5 Things to Know About Islam in India
Who are Indian Muslims? With a history that stretches back over a thousand years, a myriad of cultural contributions to be proud of, and a population larger than most countries, Muslims have long been and remain an integral part of Indian society. Here are five things you should know about them:
- There’s More of Us Than You Think
India is home to over 200 million Muslims, making it the country with the third-largest Muslim population in the world. If Indian Muslims were their own nation, they would be the fifth most populous country, surpassing Brazil, Russia, and Japan.
Muslims are a minority in India, making up only 14% of the total population. However, several major cities and regions across India – including Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Delhi – have historically been major centers of Islamic culture and scholarship, marked with historic monuments, universities, and rich artistic and academic traditions to show for it.
But Indian Muslims’ presence is not limited to just urban centers. They live in every corner of the country, from the villages of Kerala, Bengal, and Rajasthan to the bustling metropolises of Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. This wide geographical spread has led to an incredible diversity in traditions, dialects, and customs, making Indian Muslims one of the most culturally varied Muslim populations in the world.
- Centuries of History
While many associate Islam in India with the Mughal rulers of the 16th and 17th centuries, the religion first arrived through trade, not conquest; many historians believe that the presence of Islam in India predates the Mughal Empire by almost a thousand years. According to some sources, Arab merchants brought Islam to the shores of Kerala in the as early as the 7th century, leading to the establishment of India’s first mosque—Cheraman Juma Masjid—in 629 CE.
While the Indian far right tends to paint the spread of Islam in India as a coercive and even genocidal affair, historians dismiss these notions as the imaginings of modern-day Hindu supremacists. In reality, Indian Muslims were well-integrated in the culture and social fabric of the subcontinent, ruling local kingdoms, participating in trade networks, and engaging in cultural exchanges. Muslim dynasties like the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) and the Mughals (1526-1857) shaped India’s architecture, arts, and administration, but even before them, regional Muslim rulers had established thriving communities in places like Gujarat, Bengal, and the Deccan.
Today, remnants of this rich history can be seen in ancient mosques, tombs, forts, and manuscripts across the country, all telling the story of a faith that has been woven into the fabric of India for over 1,400 years.
- We Are Not a Monolith
India is one of the most culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse countries on earth, and its Muslim population is similarly diverse. You’ll find Muslims in every Indian state, speaking hundreds of languages from Urdu, Bengali, and Malayalam to Gujarati, Tamil, and Pashto. You’ll also find adherents to a vast array of Islamic sects, including Sunnis, Shias, Ismailis, Bohras, Ahmadiyyas, and Sufis. Indian Sunnis are known for producing centuries of Islamic scholarship, while famous Sufi mystics of the past attracted disciples from all faiths.
Cultural differences between Indian Muslims are similarly varied. A Muslim in coastal Kerala— where Marxism has for decades shaped the very functioning of society — is tied to a history and culture that is vastly different from a Muslim in mountainous Kashmir. Bengali and Tamil Muslims have unique linguistic and literary traditions, while Muslims in Rajasthan or Gujarat often share cultural elements with neighboring Hindu and Jain communities. Cuisine, clothing, wedding traditions, festivals, and even the way Eid is celebrated can differ from state to state.
- Revolutionary Spirit
Muslims were at the forefront of India’s fight for independence, resisting British colonial rule from the very beginning. The first major armed rebellion against British rule was led by Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore (now part of Karnataka), who fought against British expansion in the late 18th century. Known as the Tiger of Mysore, he modernized his military and famously refused to surrender to the British, choosing to die on the battlefield rather than live under colonial rule.
During the first major revolt against British rule, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Muslim leaders like Bahadur Shah Zafar, Maulana Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi (known posthumously as ‘the rebel of Hindustan’), and the rebel queen Begum Hazrat Mahal played crucial roles. Many Muslim rebels were executed, imprisoned, or exiled for their defiance.
Later, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a key leader of India’s freedom movement, worked alongside Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, advocating for a free, united India. The famous patriotic slogan “Jai Hind”—still used today as India’s national salute—was coined by Muslim freedom fighter Abid Hasan Safrani.
- Cultural Contributions
It’s impossible to imagine Indian culture without the immense contributions of its Muslim communities. From art and architecture to music, cuisine, and language, Indian Muslims have left a lasting imprint on the country’s identity.
- Architecture: The Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most famous monuments, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Other architectural wonders like the Qutub Minar, Charminar, and Red Fort also showcase the grandeur of Indo-Islamic design.
- Music: The evolution of Indian classical music (Hindustani music) owes much to Muslim musicians like Amir Khusro, who blended Persian and Indian musical traditions to create new forms of expression.
- Cuisine: The rich flavors of biryani, kebabs, nihari, and Mughlai curries are all legacies of Indo-Islamic culinary traditions, now enjoyed across the country.
- Language & Literature: Urdu, a quintessentially Indian language, was born from a mix of Persian, Arabic, and Hindi. Urdu writers and poets like Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and Allama Iqbal played central roles in shaping India’s literary tradition, and continue to be read widely today.
