installed an orthodox 7induism with
strict caste system and the Satti system.
/
There were about nearly hundred castes and sub&castes
existed in the society among which social interaction was prohibited.

The lower classes of

7indus had been oppressed by the upper classes. They neither inter&marry nor inter&dine. They
had no right to change their professions. Moreover! the lower classes of 7indus had no
permission to enter into the city. The Buddhism was also corrupted. Buddhism had! for a variety
of reasons! declined and many of its ideas and forms had been adsorbed into 7induism. The
7induiBation of the simple teachings of )autama was reflected in the elevation of the Buddha
into a divine being surrounded! in sculptural representations! by the gods of the 7indu pantheon.
The Buddha later came to be shown as an incarnation of (ishnu.
1
Moreover the Buddhists also
were lived under the constant oppression of the Sena .ulers. M ! *oy described the social
background to the expansion of Islam more beautifully as follows.
<8vidently! society was in such a disintegrated and chaotic state as to make the position even of
the most privileged class insecure. That is usually the result of counter revolution. " revolution
may be defeated by a combination of forces; but that does not enable the triumphant forces of
reaction to remove the causes of social disintegration which brought about the revolution. In
India! the Buddhist revolution was not defeated; it was miscarried owing to its internal
weakness. %ocial forces were not sufficiently mature to carry the revolution to victory.
'onsequently! after the downfall of Buddhism! the country found itself in a worse state of
economic ruin! political oppression! intellectual anarchy and spiritual chaos. (ractically! the
entire society was involved in that tragic process of decay and decomposition. That is why not
only the oppressed masses readily rallied under the banner of Islam which offered them social
equality if not political equality; even the upper classes offered their services to the foreign
aggressor out of selfish motives. That shows that! while the masses were in a state of despire!
the upper classes were thoroughly demoralised>..In any case! it is clear that at the time of
C
Mohammedan conquest! there lived in India multitudes of people who had little reason to be
faithful to 7indu laws and the traditions of Brahmans orthodoxy! and were ready to forsake that
heritage for the more equitable laws of Islam which offered them protection against the tyranny
of triumphant 7indu reaction.E
A
%o the social equality among the Muslims impressed the local people of Bengal. %ometimes
"rab Muslim traders received local converted girls as their wife. The Satti system and the
(rohibition of widow marriage remained in the 7indu society while widow marriage was
encouraged and Satti system was prohibited in Islam. Being influenced by these social equity!
:ustice and simplicity of Islam! the 7indus and Buddhists! lower classes of 7indus in particular
showed respect to the "rab Muslims and gradually converted and flocked into the fold of Islam
with their hands.
C
4inding this congenial atmosphere for their faith as well as trade! the "rab
Muslim traders also influenced to be settled here. 9n the other hand! the "rab traders were also
largely attracted to the natural beauty of Bengal as they had come from a desert land. "fter the
advent of Islam! one of the attractive characteristics of the then "rabs was that they carried on
the new message of Islam whenever and wherever they went. %o the "rab traders and settlers
also carried on the new message of Islam to the inhabitants of the coastal lands of Bengal. But
their professional and prime ob:ective was the security and extension of trade with other places
and countries.
).
Advent of Islam in Bengal through the land routes:
4irstly! the regions of the Indian %ub&'ontinent came in contact of Islam by land when
Mohammad bin Qashim made expedition and conquered Sind in #1/ ".2 during the time of
,mayyad 'aliph Al-5alid. The main cause which led to this expedition was the piratical capture
of some "rab vessels off the coast of ,ebal in Sind full of valuable items sent by the ruler of
+eylon to the ,mayyad 'aliph al-5alid and Hajjaj ibn Yousuf! the governor of eastern
provinces. Though the rule of Mohammad bin Qashim was not lasted permanently over the
conquered land! but it had left a significant impact on the people of India by bringing a new faith
and culture to this land. It primarily opened the door for gradual expansion of Islam in India.
Though the wave of this conquest could not reach Bengal! to some extent the wind of this
change also touched the territories of Bengal as a part of the sub&continent. But considerable
matter is that it was purely an economic attempt. %econdly! Mahmud! the Sultan of )a"ni )FF#&
100* was the remarkable figure in the history of India in making a direct land contact of Islam
with the sub&continent of India. 7istorians are not clear concerning either the exact number or
the dates of Sultan Mahmud=s expeditions. The general belief is that he made seventeen
expeditions between the years 1000 to 10/C ".2. but he did not establish a permanent rule over
the conquered territories though he got victory in every expedition. The causes and motives of
his campaigns have too often been misrepresented. %ome historians called him as a raider&in&
chief while others as a great propagator of Islam. But after a brief discussion! the modern
historians identified the real causes behind his expeditions as were political and economic. In
order to build&up the newly founded empire of )ha"ni! to establish authority in his kingdom and
his superiority over the kings of Islamic world! to finance his grandiloquent schemes in arts and
culture! and to provide sufficient emolument to the mercenaries who! unless and until they were
given enough reward for their services! would not have accompanied him to his distant
#
expeditions! he stood in need of money and India was a veritable source of wealth. %o Sultan
Mahmud invaded India several times and returned to his kingdom with valuable wealth and thus
he did not need to found an everlasting kingdom in India. Through these politico&economic
invasions! the lands of India including Bengal came into direct contact with the people who
belonged to the faith of Islam. Indeed it left a significant impact on the people of the sub&
continent and also many 7indus accepted Islam. Ieedless to say that it included Bengal as it
was a part of the sub&continent. Thirdly! The Indian sub&continent came under the direct rule of
the Muslims! when Muhammad )huri launched a vigorous expedition against 'rit.iraj! the
leader of *aj$ut! in the second battle of -arain in 11F/ ".2.
#
This battle may be regarded as the
decisive contest which ensured the ultimate success of the Muslims in India. "fter this victory
Qutubuddin Aibek! who belonged to the viceroyalty of Muhammad )huri in India! captured
2elhi! the capital in 11F and gradually conquered many other territories of the sub&continent.
7e founded the Independent 2elhi %ultanate in 1/0C ".2. after the death of Muhammad )huri.
%imultaneously with Qutubuddin=s conquest! 0khtiaruddin Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji! a
young man accompanied Muhammad )huri to India! captured Bihar the fortified monastery of
Buddhist defeating the shave&headed monks possessing wealth and books! then known as
Magadha in 1/0/&0 ".2.
+
This conquest opened the whole territory upto Bengal before
Bakhtiyar Khilji. The Sena king Lakhsman Sena was the then ruler of Bengal with his capital at
!adia of west Bengal. In the next year 1/01 ".2.!
F
Bakhtiyar Khalji marched towards !adia
and captured Bengal. 9riginally! Bakhtiyar Khilji was a fortune seeker! who being refused to
:oin in the army of Qutubuddin Aibek! went to 6udh and got ja3irdaries )landed estate* of two
$ar3anas )villages* )bhuili and Bhagwat* in the south?east corner of Mir"a$ur district under
Malik Husam al-,in. 7is aim till then was to invade the neighbouring states in order to capture
their treasures and to raise his own army with the adventurous Khilji Amirs! who came to India
in search of better fortunes. %oon he gathered strength by bringing a band of adventurous Turks!
his countrymen! under his command and gradually conquered neighbouring territories as well
Bengal. %o the principal aim of Bakhtiyar7s expedition was to build up a kingdom for economic
prosperity. 9n the other hand! the commercial relation between Bengal and "rab was so deep
that when Bakhtiyar reached at the entrance of !adia palace with only 1+ horsemen! the people
guarding the gates took them as the Muslim horse traders and therefore did not oppose their
entry into the city.
10
This shows that the people from "rab and other Muslim countries used to
come to the inside cities of Bengal for trading concern long before the expedition of Bakhtiyar.
%o the trade contact paved the way of religio&political victory of the Muslims in Bengal.
It may be noted that in course of this commercial contact and political advancement! a
good number of %ufi&saints or religious preachers also entered into Bengal who propagated the
religious ideology of Islam among the inhabitant people. Most prominent among these early
%ufi&saints in Bengal were Baba Adam Shahid of Munsi3anj! subdivision of 2haka district!
11
Shah Mohammad Sultan *umi of Madan$ur4 !etrakona! subdivision of Meymensin3h!
1/
Shah
Sultan Mahisa.ar of Mahastan3arh in Bo3ra district!
1
and Makhdum Shah ,aula Shahid of
Shaba"$ur in 'abna district.
11
It is very difficult to ascertain the exact date of their arrival! but
from the contemporary sources the modern historians identified their arrival in Bengal before the
military expedition.
1A

+
*.
"oncluding +emar,s:
4rom the above discussion! we may summerise that the "rabia had a strong commercial
contact with the coastal lands of Indian %ub&'ontinent included Bengal before long time as well
before the advent of Islam. "fter the advent of Islam! the "rab Muslims established their trading
and political supreme control over the sea routes which included western Mediterranean %ea!
