Mirwaiz
Encyclopedia
The Mirwaiz is the title given to the spiritual leaders of the 5.3 million Muslim
s of the Kashmir Valley. There are two main Mirwaiz lineages in the Valley. The better known lineage is based in Srinagar
, with its seat at the historic Jama Masjid, Srinagar
. The other lineage heads the Muslims of South Kashmir. Each lineage is traditionally the preserve of a single family that traces its roots to an ancestor who travelled to the Valley from Hamadan
in Iran
with Sheikh Amir Kabir in the sixteenth century. Only one or two members of the family can attain this title at a time after achieving a thorough and complete knowledge in the Qur'an
and Sunnah
from a University or an Islamic institute. In early days they were trained by special teachers or parents until the proper Islamic Institutes and Universities came into being.
Moulvi Siddique-Ullah (1075-1155 H) known as Siddiq Baba and his son Akhund Moulvi Abdussalam (1129-1209 H) are buried in the outskirts of Srinagar where they lived and preached Islam. Akhund Moulvi Abdussalam had five sons: one of them, Hafiz Ghulam Rasool Shah - known as Lasa Baba - was the first one to obtain the title of Mir waizi Kashmir. (Head Preacher of Kashmir). Wali Ullah, Rahim Shah, Abdullah Shah, and Bandah Shah, the other four are known as Mirwaiz Hamadan.
Haji Muhammad Yahya (1251-1308 H) took over the office and continued his father’s work. He was the first one to translate AMA YATA SAALOON, the 30th chapter of Qur'an, into Kashmiri language
. Out of his four sons Moulana Rasool Shah (the 2nd)(1271-1327 H)also known as Sir Sayyed-e-Kashmir, was a pioneer in introducing modern education in Kashmir under the banner of Anjuman-e-Nasratul-Islam. Moulana Ahmadullah Shah(1285-1349 H) and Moulana Atique Ullah Shah (1291-1381H)took the title of Mirwaiz Kashmir one after another.
Atique Ullah Shah was unable to perform his duties due to old age and ill health, therefore Moulana Muhammad Yousuf Shah,(1313-1388H) second son of Moulana Rasool Shah and a graduate of the Deoband
Institute of Islamic Studies was designated the next Mirwaiz. Moulana Mohammad Noor Ud Din Shah (1912–1997) was assigned the duties of Naib- Mirwaiz who was the youngest son of Atique Ullah Shah and a graduate from Oriental College, Lahore
. They are buried in Muzaffarabad
and Islamabad
respectively.
After the death of Atique Ullah Shah in 1962, his grandson Moulvi Muhammad Farooque became Naib Mirwaiz Kashmir. He became the Mirwaiz after the death of his uncle Muhammad Yousuf Shah in 1968. Mirwaizi Kashmir Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq took over the charge after his father was assassinated in May 1990 at the age of 17.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s of the Kashmir Valley. There are two main Mirwaiz lineages in the Valley. The better known lineage is based in Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, with its seat at the historic Jama Masjid, Srinagar
Jama Masjid, Srinagar
Jamia Masjid is a mosque in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, Indian Administered Kashmir. The Jamia Masjid of Srinagar is situated at Nowhatta, in the middle of the old city. An important mosque in Srinagar, it was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD. Later, the son of Sultan Sikandar, Zain-ul-Abidin...
. The other lineage heads the Muslims of South Kashmir. Each lineage is traditionally the preserve of a single family that traces its roots to an ancestor who travelled to the Valley from Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
with Sheikh Amir Kabir in the sixteenth century. Only one or two members of the family can attain this title at a time after achieving a thorough and complete knowledge in the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
and Sunnah
Sunnah
The word literally means a clear, well trodden, busy and plain surfaced road. In the discussion of the sources of religion, Sunnah denotes the practice of Prophet Muhammad that he taught and practically instituted as a teacher of the sharī‘ah and the best exemplar...
from a University or an Islamic institute. In early days they were trained by special teachers or parents until the proper Islamic Institutes and Universities came into being.
Moulvi Siddique-Ullah (1075-1155 H) known as Siddiq Baba and his son Akhund Moulvi Abdussalam (1129-1209 H) are buried in the outskirts of Srinagar where they lived and preached Islam. Akhund Moulvi Abdussalam had five sons: one of them, Hafiz Ghulam Rasool Shah - known as Lasa Baba - was the first one to obtain the title of Mir waizi Kashmir. (Head Preacher of Kashmir). Wali Ullah, Rahim Shah, Abdullah Shah, and Bandah Shah, the other four are known as Mirwaiz Hamadan.
Haji Muhammad Yahya (1251-1308 H) took over the office and continued his father’s work. He was the first one to translate AMA YATA SAALOON, the 30th chapter of Qur'an, into Kashmiri language
Kashmiri language
Kashmiri is a language from the Dardic sub-group and it is spoken primarily in the Kashmir Valley, in Jammu and Kashmir. There are approximately 5,554,496 speakers in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Census of 2001. Most of the 105,000 speakers or so in Pakistan are émigrés from the Kashmir...
. Out of his four sons Moulana Rasool Shah (the 2nd)(1271-1327 H)also known as Sir Sayyed-e-Kashmir, was a pioneer in introducing modern education in Kashmir under the banner of Anjuman-e-Nasratul-Islam. Moulana Ahmadullah Shah(1285-1349 H) and Moulana Atique Ullah Shah (1291-1381H)took the title of Mirwaiz Kashmir one after another.
Atique Ullah Shah was unable to perform his duties due to old age and ill health, therefore Moulana Muhammad Yousuf Shah,(1313-1388H) second son of Moulana Rasool Shah and a graduate of the Deoband
Deoband
Deoband is a city and a municipal board in Saharanpur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the upper Doab region of Uttar Pradesh. Deoband used to be surrounded by dense forests, and was believed to be the abode of the Goddess Durga, according to one tradition this is...
Institute of Islamic Studies was designated the next Mirwaiz. Moulana Mohammad Noor Ud Din Shah (1912–1997) was assigned the duties of Naib- Mirwaiz who was the youngest son of Atique Ullah Shah and a graduate from Oriental College, Lahore
Oriental College, Lahore
Punjab University Oriental College, commonly known as Oriental College, is an old institution of oriental studies in Lahore. It is next in location to Government College, Lahore.It was founded by Adi Brahmo Samaj preacher Pundit Navin Chandra Rai in 1876...
. They are buried in Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in Muzaffarabad District on the banks of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers...
and Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
respectively.
After the death of Atique Ullah Shah in 1962, his grandson Moulvi Muhammad Farooque became Naib Mirwaiz Kashmir. He became the Mirwaiz after the death of his uncle Muhammad Yousuf Shah in 1968. Mirwaizi Kashmir Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq took over the charge after his father was assassinated in May 1990 at the age of 17.