Muslims of Uttar Pradesh

Islam in Uttar Pradesh numbers about 38,483,967 (19.26%), according to 2011 census, and forms the largest religious minority in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Muslims of Uttar Pradesh have also been referred to as Hindustani Musalman ( ہندوستانی مسلمان). In the strict sense, the Uttar Pradesh Muslims do not form a single ethnic community. They are differentiated by sectarian and Baradari divisions, as well as by dialect and geographical distribution. Nevertheless, the Uttar Pradesh Muslims possess a sense of group identity based on cultural and historic factors. These include the Islamic religion, a Persian cultural tradition and its Indian offspring, the Urdu language. They are also a disproportionately urban community, reflecting an old historic legacy. Muslims are majority in Rampur district and cities of Sambhal, Rampur, Amroha, Bahraich and Mau according to 2011 census.

Much of Uttar Pradesh formed part of the various Sultanate after 1000 CE and was ruled from their capital, Delhi. As a consequence of these invasions, their arose a community in what is now Uttar Pradesh, which was referred to as Hindustani Musalmans. Early settlement of Northern Muslims was due to the invasions and then establishment of Turkish Sultanate. Most Muslim in Northern India, particularly in Delhi and adjoining areas were of Turkish Origin or Turks. These Turks remained part of the establishment for few centuries until very late in the Mughal Empire, when there was mass migration from Persia and Afghan regions to Delhi. Consequently, Turks were pushed down the ladder as the Rulers and Courtesians of Delhi and became involved in farming and semi-skilled work. Famous Turkish Sufis include Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Khusro etc. Mehroli was the first organised township of Turks who had built numerous Turkish Monuments such as Qutib Minar, Puran Qila, Turkman Darwaza etc. Turkish communities in India are currently recognised by their trades such as Turks Jhojhey, Turk Kalal, Turk Khayyat, Turk farmers etc. They mainly live in Muzzafarnagar, Shahjahanpur, Moradabad, BulandShahar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut etc. In medieval times, the term Hindustani Musalman was applied to those Muslims who were either converts to Islam or who had a long settled in India. These Hindustani Musalmans did not form a single community, as they were divided by ethnic, linguistic and economic differences. Often these early settlers lived in fortified towns, known as Qasbahs. Important qasbas include Kakori in Lucknow District, Sandhila in Hardoi District and Zaidpur in Barabanki District. With the rise of the Mongols under Genghis Khan, there was an influx of Muslim refugees into North India, many of whom settled in the provincial qasbas, bringing with them a Persianized culture. Many of these early settlers are the ancestors of the Sayyid and Shaikh communities. In these qasbas, over time a number of cultural norms arose, which still typify many Uttar Pradesh Muslim traditions. The Turkish Sultans of Delhi and their Mughal successors patronized the émigré Muslim culture: Islamic jurists of the Sunni Hanafi school, Persian literati who were Shia Ithnā‘ashariyyah and Sufis of several orders, including the Chishti, Qadiri and Naqshbandi. These Sufi orders were particularly important in converting Hindus to Islam.

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