Islam And Sufism In Kashmir

This book is studied in two parts. First part deals with the Sufism in Kashmir and second part is about Sufis and Rishis of Kashmir.

This book entitled ‘Islam & Shaikh al-̒Alam Shaikh Nur al-Din (Reh.A) (A Great Da’i, Sufi Saint and Poet of Kashmir)’ covers all the aspects of Islamic themes in a lucid way and linked these themes with the teachings of the dynamic personality of the great Da’i, Sufi Saint and Poet of the Kashmir valley of the 14th century. i.e. Shaikh al-̒Alam Shaikh Nūr al-Din (Reh.A). All the teachings of Shaikh in the form of Shruks are derived from the Qurān and Ḥadīth. This book highlights his teachings as basic tenets of Islām. Secondly, this book helps in introducing Shaikh al-̒Ālam (Reh.A) to the international community as the real Islāmic Scholar, who devoted whole of his life for the cause and propagation of message of Islām. In this way the main objective of this book is to bring the people of Kashmir in particular and whole humanity in general to come closer to Qurān and Ḥadīth with the help of Shaikh al-̒Ālam’s (Reh.A) poetry. This justifies his poetry as the teachings of Qurān and Ḥadīth in Kashmiri Language. May Allah (s.w.t) accept this book and made it beneficial to all of us in remaining steadfast with the teachings of Islam and a means of source of salvation in this world as well as in the hereafter.

This volume in Persian verse is authored by Pirzada Ghulam Rasool Shaiva Zoonimari (d. 1288 AH). He was the father of Historian Hasan Khoihami. Its translation in Urdu was rendered in 2000 AD by late Khwaja Nazir Ahmad Kashtwari (retd. Under Secretary GAD J&K Govt.). Its English translation in verbatim has been attempted by the compiler. The book describes the miracles performed by the Kashmiri saints, most of who belonged to the spiritual lineage of Sultan-ul-Arifin Shaikh Hamza Makhdum Kashmiri (RA)

The book breaks fresh ground in historical research. Based on a critical and empathic understanding of Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian and Kashmiri sources, it provides a critique of Orientalist scholarship against the background of an historical enquiry conducted into the processes of Islamisation and its dynamics in relation to the role of Muslim Rishis (Kashmiri Sufis). Professor Ishaq Khan has brought together a number of perspectives -- the historical, the sociological, and the religious. The crux of his argument is that Islam is not merely a matter of theological propositions, but also a historical realisation: realising the Oneness of Allah by total surrender, dedication, service and above all self-sacrifice for the good of humankind. The Rishi movement is an integral component of the process of Islamisation that started in the picturesque Valley in the wake of the introduction of Sufi orders from Central Asia and Persia in the fourteenth century. The author particularly focuses on the paradox and tension that the Kashmiri Brahmanic society experienced as a result of the Rishi's advocacy of virtues such as self-imposed poverty, identification with the poor and the down-trodden, and above all opposition to the caste system. A significant feature of the book is a perceptive analysis of legends and miracles associated with Muslim Rishis. The author advocates the idea of looking at history from a fresh point of view, and argues in favour of studying the history of human civilisation in its totality, involving an interaction between religion and society. The author has shown that the history of human civilisation cannot be studied in watertight compartments of matter and faith. The present work is therefore worthy of attention and should be of interest to a wide range of readers, rather than merely to specialists.

This is about unique history of introduction of Islam in Kashmir, a translation of 150 year old Persian poetry hand written manuscript published first time ever describing strange miracles of saints and also their brief biographies collected from different sources.

Presents A Connected Study Of The Sufi Orders From The 14Th To The 16Th Century. Examines In Detail The Sufi Orders Introduced By Iranian Immigrants And The Rishi Order Which Emerged Locally. Makes Use Of All Available Sources. Has 8 Chapters And 7 Appendices. A Valuable Monograph.