Muslim Rule In kashmir

Very important for jkssb exams

Although the  Muslim rule in kashmir started with the  Richana sadur -ud- Din but at the time when he ascended the throne he was not a Muslim and being a converted muslim he is not considered the founder of Muslim rule in kashmir. 

Shah Mir. 

The begining of Muslim rule in kashmir started with  Shah Mir Dynasty, which was founded by Shah Mir also known as shams- ud -din in in 1339. So the real founder of Muslim rule in kashmir is Shah Mir  (sultan Shamas-ud-Din). He started ' kashmir sana' or ' kashmir era ' to commemorate the conversion of Richana to Islam in 1320 A.D. His commander in chief was Lankar Chak. 

The Two notable rulers of Shah Miri Dynasty are Sultan Shihab-ud-Din and Sultan Zain- ul -Din.

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Sultan Shihab -ud- Din. 

Shihab -ud- Din is known as Lalitaditya of medieval kashmir . He was an accomplished General and established his sway over neighbouring countries . At the beginning of his reign, he led an army to sindh and defeated its ruler. While returning, he defeated Afghans near pashawar and then he captured kabul, Ghazni, Kandhar, Swat and Multan. Shihab-ud-din was also an able administrator and he governed his kingdom with firmness and justice.  He was a tolerant ruler and treated all his subjects generously. Kota bhat and Udyashri were his two important Hindu ministers. Shihab ud Din founded a new town, which he called shihab ud Din-pura, presently known as shadipur, He is also said to have errected many mosques and nonasteries. 

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Qutub-Ud-Dib

Sultan Qutub ud Din was the next ruler and his real name was Hindal. An important event worth mentioning during his reign is the arrival of the most remarkable personality of then Muslim world Mir Syed Ali Hamdani. Mir syed Ali Hamdani was accompanied by about 700 syeds from Hamdan , who established their centres of missionary activities in different parts of the valley. 

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Sikandar :-

Sultan Qutub-ud-din was succeeded by his son Sikandar. In history Sultan Sikandar is called the 'Aurangzeb of kashmir'. He is the first Indian ruler to have abolished the custom of sati among the Hindus. Khankhai Mualla was built during his reign. 

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Zain Ul Abideen (Budshah)

Shahi khan ascended the throne by the tittle of Sultan Zain ul Abideen. Zain ul Abideen ruled from 1420 A.D to 1470 A.D, nearly for half a century. 

Zain ul Abideen was also called busdhah (Great sultan) , as well as, the Akbar of kashmir. He organised a huge army and with its help he reconquered the punjab, western Tibet, Ladakh and Balti region, kuli and ohind (Hazara). 

Administration and Justice

Zain-ul-abideen improved the tone of administration, which had rudely been shaken. He appointed  talented persons in high  administrative posts irrespective of caste or creed. The sultan had a high sence of justice and no one who committed a crime was spared, however close he was to throne, many grandees, who were favorites of the king, were severely punished when found guilty. Sultan made many laws and got them engraved on copper plates to be placed at public places. One of the most outstanding features of his administration was the just and liberal treatment for the Hindus. Jaziya (religion text on Hindus) was also abolished. 

Agriculture. 

Zain ul Abideen  paid special attention to agriculture. Land revenue was settled and the state share of the produce was 1/4th to 1/7th. Sultan got a network of irrigation canals, pohru canal, kakapur canal, Awantipur canal, Zainagir canal, etc. Owing to these irrigation  works, the drainage of marshes and reclamation of large areas for cultivation, kashmir became self sufficient in food and peasants became prosperous. 

Handicrafts :-

Zain ul Abideen took great interest in the development of arts and crafts. He invited trained craftsmen from other countries especially from central Asia to train his subjects. He introduced the art of making pashmina Shawls  from Tibet. He introduced wooden architecture and wood carving in kashmir.