ISLAM IN INDIA: AN
OVERVIEW
Dr. Doris Jakobsh
Adherents.com
WORLD-WIDE MUSLIM POPULATIONS
900 MILLION
Country
Number of Muslims (approximate)
Indonesia
170 million
Pakistan
137 million
Bangladesh
106 million
India
103 million
Turkey
62 million
ISLAM:



Meaning =
Submission/Surrender
To ‘Allah’ (‘the God’)
‘God alone is great’
CONTEXT:
3 great ‘super-powers’:
Byzantine Empire - Christian
 Ethiopian Empire – Christian
 Persian Empire – Zoroastrian, with Jewish
and Christian minorities


Arabia of Muhammad - polytheistic
4
HANIFS
Already a movement towards monotheism,
due to the belief that worldview of the
‘super-powers’ was more progressive than
that of polytheism
 Movement that affirmed monotheism, but
distinct from Christianity, Judaism,
Zoroastsrianism

5
MUHAMMAD:


570-632 CE
Born in Mecca
MUHAMMAD
Merchant family
 Part of Quraysh tribe (custodians of
sacred places of Mecca)
 25 years old – entered service of Khadija,
a wealthy widow much older than
Muhammad
 Fatima – their daughter

7
Muhammad leads a caravan
MUHAMMAD AND GABRIEL



611 CE
Solitary meditations in
caves
Archangel Gabriel
HIJRA
611-621 Muhammad preaches to fellow
Meccans about the oneness of God
 622 – accepts an invitation to Yathrib
(Medina)
 This journey is called HIJRA
 This is the date from which the Muslim
calendar starts

10
MUHAMMAD IN MEDINA
MUHAMMAD RETURNS TO
MECCA

USING MEDINA AS A BASE, ALL OF
ARABIA IS BROUGHT UNDER
MUHAMMAD’S CONTROL

HE WAS THE RELIGIOUS LEADER,
POLITICAL RULER, MILITARY
COMMANDER
13

HIS DIVINE REVELATIONS CONTINUE
TO THE END OF HIS LIFE

THESE REVELATIONS TOGETHER
MAKE UP THE TEXT OF THE QUR’AN,
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES OF ISLAM
14
MUHAMMAD’S DEATH
In 632, he was suddenly taken ill. on June 8, with his third wife Aishah beside
him, the Messenger of God "died with the heat of noon."
ISLAM’S EXPANSION, 25 YEARS
MECCA TODAY
5 PILLARS OF ISLAM
 SHAHADA - WITNESS
 SALAAT - PRAYER 5 TIMES DAILY
 ZAKAT - ALMSGIVING
 SAWM OR
SIYAM, FASTING,
RAMADAN
 HAJJ - PILGRIMAGE
18
1) SHAHADA: CORNERSTONE
OF ISLAM
“There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his messenger (Quran, 48:29).’’
SHAHADA

In Arabic, the first part is la ilaha illa'Allah 'there is no god except God'; ilaha (god) can
refer to anything which we may be tempted to
put in place of God--wealth, power, and the like.
Then comes illa'Allah: 'except God', the source
of all Creation. The second part of the Shahada
is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the
messenger of God.' A message of guidance has
come through a man like ourselves. It is taken
directly from the Qur'an:
20
QUR’AN 3:18, BEARING
WITNESS

"God bears witness that there is no god
but God and so do the angels and those
possessed of knowledge. In justice, there
is no god but Him, He is the exalted, the
wise."
21
2) SALAAT: PRAYER







dawn
noon
mid-afternoon
sunset
nightfall
Prayers determine the rhythm of the entire day
Prayers can be performed anywhere, but
preferably in a mosque
22
SALAAT, POSTURES
The Salaat consists of standing,
bowing, prostrating and sitting
positions.
 Before, during and after each of these
positions, Muslims recite verses from
the Holy Qur'an and glorify Allah as
directed by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
who was taught the details by
Archangel Jibril (Gabriel, pbuh).

23

Muslims performing
Salaat facing
toward Ka'bah.
RIGHT: Pilgrims in
prostration.
CALL TO PRAYER:

“God is most Great. God is most Great.
God is most Great. God is most Great.
I testify that there is no God except Allah.
I testify that there is no God except Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Here after)! Come
to success!
Allah is most great. Allah is most great.
There is no God except Allah.”

(heard in Muslim mosques)
25
MUSLIMS, CALCUTTA
3) ZAKAT: ALMSGIVING

all things belong to God

wealth is therefore held by human beings in
trust.

Zakat literally means grow (in goodness) or
'increase', 'purifying' or 'making pure'.

