Final answer:
Islam first came to the Indian southern coast through waves of invaders, but the region remained predominantly Hindu in its cultural beliefs and ideas. Muslims did engage in the Indian Ocean trade, carrying goods and ideas with them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The new religion of Islam came into India with waves of invaders, such as Turkic speakers from Central Asia and Arabs from the West. Northeastern India became increasingly Muslim due to these invasions, but the southern coast remained predominantly Hindu in its cultural beliefs and ideas. However, Muslims did begin to engage in the Indian Ocean trade soon after their arrival in northern India, carrying goods and ideas with them throughout the subcontinent.