Manipuri Muslims: Historical Perspectives 615-2000 CE (PB)

Manipuri Muslims: Historical Perspectives 615-2000 CE (PB)

Manipur’s little-known Muslim communities have a long and rich history, dating from the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). In this exhaustive historical account, Farooque Ahmed traces the arrival of Islam in the region in 615 CE through the Prophet’s companion S’ad ibn abi Waqqas, an uncle of the Prophet, who also was instrumental in spreading Islam in China. Around the same time, an Arab Muslim family settled in the Manipur region and over the centuries Muslim traders, settlers and preachers helped the nascent community expand, flourish and thrive. These waves of migrations and local conversions coalesced into a unique identity of ‘Pangal Musalman’ reflecting the egalitarian and congregational ideals of Islam.

Farooque Ahmed was born in 1975 in Manipur state in north-east India, did his initial schooling at Imphal and higher studies from Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia (B.A.), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), (M. A. & M. Phil), is currently a Senior Researcher at the Manipur University and a Project Director with the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi. His main area of interest is Historical and Inter-disciplinary research, writing and publication. He was involved in some major Seminars of State and National levels at the Manipur University. He is also a keen traveler.