So the act of giving zakat means purifying one's
wealth to gain Allah's blessing to make it grow in
goodness.
27
ZAKAT: ‘RELIGIOUS PAYMENT’

Zakat is a religious ‘payment’ made by
Muslims from their wealth or income, or
business, or crops,

In the form of money or crops or animals –
usually 2.5%

Often Zakat committee set up, or, in
Islamic countries, government
28
ZAKAT: QUR’AN 9:103

"Take from their wealth a portion for
charity, in order to clean them thereby, and
sanctify them."
29
4) SAWM OR SIYAM

Fasting

Every year in the month of Ramadan, all
Muslims fast from first light until sundown,
abstaining from food, drink, and sexual
relations.
30
SAWM OR SIYAM

Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and
women who are pregnant or nursing are NOT
required to complete the entire fast

They can break the fast and make up an equal
number of days later in the year

They can also feed a needy person for every
day missed.
31
RAMADAN

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim
calendar

The Month of Ramadan is also when it is
believed the Holy Qur’an was sent down
from heaven to guide humankind and offer
the way of Salvation
32
RAMADAN
 Ramadan
is a time when Muslims
concentrate on their faith and spend
less time on the concerns of their
everyday lives. It is a time of worship
and contemplation
33
QUR’AN

One may eat and drink at any time during
the night "until you can plainly distinguish
a white thread from a black thread by the
daylight: then keep the fast until night."
34
ID/EID-AL-FITR
-
Begins with the sighting of the
new moon:

Fasting is forbidden on this day, as it marks the
end of the month long fast of Ramadan
35
EID:

One is encouraged to rise early and eat a
light snack

Then bathe, as always, but with the
remembrance that this is a special day.

Muslims are encouraged to dress in their
best clothes, new if possible.
36
‘EID MUBARAK’
EID GREETING CARDS
5) HAJJ: PILGRIMAGE

a once-in-a-lifetime obligation upon male
and female ADULTS whose health and
means permit it

about two million people go to Makkah
each year from every corner of the globe
38
HAJJ: PREPARATIONS
 Before
setting out, a pilgrim should
redress all wrongs, pay all debts, plan
to have enough funds for his/her own
journey and for the maintenance of
the family while he/she is away, and
prepare him/herself for good conduct
throughout the Hajj.
39
HAJJ: LUNAR CALENDAR

Although Makkah is always filled with
visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the
twelfth month of the Islamic year

so Hajj and Ramadan are at times
celebrated in the fall or winter
40
QUR’AN, 22:26-30
Behold! We gave the site to Abraham of the (Sacred) House (saying):
"Associate not any thing (in worship) with Me; and sanctify My
House for those who compass it round or stand up or bow or
prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).
"And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on
foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel lean on account of
journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;
"That they may witness the benefits (provided) for them and
celebrate the name of Allah through the Days appointed over the
cattle which He has provided for them (for sacrifice): then eat ye
thereof and feed the distressed ones in want.
"Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them perform their
vows and (again) circumambulate the Ancient House."
Such (is the Pilgrimage): whoever honors the sacred rites of Allah
for him it is good in the sight of his Lord. Lawful to you (for food in
pilgrimage) are cattle except those mentioned to you (as
exceptions): but shun the abomination of idols and shun the word
that is false.
41
MINA:

On the first day of the
Hajj, pilgrims sweep out
of Mecca towards Mina, a
small uninhabited village
east of the city.

Pilgrims generally spend
their time meditating and
praying, as the Prophet
did on his pilgrimage.
HAJJ: CLOTHING

Pilgrims wear simple but special white
clothes: simple because no distinctions
of class and culture are to be shown

‘Ihram', a garment made of two seamless
white sheets or towels symbolising purity
and equality that must be worn by men

all are equal before God
43
HAJJ: RITES

Ablutions (as before prayer times)

Abstention from any killing, sexual activity,
cutting hair or nails
44
TOUCH KA’ABA

The Ka'aba is a stone building located near the center of
the quadrangle of the Grand Mosque in the Holy City of
Makkah. Set in a silver surround in the east corner of
the Ka'aba, some four feet above ground level, is the
Black Stone. This sacred Stone, the focal point of the
Hajj, is the only remnant of the shrine which Abraham
built when it was given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel.

Kiss or touch KA’ABA

Circumambulate 7 times (Tawaaf)
45
KA’ABA, DRAWING
Each year an
Arab nation
provides the
beautiful drapes
which cover the
Kab’ah for the
Hajj.
REFLECTIONS AT KA’ABA

“To touch and kiss the stone is to travel
back in time and follow in the footsteps of
all those pious and noble greats in history
who have touched it. It is not easy to do
that, though. It seems there are always too
many people ahead who are trying to do
the same. The closest we came to it was
about ten feet and there we raised our
hands in salutation and to say that 'God is
great.”
Reflections of a devotee at the Haj,
http://users.erols.com/ameen/hajjexp.htm
47
HAJJ: KA’ABA
KA’ABA
Islam's holiest place was not built by its
last Prophet Muhammad
 tradition has it that the Ka'bah was
originally built by Prophet Adam and was
rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and
his eldest son Prophet Isma'il (Ishmael),
nearly four thousand five hundred years
ago.

49
TALBIAH (prayer during Tawaaf
circumambulation)
Here I am O Allah, at Thy Command. Here
I am, at Thy Command.
There is no partner unto Thee. Here I
am, at Thy Command.
Verily Thine is the praise, the blessings
and the sovereignty of the universe.
There is no partner unto Thee.
50
ZAMZAM

Zamzam – well

Where the water sprang up under
Ismael’s feet

Now enclosed in a marble chamber in
the Ka'bah
51
REFLECTIONS, ZAMZAM

“As we drink from
Zamzam, we know it
is the same well that
sprang up in the
middle of the desert
so Hagar and
Ishmael could drink
from it.”
http://users.erols.com/ameen/hajjexp.htm
52
SA’Y: ‘RUNNING’

Run 7 times up and down a colonnade between
2 hills (450 yards apart) – SA’Y - ‘Hagar
searching for water for Ishmael’

Hagar, is said to have run back and forth seven
times between two rocky hillocks, al-Safa and alMarwah and then found the sacred water known
as Zamzam
53
Reflections at Hajj

“As we walk and run between Safa
and Marwah, the two hillocks in the
northeast of Ka'bah, we know
these are the same hills where
Hajerah (Hagar) ran to search for
water for infant Ishmael.”
Reflections of a devotee at the Hajj
http://users.erols.com/ameen/hajjexp.htm
54
RETURN TO MINA:



Before daybreak on the third day, pilgrims move
back to Mina. There they throw white pebbles
that have been collected earlier.
According to some traditions, this practice is
associated with Prophet Ibrahim.
As pilgrims throw seven pebbles at each of
these pillars, they remember the story of Satan's
attempt to persuade Ibrahim to disregard God's
command to sacrifice his son.
56
REFLECTIONS AT MINA

“As we gather pebbles at Muzdalfah to throw at the
pillars designated as the place where Satan tempted
Prophet Abraham, we realize that some of the very
pebbles may have been touched by the Prophet and
his companions. At this place, we are in the grip of
history. We can see it, hear it, feel it, touch it and
drink from it. It is in Mina where Satan tempted
Prophet Abraham and he threw pebbles at Satan to
keep him at bay. In the memory of that incident, we
also throw pebbles at the symbolic Satan reminding
ourselves the satan within us exploiting our
weaknesses and tempting us with riches, pleasures,
and non-productive activities. ”
http://users.erols.com/ameen/hajjexp.htm
57
FESTIVAL OF SACRIFICE

Following the casting of the pebbles, most
pilgrims sacrifice a goat, sheep or some
other animal. They give the meat to the
poor after, in some cases, keeping a small
portion for themselves.
58
CAMELS, FOR FESTIVAL OF
SACRIFICE
END OF HAJJ:

Men either shave their heads or clip their
hair, and women cut off a symbolic lock, to
mark their partial deconsecration. This is
done as a symbol of humility. All
proscriptions, save the one of conjugal
relations, are now lifted.
60
REFLECTION: END OF HAJJ

“The most difficult time comes when
leaving the House of Allah. One is never
completely satisfied with the time spent
here. There is always a desire for visiting it
again and to enjoy the peace and
tranquility of this holy place of the
Prophets. We make the farewell Tawaaf
and pray that we come back here soon.”
http://users.erols.com/ameen/hajjexp.htm
61
HAJJ, REFLECTION
"It would require a master pen to describe the scene,
poignant in its intensity, of that great concourse of
humanity of which I was one small unit, completely
lost to their surroundings in a fervor of religious
enthusiasm. Many of the pilgrims had tears
streaming down their cheeks; others raised their
faces to the starlit sky that had witnessed this drama
so often in the past centuries. The shining eyes, the
passionate appeals, the pitiful hands outstretched in
prayer moved me in a way that nothing had ever
done before, and I felt caught up in a strong wave of
spiritual exaltation. I was one with the rest of the
pilgrims in a sublime act of complete surrender to
the Supreme Will which is Islam."
Lady Evelyn Cobbold, 1934
http://www.islam.org/Mosque/jlthajj/hajj.htm
62
ISLAM IN INDIA
FIRST MUSLIMS: 711

