Early Conversions to Islam: Difference between revisions

'''Historical:

In an invasion of the Kashmir valley in 1015, Mahmud of Ghazni plundered the valley, took many prisoners and carried out conversions to Islam.<ref>{{cite book|title=The History and Culture of the Indian People: The struggle for empire|author=Ramesh Chandra Majumdar|authorlink=|year=1951|page=12}}</ref> In his later campaigns, in Mathura, Baran and Kanauj, again, many conversions took place. Those soldiers who surrendered to him were converted to Islam. In Baran (Bulandshahr) alone 10,000 persons were converted to Islam including the king. Al Qazwini writes that "when Mahmud went to wage religious war against India, he made great efforts to capture and destroy Somnath, in the hope that the Hindus would then become Muhammadans."<ref>{{cite book|title=India 2001: Reference Encyclopedia, Volume 1|page=29|author=Catherine B. Asher|publisher=South Asia Publicaitons}}</ref> Tarikh-i-Yamini, Rausat-us-Safa and Tarikh-i-Ferishtah speak of construction of mosques and schools and appointment of preachers and teachers by Mahmud and his successor Masud. Wherever Mahmud went, he insisted on the people to convert to Islam. <ref name=imwat-1>{{cite book| title=Indian Muslims:Who Are They| first=K.S. |last=Lal |chapter=1 |year=2004 |isbn=978-8185990101 |asin=B003DRH2FI}}</ref> The raids by Muhammad Ghori and his generals brought in thousands of slaves in the late 12th century, most of whom were compelled to convert as one of the preconditions of their freedom.<ref name=imwat-1>{{cite book| title=Indian Muslims:Who Are They| first=K.S. |last=Lal |chapter=1 |year=2004 |isbn=978-8185990101 |asin=B003DRH2FI}}</ref><ref>Habibullah, ''The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India'', (Allahabad, 1961), pp.69 and 334</ref><ref>Hasan Nizami, ''Taj-ul-Maasir'', II, p.216</ref><ref>Titus, Murray. ''Islam in India and Pakistan'', ([[Calcutta]], 1959), p.31</ref> Qutb ud-Din Aibak is said to have demolished almost 1,000 temples and built mosques on their foundations.<ref>{{cite book|title=Islamic Civilization in South Asia: A History of Muslim Power and Presence in the Indian Subcontinent|page=72|publisher=Routledge}}</ref>  Sikandar Butshikan (reigned 1394-1417) demolished Hindu temples and forcefully converted Hindus in Kashmir.<ref>{{cite book|title=Kashmir: Valley and Its Culture|author=Shiri Ram Bakshi|publisher=Sarup & Sons|year=1997|page=70}}</ref>

Bagrat V was an Eastern Orthodox Christian. Timur invaded Georgia and defeated and captured him. Bagrat agreed to convert to Muslim.<ref>'': At the Crossroads of Empires : 14th - 15th Century Eastern Anatolia''. {{cite book | author=Andrew Peacock | title=Between Georgia and the Islamic World : The Atabegs of Samc'xe and the Turks | location=Istanbul | page=55}}</ref> Only after this, he was released. [[Timur]] plundered state of Jammu in 1399. He forced the Hindu ruler of Jammu to become a Muslim.<ref>Bawa Satinder Singh. The Jammu Fox. A Biography of Maharaja Gulab Singh of Kashmir 1792-1857. Southern Illinois Press, Carbondale and Edwardsville, 1974.</ref>

'''Modern: