Advent of Islam in India with the Special Reference to the Contribution of Turks

Abdullah al-Mamun*

Abstract

The Indians came to know Islam through the Arabs and the Turks is a very important matter of
discussion in social science. The historical relation between Arab peninsula and India
(Bangladesh, India and Pakistan) started long before the rise of Islam. 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. This sense of Da’wah helped enormously in spreading Islam from
East to West. Islam came to India by the Arab traders first in the southern parts of India. Then,
Qasim ath-Thaqafi’s Sindh conquest and his policies based on simple life, mutual respect etc. helped to
extend his territory.

Later on, Turks came to India to spread Islam in the middle of the 10 th 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 swiftly. As a result, we can see 500 million more Muslims are in the region with two
independent Muslim countries. At the same time, Delhi, the capital of India, a Hindu populated city,
was the capital of Muslim rule for centuries as well as India too. These two examples indicate a clear
picture of the principles applied in India by the Muslims. The aim of this work is to depict a short
picture on the role of the Turks in the establishment of a new regime in India with an evaluation of their
policies.
Key Words: Indians, Turks, Islamization, Muslim Rule.

1. Introduction

The Arabs who first brought Islam to the Indian subcontinent, then the Turks1 completed the
mission. Soon after the advent of Islam in Mecca it started spreading over the regions, continents.
India was among of the regions which came to know with Islam in the first phase of 8 th century.
During Omar (r.), the 2nd Caliph of Islam, 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 gateway of
the establishment of Muslim Rule in India. Turkic or Turks, accepting Islam in the beginning of the
8th Century, took office in the Abbasids government. And very soon Islam spread among the Turks
beyond the River Ceyhan2. Muslim Turkish tribes established various families and formed many
Islamic states which worked variously to extend its boundaries. Their expeditions took different
directions and reached remote places and regions, in both the east and the west including the Indian
subcontinent. The Turkic attacks began in the first half of the 11th century starting with Sabuktkin.
The process of the establishment of their kingdoms in the North and West of Hindustan started from
late 12th century. Turks presence lasted in India for 700 years through Gaznavids, Delhi Sultanate
(except Sayyid and Lodi dynasties) and Mughal Empire. Turks Muslims had been successful to
influence the people of India by their ruling based on equality and accountability, simple life standard
of Dini (religious) teachers etc. Even they introduced a new concept of society, culture and
civilization. A good portion of it‟s population accepted Islam as their „Din‟, the new code of life. As a
nd
*2 Post Graduation (in progress), Department of Modern History, Istanbul University. B.A. (Honors) & M.A., Department
of Islamic History and Culture, University of Dhaka.
1
Turks or Turkic. Turk origin
2
Haila Abdurrahman Al-Sahli, “Turks in India: Their presence and contribution to Islam and civilization: an historical and
analytical study”, The West East Institute, International Academic Conference Proceedings, 2013, Istanbul, Turkey.
result today this region is the one of the largest centers of Muslim. It consists of 500 Million more
Muslims with two Muslim populated countries. The aim of this work is to depict a short picture on the
role of the Turks in the establishment of new regime and the evaluation of the policies followed by
them. This paper aims to trace the principles of the Muslim to take control over India and Turks role.

2. Advent of Islam in India

Islam arrived on the Indian subcontinent in three different stages and into three distance regions3.
It first came into the remote western part of Baluchistan and Sind (two provinces in the south and
south-east of modern- day Pakistan) in the late seventh century. Then it arrived in Malabar on the west
coast of India (the present state of Kerala) in the ninth century. Finally, it was introduced into the far
north-western part of the subcontinent (the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan) in the eleventh
century. Since the emergence of Islam on the subcontinent in the first and third stages was due to
military campaigns of the Arabs and Turks, it is well recorded. The details of the second stage are not
so well documented because during this time Islam was disseminated by the Arab traders and seafarers
who settled in the various coastal cities of south-western and eastern India.

Bengal can be described differently though it had inter-relations with both the Arabs and Turks as
well.

