Evolution and Growth of

Muslim Society in Subcontinent

In context of Subcontinent
Dated:22-09-2013
By
Muhammad Ali Khan

Outline
Introductory
Society
Evolution and Growth
Muslim Society

Evolution of Muslim Society

o Earlier period (Prior to 712)
o 712 to 1526

o Governing Principles of Evolution

Growth of Muslim Society

Mangols 1526-1757
Governing Principles of Growth

Fall 1757-1857
Impacts on Subcontinent
2

Appraisal

Society
People who interact in such a way as to share

a common culture
Thecultural bondmay be ethnic or racial,

due to shared beliefs, values, and activities

The termsocietycan also have a

geographicmeaning and refers to people who

share a common culture in a particular
location
3

Constituents of A Society
Culture
Laws
Government
Institutions
Religion
Economy
Art and Architecture
Identity/Ideology
Collective Consciousness
4

Culture
Consists of the beliefs, behaviors, objects and other

characteristics common to the members of a

particular group or society
Through culture, people define themselves, conform
to society's shared values, and contribute to society
Culture includes many societal aspects:
language, customs, values, norms, mores, rules,
tools, technologies, products, organizations, and
institutions
Institutionrefers to clusters of rules and cultural meanings

associated with specific social activities.

Common institutions are the family, education, religion, work,
5

Culture
"The complex way of knowledge, beliefs, arts,
laws, morals, customs, and other capabilities
and habits of man".
Language
Family as Unit of Society
Division of labor
Moral Code
Art and Architecture
6

Muslim Society
Having Muslin Identity
Culture
Sources of Law
Ideology

Determinants of Muslim
Society
Invaders
Settlers /Refugees
Sufis /Ulemas/Intellectuals
Reformists Movement
Service Gentry

Evolution of Muslim Society

o Earlier period (Prior to 712)
o Pre-Muslim Civilizations
o Early Links by
o Traders

o 712 to 1526
o Invaders
o Sufias/Ulema
o Role of Service Gentry
o Refuges and Settlers
9

Evolution(Earlier Period)
Trade

relations

have

existed

between

Arabia and the Indian subcontinent from

ancient times in Malabar region, which
linked them with Arab peninsula
In Malabar, the Moppilas may have been

the first community to convert to Islam as

they were closely connected with the Arabs
than others
10

Asia

with the ports of South East

Cont
Invasion of Muhammad bin Qasim,Sindh became

the easternmost province of the Umayyad

Caliphate
Arab traders transmitted the numeral system

developed Muslims to India

Many Sanskrit books were translated into Arabic

as early as the Eighth century during the reign of

the second Abbasid caliph al-Mansur [754775]
11

Three Political Centers of

Muslims
The first was the rich Mali Kingdom in

Africa, which attained its zenith under

Mansa Musa (d. 1332)
The second was the Mamluke Empire

embracing Egypt and Syria

The third, and by far the most powerful,

was the Sultanate of Delhi

12

Cont
The Slave Dynasty
The Khiljis (1296-1316)
conquered all of India and Pakistan, from Peshawar to Malabar, an

area covering more than a million and half square miles

The Tughlaqs (1316-1451)
Muhammad bin Tughlaq (d. 1351), primarily because we know a

great deal about his court through the writings of Ibn Batuta
So rich was the Delhi Sultanate that Ibn Batuta, 1335-1341,

records that whenever the Emperor passed through the

streets of Delhi, the courtiers following him threw coins of
gold and silver in the streets for theamah(common folk)
use to pick
It was in this magnificent Delhi court that the final resolution
of the tug-of-war between the Sufis, the anti-Sufis, the
philosophers, the doctors of law and the ruling elite took place
13

Invaders

14

South- Arabs

712

North-Ghouriz

1196-1206

West -Afghanis

998 to 1120

Europe, the Middle East,

Central Asia, India and
China, which had been
cut by the Mongol
invasions, had been
restored
With the conversion of
Ghazan the Great
(1295), Persia was back
in the fold of Islam
This removed the barrier
to travel by land from
India to West Asia and
from there to Africa and
Spain.
A flexible Islam welded
together a world order
15
wherein people and

Iran / Mongolia: Ghazan Khan (r.12951304) with his wife Kokachin at court,
13th century

Settlers/ Refugees
Mangools,Qureshis,Drawadian,Arayan
The Mongol devastations resulted in a

substantial migration of men of learning

from Central Asia and Persia into India
The influx of the Sufis provided the
spiritual momentum for the spread of Islam
in India and present Pakistan, The
migration was not confined to dervishes
and Sufis
A large number ofUlemaandkadisalso
fled
and
sought
employment
in
Hindustan
16
Others migrated further east to the

Reformist Movements
Islmists
Mujaddid Alaf Sani
Hazrat Baqi Billah
Assimilation
Bhagat Kabir 1398-1518
Guru Nanak 1469-1539

17

Role of Service Gentry

18

In Slave Dynasty
Chihalgani was the group of most
important and powerful forty nobles or
highly placed officers in the court of
Iltutmish
Iltutmish had organized them as his
personal supporters
Modern Kitchen Cabinet
Influencing the establishment of
Military and Administration and
Annexation of areas

Some Theories of Spread of Islam

Muslims are descendants of migrants from

the Iranian plateau or Arabia (Settlers and

Refuges)
Conversions occurred for non-religious
reasons of pragmatism and patronage such
as social mobility among the Muslim ruling
elite or for relief from taxes,
Conversion was a result of the actions of
Sufi saints and involved a genuine change of
heart
Conversion was due to Invadors
19

Cont.
Conversion came from Buddhists

20

and the masses conversions of

lower castes for social liberation
and as a rejection of the oppressive
Hindu caste system
As a socio-cultural process of
diffusion and integration over
an extended period of time into
the sphere of the dominant
Muslim civilization and global
polity at large

Growth of Muslim Society 15261757

Period of Growth 1526-

1757
Chughtai Turks
Reformist Movements
Role of Service Gentry
Settlers
21

Invaders
North_West-Chughtai Turks
West Afghan/Patthan

1526

1739 and 1721

Settlers

A large number ofUlemaandkadisalso

fled and sought employment in
Hindustan after Babur and Hamuyns
return, Many Settlers came with Babur
too

Reformist Movements
22

Mujadaid Alaf Sani

Education
Ders-e-Nizami
Farangi Mahal Lakhnow, Mulla Nizam-o-

Din
Ideology of Life
Dunya as Maya to Balance of lives

Language
Persion,Urdu,Lashkari

Intellectual Development
Sheikh Mubarak, Faizi,abu Al-Fazal, Shah

Wali Ullah
23

Earlier Social System

India, whose social structure was

24

fossilized by the caste system, was

ready to accept a universal religion like
Islam
The most important reason for the
success of the Sufis lay in the spiritual
bent of the Indian mind by humanity,
and dignity of man
Every culture produces an ARCHETYPE
that personifies the ethos of that
culture. Islam introduced the concept of
Equality

Role of Sufia

25

Work of Sufis
The Sufis were eminently

successful not just because of Zikr,

and carity, but because they
established effective institutions to
do their work in their own lifetime
and to continue it after they
departed
Purification by Qawwalli and
Arifana Kalam, Chanting Slogans
26

Cont
The first Moghul emperor Babur was

27

himself a Sufi mystic. Emperor Akbar

was amuridof Shaykh Salim Chishti
(Fatehpur Sikri, d. 1572)
He made annual pilgrimages on foot to
the tomb of Shaykh Salim as well as to
the tomb of Khwaja Moeenuddin of
Ajmer
Since the methods and processes of the
Sufis have changed little over the last
thousand years, the Chishtiya order,
together with its sister Qadariya and

services rendered by the Muslim Saints

for the propagation of Islam during the
sultanate period
Spreading the message of Islam
Academic persuasionFataqa e alamgiri by sheikh nizam ud din

Burhan puri
Islamic way of justice at courts
Introduced education system in

subcontinent
They made society pragmatic
Jizya was abolish in the regime of khilji on
recommendation of Sufiz
28

Khanqahss role in the demonstration of Islamic

idea of Tauheed as a working principal in the
social life of India

29

Role of Ulama and Umara in

the development of
Sultanate of Delhi
Geographical spread of Islam was possible

30

due to Sufis
Introduction of mystical Islam in
subcontinent
They travelled from one corner to other to
spread of message of Islam
Khangah, an institution of education,
shelter and peace
Urs- a festival, a social event a commerce,
a chance to reinforce the message of the
sufi
Lahger as help of poor and the needy

Four Pillar of Sufiism

Tolerance
Piety and
Chirsma and Purity of Character
Adaptation and Flexibility

31

Study of origin and teaching

of chastity order

32

services rendered by sufis and Ulemas in

developing the Muslim society in the sub
continent

33

comparison between the teachings, Khanqah

organization and attitude towards the state of
sufi saints of Chistiya and suharwardi orders or
silsilahs of sufism in India

34

the teachings of suharwardi and Chistia orders

35

Khanqah organization of suharwardi and Chistia

orders

36

Attitude towards the state of Sufi saints of

Chistiya and suharwardi orders

37

Famous Sufis
Bahudin Zakria

1182-1262
Moin-ud-Deen Chisti 1142 -1236

38

39

40

Chistia
The first of the Chishti saints wasAbu Ishaq

Shami(d. 329/AD 94041), Abu Ishaq Shami

established the Chishti order inChisht
During the reign ofMuhammad bin Tughluq, who
spread theDelhi Sultanatesouthward, the
Chistiyyah order spread its roots all across India
During theMongol invasionin AD 1220
andSafavidattack in 1509 many Chishti Sufis
migrated toUch,Ajodhan,BhakkarandSehwanin
Sindh
TheKhanzadasubdivision of theRajputclan was
converted to Islam by Chishti Sufis
41

Teachings of Chistia
Away from pom and show
Aloofness from who were in the power
Avoided meeting the rulers
They did not accepted any appointment in
the palace
Non chalant
Peaceful

