Mir Shamsuddin
Encyclopedia
Mir Shamsuddin the Iraq
i (died 1526) was a Sufi Shi'a missionary who managed to convert nearly two-thirds of Kashmir
's Hindu
population to the Shi'a sect during the reign of Fath Shah
(1496–1505). These conversions were made using force as described in the Persian book 'Bharistan -e-shahi' written during those times, as also in his biography 'Tohaful Ahadab'. In fact in one single instance in 1517, 960 Kashmiri Hindus who resisted conversion were slaughtered under his guidance at a place on the edges of Dal Lake
, now called the 'Bata Mazaar' meaning the graveyard of the Hindus.
He was able to influence the Chuk Royal family who persecuted the Sunnis. Many of their scholars were forced to leave Kashmir. Shaikh Yaqub Sarfi who was also a sufi went to the Mughal Akbar to invade Kashmir and ensure religious freedom for both Muslims and Hindus.
Mir Shamsuddin, who was a disciple of Shah Qasim Anwer, came from Iraq to promote the doctrines of Nur Bakshi.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i (died 1526) was a Sufi Shi'a missionary who managed to convert nearly two-thirds of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
's Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
population to the Shi'a sect during the reign of Fath Shah
Fath Shah
Fath Shah or Fah Shah, took the throne of Kashmir in 1486. He lost it to Muhammed Shah and others repeatedly, but gained it back in 1505 with the help of Musa Rayna.Muhammed Shah regained the throne in 1516 but Fath soon after retook it....
(1496–1505). These conversions were made using force as described in the Persian book 'Bharistan -e-shahi' written during those times, as also in his biography 'Tohaful Ahadab'. In fact in one single instance in 1517, 960 Kashmiri Hindus who resisted conversion were slaughtered under his guidance at a place on the edges of Dal Lake
Dal Lake
Dal Lake is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of the northernmost Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The urban lake, which is the second largest in the state, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is nicknamed the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel"...
, now called the 'Bata Mazaar' meaning the graveyard of the Hindus.
He was able to influence the Chuk Royal family who persecuted the Sunnis. Many of their scholars were forced to leave Kashmir. Shaikh Yaqub Sarfi who was also a sufi went to the Mughal Akbar to invade Kashmir and ensure religious freedom for both Muslims and Hindus.
Mir Shamsuddin, who was a disciple of Shah Qasim Anwer, came from Iraq to promote the doctrines of Nur Bakshi.