page_title: Shia Islam in the Indian subcontinent
section_title: The Ghaznavids and the Ghurids
hierarchical_section_title: Shia Islam in the Indian subcontinent / History / Abbasid Period (750–1258 AD) / The Ghaznavids and the Ghurids
caption_attribution_description: Polski: Państwo Ghaznawidów English: Ghaznavid Empire
context_page_description: Shia Islam was introduced to the Indian subcontinent during the final years of the Rashidun Caliphate. The Indian subcontinent also served as a refuge for some Shias escaping persecution from Umayyads, Abbasids, Ayyubis and Ottomans. The immigration continued throughout the second millennium, until the formation of modern nation states. Shi'ism also won converts among the local population. Shia Islam has long history and deep roots in the subcontinent. However, the earliest major political influence was that of the Shia dynasties in Deccan. It was here that the indigenous and distinct Shia culture took shape. After the conquest of Golconda by Aurangzeb in the 17th century, and subsequent establishment of hereditary governorship in Awdh after his death, Lucknow became the nerve center of Indian Shi'ism. In the 18th century, intellectual movements of Islamic puritanism were launched by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab in Najd and Shah Waliullah and his sons, with Shah Abdul Aziz being the main flag-bearer of modern anti-Shi'ism in Delhi, resulted in continuous persecution of Shia community and laid the foundations of organised violence against them.
context_section_description: In 1005 AD, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna invaded Multan. The Shi'a mosque was destroyed and reduced to a barn-floor. Five years later, he attacked again and annexed the territory completely. Ismailism managed to survive in Sind and enjoyed the protection of the Soomras, a dynasty based in Thatta for almost three centuries starting in 1051 AD. Small pockets of Ismaili community also thrived in Uchh, Aror, Mansura and Bhakkar.
  The Ghaznavid Empire was overthrown in 1186 AD when Sultan Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad of Ghor conquered the last Ghaznavid capital of Lahore. He was a great military leader and unlike Ghaznavids, he founded an empire in India, the Delhi Sultanate. Sultan Muhammad Ghuri lead many military campaigns in north India. On his way to Ghazni from India in 1206 AD, he was killed. Some sources claim that he was assassinated at the hands of a devotee of the so-called "malahida" (a derogatory term used for Ismailis in medieval history), others claim that it was Khokhars who killed him.
caption: Ghaznavid Empire 975–1187 (AD)
exif: {}