South Asian Islam
7th Century CE - Present
6 articles: 5 persons, 1 dynasty
The history of Islam in the Indian subcontinent, from the earliest Arab traders and the Delhi Sultanate through the Mughal Empire and the colonial period.
Alauddin Khalji: The Most Powerful Sultan of Delhi
Alauddin Khalji (r. 1296–1316 CE) was the most powerful ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. His reign saw the repulsion of Mongol invasions, the conquest of much of peninsular India, sweeping economic reforms including price controls, and a highly centralized administration.
Allama Iqbal: The Poet-Philosopher of the East
Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938 CE) was a poet-philosopher and political leader considered the spiritual father of Pakistan. His poetry, philosophical works, and vision of Islamic revival profoundly influenced the Muslim world.
Delhi Sultanate: Islamic Rule in Medieval India
The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526 CE) was a series of five successive Islamic dynasties that ruled northern India for over three centuries, establishing Muslim political power in the subcontinent, creating a unique Indo-Islamic culture, and leaving an enduring architectural and administrative legacy.
Iltutmish: The True Founder of the Delhi Sultanate
Shams al-Din Iltutmish (r. 1211–1236 CE) was the third sultan of Delhi and the ruler who consolidated the Delhi Sultanate into a stable, independent state. A former slave who rose by merit, he won Abbasid recognition, repelled Mongol threats, and built lasting institutions of Muslim rule in India.
Razia Sultana: The First Female Sultan of Delhi
Razia Sultana (1205-1240 CE) was the first and only female Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, ruling from 1236 to 1240 CE. She demonstrated exceptional administrative skill and military leadership, though her reign was cut short by opposition from nobles.
Shah Waliullah Dehlawi
Shah Waliullah Dehlawi (1703-1762 CE), pioneering Indian Islamic scholar and reformer who revitalized Islamic thought through synthesis of Islamic sciences, emphasis on ijtihad, and efforts to bridge sectarian divisions.