Spread of Islamic Empire
During the life of Hazrat Muhammad, Islam dominated most of the Arabian land. After his death there was a rapid spread of the Islamic State under the leadership of the Caliphs. The Arabs organized and started a campaign of political conquest along with the spread of Islam. Soon they occupied the Mediterranean countries- Syria, Palestine, Damascus, Cyprus, Crete, Egypt etc.
After this Persia was brought under the suzerainty of Islam. Then neo-Muslims and Arabs from North Africa entered Spain. After conquering Spain and Portugal, Islamic armies entered France, but in AD 732 the French under the leadership of Charles Martel 'War of Turs' Defeated the Islamic army in AD 1492 and pushed it back to Spain, where he ruled till AD 1492.
After this he also had to be removed from Spain. The Arabs launched a fierce attack on the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Constantinia. In the 15th century, the Ottoman Turks accomplished this task by conquering Kustuntia. On the other hand, after conquering Persia, the Arabs occupied Bukhara and Samarkand. He established complete dominance over Central Asia.
After this, in AD 712, he occupied the Sindh region of India. In AD 750, he made Baghdad his capital. By this time the Islamic state of Arabs had been established in India from Spain to North Africa to the border of Sindh and China.
Reasons for the rapid spread of Islam
Originating in a small town in Arabia, Islam became one of the world's greatest powers. There were many reasons for the rapid spread of Islam-
(1.) The fanaticism of Islam helped in the rapid spread of Islam. Hazrat Muhammad, after reaching Medina, organized his followers into soldiers and ordered them to forcibly convert those who disbelieved in the Qur'an to Islam and put them to death if they did not accept Islam. The orders of the Prophet were followed and the first attack was made on Mecca.
The same example was repeated everywhere after the conquest of Mecca. Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' Has written- 'Wherever the worshipers of Islam went, they put three paths in front of the opposing sect - either take the Quran and accept Islam or give jizya and accept subordination. If you don't like either of the things, then our sword is here to fall on your neck.
These must have been very effective measures, but it is not understood how Islam spread so quickly due to these measures alone. ' Muslims who fought for Islam were assured by the Quran that their sins would be forgiven and they would find great joy in heaven.
(2.) The immediate social and religious condition of Arabia was a major reason for the success of Islam. At that time, the whole Arab world was the center of superstition, social evils and malpractices. Poverty was prevalent among the Arabs, due to which greed was also very high in them and every way to get money was considered good.
Gambling, alcoholism, and prostitution were rampant. The importance of a sacred institution like marriage also lost its importance and there was no moral system of sex-relationship in the society. All the Arabs were polytheistic and blatantly idolatrous. In such a situation, Islam led by Hazrat Muhammad - without superstitions, pompous, simple, intelligible and worshiping a formless God, soon became popular.
(3.) The ideology of social and religious equality in Islam was also a major reason for the success of Islam. There is no discrimination in Islam and every person has equal social and religious rights. All Muslims are considered to be servants of one Allah. Therefore the followers of Islam are mutually friendly and do not have the feeling of high and low.
Due to this principle of equality, the popularity of Islam grew very rapidly. Any society in which the people of the lower status were suffering from religious or social tyranny of the people of higher status, they accepted Islam to get respect and prestige in the society. Due to this the spread of Islam was rapid.
(4.) At the time when the followers of Islam were engaged in the spread of Islam, at that time the Roman Empire was hollow and luxury was at its peak. The Iranian Empire was also immersed in the quagmire of luxury. The state officials and religious officials used to exploit the people terribly. The people of these exploited states considered the Islamic armies as their saviors.
Historian Manvendra Rai has written- 'Wherever the Arab invaders went, the people welcomed them as their protectors and liberators, because at some places the people were falling under the corruption of the greedy rulers and somewhere under the corruption of the Iranian dictators. She was plagued by oppression and somewhere the superstition of Christianity was holding her.'
(5.) The immediate economic condition of the Arabs also contributed to the success of Islam. In the sixth century, the caravan trade in Arabia was declining due to which the economic balance was disturbed. When the income from caravans stopped, the nomadic Arabs started farming. This increased the demand for land and the easiest way was to seize fertile land from neighboring states.
He used to collect taxes from the people of the area which he used to occupy. Millions of non-Muslims accepted Islam so that they would not have to pay taxes. By converting to Islam, they became eligible to get jobs in the Islamic State. If they were slaves or semi-slaves, they were freed from slavery by conversion. In this way the poor people of the conquered areas accepted Islam happily.
(6.) The great personality and ideal life of the early leaders of Islam contributed greatly to the popularity of Islam. Abu Bakr, Umar Osman and Ali, all three were chosen companions of the prophet and, like Muhammad, lived in poverty and poverty. They did not have palaces or bodyguards and they did not have the luxury of contemporary emperors. Every Muslim could reach him directly.
