With the advent of Islam, the Arab merchants became carriers of the new religion and they propagated it wherever they went.
Numerous Indians living in the coastal areas of Kerala accepted the principles of the new religion and converted to Islam.
The Brahmin King Cheraman Perumal was the first Indian to convert to Islam based on a historical event.
The event was that a group of Prophet Muhammad's Sahaba visited Kodungallur.
The Chera ruler witnessed a miraculous happening — the sudden splitting of the moon, the celebrated miracle of Muhammad — and learned on inquiry that this was a symbol of the coming of a Messenger of God from Arabia.
Soon after, Perumal traveled to Mecca where he embraced Islam and accepted the name Tajuddin.
