It was through the Arab merchants that economic relation between Arab and India was established. Again, it was through Arab merchants that the Islam was introduced to the people of India living in the west coast (Malabar Coast).

In present Maharashtra and Kerala in particular, the Muslim Arab traders established their settlements. The powerful Rashtrakuta kings did not pose any threat to such settlements. Romila Thapar points out that the Arab merchants were traders and as such they were not much interested in propagating Islam in India. This was an important factor why the Muslim merchants could freely mix with local population. This was how Islam was introduced in India.