Policies and practices of religious and other communities

When Islam reached India, it found a fertile ground, took roots and grew. Already during the caliphate of Umar the first Muslim merchant fleet appeared in Indian waters. Before kutub-ud-din aibek took the reigns in Delhi, Muslims of Malabar had established themselves and were controlling the maritime trade. Muslim Arabs first settled on the Malabar Coast at about the end of the 7^th century. Most of the Muslim conquerors who established rule in India, adopted a policy of tolerance. From 1000-1001 AD till the death of emperor Aurangzeb, the Muslim empire of India spread from the Sind regions in the west of India till the region of Bengal and from Kashmir to Ceylon. Mostly it was the Persianized Islam that dominated the political and social scene in India where Persian prose and poetry flourished. During this time the mystical leaders contributed to the spread of Islam. Many new things were introduced to India like Unani system of medicine, textiles industries and newer forms of agriculture.