During the advent of Islam in India, it socio-political and cultural condition was different from
one place to another. The south of India was then greatly agitated by the conflict of religions, for Nee-
Hinduism was struggling with Buddhism and Jainism for the upper hand. Politically, too, it was a
period of unsettlement and upheavals. The Cheras were losing power and new dynasties were
emerging into power. Naturally, the minds of the people were perturbed and they were prone to accept
new ideas from whatever quarter they came.4

The inter-rivalry between the kingdoms in India paved the way for their entry in to India. The country
was parceled out among petty chiefs, all independent of one another and often fighting amongst
themselves as Kashmir, Sindh, Malwa, Gujarat, Bengal, and Kanauj as important kingdoms.

a. Islam Arrives in India by the Arabs

The Arabs were no strangers to the Indian coast. Long before the rise of Islam, their traders
and seafarers, along with the Persians, had been engaged in the Indian Ocean commerce. The first
clash between Arabs and the rulers of Indian subcontinent took place in 636 during the caliphate of
Omor ibn al-Khattab, just four years after the death of Prophet (PBUH)5. Uthman ibn al-Ath at-
Thaqafi, governor of Bahrain and Oman, sent two expeditions to the western cost of India and Sindh
under the command of Uthman‟s brother al-Hakam. But the forces were dispatched Thana and

3
Sayyid Rizwan Ali Nadwi, The Different Aspects of Islamic Culture: The Spread of Islam throughout the World, Editors:
Idris El Hareir and El Hadji Ravane M‟Baye, V-3. UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 200, P. 600.
4
Tara Chand, Influence of Islam on Indian Culture, Lahore, Book Traders, 1979, p 34
5
Sayyid Rizwan Ali Nadwi, The Different Aspects of Islamic Culture: The Spread of Islam throughout the World, Editors:
Idris El Hareir and El Hadji Ravane M‟Baye, V-3. UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 2001, P. 601.
Bharoch. The seconed expedition under the command of al-Mughira was sent to the port of Debal
Sindh.6 Al-Baladhuri offers some information which remarks the second expedition was successful.7

According to Historians Elliot and Dowson in their book "The History of India", as told by its
own historians, the first ship bearing Muslim travelers was seen on the Indian coast as early as 630
AD. The first Indian mosque is thought to have been built by Malik Bin Deenar in 629 AD,
purportedly at the order of an unknown Chera dynasty ruler, during the lifetime of Muhammad
(PBUH) (c. 571–632). This was situated in Kodungallur, in the district of Thrissur, Kerala. In
Malabar, Muslims are called Mappila8.

i. The Conquest of Baluchistan and Sindh

Inter sea trades was very important 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 routes9.
A prohibition on the expeditions got relaxed after the death of Omar (r.). In 643-44 AD Abdullah bin
Amar bin Rabi invaded Kirman and took the control of the capital compelling the ruler to sue for
peace. Then marched towards Sistan and Mekran but khalifa stood on his way and forbade all further
progress10. With the permission of „Ali‟ (r.) principal town of Baluchistan was occupied though it was
short -lived11. During the stable reign of the Umayyad Caliph Mu„awiya ibn Abi Sufyan and his
successor, four expeditions were sent, one after another from 664 to 670, to subdue the region of
Baluchistan (known to the Arabs at that time as Makran), were not successful. Eventually, Sinan ibn
Salman al-Hudhali succeeded in conquering eastern Makran and established himself there in around
670-67212. From that time it became a territory of the Umayyad Caliphate. In 697 al-Hajjaj, the
powerful viceroy of Iraq and the eastern part of the Caliphate, appointed Sa„id 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 Aror13. 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.

Subsequently, in approximately 709 CE some Muslim men with some women with eight
vessels full of valuable presents gifted by King of Ceylon to the Umayyad Caliph al-Walid were
plundered by pirates of Debal while returning to Iraq. This act of piracy angered Al-Hajjaj and Caliph
as well. Al-Hajjaj asked them returned but again refused. Two military expeditions were sent but
failed.

6
Thana was a famous sea port befor the foundation of Mombay by British. Now it is an in significant nearby fishing port.
And Bharoch also exists in the north of Bombay. Debal, some 64 km north of Karachi in present day Pakistan, has been in
ruins for centuries.
7
Ahmed ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri, Futuh al-Buldan, Cairo, 1956, p. 530.
8
Stanley Lane-Poole.1906 .History of India, Trinity College, Dublin, in History of India, Edited by A. V. Williams Jackson, 3\1:
3, Annotated by Haila Abdurrahman Al-Sahli, op.cit. P.15
9
Sometimes it is being described as a probable threat. Even modern Indian Historian of Sindh, Abu Zafar Nadwi, in his
Tarikh-e-sindh, India, Darul Mosanifin, 1947,p.23
10
Prasad, Ishwari, A Short History of Muslim Rule in India: From the Conquest of Islam to the Death of Aurangzeb,
Allahabad, 1931, P. 30.
11
Sayyid Rizwan Ali Nadwi, The Different Aspects of Islamic Culture: The Spread of Islam throughout the World, Editors:
Idris El Hareir and El Hadji Ravane M’Baye, V-3. UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 2001 p. 604
12
Ahmed ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri, Futuh al-Buldan, Cairo, 1956, p. 531-33
13
Ahmed ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri, Futuh al-Buldan, Cairo, 1956, p. 534, al-Kufi, Fathnamah,p. 64-67
 It was at this point that the historic Arab invasion of Sind took place under the 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 October 711. And within some two and half years it
resulted in the fall of the vast kingdom of Sind. Bin Qasim continued to take control over major city of
Brahmanabad, ancient city of Multan and extended up to the borders of the kingdom of Kashmir, the
farthest frontier of Dahir‟s kingdom in north. He was forwarding for the Kannauj but was recalled by
the new Caliph and the expedition was abandoned. And the Muslim conquest delayed for three
centuries in the northern India.

The conquest of Sind opened the way for the spread of Islam in the western part of Indian
subcontinent. The young and wise commander Muhammad bin Qasim was also a devote and
enthusiastic Muslim but not fanatical. According to Ishwari Prasad,

“Permission is given to them to worship their Gods. Nobody must be forbidden or

prevented from following his own religion. They may live in their houses in what
manner they like”14.

His principles helped to spread Islam very swiftly. Even it is astonishing that he advanced
towards Brahmanabad, Aror and Multan with 50,000 cavalry whereas he came from Sind with only
17000 men and many of these were killed during the numerous battles. It indicates he conquered the
heart of the locals too. Some examples like described by Sayyid Rizwan Ali Nadwi15.

A man named Gela the jailor of the Debal was the first to embrace Islam at the hand of bin
Qasim naming „Mawla Islam’. He learnt Arabic and Islam by the Arab prisoners and impressed more.
Secondly, during Muhammad bin Qasim‟s siege of Sistan, a spy from the Channa tribe of Sind was
sent to the Muslims. He saw them offering their prayers led by their generals with humility and
discipline. When he reported it to the chief of his tribe, the whole tribe accepted Islam16. Thirdly,
announcing general amnesty several influential personalities accepted Islam and contributed in
Muslim administration. Such as, Sayakar, chief minister of Dahir17. Fourthly, after the conquest of
Brahmanabad, he stayed there short time in order to organize the territory. He settled 300 Arab
workers with some Arab chiefs in that region. The people may have inspired by them and they
accepted Islam. Fifthly, it is recorded that in every conquered city like Debal, Nerun, Aror and
Multan, the Muslim built Mosques rather than garrison. And the Muslim soldiers‟ frequent prayers
made the local people impressed and encouraged them to embrace Islam. Finally, it must be
remembered no forcible conversion to Islam among the people of Sind has ever been reported even by
non-Muslim historians. Since Islam offered equal rights, a good number of them preferred to embrace
Islam.

The Muslim rule in Sind continued through Umayyads, Abbasids and so on with the more or
less same principles. Sometimes, locals tried to create problems but soon were curbed.

ii. The Spread of Islam in the South

It is well known that there was a trade relation between the southern cost of Indians and the Arab
traders from Yemen and Persian Gulf. The trader from the Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf

14
Prasad, Ishwari, op. cit., p. 35
15
Sayyid Rizwan Ali Nadwi, op. cit. P. 608-609
16
Mir Masum,Tarikh-e-Ma’sumi, annotated by N.A.Baloch and trans. Into Urdu by Rizvi, Hyderabad, Adabi Board, 1959
annotated also by Sayyid Rizwan Ali Nadwi, op. cit..
17
Al-Kufi, Fathnamah, P. 151. Annotated by Sayyid Rizwan Ali Nadwi, op. cit. p. 609.
used the western and southern cost of India as for business and for the rest and then were proceeding
towards Malacca and Canton, China. When Islam prevailed ıover the whole of Arabia, the traders also
became Muslim and their behave, values and attitude changed under the influence of the teachings of
the Holy Quran. Even fundamental changes occurred in their business dealings which involved a strict
adherence to honesty, truthfulness and fair dealing. Acccording to AKM Nazir Ahmed the first
companion of the prophet came in the southern cost of Bengal, Chittagong in 62618. As the Muslim
came in Chittagong, they came in the south of India first obviously. Ali bin Uthman reached at
Malabar in 78219 according to the inscription of a tomb. And within hundred years they established
themselves on the Malabar cost. According to Tara Chand,

Naturally, the minds of the people were perturbed and they were prone to accept new ideas
from whatever quarter they came. Islam appeared upon the scene with a simple formula of
faith, well-defined dogmas and rites, and democratic theories of social organization. It
produced a tremendous effect, and, before the first quarter of the ninth century was over, the
last of the Cheraman Perumal Kings of Malabar who reigned at Kodungallur had become a
convert to the new religion20.

The king was named as Abdur Rahman. Performing Pilgrimage he felt ill while he was in Yemen and
died there. He sent from there Malik bin Dinar, Sharf bin Malik, Malik bin Habit and their family to
Malabar with a letter of instructions regarding the government of his dominions and the reception of
the Muslims. They were treated hospitably and were permitted to build mosques. As a consequence
mosques were erected at eleven places on the Malabar Coast21.

From the time Islam became an emerging religion of the regions. A good number of influential
personalities accepted Islam and their acceptance of Islam influenced the general people obviously.
The impact of the spread of Islam in the south by the Arab traders and Sufis can still be seen on the
west and east costs of India. Thus, in the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Madras, Muslims are
prosperous and they live in peace and security22.

iii. Islam in Chittagong

Islam reaches in Bengal at the early time of the advent of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. It is well
known that there was a business relation between Indians and Arabians with a contact of Malay and
Chinese. According to the description of Muhaddis Imam Abadan Marawaji some of companions of
Prophet (PBUH) reaced Canton 7th years (617) of Nabuwat. Abu wakkas Malik bin Wahaib (r) with
Kais bin Hujaifa (r) , Urwah bin Achacha (r) , Abu kais bin Haris (r) and other Habshi Muslims were
in the group. And according to the Chinese documents, Abu wakkas Malik bin Wahaib (r) with others
Muslims reached in China in 62623. As Chittagong was the famous and strategic port in the region for
the business, the presence of Arabians were common there at that time. As in 626, the companions of
Prophet (PBUH) came in the region first, definitely they were involved in spreading Islam24. Later on
war between Muslims and local leaders indicates to the strength and the growing position of the
Muslim.

18
, . . . : .
19
Tara Chand, Influence of Islam on Indian Culture, Lahore, Book Traders, 1979, p. 32
20
Ibid, P. 34
21
Ibid
22
, . . Op. cit. p. 20
23
Ibid P.21
24
, . . Op. cit. P. 20
 b. Islamization and the Turks

It is well established that Turks of all tribes accepted Islam willingly. And they held the faith
much more simply and fiercely than the actively intellectual Persians. During Abbasids the Turks got
important positions of the government. Thus, they became part of Muhammad's (PBUH) nation and
integrated into Islamic society. They played unique role in the spreading Islam with its establishment
in the Indian, Central Asia, Middle East, North Africa and the Eastern Europe.

Although Sindh was occupied by the Arabs, since the establishment of the Abbasids Caliphate
in the 8th Century, the Arabs played only a marginal role in influencing the culture and civilization of
India, Turks completed the mission. The Turkish presence started in the Indian subcontinent in first
half of the 11th century and lasted over 700 years.

i. Preaching Islam and Confrontation with the Local Power

On the other side a good number of Turk (from Turkic nation. It includes central Asian Turks
too) saints, preacher and Alim started coming to the regions for the cause of religious duty, spreading
Islam by 10-12th centuries. Among them, Shah Muhammad Balkhi, Shah Muhammad Sultan Rumi,
Shah Makhdum are famous. Hazrat Shah Jalal (r.) (1246-1346), a famous preacher from Turkish
origin (born in Konya, famous city of Turkey), also came in Bengal. Actually Islam was spreaded
more by the religious personalities than political authority. And sometimes the Muslim preacher had to
follow the political manners or tactics because of ensuring security of newcomers who accepted Islam.
Even when the Muslims became powerful and seen threat to the local ruler we see there is a
confrontation between the two.

Another important matter helped to spread Islam more in the Indian subcontinent was the
advent of the central Asian Turk Muslim to India when they were attacked by the Mongols or to get
free from Mongol‟s fear. This group included religious leader, saint, teacher etc. Later it helped to
preach Islam by the preachers and to achieve a good position politically as well.

ii. Establishment of Political Authority

The Turkic attacks began in the first half of the 11th century starting with Sabuktkin. The
process of the establishment of their kingdoms in the North and West of Hindustan started from late
12th century. Mahmud of Gaznevi attacked India for 17 times though he did not stay in the region but
opened the door for the Muslims. Then the slave of Qutubuddin Aybek, named Ikhtiyar Uddin
Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji with 18 armies captured the Palace of Lakkhon Sen of Bengal (i.e.
Lakhnauti) and bound him to flee in 1205 (Akhtaruzzaman, 2005: 249). By this capture the Muslim
rule in Bengal started. This event could be considered as the beginning of the 800years‟ Muslim rule
in Bengal, an indispensible part of India. After that Ali Mordan Khalji, named Alauddin Khalji started
ruling the region in 1210 and Iltutmish took control over the regions and established himself strong in
Delhi in 1212. And since the time this region was ruled by the Muslims for centuries. Bengal was
ruled by the representatives of the Delhi Sultanate. It includes five dynasties such as, Mamluks (1206-
1290), Khaljis (1290-1320), Tughloks (1320-1416), Sayyeds (1414-1451) and Lodis (1451-1526).
And later on it was ruled under the Mughal Empire until 1858 when British Raj started to rule the
whole India directly. It is to be noted that three of the five dynasties of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal
Empire‟s Emperors were from the Turkish origin.

Actually the Islamization processes of India started by the establishment of Delhi Sultanate
which was based on fundamental principles on their administration system, justice, socio-cultural
arena. During these three centuries (Delhi Sultanate), various Sultans achieved renowned for their
administration of justice, development of resources, religious tolerance and patronage of learning, art
and architecture. These made them rival to the Bagdad, Cairo, Cordova and Bukhara.

Though the Mughal Empire was founded by the descendant of the Chugtai Turks, it is also to
be beard in mind that the characteristics of their system were not bloodshed and paganism, but a high
degree of Muslim civilization25…. From the beginning of the advent of Turks, they, definitely tried to
spread Islam but based some principles. Although middle age‟s policies of power of influence were
followed more or less, they have been able to protect their sole different identity in the world history.

We see religious teachers, saints and other preachers played more important role obviously
with the political support. The Indians they accepted Islam to get free from the taxation but they were
impressed more observing Muslims behave, attitudes, respect for the all, equal rights, simple life etc.
made them encourage to accept Islam.

3. Principles of the Conquerors in Spreading Islam in India and the Turks

According to Stanley Poole's viewpoint, “the real Mohammedan conquerors of India were not
Arabs, but Turks”26. Arabs opened the door and Turks established its goal. Not only that the Turks
could be regarded as the real conqueror of the Indians.

As Arabs and Turks came in the regions for the same cause, their principles of preaching Islam
were almost similar that were not based on force conversion but by the behavioral influence and
activities with some strategies respectively.

In the beginning when Arabs came first in the regions they were as much as welcomed as the
people were waiting for them because of the socio-political anarchy and the absence of mutual
respects and equal rights. Arab Muslim fulfilled their demand most possibly as a result a vast number
of population accepted Islam as their religion in the western, southern and eastern India as well. The
people were more influenced by the simple life and directions of Sufis rather than power.

