Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c15.14

c15.14

From the above account it would appear that by the end of the eleventh century, there were a few thousand Muslims in Gujarat, Sind, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Kashmir. In the Punjab the sway of the descendants of Mahmud of Ghazni was precarious, and their proselytizing efforts could not have been quite rewarding of success. Therefore, the number if Muslims in the Punjab, like in Sind, Gujarat and Malabar could have been only small. Islam being a proselytizing religion, its followers have not only taken pride in winning converts but also often exaggerating the numbers of real or imaginary conversions. For instance it is claimed that in Gujarat some members of the depressed classes like Kunbis, Kharwars and Koris were converted to Islam by Nuruddin Nur Satgur.¹¹ But 'Nur Satgur's figure is one which is more legendary than real, at least in determinable historical terms.'¹² The story of the conversion of Cheraman Perumal of Malabar too is only legendary.¹³ There is no doubt that the invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni brought good crop of converts, and a few more Muslims were added through the influence of Muslim Mashaikh and traders in Gujarat and Malabar. But if the example of Sind provides any precedent, it is possible that many Hindus forcibly converted to Islam during Mahmud's raids returned to their former faith. Very few Muslims were left in Sind after the decline of Arab rule. A local Karmatian Muhammadan dynasty was, however, ruling at Mansura and Multan. Mahmud of Ghazni destroyed it root and branch (1010) and Multan was deserted.¹⁴ There was another wave of Shia immigrants. In 1175 Shihabuddin Ghori attacked, defeated, and massacred them; and the majority of survivors began to live in the guise of Hindus.¹⁵