He presented such a beautiful example of simplicity, virtuosity, valor and detachment that the moral aspect of Islam rose very high. Be it military campaigns or pilgrimages, these caliphs used to provide justice everywhere. He removed the evils prevalent among the Arabs and prevented the state employees from being ruthless and oppressed. Some caliphs were also efficient generals and skilled military operators. Due to these reasons the early spread of Islam was possible.
(7.) Every Muslim can legally have four wives. The result of this polygamy was that wherever Muslims went, they married non-women. Even after coming to India, Muslims married Hindu women. Muslim children were born from Hindu women, due to which Islam spread rapidly in the country. Muslims born of Hindu women proved to be more fanatical for the spread of Islam in India.
(8.) At the time of the arrival of the Turks in India, the political condition here was very deplorable. There was lack of central authority and political unity in the country. The kings of small and big states were losing their power in mutual conflict. At this time the Hindu society was also in decline and it had to struggle against the zealous social system. The general public had no special interest in the rise and fall of dynasties. The caste-system of Hindu society had divided the common man.
The life of the lower castes was very pathetic. Most of the lower caste people accepted Islam. On the contrary, Islam tied the Muslims in the thread of unity and the wars fought against the infidels wore the name of jihad. Muslim sultans ruled on the basis of Quran and spread Islam. Of. s. Lal has written- 'Sultans in India reduced the number of Hindus to one-third through their religious policy.
Entry and spread of Islam in India
Muslim Arab traders had established trade relations with the south-western seaside states of India from the seventh century. Some Arab traders had settled permanently in Malabar and other places in South India. Along with doing business, Arab traders in South India also propagated Islam. Due to this some people of South India accepted Islam.
The Arabs conquered Sindh in the beginning of the eighth century, but with this victory Islam could not establish its supremacy in Sindh. The leadership of Islam went first to the Iranians and then to the Turks. The Turks were divided into many branches for the propagation of Islam. The Turks of the Samani dynasty moved east and occupied Khorasan, the country across the Axus River and vast areas of Afghanistan between AD 874 and 999. Ruler of Samani dynasty in 10th century AD 'Ahmad' Ka Ghulam 'Alaptagin' Became an independent ruler of Ghazni. His lineage 'Ghajnavi dynasty' called.
In AD 977, Subuktagin, the slave and son-in-law of Alaptagin, defined the boundaries of Ghazni state as Hindushahi state 'Lamgan' reached. In AD 986, he attacked the Hindu Shahi state of Punjab, Lamgan. The ruler of Lamgan, Jaipal made a treaty with him, but after some time Jaipal started disobeying the treaty.
Therefore, in AD 991, Subuktagin again attacked the Hindushahi kingdom and conquered the region up to Lamgan. On the death of Subuktagin in AD997, his son Mahmud became the ruler of Ghazni. Being the ruler of Ghazni, he was called Mahmud Ghaznavi. Mahmud Ghaznavi made 17 attacks on India between AD 1000 to 1026.
The purpose of Mahmud's invasions was not to establish a permanent rule in India, but to plunder wealth, to destroy temples and idols, and to pave the way for the spread of Islam in India. Its Muslim governors began to rule some areas from Afghanistan to Punjab. In the 12th century AD, Muhammad Ghori defeated the Chauhan rulers of Ajmer and Delhi and laid the foundation of the Muslim Empire in India. His slave Qutbuddin Aibak became the first independent Muslim Sultan of Delhi.
Problem of Hindu-Muslim Communalism
Although the concept of Islamic and non-Islamic land is not present in the Quran and Hadith, Islamic thinkers have divided the whole world into two parts- 'Darul Islam' (House of Islam) and 'Darul Harb' (House of War). Darul Islam is the land where the law of Shariat operates whereas Darul Harab is the land where the rule does not run according to Shariat. It is called 'Darul Kufr' also say. Darul Harab is again divided into three parts-
(1.) Darul Ahad- That is, the non-Islamic country where there is a majority of those who do not believe in Allah.
(2.) Darul Reconciliation- That is, that non-Islamic country where those who do not believe in Allah have made peace agreement with Muslims.
(3.) Darul Dawa- (Proselytizing or preaching of Islam) i.e. that non-Islamic country whose people are to be converted by teaching Islam.
Influenced by this thought of spreading Islam, the Muslims wanted to convert the whole world to Darul Islam. So wherever Muslim armies went, they killed or enslaved the pagans (idol-worshippers) by calling them kafirs (atheists).
He left only two options before the people, either become a Muslim or die. There was also a third and narrow path, under which the infidels were given jimmy i.e. 'protected-heretic' It was declared that those who were given Jizya would survive in the Muslim kingdom.
Entry of Hindu-Muslim communal problem in India
Islam started converting a large number of Hindus into Muslims by the force of the sword. The Hindus who refused to become Muslims were taken away and put to death. Muslim Mullahs and Maulvis explained to Muslims that India 'Darul Harb' and 'Jihad' By eliminating the infidels through it 'Darul Islam' to make.