From the domes of the Taj Mahal to the verses of Ghalib, from the evolution of Urdu to the pluralist ethos of Sufi saints, Muslims have left an indelible mark on Indian civilisation, enriching it through architecture, art, philosophy, literature, music, governance, and culinary traditions.
This civilisational synthesis, particularly shaped through centuries of interaction in Delhi, was at the centre of a national history conference titled “Delhi: Crucible of Indo-Islamic Synthesis in Medieval India”, held on Monday at the Hamdard Convention Centre, Jamia Hamdard University.
Organised by the Department of Islamic Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Study and Research Delhi (ISRD), the conference explored how Muslim rule and scholarship contributed not only to the cultural and material life of India but also to its moral, spiritual, and intellectual development.
In his keynote address, Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), said that history must be studied to derive social and moral lessons, and added that “Muslims are not outsiders, invaders, or colonisers—they are developers, builders, and inheritors of this land.” He stated that the Delhi Sultanate had connected India to the larger Islamic intellectual world and noted that Sanskrit scholars from India had found recognition in the Abbasid Caliphate, where Arab scholars honoured their contributions without appropriation.
He said that monuments like the Qutub Minar stood as testaments to architectural brilliance and remarked that the medieval Muslim era promoted justice and social harmony, while encouraging human equality. “The most valuable contribution of Muslims,” he said, “was fostering unity across caste, religion, and community lines, and this spirit of shared humanity was beautifully expressed through Allama Iqbal’s idea of Wahdat-e-Khas quwwat.”
He also recalled Maulana Azad’s pleas during Partition, stressing that Muslims should not leave for Pakistan because their roots were deeply embedded in India’s history, which is visible in landmarks like the Taj Mahal and Red Fort.
Jamia Hamdard Vice Chancellor Dr. Afshar Alam chaired the inaugural session and offered a historical overview of Islamic rule in India, explaining that from the Slave dynasty to the Mughals, Delhi became the epicentre of cultural fusion. He said that Persian and Central Asian styles blended with Indian forms to create a unique Indo-Islamic identity, and added that “this synthesis not only enriches Indian civilisation, but also gave it a distinct depth and resilience.”
Delivering a special address, Dr. Hafeezur Rahman, Convenor of the Khusro Foundation, argued that Islamic historiography prioritised objectivity through the science of Asma-e-Rijal and said that “the Mughals left behind three enduring legacies: the Taj Mahal, Ghalib’s poetry, and the Urdu language.”
He praised the contributions of Sufi saints like Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and his disciple Amir Khusrau, describing the latter as both a literary genius and a scientific thinker. Quoting Khusrau, he said, “If the world lays thorns in your path, lay flowers in return,” and remarked that this captured the peaceful ethos of the Sufi tradition.
Mohammad Asif Iqbal, ISRD Secretary and Conference Organiser, presented the event’s objectives and said that “when civilisations interact, they create fertile ground for mutual growth, and Muslims in India introduced cultural, administrative, and spiritual practices while also embracing the subcontinent’s existing heritage.”
ISRD President Saleemullah Khan spoke on the life of Prophet Muhammad and cited an incident during the Prophet’s migration to highlight his moral integrity, while also quoting Rashidul Khairi to show how women in Delhi’s past were both capable and socially engaged.
More than 50 papers were presented in parallel academic sessions by researchers from institutions including Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, JNU, MANUU, and Delhi University. These sessions were chaired by eminent academics such as Prof. Obaidullah Fahad of AMU, Dr. Faizan Ahmed of the National Archives, and Dr. Mohiuddin Ghazi of Al-Jamia Al-Islamia, Kerala.
In the valedictory session, Prof. Mohammad Salim Engineer, retired professor from MNIT Jaipur, urged young researchers to maintain academic integrity and said, “depth matters more than volume, and hard work and scholarly rigour must guide our pursuits.” He added that “Islam teaches us to uphold truth, fairness, and intellectual honesty, and these principles remain essential for historical research.”
Dr. Shadab Musa, Assistant Secretary of JIH, addressed the present political atmosphere and mentioned the communal targeting of Hamdard University’s Rooh Afza by Baba Ramdev. Co-convenor Abdul Kalam concluded the event with a vote of thanks, while Asif Iqbal introduced ISRD’s ongoing research initiatives and expressed a commitment to holding more such scholarly conferences in the future.