Advent of Islam

About the Book There have been Sufis at all periods of history. In Kashmir they were designated as Rishis and the Valley was called the Rishi-Veir or the garden of Rishis. They were free from limitation of caste, creed, color or race. For them, the source of all religions is one and the same. However, envy, prejudice and antagonism between people have lead to the creation of dissensions. Basically, the basis of all religions is search of the truth. Those who seek the truth forget differences and try to reach the essence.

Islam was introduced in the Valley of Kashmir by a Buddhist King Gayalbo Rinchana (1320-1323), the last Buddhist ruler of Kashmir. He is credited to have brought peace to the country after the Mongal invasion. Jonaraja the contemporary historian is in praise for him for administration of justice to the people, irrespective of caste, creed or status. It is stated that Devaswami, Chief of the Brahmanas, refused to admit Gayalbo Rinchana, into the Shiva fold, for the king had been born as a Buddhist. He rejected the plea of the king to be granted the high status in the Hindu Caste system.

About the Author Sufi mystic Haji Fida Mohammad Khan Hassnain was born in the year 1924 at Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Having graduated from the University of Punjab, Lahore he completed his post graduation in history and law at the Muslim- University, Aligarh, India. He started his career as a Professor of history in SP College, Srinagar, Kashmir, 1947. Later he joined the national archives of India, New Delhi and obtained diploma in archives. He was promoted by government of India as the Director of Archives, Archaeology, Research and Museum in 1953 and Continued as such as till his retirement in 1983. He is credited with the having salvaged hundreds of manuscripts in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian and Urdu by preserving this heritage in the oriental research libraries and the three archives repositories at Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Srinagar.

In 1969 he was invited by several Japanese Universities to give extension lectures on Buddhist culture and history. Since then he has visited various cities in Asia and Europe and has given lectures on history, culture and Sufism. He is a recipient of several degrees and awards from various institutions in India, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Mexico. He was granted the title of Rashtra Sanskrit Samrat or the Emperor of National Culture in 1987. The Jammu and Kashmir government has bestowed upon him the prestigious lifetime achievement award. on January 25, 2009.

He is the author of about two dozen books on history, culture and mysticism which have been published in India, UK, Russia, Italy, Spain and USA.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages