INDO-ISLAMIC CULTURE

Indo-Islamic culture :- Indicates the growth of a composite culture as a result of contact,

intermixing and assimilation of the cultural traditions of India and the Islamic world during

medieval period.

The fusion of the cultural traditions of Hinduism and Islam gave birth to Indo-Islamic culture

2 distinct phases of the growth of this culture

1) Early medieval and Sultanate phase

2) Mughal phase when under Akbar, aided by his liberalism bloomed as a common

In the field of scholarship and literature >> 2 communities came under each other’s

influence

The spirit of synthesis and mutual harmony led to the growth of a new composite culture

which was neither purely Hindu nor entirely Muslim but a happy fusion of the best elements

of both which continued throughout the medieval period and Akbar’s reign was its high

watermark as it evidenced in almost every walk of social and cultural life.

Salient Aspects of Indo-Islamic Culture:

In mathematics, the Arabs learned the use of digits from the Indians

For the enhancement of the knowledge the Sanskrit texts of Mathematics, Astrology,

medicine, Politics etc were translated into Arabic.

Turks loved India – Amir Khusrau hailed Delhi as ‘ Hazarat-i-Delhi’ and as “the second

heaven and a great centre of justice ”

Most Important Factors – Contribution to the growth of Indo-Islamic culture:

System of administration

Rise of a common language

Sufi and Bhakti movements

Development of Indo-Persian Literature

Social Customs and Etiquette:

Many common practices came to be adopted

Birth of a male child and marriages were celebrated with great pomp and musical

entertainment by both communities

In the wedding ceremony many common practices and dresses came to be adopted

Dresses and ornaments of both the communities were almost identical

The Hindus and Muslims participated in each other’s festivals

The Hindu superstitions of the “evil-eye”(nazar), the ‘utara’ and the ceremony of ‘arti’ which

was termed by the Muslims ‘nisar’ took deep roots in the Muslim society

The “Purda” system and seclusion of women, unknown in early days of Hindu rule, was

introduced elaborately into the Hindu society

The system of divorce was unknown to Hindu society and this influenced the Muslims

The dowry system became prevalent among the Muslims under the influence of Hindus

In Muslims caste and class distinctions arose among them like Hindus – developed new

castes and sub-castes

The conception of untouchability evolved in Muslim society

Shias and Sunnis did not enter into matrimonial alliances with each other

Language and Literature:

The language which the Muslim invaders spoke in the administration was Arabicised Persian

mixed with Turkish

In some literary works of Marathi – 30% of words used were Persian in origin

The greatest linguistic synthesis was the development of modern Urdu (Deccani) flourished

in the South at the courts of Deccan Muslim rulers

Famous poets – Mulla Nusrati, Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah & Muhammad Quli Shah

contributed to the thought and literature of the Deccan

Urdu language or Hindusthani was cultivated and developed both by Muslims and Hindus as

their common language

Indo-Persian contribution to the literature of India >> Islamic thought in the fields of

religion, Sufi philosophy, ethics and sciences (Unani or Greek system of Medicine)

Muslims were attracted twds the study of Hindu sciences of medicine and astrology

Imp book translated from Sanskrit into Persian – “Tibbi-i-Sikandari” (medicine)

Crafts and Arts introduced in India by muslims were practiced by hindus – manufacture of

paper, enamelling and faience

Religion:

Islamic religious and social thought >> in south India through the Arab agencies

Sufi and other Islamic influences >> in north India through Ramanand, Kabir, Nanak etc.

Sufi sect writers and poets adopted Hindu doctrines

Mutual toleration found the expression of Hindus for Muslim saints (Sufi school) & Muslim

practice of venerating Hindu saints lead to the common worship of Satyapir (True saint)

Bhakti cult (not a direct result of the impact of Islam on Hinduism) influenced to some

extent

Sufism also influenced the Hindu society to some extent

Eastern variety of Sufism (offshoot of Hindu vedanta) and Sufi saints of Chisti order lived and

acted like Hindu saints could not attract the attention of Hindu community

From the time of Akbar onwards the contact between upper class Hindus and the Muslim

Sufi saints became frequent

The sufi movement afforded a common platform to the more learned minds among Hindus

and Muslims

Sufists made no distinction between different creeds and faiths – preached doctrines to the

followers of all faiths

Art and Architecture:

Hindus and Muslims developed their own style

Synthesis of these 2 types evolved

Early Muslim invaders freely employed Hindu master craftsmen for designing and

constructing their buildings

Naturally introduced the characteristics of Hindu architecture like solidity and grace while

adopting Muslim features like arches, domes, minarets, geometrical devices etc

This continued to be the artistic quality of most buildings of N.India >> Tombs of Isa khan and

Humayun and buildings of Fatehpur Sikri – which stands to this day silent witness to Akbar’s

dream of uniting the Hindus and Muslims into one nation

New foreign rulers introduced mehrab or arch, dome, minar and tomb to the indigenous

architecture.

The design of the golden kalash (the ornate lotus cresting) at the top of the sikhar of Hindu

temples was adopted by the Muslims in placing a stone kalash on the domes of mosques

and tombs

The Mughals greatly improved the medieval Indian garden by introducing geometrically

designed pleasences

Painting:

The painting of human figures or of anything that has life is not agreeable to the orthodox

Muslim

The early Muslim kings were indifferent to this art. But it was not completely neglected

because some of the Muslims who imbibed Persian ideas were interested in it and some of

the Hindus who embraced Islam did not give up this old hobby completely

Mughals were great patrons of this art and under their patronage they developed it rapidly

On the eve of Babur’s invasion, behzad was honoured as a perfect master for this art and his

paintings became models for artists, through the encouragement given by the Chagtai

nobles

A new style was evolved by engrafting the traditions and elements of Timurid school upon

those of Ajantha

The predominating influence of the one or the other of the parent styles was the main

differentiating factor

Ex: Rajput and Pahadi styles of Jaipur

Music:

Indian music made an irresistible appeal to the Muslim heart

It had a very healthy effect on the exuberance of Muslim feelings

All this inspired the Muslim society to take keen interest in music

Consequently, great musicians like Khusro were produced in the Sultanate period – invented

new ragas like qawwalis and khayals

Muslims adopted musical instruments like the sitar and tabla of the Hindus and their

Dhrupad raga

Akbar was a great lover of music – amirs and courtiers Raja Bhagwan Das and Mansingh

patronized musicians

Composed new varieties of ragas like tarana, thumri, gazal

The growth of Hindusthani school of north Indian music was a result of their cultural fusion

The most notable result was the compilation of Gunyat-Ut-Manya which was first work on

Indian music by a Muslim scholar

Sultan Hussain Shah Sharqi of jaunpur was responsible for the invention of Khayal

Hussain Shah Sharqi composed Arabic air Zangula or jangala and is credited with making

improvements in Khayal

Sangitasiromani was dedicated to Ibrahim Shah Sharaqi of jaunpur

In Kashmir, Sultan Zainul Abidin’s patronage to musicians was responsible for the

compilation of a commentary on the Sangitaratnakara