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Year B.A., LL. B (Div.-D and E) – Semester-II (2022)

Internal Assessment – History-I

Research Article submission

Topic
Impact of Islam on Indian Society during the medieval times

NAME: G. CHARAN SAI REDDY

DIVISION: D

PRN: 21010125601

COURSE: BA LL.B. (H)

BATCH: 2021-2026

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 Impact of Islam on Indian Society during the medieval times

 INTRODUCTION

The Islamic and Hindu traditions have synthesised, evolved, interacted, and remained separate throughout
mediaeval times. Despite the fact that India was brutally conquered by sword, Muslims learned that
reconciliation was preferable than persecution. Conflict, adaptation, tension, and cultural syncretism marked
the early stages of the relationship between the two traditions. Compromise, tolerance, and a spirit of peace
gradually arose, leading to the merging of the two civilizations. The rise of Muslim authority has never been
examined in its entirety, both spatially and chronologically. The creation of power was never the product of
a single event, but rather of a long and complicated process that spanned centuries.

The very first attempt was attempted in the mid-seventh century, but it ended when Arabs led by
Muhammad-bin-Qasim, the nephew of the Governor of Basra, stormed India in 711-713 AD and seized
Sindh and Multan. Shabab-ud-Din Ghori, on the other hand, set the groundwork for Muslim control around
the end of the 12th century A.D.

Islam's missionary fervour bred conservatism, while Hindu leaders frantically clung to their faith by
adopting an ultra-orthodox attitude. The impact of Islam on Hindu society can be divided into two
categories: beneficial and bad. The spread of brotherhood, as well as the rich development of art,
architecture, and music, demonstrate the good impact. It aided in the development of India's foreign
connections and the reestablishment of communication, which aided in the integration of new ideas and
traditions. The positive spin was provided by the arcaded form architecture, the diversity in books, and the
variation in activities.
The detrimental impact was demonstrated by the acceleration and proliferation of bad tendencies in Hindu
society. The introduction of the Purda system, as well as the growth of child marriage, sati, and slavery, led
to the collapse of the caste system and the creation of a more rigid caste structure.

 MAIN-CONCEPT

India has long been recognised for its rich and diversified past, which is made up of a mash-up of numerous
civilizations that have evolved over time via assimilation and mutual adjustment. By introducing a radical
change in culture and political power, Islam contributed to the multi-religious and cultural ethos. The
following are some of the positive and negative consequences:

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 1. ART AND ARCHITECTURE:

The craftsmanship, ornamental richness, and general design remained essentially Hindu, according to Dr.
Tarachand, but the arcaded shape, plain domes, smooth faced walls, and vast interiors were Muslim
impositions. New architectural styles emerged as a result of the two civilizations' amalgamation. Large
buildings, Mosques, minarets, and courtyards were popular among Muslims, and these features were utilised
in the Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, and Red Fort, among other places. They also combined their patterns by
drawing inspiration from Indian motifs such as lotus kalash, creepers, and other similar elements. When
Islamic methods were followed, India saw the emergence of paper making, enamelling, and inlay work on
jewels, stones, and metals. A great number of Kharkanas were established, producing shoes, Zari work,
paper, and dyeing and tanning. There are numerous workshops that specialise in excellent gold and silver
embroidery.

2. LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE:

The meeting of the two religions resulted in language synthesis. Literature and grammar were given a lot of
weight, and scholars who wrote religious and historical literature in various subjects were given a lot of
support. Urdu is a mix of Turkish, Persian, and Arabic vocabulary, as well as concepts and ideas from
Sanskrit languages, which became the people's language. Originally, it was known as ‘Zaban-e-Hindvi’.
Muslim contact influenced Hindi as a language as well. The Turko-Afghans had a significant influence on
Indian literature, and Persian became their court language.

