Introduction of Islam in
the Indian Subcontinent
By M. Yousuf Ahad
The history of Islam and its widespread
acceptance in the Indian
subcontinent holds great importance
for all Muslims, especially for those
with great ambitions to propagate it.
By looking into our rich history, we
will find many helpful elements that
could make us more effective propagators
and representatives of Islam. At
first glance, we may attribute Islam’s
emergence in the Subcontinent to the
military campaigns and expeditions
of Mahmood of Ghazna (971-1030)
or Muhammad of Ghor (1149-1206).
This, however, apart from being a superficial
explanation, would be a grave
mistake, as it would ignore numerous
historical facts and narrations that
prove the contrary.
The real conqueror of Hind was
neither a sultan nor a military general
or even a soldier. He wore neither a
crown nor carried a sword. The Fatih
(Conqueror) of Hind was Shaykh
ul Islam Mu’eenuddin Chishti. The
Turkic armies’ exploits may have
succeeded in establishing Islamic
rule over ancient India’s indigenous
people. However, the preaching
and the mere presence of Hadrat
Chishti penetrated their souls and
captivated their hearts and minds.
The life of this humble, unassuming
poverty-stricken Qalandar holds key
everlasting lessons for all who aspire
to strive for Allah’s pleasure.
Shaykh Mu’eenuddin was born in the
year 537/1143 in Sanjar, Eastern Iran.
Around the age of 15, he gave away
most of the inheritance he received
from his late father. He then acquired
the sacred Islamic sciences from the
leading center of knowledge of his
time in Samarkand. Thereafter, he
traveled to Iraq to acquire knowledge
of the batin (esoteric). It was common
in those times for graduates of the
sacred knowledge to take a shaykh
and start the path of suluk (the path to
18 July – August 2021 | AL-MADINAH