Caliphate of Damscus
MAHMUD OF GHAZNI




Afghanistan
1001 – 1026 CE
17 invasions
‘The Idol Breaker’
GHAZNI VICTORY
TOWER, GHAZNI,
AFGHANISTAN
ANANDPAL, RAJA OF PUNJAB
1008 CE
 Peshawar
 Runaway
Elephant

TIMUR
Tamerlane
1398, India
"I am the scourge of God appointed to chastise you, since no one
knows the remedy for your iniquity except me. You are wicked, but I
am more wicked than you, so be silent!"
BABUR
1526-1530
PURANA QILA, DELHI
Babur's Purana Qila, Delhi
HUMANYUN

1530-1556
AKBAR
1556-1605
 Son of Humayun
 Greatest of Mughal
line

Jahangir's birth, Rejoicing, Mughal,
c. 1590.
JAHANGIR



1605-1627
Muslim emperor in
power when first
Europeans came to
India
Built Sikandra,
Akbar’s tomb
SHAHJAHAN



1627-1658
Shahjahan
Mumtaz
TAJ MAHAL
AURANGZEB

1658 to 1707
BRIDGES: ISLAM AND
HINDUISM

Kabir

Nanak

Akbar
77
KABIR, THE WEAVER
KABIR
“Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.
My shoulder is against yours.
You will not find me in stupas, not in shrine
rooms, nor in temples:
Not in masses, nor kirtan, not in eating nothing
but vegetables.
When you really look for me, you will see me
instantly:
You will find me in the tiniest house of time.
Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God?
He is the breath inside the breath.”
79
KABIR:
“Swan, tell me your story.
What country have you come from, swan, what shores
are you flying to?
Where do you rest at night, and what are you looking
for?
It’s dawn, swan, wake up, soar to the air, follow me!
There is a land not governed by sadness and doubt,
where the fear of death is unknown.
Spring forests bloom there and the wind is sweet with
the flower ‘He-Is-Myself’.
The bee if the heart dives into it and wants no other
joy.”
80
KABIR:
1440 – 1518 CE
 Weaver caste in Varanasi
 (At an earlier time weaver caste of
Varanasi had converted to Islam)
 Advantageous to do so
 Kabir raised as Muslim

81
KABIR’S CRITIQUE OF ISLAM:
“I’m asking you, Mr. Muslim
With your red and yellow
Rags and robes.
Now you, Mr. Qazi [religious administrator]
What kind of work is that,
Going from house to house
Chopping heads?
Who gave you the order for chickens and goats?
Who told you to swing the knife?
Aren’t you afraid to be called a sage
As you read your verses
And dupe the world?
Kabir says, this high class Muslim
Wants to force this way on the world.
Fast all day
Kill cows at night,
Here prayers, there blood –
Does this please God?”
82
- KABIR URGED PEOPLE OF
ALL FAITHS TO FIND
SALVATION IN TOTAL
SURRENDER TO GOD
- THIS ALONE IS THE TRUE
PATH
83
KABIR:
“O servant, where does thou seek me?
Lo! I am beside thee.
I am neither in temple nor in mosque.
I am neither in Kaaba nor in Kailash.
Neither am I in rites and ceremonies,
Nor in yoga and renunciation.
If thou are a true seeker,
Thou shalt at once see me.
Thou shalt meet me in a moment of time.
Kabir says, ‘O Sadhu’
God is in the breath of all.”
84
AKBAR:
Conquest is not what he is known for
 Unification and consolidation


Policy of conciliation
85
AKBAR:
Abolished jizya – special tax on nonMuslims
 Sought out Hindu holy men
 Employed Hindus

86
GENUINE CULTURAL
SYNTHESIS:
Began as a policy of conciliation
 Evolved into something much bigger:


CULTURAL SYNTENSIS OF THE FINEST
ELEMENTS OF ALL THE WORLD’S
RELIGIONS
87
AKBAR LEADS BY EXAMPLE:

Married 4 wives: Muslim, Buddhist,
Christian, Hindu
88
FATEHPUR SIKRI
-
Visible model of
policy of cultural
fusion
-
Combined elements
of both Muslim and
Hindu traditions
Diwan-i-kas - Akbar's audiences
Buland gate, entrance to Masjid
Din-i-Ilahi




‘divine faith’
New religion
One that would
incorporate both the
common and the
BEST elements of the
world’s religions
Religious
syncretism
FATEHPUR SIKRI: A DREAM?

YET, IN A LITTLE MORE THAN 20 YEARS,
FATEHPUR SIKRI WAS ABANDONED

POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF
WATER

TODAY, IT IS QUIET AND DESERTED PLACE
94