Hindus were greatly affected by books like as Hassan Nizami’s Taj-ul Moa and Qazi Minhaz-us-Tabakt-i-
Nasiri. Siraj’s Famous scholars at Sultan Iltumish's court were KhwajaAbu Nasr, also known as Naisiri, Abu
Bakar bin Muhammad Ruhani, Taj-ud-din, and Nur-ud-din Muhammad Awfi. Amir Khusrau is widely
considered to be the best Persian poet of his generation. He composed several prose works, the most well-
known of which are the Khazain-ul-Fatuh, Tughlaq-nama, and Tarikh-i-Alai.

3. MUSIC AND PAINTING:

Islam impacted a wide range of musical instruments. The instruments that were inspired were the Tabla and
the Sitar. The Muslim adaptations and transformations of the Hindu instrument known as ‘Mirdanga’
resulted in Tabla. The Sitar was created when the Irani Tambura and the Hindu Veena were combined.

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When Muslim singers came into contact with a variety of Ragas and classical vocal music, the music
changed subtly. Thumri, Tarana, and Ghazzals all contributed significantly to Indian classical music. The
fusion of Hindu and Iranian music resulted in the development of light tunes known as Quwwalis. When
Indian painting came into contact with Islamic styles, designs, and philosophies, it underwent a tremendous
transformation. The Hindus followed the Islamic tradition of painting women figures blowing trumpets on
the wall. The Hindus invented and used calligraphy as a writing style. Hindus were encouraged to copy the
style of Islamic schools' pictorial art. The Muslim art style was used to inspire Hindu streets, bathing gliats,
and families. The art form of combining Rajput and Persian painting techniques resulted in the formation of
new Mughal art schools.

4. FOOD, CLOTHING AND LIFESTYLE:

The Hindus embraced the Muhammadan lifestyle, dress code, food, and etiquette in various ways. Hindus
wore a variety of clothing, including achkans, lungis, pyjamas, and salwasrs. Due to the influence of Islam,
Hindus began to engage in activities such as wine drinking, dinner parties, and gambling. Even though
Hindus believed in 'non-violence against all creatures,' Hindus adored delicacies like Biryani, Kebab, Palau,
and Kachhember after being introduced to them. The Hindus followed the seating arrangement that was used
in the Delhi court based on distinct classes. Many of these patterns and basic etiquette have been passed
down through the centuries, demonstrating the significant influence of Islam and the continued existence of
age-old customs.

5. PURDAH SYSTEM AND MARRIAGE:

The Islamic administration has a significant impact on women’s rights in the country. Women began to live
in solitude in their homes, creating their own small world within it. Women were expected to keep their
distance from men and to leave their homes in palanquins that were draped with curtains. When the queen of
Prataprudradev travelled to visit Sri Chaitanya in Palanuqin, it shows us that this was a common practise
among women. In the royal harems of Hindu monarchs, the Purdah system was tightly maintained. Female
infanticide was highly common as a result of the stigma attached to giving birth to a female child.

Child marriage was gradually brought into society and enforced. Hindu girls were forced to marry at a
young age because they were afraid of being knapped by Muslims and losing their purity. As a result, the
requirement that a girl child attain puberty was dropped, and women's conditions continued to deteriorate
over time as a result of the impact of Islam, which taught women to be more dependent on men.
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Unfortunately, even though these age-old customs of child marriage and female infanticide are now
considered illegal, they continue to exist.

6. BHAKTI MOVEMENT:

In the realm of religion, Islam had a more mixed impact. The Hindus were taken aback by the impact, which
disrupted centuries of Brahminical power. For Hindus, the strong antipathy to ideal worship and oneness
with God was a difficult pill to swallow. The Hindus spread and adopted the principles of humanism, having
maximum pride in one's religion, and worldwide brotherhood, despite the fact that their old age followings
were destroyed. The expansion of the legal system allowed for greater advancement of the codes that had
been known for a long time and beyond that preached to losing one’s job as a religious upholder.

Caste system and untouchability have been greatly eliminated in the society due to Muslim influence. The
philosophical Hindu mind voice was deliberately and unconsciously affected by these shifts, which aided in
the growth of liberal movements under religious reforms. These improvements create the path for the bhakti
movement to flourish. Famous saints such as Kabira taught religious equality.

