Ghulam Hasan Talib hailing from the Newa village of Pulwama district is a noted writer and litterateur of valley. Born on 10-04-1944, he has been continuously writing columns, translation works, historical and research items in Urdu, English and Kashmiri languages. Initially he had been an academician from 1961-78 and then after qualifying the prestigious Civil Services Exam in 1978 he became a KAS officer of J&K treasury department where from he retired in 2002. There are many books to his credit, few books worth to mention here are Auradi Fatahiya Kashmiri translation, Habiba Habba Khatoon etc.

Arzi Kashmir Main Zahoor-i-Islam is his recently released work which is spread over 184 pages. It’s cover is superbly designed and published by Dinu duniya Kitab Ghar publishing house Newa Pulwama. He has dedicated this fantastic book to all those believers who live their lives according to the commandments of Allah, the sunnah of Prophet and those having deep love with the noble friends of Allah and attend to their annual urs to enhance the intensity of their faith. In it’s proem( p7-34), author himself is of the view that after Prophet saw his pious companions and the saintly friends of Allah brought the sacred teachings to people.

While translating a Persian couplet of Hafiz Sheerazi G H Talib writes “I have heard that on dooms day, some wicked people would be forgiven through the noble and saintly friends of Allah”. Quoting Moulana Rumi, G H Talib writes – Allah’s friends even in their graves do benifit people more than thousands of living ones. The blessed necrosol of their graves keep people always safe from all kinds of misfortunes and miseries.

Famous Viceroy of British period Lord Curzon says that he himself has seen the hearts and minds of Indians being ruled over by a saintly figure Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti even in his grave. So far as the celebration of annual urs of these great saints of Allah is concerned, their are twenties of books written by noted scholars thereby making it quite legal. Prophet saw himself would visit the graves of martyrs of Uhad in the beginning of a new year. The tradition was repeated by his rightly guided Kaliphs too viz Abubakar, Umar and Usman. Celebrating annual urs, visiting their graves and distributing sweet candy shirini there is all legal from Islamic perspective. Distinguished Historian of valley Pir Hasan Shah Khoihami writes in Asrarul Akhyar – it is through the Aulias that rain comes down from the skies and flora grow.

Prominent author Dr Gulzar Ahmad Wani in the foreword of the book (p35) says – valley of kashmir is the abode of hundreds of God fearing saints who have arrived here from distant lands only for the purpose of spreading the Islamic teachings and moulding the minds of people. It is due to them we are a Muslim majority region of India. Among these God fearing saints, one Syed Sultan Fakhrudin’s tomb is at Newa Pulwama. Under Kashmir Main Wirood-i-Islam Ibtidayi Parchaian (p40-49) chapter, author says – many historians and researchers have made ample revelations about Islam being practiced much earlier in valley. Kashmir which is famous for it’s mesmerizing climate and enchanting beauty has always been affected by religious and political movements. Despite the physical hurdles of lofty mountains, kings and religious scholars have always been lured by it’s beauty. It is surprising that even during Prophetic era some pious companions of Prophet saw have arrived here as special alchies. King Raja Wanadata had been so intensely impressed by them that he completely left the cozy rooms and luxurious worldly life to a simple but saintly life. He even distributed his 1/10 of his yearly agricultural produce among the needy and destitudes.

In Kashmir Islam spread through traders, Sufis, Scholars and visitors unlike the rest of world where it spread either by victories or wars. Even in Kalhana’s famous Rajtarangni there are evidences of Muslim inhabitants in valley. Further it is said that noted Victorian Lalatadat Muktaped had stopped the Arab Islamic revolutionaries from marching towards kashmir through Multan, Kabul and Sindh passes. Mehmud Gaznawi too arrived here in 398AH, after climbing on Kohi Maran he has given Azan and converted large number of people to Islam. In Rajtarangni though the date of Hazrat Suliman’s entry in valley isn’t mentioned but later historians have mentioned the same thus giving rise to a historical base. Prominent historian Mohamad Din Fouq also opines that the small stonned building erected on the eastern side of Srinagar city a temple or  Tomb does have the engraved Arabic texts on it’s pillars. Awaleen Bani Islam Kashmir Hazrat Syed Sharafuddin bulbul(p50-70) – while going through this nicely written and detailed article it comes to fore that, Bulbul Shah has played a leading role in spreading the message of Islam.

