The oral traditions and literatures of Bengal narrate several events to show how Islam had flourished in Bengal delta. The most famous Muslim Sufi Saint of Bengal was Shah Jalal Mujarrad (d.1346) of Sylhet. According to 'Suhaili-Yaman' a biography of Shah Jalal Mujarrad compiled in the mid nineteenth century (which was based on manuscripts dating to the seventeenth century and now it is lost) and oral traditions refer Islamisation in Bengal took place with the help of Shah Jalal Mujarrad. This fact of Islamisation in Bengal delta is also corroborated from the account of Ibn Battuta (a Moroccan traveler), who traveled to Sylhet to meet the renowned Sufi saint Shah Jalal in 1345. During the process of land development Muslim Pirs entered into uncultivated regions directly, organized the local population for clearing the jungles and later established themselves as local men of influences.
See Full PDF See Full PDFOne of the most observable influences of Islam on the Indian-subcontinent, especially in today’s Bangladesh, is the spiritual and humane teaching of Sufism during the medieval period. Based primarily on a critical elaboration of Eaton’s The Rise of Islam in Bengal Frontier 1204-1760 (1993), this article attempts to describe the socio-cultural and religious role of the Sufi sheikhs in the conversion to Islam of the Bengali people during the period of Mughal Empire (1526-1858). The earliest Sufis attempted at Islamic conversion began in the very hostile environment maintained by the local Hindu or Buddhist rulers. However, these Sufis sheikhs or pirs were able to convert most of the local population to Islam by preaching about the great teachings of the new religion about love, brotherhood, and equality. Among other success factors in the Sufi mission in Islamic conversion of the Bengali during the period under discussion were their unconquerable dedication and exceptional piety as well as the common belief among the Bengali people that these pirs could perform incontestable miracles.
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5th International Hazi Bayram-I Veli Symposium Proceedings Book
Hazrat Shah Jalal is a famous Sufi and preacher of Islam in the subcontinent. His influence and prestige are most noticeable among this country's Sufis, saints and auliyas. Hazrat Shah Jalal was awarded many adjectives in the Muslim society of Bengal due to his multifaceted qualities and spiritual ability. In the Indian subcontinent, the love and greatness of this name are widespread among the people irrespective of religion, caste, and class. Alt- hough he died many years ago, his memory and patterns still exist in Bangladesh. The whole of Bangladesh is illuminated by the loving religion of Hazrat Shah Jalal. The influence of Hazrat Shah Jalal is found in the religious, social, political, economic life, folk literature, education, culture, and tradition of the people of this country. The various installations and inscriptions of the rulers of Bengal, the naming of the place named after Hazrat Shah Jalal and the circulation of coins prove it. Whoever is the political ruler of Bangladesh, Hazrat Shah Jalal, with respect and devotion in the heart of the ordinary people irrespective of religion and caste, is the uncrowned emperor of this region. Moreover, Sylhet is called the spiritual capital and holy land of Bangladesh. However, this study will explore the role of Hazrat Shah Jalal on the beliefs and culture of the people of the region.
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History of Bangladesh: Volume II -- Politics, History, Culture
A distinct Bangla literature on Sufism emerged in around 16th-17th centuries mainly in East Bengal and Arakan, which, have come down to us thanks to the tireless efforts of Abdul Karim Sahityavisarad (1871-1953). This article mainly focuses on vernacular Sufi literature which included a variety of genres, ranging from esoteric doctrines to popular advice literature or heroic narratives. It briefly surveys how different genres reflected the approaches of vernacular Sufi litterateurs to the problem of translation, religion, and interreligious relations. The survey brings out certain ideational and material aspects of Bengali Sufi literary culture that show the rich complexity of ontological and theological conceptualization of the Sufis, often transcending narrow sectarian boundaries of Muslims and various Hindu sects, and evoking complex problematization of gender in a overall patriarchal framework. Islam was conveyed to a great extent through stories and lyrics rather than the dry skeleton of rules and precepts. Islam was approached in a creative, exploratory mode by confabulation and reworking of stories, a phenomenon we would call storification of religion. Such storification helped accommodation and eventual integration of a new religion into the preexisting cultural tradition in an accessible form followed by transformation of the tradition itself. In transmitting esoteric doctrines or popular narratives, the Sufis engaged in a process of cultural mediation dealing with problems of creating equivalence between the Islamicate and the indic, establishing new codes and norms of vernacular conceptualization of Islam, and drawing new boundaries of identity while outmoding older ones.
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Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization (JITC)
Sufism, a mystical Islamic practice, has profoundly impacted Bengal's culture and civilisation, including Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. The current study aims to discuss how Sufism has helped to reduce religious hatred and extremism among Bengalis. It has also established a system of equality, love, and fraternity among people in the Bengali culture. The history and influence of Sufism in Bangladesh is over a thousand years old and significantly impacts about hundred sixty-nine million people in Bangladesh. One of the reasons is the effect of the calling of Dawah's activities. After Sufism crossed the threshold of Bangladesh, it fascinated the Bengalis and left a meaningful impact on them, which also strengthened their Islamic ideology. Sufism immensely helped the promotion of societal peace in Bengal. The Bengali Sufi saints preached love and compassion, and their ideas also promoted different aspects of religion. They urged people to appreciate variety and value one another's uniqueness. This selfless act inspired many humans to leave their faith to convert to Islam. There is a unique contribution of Sufism to the development of social life and the civilisation of Bangladesh. Remarkably, the settlements of eleven out of sixty-four districts with the names of the famous Sufis show the influence of Sufism. Moreover, since the Sufis were charismatic leaders, their piety, helpfulness, and compassion continue to help Sufism remain a pillar of mystical Islam in Bangladesh.
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1204 A.D. is the most important year in the history of the Muslim Bengal. This year was conquered the Bengal by the Turk valiant Ikhtiyar Uddin Mohammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji. Afterwards many Muslim dynasty rules in this area for a long period and most of the rulers among them are Turk ethnic who come from Central Asia. At the first stage Gour, Loukhnouti and Pandua become a most significant place where governors were appointed by the Delhi sovereigns. In centring these places of Bengal begin to develop the Islamic tradition against the Hindu and Buddhist culture. Those time a lot of Turk origin particularly Sufi, saint Came in this region to spread of Islam as well as they also brought architectural techniques on Islamic architecture of Bengal. Basically, Bengal is separated from Delhi sovereigns in 1338 A.D. by declaring the independence of Fakhr Al-Din Mubarak Shah and which continue up to 1538 A.D. A vast number of Mosques were built during this period. In fifteenth century, When the sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah 1(Founder of the second Ilyas Shahi dynasty) was ruling at Gour, The pioneer saint Turk Khan Jahan Ali comes on the southern part of Bengal or forest area of Sundarban and founds some townships, builds mosques, tomb, madrasas and sarais, roads, highways, bridges and a large number of dighis (pond) in the mentioning part. Now it includes the Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Patuakhali and Barishal districts of Bangladesh. In which he flourished the Islamic culture specially mosque architecture. He added a new architectural feature in the mosque that is called Khan Jahan style in Bengal architecture. In this paper have been marked that how patron saint Khan Jahan Ali arrives an uncultivated land and develops with Islamic culture by establishing his fascinating mosque architecture in the greater part of the southern Bengal.
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