Debates on the Emergence of Islam in Bengal through the Arab-Turkish Existence

Öz

This research focuses on two main topics. The first is the lack of attention to the emergence of Islam in Bengal, according to this study. The second concern is the early interactions of Muslim Arabs and Turks with the Bengal region. When analysing the initial entry of these two groups into the area and their subsequent activities, it is observed that they differ vastly. Before the advent of Islam, Arabs were accustomed to travelling to various regions, including Bengal, for trade purposes. Over time, Arab traders expanded their commercial activities with Bengal ports and contributed to spreading Islam. On the other hand, Central Asian Turks also attempted to connect the Bengal region to themselves through various activities over time. Therefore, there is a need for more in-depth research on this subject. Methodologically, this research evaluates historical arguments and narratives through qualitative research. Moreover, this study relies primarily on secondary sources in Bangla and English. Where necessary, classical Arabic sources will also be taken into consideration. In this way, the research offers a unique perspective.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Arabs
• Islamization of Bengal
• sea route
• land route
• trade
• Turks

Bengal’de İslam’ın Ortaya Çıkışı Üzerine Arap-Türk Varlığına İlişkin Tartışmalar

Öz

Bu araştırma iki temel konuya odaklanmaktadır. Birincisi, bu çalışmaya göre Bengal’de İslamiyet’in ortaya çıkışına yeterince dikkat edilmemesidir. İkincisi ise Müslüman Araplar ve Türklerin Bengal bölgesi ile erken temaslarını içermektedir. Bu konuda bölgeye söz konusu iki milletin ilk girişleri, ardından sürdürdükleri faaliyetleri analiz edildiğinde zamansal açıdan farklılık gösterdikleri müşahede edilmektedir. İslam’ın ortaya çıkmasından önce Araplar ticaret amacıyla çeşitli bölgelere, Bengal de dâhil olmak üzere, seyahat etmeye alışkındılar. Zamanla Arap tüccarlar Bengal limanları ile ticaret faaliyetlerini genişlettiler ve İslamiyet’in yayılışında katkıda bulundular. Öte yandan, Orta Asya’daki Türkler de Bengal bölgesini zamanla çeşitli faaliyetlerle kendilerine bağlamaya çalıştılar. Bu sebeple konuya dair daha derinlikli araştırmalara ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Yöntemsel olarak bu araştırma, nitel araştırma yoluyla tarihsel argümanları ve anlatıları değerlendirmektedir. Ayrıca, bu çalışma, başlıca Bengalce ve İngilizce ikincil kaynaklara dayanmaktadır. Gerekli yerlerde klasik Arapça kaynaklara da başvurulacaktır. Bu şekilde, araştırma yeni bir bakış açısı sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Araplar
• Bengal’in İslamlaşması
• deniz yolu
• kara yolu
• ticaret
• Türkler

Kaynakça

1. Akhanda, Mahfuzur Rahman. Arakaner Musalmander Itihas. Bangladesh Cooperative Book Society, 2013.
2. Al-Ahsan, A. “Spread of Islam in Pre-Mughal Bengal.” Intellectual Discourse, vol. 2, no. 1, June 1994, pp. 41-55, https://doi.org/10.31436/id.v2i1.339.
3. Ali, Muhammad Mohar. History of the Muslims of Bengal. Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, 2003.
4. Al-Masud, A., M. F. Abdullah, and M. R. Amin. “The Contributions of Sufism in Promoting Religious Harmony in Bangladesh.” Jurnal Usuluddin, vol. 45, no. 2, Dec. 2017, pp. 105-22, https://doi.org/10.22452/usuluddin.vol45no2.5.
5. Arnold, T. W. The Preaching of Islam. 2nd ed., Constable & Company Ltd., 1913.
6. Baghdadi. Al-Mukhabbir. Dâr al-Afak al-Jadidah, nd. Balâdhuri. Kitab Futûh Al-Buldân. Columbia University Press, 1916.
7. Bhattasali, Nalini Kanta. Coins and Chronology of the Early Independent of the Sultans of Bengal. Hard Press, 1922.
8. Chand, Tara. Influence of Muslims on Indian Culture. The Indian Press, 1922.

