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Moreover, there are Sangkhalok ceramic wares -- which are important product in
Sukhothai period -- founded in Islamic countries such as Indonesia, Iran, and African countries.
These evidence shows that there had been trades between Sukhothai and Muslims. Furthermore,
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on the 3 side of the first stone in the inscription of Sukhothai, the word ‘Pa-san’ was inscribed,
which is believed to derive from the Persian word ‘Bāzār,’ meaning a permanent marketplace
or streets with shops. It can be interpreted that people of Islamic faith were already settled in
Sukhothai around the marketplace.
During the Ayutthaya period, many Persian traders came to settle. Some has served
the royal court and obtained nobility.One example was Chao Phraya Ratana Ratchasetthi (Sheikh
Ahmad), in the reign of King Songtham. His descendants had continuously succeed in positions
of political power and administration until the Rattanakosin period. Discovery of important
artifacts -- which are golden coins, made in the Kashmiri Kingdom, with inscriptions of Arabic
scripts -- in Wat Ratchaburana located in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya province, is also important
artifacts that proved the relationship between Ayutthaya Kingdom and Islamic countries. In
addition, there were Islamic Indian traders, who came to trade in Ayutthaya. Being entrusted by
the royal court, some of them obtained noblity titles. Evidently, Muslims are generally called
"Khak", meaning "visitor". There were various nationality of Muslim visitors in Ayutthaya period,
such as India, Iran, Arab, Malay, Indonesia, and the Charms. Evidences show there are Muslim
communities in various areas, mostly in the South of the cities. Today, Muslim communities still
remain around the area of Wat Buddhaisawan, at Lum Phli and Takia Mosque area. 3
1 Krue Se Mosque,
Pattani Province 2
2 Gold Coinage with Arabic
Inscriptions From Wat Ratchaburana 3 The mosque built in Ayutthaya period, during the reign of King Songtham. Inside the mosque lies
Crypt Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya an ancient lantern, a gift from King Rama V.
Province
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