Islam in Kashmir earlier than thought, reveals Quran manuscript
Wednesday August 15, 2012 11:40:00 AM,
Sheikh Qayoom,
IANS
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Srinagar: It is a pageant of rare Quranic
manuscripts that not only provides an insight into the glory and
richness of Islam but also sets back the clock of the religion's
advent into Kashmir by almost a century.
A rare 1237 AD Quranic manuscript calligraphed by Fathullah
Kashmiri, displayed at an exhibition here, is the oldest-known
copy of the Islamic scripture prepared in Kashmir and reveals
Islamic communities were present in the Valley much earlier than
generally believed.
"This rare manuscript sets the calendar of Islam's advent in
Kashmir back by a century. The manuscript contains Persian
translation of the holy verses," said Khalid Bashir, secretary of
the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages that
organised the exhibition, which ended Tuesday, in the academy's
premises.
Khalid said the manuscript is autographed by the calligrapher and
clearly depicts the date when it was written.
"This proves Muslims existed in Kashmir at least 83 years before
they gained political power here," he asserted.
Most of the rare Quranic manuscripts on display are written on
handmade Kashmiri paper.
"One of the manuscripts which dates back to 1594 is the only copy
of Quran written in saffron ink in the world," said Khalid who has
personally been supervising the preservation and protection of
these rare manuscripts.
A huge four feet by four feet, 220-year-old copy of the holy book
by local calligrapher Mohi-ud-Din Qureshi, is another marvel of
calligraphic excellence. It also has its own wooden case.
Besides Quranic manuscripts, the exhibition had rare impressions
of Prophet Mohammad's seal, impressions of the letter he wrote to
the ruler of Persia inviting him to embrace Islam, impressions of
the first Quranic verses written on a camel's bone and a letter
written by King Solomon to Queen Sheba.
"The entire invaluable collection at display here could in fact be
just one percent of what must be lying in homes of many local
families. We request them to preserve this invaluable wealth using
scientific methods of book preservation.
"But more important is the fact that such a national wealth must
be shared with others. We are ready to render whatever assistance
is needed to preserve these manuscripts," said Khalid as he
conducted visitors to a 1666 Mughal-era Quranic manuscript with
ornamental gold plated folio.
A rare scroll, 25 feet long and 2.5 inches wide, has 99 attributes
of Allah calligraphed on it with selections from the Quran in the
background.
The certificate of genuineness that accompanies the scroll has
been signed by prominent citizens of the period when the scroll
was given as a present by Kashmiri saint Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom to
local merchant Miram Bazaz.
Kashmir Valley has a population of seven million, a majority of
them Muslims.
(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.abdul@ians.in)
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