Secondly, the Turks were emerging and were being regarded as a protector. They had both
religious teachings and political experiences. The preachers continued their activities and the
politicians or leaders performed their duties as well. A good number of statesmen influenced the
people providing a lot of financial opportunities with social respect. For example, the sultans Firoz
Shah, one of the greatest sultans of Delhi, exempted everyone who converted to Islam from tax (jizya)
as he declared:

"I encouraged my infidel subjects to embrace the religion of the Prophet, and I proclaimed
that everyone who repeated the creed and became a Muslim should be exempt from the jizya,
or poll-tax imposed on non-believers"27.

When this information came to the ears of the people at large, great numbers of Hindus
presented themselves and were admitted to the honor of Islam. Aurangzeb, a famous Mughal Emperor
also made the religion as the top of state agenda.

Thirdly, the policy of equality and tolerance of the Mughal ruler helped a lot to influence the
people and to conquer the heart of the people. Not only that Muslims are in power, the people can

25
Keene M.R.A.S., H. G. (1879). The Turks in India. London: W. H. Allen and Co.
26
Haila Abdurrahman Al-Sahli, op.cit. P. 15
27
Ibid. P. 15
perform their religion and live with their traditions and customs made the bound to think again and
again.

Fourthly, the Muslims contribution in the development of social structure and new
dimensions in the administration with ensuring justice for everyone were definitely astonishing for
them as they were being treated mostly illegally before the Islam, were also causes of accepting Islam.
Moreover, development in art and architecture and their continuous patronization also were important

Fifthly, the Muslims did not attack towards the local language and culture rather than they
started learning and using the local language. The Turks started using Persian language without
making barrier for the locals. Definitely those languages and today‟s languages are different. At that
time Turkish was turk-persianised. The Persian language became the official and the first language of
the entire empire. There are several explanations for this. Throughout the course of history it can be
seen that the Indian Mughals, particularly Humayun initially, made efforts to promote the Persian
language and literature by introducing it as the Court language. Jauhar Aftabchi writes that the
Emperor Humayun loved Persian and whenever he wanted to be understood by few people he talked
in Turkish, otherwise he spoke in Persian.28

Sixthly, the Arab and Turk Muslims in particular and Muslims in general felt that preaching
Islam is their fundamental religious duty and wherever and whenever they were, tried to spread Islam.
It is very important principle by which the Islam reached from the East to the West swiftly. It is to be
mentioned too that all classes of the Muslims like traders, administrators etc. all tried to preach Islam
showing its necessity with continuous social problems and Islamic solution. It played major rule in the
spreading Islam.

Finally, the Muslims more particularly Turk Muslim played unique role in the Islamization in
the India. They did whatever they felt need for the spreading Islam. Even they used arms to protect
themselves from others. Some historians want to present that Islam had come by the arms in general.
Particularly they show Mahmud of Gazni as he attacked India for 17 times and looted a lot of things.
Yes, it is correct but it was not an astonishing thing in that contemporary time. Secondly, his process
was not for the Islamization completely. It would be that he opened the way to the India but his
activities in India for the Islamization is a matter of great discussion. Thirdly, there‟s no way to
demand that Muslim made conversion forcedly. It is well established. And it is Turks who must be
given the credit of the real conqueror of the India.

4. Conclusion

Islam came in India by the Arab traders and established by the Turks. The Muslim‟s sense of da‟wah
made them to perform this great duty. This advent changed the history and civilization of India. From
the above discussion it is clear that both of Arab and Turk Muslim‟s advent to the regions and their
principles for spreading Islam was based on religious orders generally. By which they had been able to
convince the people to accept Islam and to ensure peace and justice at the same time. It is very easy to
understand that today‟s 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. Today
Muslim on the way to forget the responsibility, their history and teachings of their religion, if they
follow like their predecessors, they can be in the position where their ancestors were.

28
Ibid. P 19
Secondly, the Turks who played role could be given the credit as the key role player of the
Islamization and establishment of Islam in India and one of the important maker of Indian civilization.
At last we can say with Haila Abdurrahman Al-Sahli, that, “it is difficult to deny their great
achievement in spreading Islam, or overlook their contribution to its civilization. In fact, they played a
unique role in the course of Islamic history”.

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