Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (c. 1312–1385 CE) was a Sufi Muslim saint of the Kubrawiya order, who played an important role in spread of Islam in the Kashmir Valley of northern India sub-continent. He was born in Hamadan, Iran and preached Islam in Central Asia and South Asia. He died in Swat on his way from Srinagar to Mecca and was buried in Khatlan, Tajikistan in 1385 CE, aged 71–72. Hamadani was also addressed honorifically throughout his life as the Shāh-e-Hamadān ("King of Hamadan"), Amīr-i Kabīr ("the Great Commander"), and Ali Sani ("second Ali").

Early life

His title Sayyid indicates that he was a descendant of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, possibly from both sides of his family. Hamadani spent his early years under the tutelage of Ala ad-Daula Simnani, a famous Kubrawiya saint from Semnan, Iran. Hamadani is credited with introducing the philosophy of Ibn Arabi to South Asia.

Travels

Sayyid Ali Hamadani travelled widely and preached Islam in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China, Syria, Kashmir and Turkestan. The third visit of Sayyid Ali was caused by the third invasion of Persia by Timur in 1383 when he conquered Iraq, and decided to oust the Alid Sayyids of Hamadan who, until his time, had played an important part in local affairs. Sayyid Ali, therefore, left Hamadan with 700 Sayyids, and set out towards Kashmir where he expected to be safe from the wrath of Timur. He had already sent two of his followers: Syed Taj ad-din Semnani and Mir Syed Hasan Semnani, to take stock of the situation. Shib ad-Din became a follower of Mir Syed Hasan Semnani and so Hamadani was welcomed in Kashmir by the king and his heir apparent Qutbu'd-Din Shah. At that time, the Kashmiri ruler, Qutub ad-Din Shah was at war with Firuz Shah Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi, but Hamdani brokered a peace. Hamdani stayed in Kashmir for six months. After Sharaf-ad-Din Abdul Rehman Bulbul Shah, he was the second important Muslim to visit Kashmir. Hamadani went to Mecca, and then returned to Kashmir in 1379/80 CE, during the reign of Qutub ad-Din, and spent a year spreading Islam in Kashmir, before returning to Turkestan via Ladakh in 1381/82 CE. He returned to Kashmir for the third time in 1383/84 CE with the intention of staying for a longer period but had to return earlier owing to illness. Hamadani died on his way back to Central Asia at a site close to the present day town of Mansehra in North-West Pakistan. His body was carried by his disciples to Kulab, Tajikistan, where his shrine is located.

Influence

Historical Eidgah Srinagar is also known as Eidgah Shah-i-Hamdan. Hamadani started organised efforts to convert Kashmir to Islam. Hamadani is regarded as having brought various crafts and industries from Iran into India notably carpet weaving; it is said that he brought 700 Sayyids with him to the country. The growth of the textile industry in Kashmir increased its demand for fine wool, which in turn meant that Kashmiri Muslim groups settled in Ladakh, bringing with them crafts such as minting and writing. Hamadani wrote a book on politics, governance and social behaviour, called the Zakhirat ul-Muluk

Works

One manuscript (Raza Library, Rampur, 764; copied 929/1523) contains eleven works ascribed to Hamadani (whose silsila runs to Naw'i Khabushani; the manuscript contains two documents associated with him). Syed Abdur-Rehman Hamdani in his book Salar-e-Ajjam lists 68 books and 23 pamphlets by Sayyid Ali Hamadani.