9. Chowdhury, A. M. “Varendra.” Banglapedia, 18 June 2021, https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Varendra.
10. Chowdhury, Abdul Momin. Dynastic History of Bengal. The Asiatic Press, 1967.
11. Cöhce, Salim. “Gaznelilerden Önce Hindistan’da Türk Varlığı.” Erdem, vol. 9, no. 27, 1997, pp. 981-88, https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/erdem/issue/44394/549377.
12. Dadan, Ali, and Abdur Rahman Fuad. “Arakan’a İslâmiyet’in Girişi ve Yayılışı: Günümüz Arakan’ın Tarihsel Arka Planı.” İSTEM, no. 32, 32, 2018, pp. 177-98. dergipark.org.tr, https://doi.org/10.31591/istem.458926.
13. Dani, A. H. “Early Muslim Contact with Bengal.” Proceedings of the Pakistan Historical Conference, vol. 1, Pakistan Historical Society, 1952, pp. 1-75.
14. Dasgupta, Atis. “Islam in Bengal: Formative Period.” Social Scientist, vol. 32, no. 3-4, 2004, pp. 30-41, https://doi.org/10.2307/3518022.
15. Dasgupta, Atis. “The Bauls and Their Heretic Tradition.” Social Scientist, vol. 22, no. 5/6, 1994, pp. 70-83, https://doi.org/10.2307/3517903.
16. Dowson, John. History of India Told by Its Own Historians. Trübner & Co., 1869.
17. Dunlock, Helen L. “Research Design: Descriptive Research.” Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, vol. 10, no. 4, 1993, pp. 154-57, https://doi.org/10.1177/104.345.429301000406.
18. Eaton, Richard M. The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204-1760. University of California Press, 1993.
19. Elphinstone, Mountstuart. The History of India. 2nd ed., vol. 1, 1843.
20. Fayda, Mustafa. “Ömer.” TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, vol. 34, TDV Yayınları, 2007, pp. 44-51.
21. Fuad, Abdur Rahman. “The Fusion of Turkish Religious Thoughts in Central Asian Buddhism and Its Repercussion to Bengal.” Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi, vol. 112, no. 1, 2024, pp. 127-146, https://doi.org/10.60163/tkhcbva.1444930.
22. Fuad, Abdur Rahman. “Türk Komutanı İhtiyârüddin Muhammed’in Bengal Bölgesinin Fethi ve Buna Dair Tabakat-ı Nasıri’deki Rivayetlerin Değerlendirilmesi.” İSTEM, no. 40, 2022, pp. 473-82, https://doi.org/10.31591/istem.1227131.
23. Fuad, Abdur Rahman, and Ali Dadan. “Prehistorical Identity of Rohingya: Exploring Islam and the Glorious Past of the Muslim Kingdom in Arakan.” Rohingya Refugee Crisis in Myanmar Ethnic Conflict and Resolution, edited by Kudret Bülbül et al., Palgrave Macmillan, 2022, pp. 1-18.
24. Habibullah, N. M. Rohinga Jatir Itihas. Bangladesh Co-operative Book Society, 1995. Haig, Wolseley (ed.). The Cambridge History of India: Turks and Afghans. Cambridge University Press, 1928.
25. Haq, Muhammad Enamul. Purva Pakistane Islam. 1948.
26. Haq, Muhammad Enamul. A History of Sufism in Bengal. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh,1975.
27. Haq, Muhammad Enamul. Bonge Sufi Proveb. Ramon Publishers, 2011.
28. Hoduvala, Shahpurshah Hormasji. Studies in Indo-Muslim History. 1939.
29. Ibn Battuta. Seyahatname. Üçdal Neşriyat, 1983.
30. Ibn Khurdadbih. Arabic Classical Accounts of India and China. Indiana Institute of Advanced, 2002.
31. Ibn Khurdadbih. Kitab-Ul-Masalik Wal-Mamalik. Brill Publication, 1306. Islam, Md Thowhidul. “The Advent of Islam in Bengal: An Economic Perspective.” IIUC Studies, vol. 7, Oct. 2012, pp. 91-106, https://doi.org/10.3329/iiucs.v7i0.12262.
32. Islam, N. Prachin Itihase Ruhmi Rajjo. Arakan Historical Society, 2000.
33. Ismail, Muhammad. Development of Sufism in Bengal. 1989. Aligarh Muslim University, PhD.
34. Karim, Abdul. Banglar Itihas-Sultani Amal. Jatiyo Sahitya Prakash, 2013.
35. Karim, Abdul. Chattogram Islam (Islam in Chittagong).
36. Karim, Abdul. Corpus of the Muslim Coins of Bengal. Asiatic Society of Pakistan, 1959.
37. Karim, Abdul. Social History of the Muslims of Bengal. Asiatic Society of Pakistan, 1960.
38. Karim, Abdul. “The Rohingyas: A Short Account of Their History and Culture.” Monthly Arakan, vol. 19, July 2011, pp. 1-32.
39. Karim, Abdul, and Muhammad Enamul Haq. Arakan Rajshabhay Bangla Sahitya. Gurudhas Chattopaddhaya and Sons, 1935.
40. Khan, Abbas Ali. Banglar Musalmander Itihash. Bangladesh Islamic Center, 2011.