42

Shurwrdia
The first of the Suhrawardi saints

43

wasAbu al-Najib Suharwardi(490

563 AH).
The Suhrawardiyyah order
achieved popularity inBengal
The Qadiri order was founded
byAbdul-Qadir Gilani, whose tomb
is in Baghdad. It is popular among
the Muslims ofSouth India,
Kernatka and Kerala

Qadria
Qadria_The origin of this order can

be traced back to Khwaja Yaqub

Yusuf al-Hamadani (b. AD 1140
It was patronized by the Mughal
rulers, as its founder was their
ancestralpr, or spiritual guide
"The conquest of India byBaburin

44

1526 gave considerable force to the

Naqshbandiyya order, who lived
inCentral Asia

New Class Identity in Muslim

society
Turk Elites

Governance

Ulema

Court, Judicial System

Sufis

Religion

Sadats

Khan/Maik/Ameens/Bureaucracy
Community

45

Based on Profession

Role of Service Gentry

Muslims Elites/Nobels
Establishing the Modern trends
Used to control the masses and Influence

the King
Sheikh Mubarak
Abu Alfazal
Sheikh Faizi

46

Cultural Context
Spread of Islam
Case one By Invaders
If accepted by Elites
Society became Islamic,
Islam Spread Fast
Local culture was absorbed
Example Iran and Africa
If accepted by Common Masses
Society did not became Islamic,
Islam Spread Slow
Local culture was not absorbed
Example Subcontinent
47

Cont
Case two By Sufis
If accepted by Elites
Society became Islamic,
Islam Spread Fast
Local culture was absorbed
Example Iran and Africa

If accepted by Elites
Assimilation of Society ,
Islam Spread Slow
Local culture was not absorbed
Example Subcontinent
48

Appraisal
Evolution of Muslim Society
Early Links
Traders
Introduction
Invaders
Spread and Social Fabric
Sufis/Ulemas
Preliminary Fabric
Altutmash
Early Consolidation
Balban
Initial Economic Stability Khilgis
49

Growth of Muslim Society

Annexation and Federation Babur-The

50

Lion Heart
Development of Infrastructure
Sher
Shah Suri
Revenue System
Sher Shah and
Akber
Art, Music, Architecture Jahangir and
Shahjahan
Education and Ideology
Aurangzeb
Islamic Identity
Aurangzeb
Cultural Growth
Early Mughls

Concluding Remarks - an Empirical

Frame Work of Muslim Society
Ethnic Response
Raja Dahir, Khushal khan Khatak,

Muslim Identity
Sufia, Mujadad Alaf sani, Alamgir

Assimilation or Synthesis
Bagat Kabir, Guru Nanak, Akber
51

Evolution of Muslim Society

o Pattern of

Evolution
o Introduction by

52

Traders/Invaders
o Spread by Sufis
o Early Identity as Muslim
o Cultural Identity
o Art and Architecture
o Struggle for strong
Military
o Establishment of
Administrative/Govt
System

Governing
Principles

o Strike on cast

system and
Equality
o Piety and
Humanitarianism
by Sufis
o Tolerance
o Freedom of
Worship

Growth of Muslim Society 15261757

Pattern of Growth
Building Institutions (Revenue System and Administration)
Political Maturity (Establishment of Central Govt.)
Development of Collective Consciousness (Nationalism and Muslim
Nationalism)
Defined Sources of Islamic Law (Fatawa-e-Alamilgiri)
Development of Islamic Ideology (Dara v/s Alamgir)
Mature Education System (Dars-e-Nizami, Shadat-e-Amliya, Shadat-eFazliya)
Strong Military and Political System
Social Harmony (Deen-e-Elahi)
Reformist Movements (Alaf Sani and Baqi Billah, Shah Wali Ullah)
Consolidation of Muslim Identity (Reversal of Deen-e-Elahi by Alamgir)
Appointment of Qazi to administor Muslim Law
Creation of Large Educated Muslim Class
Muslim Culture

53

Factors contributing in Growth of

Muslim Society
Strong Military
Economic Strength
Social Harmony
Popularity of Monotheism
Strong Court System
Patronage of Art and Culture
Music,Poetry,Language,Dress,Festivals,Culina
ry Department,Painting and Miniatures,
Ventilated House, Treat/Party

54

Impacts
Islam Introduced in this land
Sultanat was one of the three

55

power centers of Muslim Rule

Introduction of Public Policy
Economic Prosperity and growth
Establishment of Early State and
Central Govt
New Education System
Introduction of system of
Administration and Revenue

Cont
Isolation of India was broken
Rise of Regional Languages (560)
Social Democracy
Hospices/Khangah as unit of

56

Development
Arrival of man of learning
New Language-Lasraki
Fusion of three great
Cultures/Civilizations
Impacts were so strong that Hindus
Reformis movements as Anti thesis, Arya

Patterns of Evolution and Growth

57

Fall of Muslim Society 1757 to 1857

It is an irony of Islamic history that

those who should have been the

most liberal in their tolerance of
dissident thought, namely the
philosophers, turned out to be the
most intolerant
Weak Military
Foreign Invasion
63