Almost all noted and certified scholars agree that Bulbul Shah’s efforts for Islamisation of vallities are worth praising. It was through his hands that Rinchan Shah a Buddhist of Ladakhi ruling clan accepted Islam. During the reign of Raja Sehdev, Zulcha a Mongol attacked Kashmir through Baramulla. Rinchan after overthrowning Sehdev and Damar Ram from the kingship and becoming a king himself was in a state of delima about which religion to adopt. He thoroughly studied all the religions but couldn’t reach a final conclusion. So one day he decided to accept the religion of a person he sees first next morning. So next morning when he gazed through the window of his palace situated on the right bank of Jhelum, he saw Bulbul Shah ra praying Fajar salah on the banks of river Jhelum thus accepted Islam through his hands who later changed his name to Sultan Saddrudin. Bani mabani Islam Kashmir Hazrat Amiri Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (p71-95) – after studying the historical and religious works of all the prominent authors of the subcontinent, it is revealed that Hazat Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani ra has laid the strong foundation of Islam in Kashmir. He has visited this enchanting valley thrice to mould the minds and hearts of millions of people here. During Sultan Shahabuddin’s reign he and his cousin Mir Syed Hussain Simnani ra have made their entries in valley along with hundreds of other saints with the holy mission of making people the true and practicing Muslims.

Mir Syed Ali Hamadani’s remarkable achievements and works have been hailed by Alama Iqbal too in his poetry. Not merely a preacher, Mir Syed Ali Hamadani ra was a distinguished poet, noted author and prominent Arabic and Persian scholar. Azim Daei Tehrik Islam Kashmir Hazrat Mir Syed Mohammad Hamadani (p96-110)- this beloved son of Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani ra arrived in valley in 1393 AD when he was only twenty two years old during Sultan Sikandar Butshikan’s reign. He was accompanied by 300 other scholars and Sufi mystics one among them was Sultan Fakhruddin. He promoted Islam in velley the same way his father had earlier. Valley’s renowned saint Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani too expressed his pleasure upon hearing the news of Mir Mohammad Hamadani’s arrival in Kashmir. Sultan Sikandar stressed him to go for the Nikah and finally his nuptial was tied with Taj Bibi the daughter of Syed Hassan Bahadur and grand-daughter of Feroz Shah. She died shortly after five years and remarried with Sabia Razia popularly known as Ded Mouj. Seh Bhat the then prime minister of valley not only welcomed Mir Mohammad Hamadani in 796AH but also accepted Islam through his blessed hands. He became his popular fan and was renamed as Saifuddin.

According to a legendary kashmiri historian Khwaja Mohd Azam Didmari, Hazrat Mir Mohammad Hamadani ra arrived in valley along with 600 companions at the age of 22. Many Khanqahs of Mattan, Pattan and famous Khanqah Faizpanah Tral was build by Mir Mohammad Hamadani ra during his stay in valley. The famous grand Eidgah of Srinagar, Khanqah of Drugjan and graveyard at Malkhah were purchased by Mir Mohammad Hamadani from their owners. There are strong historical evidence about construction of famous Khanqah Moula Srinagar jointly by Mir Mohammad Hamadani and Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani. After spending twelve long years, Mir Mohammad Hamadani left this beautiful valley in 1405AD. Unlike his father Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, Mir Mohammad Hamadani ra undertook extremist steps for the victory of Islam. As a result he was opposed by Syed Hisari who forced him to leave valley. Kashfu Karamat(p130-150)- Besides through preaching and teaching, Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani ra converted hundreds of non-Muslims through his supernatural powers and miracles shown infront of them.

During his stay in valley he has shown inumerable miracles. It is said once he went to Mattan and asked for a book to his companion. It was replied that they had forgotten to bring it with them. Within no time the book reached Mir Syed Ali Hamadani ra. Through his supernatural powers, dead were blessed with new life, ill-people were recovered and poorest and destitudes turned well off. Gh Hassan Talib has written a detailed account about his village Newa and Sufi Saint Sultan Fakhruddin in this book whose mausoleum lies in his native village aiming to give first hand information to young and newer generation. From page first to last I have observed that Gh Hassan Talib has thoroughly studied history and religious works of authentic scholars to compile this masterpiece. I recommend every Kashmiri to go through this work to enhance the knowledge about our rich past and religious legacy.

Writer is a columnist (Qazigund). You can  reach to him at [email protected]

Note: The views  and opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinion of the author.