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B HAKTI-S UFIT RADITIONS 151 5.2 The popular practice of Islam The developments that followed the coming of Islam were not confined to ruling elites; in fact they permeated far and wide, through the subcontinent, amongst different social strata – peasants, artisans, warriors, merchants, to name a few. All those who adopted Islam accepted, in principle, the five “pillars” of the faith: that there is one God, Allah, and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger (shahada); offering prayers five times a day (namaz/salat); giving alms (zakat); fasting during the month of Ramzan (sawm); and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj). However, these universal features were often overlaid with diversities in practice derived from sectarian affiliations (Sunni, Shi‘a), and the influence of local customary practices of converts from different social milieus. For example, the Khojahs, a branch Fig. 6.8 of the Ismailis (a Shi‘a sect), developed new modes A Khojaki manuscript of communication, disseminating ideas derived from The ginan were transmitted the Qur’an through indigenous literary genres. These orally before being recorded in the included the ginan (derived from the Sanskrit jnana, Khojaki script that was derived from the local landa (“clipped” meaning “knowledge”), devotional poems in Punjabi, mercantile script) used by the Multani, Sindhi, Kachchi, Hindi and Gujarati, sung linguistically diverse community in special ragas during daily prayer meetings. of Khojahs in the Punjab, Sind Elsewhere, Arab Muslim traders who settled and Gujarat. along the Malabar coast (Kerala) adopted the local language, Malayalam. They also adopted Matrilocal residence is a local customs such as matriliny (Chapter 3) and practice where women after matrilocal residence. marriage remain in their natal home with their children and The complex blend of a universal faith with local the husbands may come to stay traditions is perhaps best exemplified in the architecture of mosques. Some architectural features with them. Fig. 6.9 A mosque in Kerala, c. thirteenth century Note the shikhara-like roof. Reprint 2026-27