 CRITICAL ANALYSIS

When we examine the relationship between Hinduism and Islam seriously, we find a jumble of exchanges,
encounters, friction, and outright conflicts. Famous historical examples frequently contrast Hinduism's
tolerance for startling variety and innate spirituality with Islam's foreignness and doctoral rigidity. The
projected number of Muslims in the world is 1.2 billion, with a massive portion residing in South Asia,
which is equal to the number of Muslims in the Middle East and North America combined. With the
enormous number of Muslims who have settled in India over the years, Islam’s influence has undoubtedly
wriggled its way into the invariable framework that the Brahmins have built over generations. Religion,
social, cultural, and economic effect can all be considered as separate domains. The field of religion is
fraught with dispute. Even while concepts like untouchability and the caste system were squashed and
theories like God’s unity and brotherhood were pushed, the influence had a lot of negative overtones that
blurred the positive spin.

Many experts attribute the vertical division of Indian society to the impact of Islam. Hindus grew more
orthodox in character as a result of the concept of conversion, and rigidity on various caste limitations and
social taboos intensified as a result. Even while the rigidity established protected their culture, the lower
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caste's advancement was hampered, and their misery grew as they were trapped between the upper class's
tyranny and the Muslims. In the social sphere, Islam's influence was viewed as a black blotch on a white
fabric. Islam's influence was crucial in re-establishing communication with the outside world. Despite the
fact that Muslims ruled the country officially, the Hindus remained to rule the economically. The baniyas
advanced money and were an important part of the economic structure since they demonstrated the Hindus
economic prosperity. Even though the commercial classes were destroyed, trade and commerce thrived as a
result of foreign interaction with the Middle East.

The traditions of Sati and Jauhar were perceived as being linked to child marriage, female infanticide, and a
significant deterioration in women's position, since the kidnapping of attractive Hindu girls by Muslim
officials and monarchs had become all too common. Due to the influence of Islam, the harmful practise of
slavery spread into society. The Amirs and the Nobles each had a huge number of male and female slaves.
The feudal lords and Hindu authorities embraced this, leading to the expansion of inhumane practises. Over
time, mutual toleration and cooperation developed, and Hindus were no longer hesitant to present sweets to
Muslim Pirs tombs, and they loved the Quran recitations. The Hindu philosophers found common ground
with the Murshids and Muslim saints, and they began to believe passionately in the Pir’s infallibility,
keeping a copy of it in their homes to ward off ills.

 CONCLUSION:

India underwent and witnessed a massive cultural, social, economic, and religious transformation. As each
new dynasty brings something new to society, certain changes may be accepted by the entire society, while
others may clash culturally with the prevailing beliefs prevalent at the time, resulting in conflict. We can
observe how Islam influenced Hindu civilization in terms of architecture, art, literature, language, music,
painting, food, clothing, lifestyle, purdah system, marriage, and the Bhakti movement in the study paper
above.

Even if society took time to adapt, the beautiful minarets, well-rounded domes, big exuberant gardens, and
new type of needlework gold and silver were a delightful break from the traditional art and architecture. The
creation of Urdu and the discovery of the wave of passionate writers and poets strengthened the society in
terms of linguistics. The development of classical musical instruments, as well as the blending of Hindu and
Muslim music, resulted in the birth of a new musical genre known as Qawwalis. A complete new variety of
dress was adopted, as well as a new food palate. Brotherhood and fraternity, as well as the abolition of the

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caste system and untouchability, had a favourable impact on religion. The Hindus' sense of economic
security and supremacy adds to the list of beneficial effects.

The status of women deteriorated when child marriage was introduced because Hindus were terrified of
higher officials capturing young attractive Hindu girls and losing their chastity to the Muslims, thus they
began marrying their daughters at a young age, leading to female infanticide. Women were secluded from
males once the Purdah system was implemented, and they were encouraged to stay in their houses and away
from men. They should be behind curtains when they step aboard, thereby instituting the Purdah system.
During this period, Sati and Jauhar were on the rise.

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