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Cultural Impacts
of the Arab-Indo Trade (2)
Quote.The tail of Solaiman, the merchant who used to travel to the [far] east, represents an excellent instance. That tail has been written in the mid-ninth century (1850 G, approx.). It tells us that the ships sailed from the Arabian Gulf reached its entrance by the late November. They then sailed utilizing the north-eastern monsoon wind striking towards "Alhend" [India], thence to the south-east Asia and "China" [Seen صين]. That trip lasted almost six months, including times of re-providing.
Unquote.
So, six solar months equal to 182 days; and seven lunar months equal to 206 days, meaning very close to two-hundred days, with the knowledge that Arabs followed the lunar year, not the solar year.
On the other hand, in the Classic Arabic: "Robwat رُبوَة", and "Robbat رُبّة" - with the plural "Rebab رِِباب" - mean a group of ten thousands or so. "Rebbii رِِبّيّ" is an individual of "Rebbiyoon" which are the thousands of people, and that (the last one) has been mentioned in the Qor'ann, Aal-emran:146 [آل عِمران]: {Like any other prophet with whom many "Rebbiyoon" have fought, yet they have not weakened for what befallen onto them for the sake of Allah}.
Alfairoozabadi [الفيروزابادي], in the article "Raba" of "Alqamoos القاموس" (his Dictionary) said: "Robwat رُبوَة" or "Rebwat رِبوَة" is ten thousands Derham ("Derham" is a borrowed Greek currency), and its plural is "Arbaa أرباء".
So, it is most probably that this word is the one which has been taken for the currency's name in each of: The Republic of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka as "Rupee", and Indonesia as "Rupiah رُوپية". Although the Indian sources refer its origin to the "Rupya" [Silver] in Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language, but my preponderating the Arabism of its origination is supported by the fact that Indian subcontinent is poor in silver mineral opposed to richness of Arabian Peninsula therewith.
Moreover, Rupee/Rupiah currency had been known also by Somalis and Tanzanians which are of the African nations that are overlooking the Arabian Sea, and that have seen intensive Arabic existence to the extent of the Arabism of Somalia with complete inexistence of Indians. Yet, its use in Indonesia with the Arabic feminine pronunciation preponderates it is taken there from Arabs not Indians, although the intensive and ancient existence of Indians overther.
Another aspect of the Arab-Indo ancient impact is represented in that the worshiping of Arab Sabaean [سبأيّون], in the South, to the Sun - as mentioned in Qor'ann - and deifying the Sun by the mid- and northern-peninsula's Arabs (such as Nabataea who have established alters thereto), and of whom who named "Abdoshams عبد شمس" (Servant of Sun), like "Abdomanaf عبد مَناف" (Servant of Manaf - the idol deity), and others.
This sanctity to the Sun has transmitted from Arabs to Indians in their religion: "Hinduism", according to what a highly educated Hindus fellow (from the Indian state of Kirala) has pointed out to me that the Hinduism roots are from the pre-Islamic culture of Arabia. Thence, it is clear that Arabs were more exporting of intellectualities to India than importing. The largest proof to this is the spreading of the new religion (Islam) - once appeared in the Peninsula - all over the Arab-trade stops in the Indian Ocean - up to Philippine - as we soon will see.
That was about the exchanged impact of the Arabian trade with Indian subcontinent and beyond; so what about the history and facts of that trade? This is what I will - God willing - be covering thereafter from two perspectives: American, and Sri Lankan.
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