Holistic Analysis of the Events Shaping Our Understanding of Islamisation in Kashmir

By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam 20 February 2023 Tazkirah Mutaqi Saadat Bayhaqi (History of Bayhaqi Syeds) Author: Molvi Muhammad Shah Saadat Mufti Publisher: Kitab Mahal, Srinagar, Kashmir Year of Publication: 2019 Pages: 119 Price: Rs 499 -------- The process of Islamisation in Kashmir is an interesting theme for researchers. Many academic studies have been conducted to understand this phenomenon. Many factors have been attributed to the conversion of Hindu masses to Islam. History has been engaged and interpreted in variegated manners to understand this very process. In this Islamisation process the role of non-Kashmiri and Central Asian, Sufis has been immense. It still offers a plethora of themes for scholars to engage. There are many texts written in vernacular Persian and Urdu about the influence and contribution of these Sufis and most of them traced their lineage to Ahle Bayt (House of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Although the problem of most of these texts is that they can be broadly defined as hagiographies and Tazkira literature, with little objectivity, although, their use in constructing and building narratives about the process of Islamisation cannot be underestimated. Despite all these flaws this small text is very fruitful in understanding the role, influence and persecution of Bayhaqi Syeds, who migrated to Kashmir. This book confines its canvass only to the stalwarts among the Bayhaqis. These Syeds were mostly scholars and belonging to clergy class. They carried out the rituals, educated the newly converted masses about the fundamentals of Islam and also networked with the ruling class. They entered into alliances with the ruling class through marriages and also accepting the posts as state appointed chief judges and bureaucrats. It is interesting that Bayhaqi Begum was married to king of Kashmir, known as Sultan Zainul Abideen who was known as Budshah (the Mighty Emperor). So that must have helped them wield immense amount of power. The perils of being close to power have its pros and cons. In the medieval times, the loyalists of one regime were targeted by the opponents when they got the power. So once the Shahmiri dynasty started to wane away, and Shias started wielding the power, the persecution of Bayhaqi Sunnis started. They were targeted, killed and imprisoned. Shamsuddin Iraqi, started the proselytization process of Shiaism. So he created a cult and group of Shias in Kashmir. So there was Shia-Sunni tussle and chief jurist (Qazi ul Quza) Mir Musa was killed when he declared that Ali Waliullah should be abandoned from being recited in the daily calls of prayer (Azan). As the rulers were Shias, but the chief jurist was a Sunni this killing filled the Sunni masses and their scholars with resentment that ultimately led to the annexation of Kashmir by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is very interesting to know how Bayhaqi Syeds survived despite repression and killings. They still continue to live and exist in Kashmir even today. Now they have married locally and do not wield such power, but they were quite influential once upon a time. The positive role they played in variegated aspects while Islamising Kashmir cannot be denied. But the Shia-Sunni divide led them to be partisan, take sides, ultimately led to their persecution and finally to the triumph of Sunnism, that is the dominant sect of Muslims of J&K. The book also documents about the life and miracles of Mir Abdul Rashid Bayhaqi. Every hagiography remains incomplete without mentioning about the miracles. In South Asia, the religious and spiritual stature is gauged through the number of miracles performed by a saint or religious person. Many of them have been wrongly concocted by their disciples and over the centuries they have gained status of sacredness and sanctity. Then there is a mention of Mir Abdullah Bayhaqi, who is a prolific writer but most of his books have been lost over these centuries, even if some are available they are very rare. He wrote in Persian language and translated some of the texts in local Kashmiri language too. This book is an important addition to understand the contribution of Bayhaqi Syeds. It helps the reader to understand that how migration of intellectual and scholarly families can help enrich a nation. There has been a small revolt against them, when they were found interfering in the court politics. But among common people, they were cherished and later they inter married with the native population, so there was no resentment against them. It is an important aspect of assimilation. The publisher needs to be complimented for publishing this text, but the scope of the work is too much confined to the hagiographical aspect. Further, a serious academic contribution needs to deal with numerous aspects while undertaking a holistic analysis of the events that will be shaping our understanding of Islamisation in Kashmir. In spite of its limited scope the book should be read by anyone interested in academic study and contribution of non-Kashmiri religious elites to native Kashmiri society. ----- A New Age Islam columnist, M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/holistic-islamisation-kashmir/d/129145 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism