Islam in Indiaconstitutes the second-most practiced religion after Hinduism, with approximately 151 million Muslimsin India's population as of 2007 (according to government census 2001), i.e., 13.4 percent of the population. Currently, India has the third largest population of Muslims in the world, after Indonesiaand Pakistan.Islamin Indiahas had a fascinating, and powerful impact. Indeed, Islam has become woven into the very fabric of Indian civilization and culture. Muslims arrived in India during the life of Muhammadthe Prophet, establishing mosques and organizing missionary endeavors in the seventh century C.E.Those missionary efforts proved successful, rooting Islam firmly into Indian life. As often happens with missionary movements from all religions, merchant and trade endeavors went hand in hand with missionary work. Arabshad had a presence in India before the birth of Muhammad. Thatprobably facilitated making inroads for Islam, since Arab traders established in India who converted to Islam already had a base of operations established.in the phenomenally diverse religious and cultural landscape of India.Islam in India had the unique experience of having to coexist with other religions. Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhismall had their origins in India. Although Buddhism went into decline in India from the eighth century C.E., it still maintained a major presence. Islamhad to accommodate itself to one degree or another with most of the major world religions: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity. That became extremely difficult at the time of India's independence from British rule. A majority of Muslims agreed with the call of their leaders, especially Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, to create a separate nation. The majority of Muslim's decided that living in cooperation with other religions, especially the dominant Hinducommunity, would hamstring their religious convictions. That led to the creation of Pakistanin 1947 and Bangladesh in 1971. The remnant Muslimcommunity in India have struggled, with one degree of success or another, to cooperateHistory
The Delhi Fort, also known as the Red Fort.The emergence of Islam in the region took place at the same time as the Turko-Muslim invasion of medieval India (which includes large parts of present day Pakistan and the Republic of India). Those rulers took over the administration of large parts of India. Since its introduction into India, Islam has made significant religious, artistic, philosophical, cultural, social and political contributions to Indian history.During the twentieth century, the Muslims of South Asia have had a turbulenthistory within the region. After the Lahore Resolution of 1946, Muslim Leaguepoliticians established Pakistan, a Muslim-majority state, following independence from British rule. The Muslim populations of India and Pakistannumber roughly the same. Former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, declared Islam as have two presidents before him. Numerous politicians, as
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