The Arab scholars like Sulaiman and Masudi who visited South Asia in the 9th and 10th century
were very impressed by the rulers of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty who were also known as
Ballahara kings. According to the testimony of the Arab travelers, the followers of Islam who
had settled down as traders in several ports of western India of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty
were allowed to build mosques and to practice their religion without hindrance. The rulers
of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty patronized them. The Arab Scholars like Sulaiman, Masudi
Ibn-Hakul and Abu-Zaid have a word of praise for the Rashtrakuta ruler:
They mention "the Rashtrakuta king as the greatest of the kings of Al-Hind. The kings
of al-Hind are not subject to a single king: each of them alone possesses authority
in his own country; but the Rashtrakuta is the king of kings (malik al-maluk) of al-Hind.
Ballahara is the title of the kings of these people.
Their domain extends from the coast of Konkan up to as-Sin. The Rashtrakuta king is the
most noble king of al-Hind, and all acknowledge his nobility. Ibn khordadbhih writes
in the 9th century: The greatest and mightiest king of al-Hind is the Rashtrakuta,
who is the king of kings. Masudi says in the 10th century:"The most powerful king in
al-Hind of our time is the Rashtrakuta, king of the city of Mankir, the greatest centre of the
country. The Rashtrakuta king has innumerable armies and he has elephants. He
has a large kingdom, and his country has vast stretches of cultivated lands, abundant
commerce and plentiful resources. He receives large amounts of revenues, and his wealth
is enormous." Sulaiman wrote that "the Rashtrakuta kingdom was one of the 4 great
Empires of the world." The 10th century scholar Masudi says: "Amongst the kings of Sind
and Hind none treats the Muslims who are established in their domains with more
distinction than the Rashtrakuta king. In the cities of the Rashtrakuta kingdom the
Muslims were honored and protected and they were allowed to erect their own
mosques. Masudi writes that the largest settlement was that of about 10000 Muslims in the
district of Saymur."
Reference: Al-Hind the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: Early Medieval India and the expansion of Islam 7th-11th centuries by André Wink.
A Comprehensive History Of Ancient India (3 Vol. Set)
were very impressed by the rulers of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty who were also known as
Ballahara kings. According to the testimony of the Arab travelers, the followers of Islam who
had settled down as traders in several ports of western India of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty
were allowed to build mosques and to practice their religion without hindrance. The rulers
of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty patronized them. The Arab Scholars like Sulaiman, Masudi
Ibn-Hakul and Abu-Zaid have a word of praise for the Rashtrakuta ruler:
They mention "the Rashtrakuta king as the greatest of the kings of Al-Hind. The kings
of al-Hind are not subject to a single king: each of them alone possesses authority
in his own country; but the Rashtrakuta is the king of kings (malik al-maluk) of al-Hind.
Ballahara is the title of the kings of these people.
Their domain extends from the coast of Konkan up to as-Sin. The Rashtrakuta king is the
most noble king of al-Hind, and all acknowledge his nobility. Ibn khordadbhih writes
in the 9th century: The greatest and mightiest king of al-Hind is the Rashtrakuta,
who is the king of kings. Masudi says in the 10th century:"The most powerful king in
al-Hind of our time is the Rashtrakuta, king of the city of Mankir, the greatest centre of the
country. The Rashtrakuta king has innumerable armies and he has elephants. He
has a large kingdom, and his country has vast stretches of cultivated lands, abundant
commerce and plentiful resources. He receives large amounts of revenues, and his wealth
is enormous." Sulaiman wrote that "the Rashtrakuta kingdom was one of the 4 great
Empires of the world." The 10th century scholar Masudi says: "Amongst the kings of Sind
and Hind none treats the Muslims who are established in their domains with more
distinction than the Rashtrakuta king. In the cities of the Rashtrakuta kingdom the
Muslims were honored and protected and they were allowed to erect their own
mosques. Masudi writes that the largest settlement was that of about 10000 Muslims in the
district of Saymur."
Reference: Al-Hind the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: Early Medieval India and the expansion of Islam 7th-11th centuries by André Wink.
A Comprehensive History Of Ancient India (3 Vol. Set)
