Kashmir's First Preacher

In this brief write-up, Dr Darakhshan Abdullah offers an idea about Islam’s emphasis on preaching while offering basic details about Kashmir’s first missionary preacher, Bulbul Shah

Islam ordains its followers the responsibility of the preaching of the faith and as such from the very advent of Islam by Prophet (PBUH) in Arabia; missionaries were deputed to spread the teachings of Islam in the four corners of the earth.

The social appeal of the religion of Islam suited the disturbed minds of the people and there is no wonder that the disintegrated tribal society was converted into the most powerful force and ventured to establish an empire surpassing even the Byzantine and Roman Empires.

There were many cumulative factors other than the missionary zeal and social appeal of the faith resulting in the fall of one country after others before the sceptre of Islam.

Nevertheless, it was always borne on the minds of the Muslims that the propagation of the faith among non-Muslims is an integral part of the duties of a true Muslim. Therefore, the knowledgeable personalities technically called the ulema either proceeded or followed the Muslim forces.

In the case of Kashmir, it was perfectly the legacy ofthis class that Islam was introduced and institutionalised inthe fertile soil of Kashmir. However, this credit goes to the Ulema, Sufis and saints of Central Asia. They came individually and collectively while most of them settled down in the kingdom. Needless to say that the Arabs while conquering the Sindh and Mahmud of Ghazni failed to bring Kashmir under their sway.

It is a misnomer that the tiny kingdom of Kashmir was politically, culturally and socially an isolated mass of land. Being located on a very important link of Central Asia silk route, there was frequent movement of men and ideas between Kashmir and Central Asia. However, the social mobilisation from central Asia towards northern India was further accelerated on account of tribal pressures, love of learning, commercial consideration end above all employment prospects.