Islam in South Asia

The history of Islam in the Indian subcontinent spans more than thirteen centuries — from the arrival of Arab traders and the conquest of Sindh by Muhammad ibn al-Qasim in 711, through the Delhi Sultanate and the great Mughal Empire, to the reform movements, independence struggles, and vibrant Muslim communities of the modern age. It is a story of conquest and settlement, of syncretic culture and architectural splendour, of scholarship and statecraft, and of a Muslim population that today numbers in the hundreds of millions.

This collection gathers the rulers, dynasties, scholars, reformers, and leaders who shaped South Asian Islam — from the sultans of Delhi and the Mughal emperors to the poet-philosopher Iqbal, the reformer Shah Waliullah, the leaders of the Khilafat Movement, and the statesmen and scientists of independent India and Pakistan. It also includes the monuments and institutions that embody this heritage.

Presented with strict neutrality, the collection reflects the achievements, debates, and historical significance of one of the largest and most influential Muslim populations in the world.