41. Khan, Muhammad Mojlum. The Muslim Heritage of Bengal. Kube Publishing, 2013.
42. Khan, Muhiuddin. “Bangladeshe Islam: Koekti Totthya Sutra.” Masik Madina, vol. 10, Jan. 1992, pp. 32-39.
43. Lee, Cemil. İslam ve Türk Kültürünün Uzak Doğuya Yayılması. Diyanet Vakfı Yayınları, 1991.
44. Levi, Scot A. The Indian Diaspora in Central Asia and Its Trade. Brill Publication, 2002.
45. Majumdar, R. C. An Advanced History of India. 3rd ed., Macmillan & Co., 1973.
46. Mannan, Muhammad Abdul. Bangla O Bangali: Mukti Sangramer Mooldhara. Bangladesh Co-operative Book Society, 2006.
47. Marrison, G. E. “The Coming of Islam to the East Indies.” Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. 24, no. 1, 1951, pp. 28-37.
48. Masudi. Muruj Al-Zahab va Maādin al-Jawhar. Translated by Ahsen Batur, Selenge Yayınları, 2004.
49. Masumi, M. Saghir Hasan. “Bengal’s Contribution to Islamic Learning?” Islamic Studies, vol. 6, no. 2, 1967, pp. 155-170, https://www.jstor.org/stable/20832875.
50. Mufakkharul, Islam. “Upamahadeshe Islam Procharer Prothom Parba.” Islamic Foundation Journal, no. The Muslim World Issue, 1984, pp. 13-33.
51. Muqi, Che. The Silk Road: Past and Present. Foreign Languages Press, 1989.
52. Ögel, Bahaeddin. Türk Kültürünün Gelişme Çağları. Milli Eğitim Basımevi, 1971.
53. Öngören, Reşat. “Şeyh.” TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, vol. 39, TDV Yayınları, 2010, pp. 50-52.
54. Özcan, Azmi. “Muhammed Bahtiyâr Halacî.” TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, vol. 30, TDV Yayınları, 2020, pp. 503-04.
55. “Pala Dynasty: The Great Patrons of Buddhism in India.” Justice Mirror, 6 Dec. 2021, https://justicemirror.com/pala-dynasty/.
56. Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. Longmans, Green & Co., 1912.
57. Phayre, A. P. “On the History Arakan.” Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. 13, 1844, pp. 23-52.
58. Qanungo, Suniti Bhushan. A History of Chittagong. Billah Printed, 1988.
59. Rahim, M. A. Banglar Samajik O Sangskritik Itihas. Bangla Academy, 2008.
60. Rahman, Shah Noorur Rahman. “Islam and Its Early Introduction in Bengal.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 56, Indian History Congress, 1995, pp. 425-34.
61. Rashid, A. N. M. Bazlur. Amader Sufi Sadhak. Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, 1984.
62. Sachau, Edward C., editor. Al-Beruni’s India. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1910.
63. Sachse, F. A. Bengal District Gazetteers: Mymensingh. Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, 1917.
64. Saltık, Ekrem. “Efsaneyle Gerçeklik Arasında Seylan Adası ve Anonim Hatıralardan Aile Şeceresine Türk Soylu Sri Lankalılar Meselesi.” Türkiyat Mecmuası, vol. 32, no. 1, 2022, pp. 93-115.
65. Saraj, Minhaj-i. The Tabakat-i Nasiri. Translated by H. G. Reverty, Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1873.
66. Sarkar, J. N. Islam in Bengal. Ratna Prakashani, 1972.
67. Sharif, Hasan. Bangladeshe Islam: Tatta O Bastobata. Adorn Publication, 2010.
68. Shaw, Robert Barkley. “A Sketch of the Turki Language.” Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. 47, no. 2, 1880.
69. Shiraj, Minhaz-i. Tabaquat-i Nasiree. Bangla Academy, 1983.
70. Siddiq, Mohammad Yusuf. “The Advent of Islam in Bengal: An Epigraphic Approach.” IPEDR, vol. 48, no. 6, 2012, pp. 24-27, https://doi.org/10.2307/3517903.
71. Siddique, Yusuf. “The Diffusion of Islam in Bengal and the Articulation of a New Order.” J.R.S.P., vol. 45, no. 2, 2008, pp. 1-55.
72. Titus, Murray, editor. Indian Islam. Oxford University Press, 1930.
73. Ullah, A. B. M. Foez. “Chattagrame Saptam Satake Muslim Agaman Ebong Rajya Pratisthaar Kotha.” Daynik Bhorerkagoj, 15 July 2016, https://ebhorerkagoj.com/city/2016/07/15/index.php.
74. Uludağ, Süleyman. “Hankah.” TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, vol. 16, TDV Yayınları, 1997, pp. 42-43.
75. Wink, Andre. Al-Hind: The Making of the Indo-Islamic World. Brill Publication, 1997.
76. Yegar, Moshe. The Muslims of Burma. Otto Harrassowitz, 1972.
77. Zaman, Hasan. Samaj Sangskriti Sahita. Gyan Bitarani, 2012.