(ersian 5ulf! .ed %ea! "rab %ea! and Indian 9cean till to the (acific. %o they extended their
trade contact which reached to the inland of Bengal and sometimes they married the local girls
and settled here to ensure the trading supply and security. 9ne of the distinguished
characteristics of the then "rab Muslims was that! whenever and wherever they went! they
carried on the new message of Islam. %o the "rab traders also came to Bengal with the new
ideological message of Islam. "s the local socio&cultural condition of Bengal was also in favour
of new faith! being influenced by the social equality and :ustice among the Muslim traders!
many lower classes of 7indus and Buddhists converted to Islamic faith. 9n the other hand! the
military expeditions and land conquests by the Muslim army! also caused mainly by several
commercial factors than the others. Though many religious preachers! %ufi&saints came to the
sub&continent to preach Islam and most of the conversions happened through the hands of those
saints! but undeniable is that the commercial and trading causes were largely contributed to the
advent and expansion of Islam in Bengal. %o the trading contact was the pioneer to the religio&
political advent of Islam in Bengal.

-otes and +eferences
F
1
"bdul Garim! %ocial 7istory of the Muslims in Bengal! )Baitush %haraf Islamic .esearch Institute!
'hittagong! 1F+A*! (age&1.
/
". M. 'howdhury! 2ynastic 7istory of Bengal! (.( ? /A/&/A+.

G. ". IiBami! in the introduction of the Book <"rab "ccounts of IndiaE edited by 2r. Mohammad
Jaki! )2elhi! /00F*.
1
7enry (irenne! Mohammad and 'harlemagne! )6ondon! 1F+C*! (. & /+A.
A
G. ". IiBami! in the introduction of the Book <"rab "ccounts of IndiaE edited by 2r. Mohammad
Jaki! )2elhi! /00F*.
C
%ee 5eorge 4aldo 7ourani! "rab %eafaring in the Indian 9cean in "ncient and Medieval Times!
)(rinceton ,niversity (ress! 1FA1*.
#
8lliot and 2owsonH 7istory of India as told by its own 7istorians! vol. 1! p&A.
+
%. 7. 7odivala! %tudies in Indo&Muslim 7istory! (&1.
F
8lliot and 2owsonH 7istory of India as told by its own 7istorians! vol. 1! p&/A.
10
Ibn Ghurdadbih! Gitab al&Masalik wal&Mamalik! )8.D. Brill! 1++F*! ((. & CA.
11
Kaqut! Mu=:am al&Buldan! )Beirut edition! 1FA#*! vol.&! p.&1+.
1/
(urchas! 7is pilgrims! vol.&10! p.&1+
1
Ibn Ghurdadbih! Gitab al&Masalik wal&Mamalik! )8.D. Brill! 1++F*! ((.&C&C1.
11
"l&Idrisi! IuBhat al&Mushtaq! extract translated in 8lliot! "rab geographers! ((. & F0&F1.
1A
Gamrup was mentioned as a frontier state on the east of the 5upta 8mpire in %amudragupta=s
"llahabad (illar Inscription )1
th
century ".2.*. %ee 4leet! 'orpus Inscriptionum Indicarum! -ol.&!
)5upta Inscriptiops*.
1C
"bul 4adl! "in&i&"kbari! )translated by %arkar*! -ol.&/! p.&1+#.
1#
D.I. %arkar )edited*! 7istory of Bengal! -oll&/! )2acca ,niversity! 1F1+*! p.&C0. %ee also D.".
'ampos! The (ortuguese in Bengal! )'alcutta! 1F1F*.
1+
2r. "bdul Garim! %ocial 7istory of the Muslims in Bengal! )Baitush %haraf Islamic .esearch
Institute! 'hittagong! 1F+A*! (.(. &1&.
1F
2r. M. Mohar "li! 7istory of the Muslims of Bengal! -ol&I "! )2epartment of 'ulture and
(ublication! Imam Muhammad Ibn %a=ud Islamic ,niversity! 1F+A*! (.(. &&1.
/0
G.I. 2ikshit! Memories of the "rcheological %urvey of India! Io. AA! )2elhi! ".2. 1F+*! (. ? +#.
/1
4.". Ghan! .ecent "rcheological 2iscoveries in 8ast (akistanH Mainamati! )(akistan publications!
Gafachi! n.d.*! (.& 11.
//
The 2aily Bangla! /
rd
"pril of 1F+C titled <7i:ri CF %oner Mos:id "bishkarE.
/
Mehrab "li! 8ksha Teish 7i:rir %hilalipi )Inscription of 1/ ".7.*! 2ina:pur Museum %eries Io. 1.
