Islam's Early Roots in Kashmir: A Historical Account

By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam 27 November 2024 Islam Arrived In Kashmir Long Before The Shāh Mīr Dynasty, Through Refugees, Settlers, And Mercenaries. Despite Failed Invasions By Arabs And Turks, Muslim Communities Gradually Formed. The Region's Geography Protected It, While Cultural Exchanges Allowed Islam To Flourish Over Centuries, Culminating In A Vibrant Muslim Presence By The 13th Century Main Points: 1. Early Muslim settlements in Kashmir began as early as the 8th century, predating the Shāh Mīr Sultanate (1339). 2. Arab invaders, including Muḥammad bin Qāsim and Hishām bin ʿAmru’l-Taghlībī, attempted but failed to conquer the Valley. 3. Refugees like Muḥammad Alāfī played key roles in establishing early Muslim communities. 4. Turkic invasions introduced Muslim soldiers and mercenaries, integrating them into Kashmiri politics. 5. By the 13th century, historical records, such as those of Marco Polo, indicate a thriving Muslim colony in Kashmir. ----- The introduction of Islam to Kashmir predates the establishment of the Shāh Mīr Sultanate in 1339, which is often considered the official beginning of Muslim rule in the region. Historical records indicate that Muslims began settling in Kashmir as early as the eighth century, with the process accelerating during the Shāh Mīr dynasty. Despite several attempts by Arab and Turkic invaders to conquer Kashmir, the Valley remained unconquered for centuries, largely due to its natural fortifications. In 713 CE, during the campaigns of the Arab general Muḥammad bin Qāsim, Multān was captured, and his forces advanced toward the “frontiers of Kashmir, called Panj Nahiyat.” However, the campaign was cut short when Muḥammad bin Qāsim was recalled to the Caliph Walīd I’s court, removing the immediate threat to Kashmir. Another attempt to invade Kashmir occurred during the governorship of Hishām bin ʿAmru’l-Taghlībī in Sindh. Around 757-758 CE, he launched an expedition to conquer the Valley but failed to penetrate its mountainous defenses, which continued to safeguard the region from external threats. Early Muslim Settlers and Cultural Exchange Although Kashmir's mountainous terrain shielded it from military conquests, it did not deter adventurers, traders, and refugees. One of the earliest recorded Muslim settlers in Kashmir was Muḥammad Alāfī, an Arab mercenary who had served King Dāhir of Sind before seeking refuge in Kashmir. King Candrāpīḍa, the ruler of Kashmir at the time, welcomed Alāfī and granted him the territory of Shakalbār. Upon Alāfī's death, his estate was inherited by a man named Jehm, who reportedly built many mosques in the area. This suggests that by the early eighth century, a substantial Muslim community had already emerged in Kashmir. ----------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Rishi Sufi Order in Kashmir: Roots, Legacy, and Impact ----------------------------------------------------- Turkic Invasions and Muslim Settlements In the early eleventh century, the Hindu rule of Kashmir faced renewed threats during the invasions of Mahmud of Ghaznī (998-1030 CE). Mahmud made two significant attempts to capture the Valley, in 1014 and 1016, but both efforts were thwarted by the strong fortifications of Loharkot and harsh winter snowfall. However, Mahmud's forces managed to plunder a valley to the south of Kashmir, and according to the historian Abū’l-faḍl Baihaqī, they converted a significant number of people to Islam during this raid. Kalhaṇa, the renowned author of Rājataraṅgiṇī, did not mention any forced conversions during Mahmud’s campaigns. However, Baihaqī's account, while possibly exaggerated, provides insight into Mahmud’s interest in spreading Islam. It is also plausible that some of Mahmud's soldiers, unable to cross back into the Indian plains, settled in Kashmir. Kalhaṇa’s records of King Harṣa’s reign (1089-1111) make the first reference to the presence of Turkic Muslim soldiers in the region. Muslim Mercenaries in Kashmiri Politics By the twelfth century, Turkic Muslim mercenaries had become a recurring presence in Kashmir’s political and military affairs. Bhikṣācara (1120-1121) employed Turkic soldiers to fight against Sussala, whom he had previously dethroned. Later, Jayasiṃha (1128-1149) relied on Muslim soldiers to suppress rebellious chiefs. The Growth of Muslim Communities The accounts of Marco Polo, the Venetian traveller, offer a glimpse into Kashmir’s social fabric during the thirteenth century. He described the region as a colony of Muslims, coexisting with a predominantly non-Muslim population. Polo observed that the people of Kashmir refrained from killing animals or spilling blood. Instead, they relied on the Muslim “Saracens” among them to act as butchers, highlighting the integration of Muslims into Kashmiri society and their roles in local life. Conclusion The advent of Islam in Kashmir was a gradual process influenced by early settlements, refugee migrations, and the involvement of Muslim mercenaries in local politics. Despite the failed attempts of invaders like Mahmud of Ghaznī to conquer the Valley, Islam took root in the region through peaceful settlements and cultural exchange. By the end of the thirteenth century, a thriving Muslim community had emerged in Kashmir, laying the foundation for the region's rich Islamic heritage. ----- A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Sahil Razvi is a research scholar specialising in Sufism and Islamic History. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. 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