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F R I E N D S O F I N D I A |
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R E L I G I O N S - I S L A M
Islam is the second-largest religion in India, where Muslims number around 137 million people (Census 2001). India has the third-largest population of Muslims in the world. Since its introduction to India, Islam has made valuable religious, philosophy, culture, social and political contributions to Indian history, heritage and life. It has also been a source of social, religious, political and military conflict over one thousand years. The Arab traders brought Islam to India in the early 8th century, but it was not until the 12th century that it became a force to reckon with in the Indian sub-continent. Unlike Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism which emerged as offshoots of Hinduism, the concept, customs and religious practices of Islam were unique to this faith which professed universal brotherhood and submission to Allah - the God Almighty. The Muslim invaders in the 12th century and the Mughal rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries helped in the spread of Islam in India. In its first phase, Islam was aggressive. But the mystics of Islam, or the Sufi saints, helped in spreading the message of peace and universal love. The spirit of brotherhood propounded by Sufi saints and preachers like Kabir and Nanak helped in loosening the rigidity of the caste system. The interaction of the two faiths led to a synthesis of Hindu and Islamic elements in almost every sphere of life and culture. After an initial period of conflict and confrontation, today the two religions have accommodated and enriched each other. The contribution of Muslim revolutionaries, poets and writers is immense. Muhammad Ashfaq Ullah Khan of Shahjehanpur,Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan (popular as Frontier Gandhi), Barakatullah of Bhopal, Rahmat Shah, Ali Ahmad Siddiqui of Faizabad and Syed Mujtaba Hussain are some of them. Though once Muslims ruled Hindu majority India but they could not cope up with situations during colonial time and after 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. In partition majority of educated and rich muslims either migrated to Pakistan or Britain leaving behind poor and illiterate Muslims. There has been three Muslim presidents of India, Dr. Zakir HUssain, Dr, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Dr. A.P.J. ABul Kalam. Azim H. Premji, owner of Wipro Ltd. is the richest man in India. A significant modern Muslim intelligentsia has crystallised in varying fields, including academics, theatre, literature, journalism, and sports. Indian film industry, Bollywood, has always been dominated by Muslims. Muslims are successful in every aspect of film industry. |
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