/1
2r. Muhammad 8namul 7aq! (urba (akistane Islam (rochar! )2acca! 1F1+*! p. &1#. also see "rakan
.a:sabhaya Bangala %ahitya! )ed. By 8namul 7aq and "bdul karim*! p.&1.
/A
Dournal of the "siatic %ociety of Bengal! 1+11! -ol. & 1! (. & C.
/C
M. ". .ahim! %ocial and 'ultural 7istory of Bengal! -ol. &1! )1/01&1A#C*! )Garachi! 1FC*! (. & 11.
/#
%ee ". 7. 2ani! <8arly Muslim 'ontact with BengalE! The proceedings of the (akistan 7istory
'onference! Garachi session! 1FA1.
/+
7."... 5ibb! Ibn Batuta! )6ondon! 1F/F*! (. ? /C#.
/F
2r. Muhammad 8namul 7aq! (urba (akistane Islam (rochar! )2acca! 1F1+*! p. &1F.
0
7akluyt! -ol.&1! (.(. ? 111&11A.
1
Dournal of the "siatic %ociety of Bengal! 1+11! -ol. & 1! (.&C.
/
"ccording to the %atti system! 7indu widows would go to burn with her husband.

4or details about caste system in Bengal! see ..'. Ma:umdar )edited*! 7istory of Bengal! -ol.?1!
)The ,niversity of 2acca! 1F#C*! p.p. ? ACA ? AF.
1
Micle 8dwards! " 7istory of India! 1FC#. (. & /F.
A
M. I. .oy! The 7istorical .ole of Islam! )":anta Books International! 2elhi! 1F+1*! p.p. ? +/&+1.
C
Mohammad "kram Ghan! Moslem Bhonger %ama:ik Itihash! )"Bad and publications 6td! 1FCA*! p. ?
+.
#
..'. Ma:umdar )ed.*! 7istory and 'ulture of the people of India! -ol. ? A )The struggle for empire*!
)Bombay! 1FA#*! (.(. ? 110&111.
+
2r. ..5. Basak! quoting 5ayakara Misra=s Manuscript! in (roceedings of the Indian 7istory
'ongress! 1FF! pp. ? A1 ff! and 2r. 2.'. %ircar! quoting the 6uckeeserai Inscription! D.".%.B. -ol. ?
1+! 1FA1! Io. ? 1! p. ? /F.
F
There has been some disagreement among the scholars about the exact date of Bakhtiar=s expedition
to Iadia. 'harles %tewart fixed the date on the basis of contemporary (ersian sources as 1/0&01 ".2.
)7istory of Bengal! /
nd
edition! 1F10! p.&1C*. 8dward Thomas agreed with %tewart and gave the date
1/0/&0 )The 'hronicle of the (athan Gings of 2elhi! p. 110*. Minha:al&2in&%ira: categorically tells
that the conquest took place in the second or next year of Bakhtiyar=s visit with @utubuddin "ibek at
Iadia )Tabaqat I Iasiri! tr. by 8lliot and 2owson! -ol. ? /! p.&0#.*! while 2r. ".7. 2ani concluded by
fixing the correct date as 1/01 ".2. )Indian 7istorical @uarterly! 1FA1! p.p. 1&11#*.
10
Minha:al&2in&%ira:! Tabaqat&I& Iasiri! tr. by 8lliot and 2owson! -ol. ? /! p.&AA#.*
11
4or tradition regarding him see the Dournal of the "siatic %ociety of Bengal! 1++F! -ol. & A#! (.&1/&1F.
1/
Muhammad 8namul 7aq! Bange %ufi (robhav! )'alcutta! 1FA*! p. &1+.
1
4or tradition regarding him see the Dournal of the "siatic %ociety of Bengal! 1+#A! part ? 1! Io. ? /!
pp.&1+&1+C.
11
4or tradition regarding him see the Dournal of the "siatic %ociety of Bengal! 1F01! part ? 1! Io. ? !
pp.&/C/&/#1. "lso Bengal 2istrict 5aBetteers; (abna! 1F/! pp. 1/1 ? 1C.
1A
4or details about the %ufi&saints in Bengal see 2r. "bdul Garim! %ocial 7istory of the Muslims in
Bengal! )Baitush %haraf Islamic .esearch Institute! 'hittagong! 1F+A*! (.(. &11A&1+#! and also M. ".
.ahim! %ocial and 'ultural 7istory of Bengal! tr. Into Bengali by M. "saduBBaman! )Bangla "cademy!
(art ? 1! 2haka! /00+*! p.p. & A1&11C.