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 others
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 Akbars 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 others 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 Akbars
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 Baburs 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 Abidins patronage to musicians was responsible for the
compilation of a commentary on the Sangitaratnakara