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Introduction:
Islam arrived in this land in the same process as the land itself
has been formed - in a conituous process of accumulation of silts.
Islam was preached by generation after generation before the establishement
of Muslim rule through a period of six centuries. As a result, a favoiurable
place for Islam along with basic knowlegde about it was created in
the hearts of the people. If formed an excellent psychological base
that kept the inhabitants of this area firm upon Islam neglecting
all sorts of obstacles, attacks and conspiracies.
Islam entered Bangladesh through the following three ways:
1. The Chittagong port was one of the major ports for entering the
eastern region including China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Many merchants used to anchor at the Chittagong port and go to China
using land roads. The Arab merchants had been using this port since
pre-Islamic period and continued to do so after they embraced Islam.
They used to preach Islam along with their business activities. Islam
began to spread from that time.
2. King Cherumol Perumol of Tamilnadu coastal kingdom Malabar embraced
Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet Mohammad (PUH). As a result
that area turned into a centre for preaching Islam. Preachers used
to come to Bangladesh from that region.
3. After the conquest of Sindh by Muhammad Bin Kashem, many preachers
used to come from the Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey on their feet to
preach Islam here.
The silent preaching of Islam that went for more than six centuries
remained hidden due to lack of historical evidences. Modern researcher
are finding evidences are being found from the books written by Arab
Muslim historians, geographers and Muhaddises. For example, it is
proven from the narratives of Muhaddis Imam Abadna Marwazi that a
group of Sahabis including Abu Oakkas Ibn Ohaib came to Chittagong
in the year 618. The narratives of many Arab geograpics of eleventh
century including Abul Kasem Obaidullah Ibd Khurdadbih, Al Idrisi,
Al Masudi, Yaqub Ibn Abdullah mention the business relations and settlement
of Arab merchants in Chittagong seaport, Chandpur river port, Ramu,
Coxesbazar etc. These are verified by recently discovered archaeological
evidences. A gold coin of the period of Harun-ur-Rashid (788) was
found in Paharpur, Rajshahi another set of coins of Abbasia period
were found in Moinamoti, Comilla. An ancient Masjid that was built
in the seventh century (689 BC, 69 Hizri) has been discovered recently
in Lalmonirhat district.
The folk stories and songs provide substantial hints about many Islam
preachers and saints. There are signs of their tombs and Dargahs.
We find many mosques built by them. These indicate that Islam had
been spreading in Bangladesh for six centuries before the Muslims
conquered Bengal. The repressed anti-Aryan people of Bengal began
to adore Islam from that time.
The conquest of Bengal started in 1204. Islam began to receive patronisation
from the rulers. The barriers for the people of this region for embracing
Islam was removed. As a result they began to enter into Islam in large
numbers. Islam did not come here with the help of swords, rather the
people of Bangladesh embraced it through love and profound understanding.
Before
Conquest of Bengal:
People of this land were familiar with Islam before the conquest of
Bengal. Arab merchants had links with Chittagong port since pre-Islamic
period. It has been proven in recent studies that a group of Sahabis
including Abu Oakkas Malik, Quyes Ibn Sairadi, Tameem Ansary, Urrah
Ibn Assasa, Abu Quyes Ibn Harisa came to Chittagong in 618 during
the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (PUB). They preached Islam there
for few years and then went to China.
The following Sahabis came to Bangladesh through Chittagong seaport
after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PUB):
- Abdullah Ibn Utban
- Assem Ibn Amr Tameemi
- Sahel Ibn Abdi
- Suhael Ibn Adi
- Hakim Ibn Abeel Assaqafi
Later five delegations of the Tabeyees including a group of Muhammad
Mamun and Muhammad Mohaimen came here to preach Islam.
In 712 Muhammad Bin Kasem conquered Sindh. It paved the way for Muslims
to come to Bengal.
In 778 a group of Muslims fell into a storm in the Bay of Bengal.
They were taken to the King of Arakan Ma-ba-toing. The king became
very pleased with them due to their behaviour and intellects. He gave
them several villages to settle. As a result, an Islamic society was
developed in the course of time.
During 866 to 874, the famous saint of Iran Baezid Bostami preached
Islam in Chittagong. Although most of the historians say that he returned
to his homeland, many people believe that he died and was buried in
Chittagong. His shrine is still in Chittagong.
In 954, the Muslims of Arakan became so powerful that they established
Muslim rule in a part of Chittagong. King San-da-ya could not tolerate
the Muslim rule and defeated them.
In 1053, Shah Muhammad Sultan Balkhi reached Harirumpur of Manikgonj
through river way. He later established an Islam preaching centre
around Mohastangar of Bogra. He established mosques and Islamic schools.
During this time, he had to fight with King Parshuram of Mohastangar.
The king was killed in the battle. Later the Army Chief Surkhab and
captive princes Ratna Moni embraced Islam. Shah Muhammad Sultan Balkhi
arranged their marriage and nominated Surkhab as the new king.
In 1053, Shah Muhammad Sultan Rumi came to Netrokona with a group
of preachers. He invited the king of Madanpur for embracing Islam.
The king refused first but accepted the invitation later and entered
into Islam.
In 1179, Baba Shah Adam came to Bikrampur with a group of preacher
to preach Islam there. Later he was martyred in a battle with king
Ballal Sen.
In 1184, Shah Makhdum Ruposh came to Rajshahi as the first Islam preacher
there. He was one of the preachers who built the base of Islam in
Bangladesh in a completely hostile environment. He turned Rajshahi
into an Islamic locality. His activities were centred around Rampur
and Boalia.
Islam as Victor in Various
Places:
It took two centuries to establish complete Muslim rule in Bengal.
Muslim rule started from Rajshahi and completed in Khulna by Khan
Jahan Ali.
1. North Bengal (Nadia, Gaur, Rangpur, Dinajpur: 1204)
After Delhi and Bihar was conquered by Muslims, King Lakxan Sen of
Bengal anticipated Muslim attacks there. He was afraid that a Muslim
battalion would suddenly attack him to free the people of this region
from his oppression. Moreover, the astrologists told him that he would
be defeated by the victor of Bihar, Bakhtier Khilji. As a result he
employed strong guard in all conventional entrances of his temporary
capital Nadia. However, in 1204, Bakhtier Khilji entered Nadia in
a completely unconventional and difficult way and attacked the palace
with a battalion of only 18 advanced soldiers. Lakxan Sen thought
that the capital had fallen and escaped through the backdoor. It was
the starting of Muslim rule in Bengal. Bakhtier Khalji conquered the
whole North Bengal including Gaur, Bogra, Rangpur and Dinajpur.
2. Eastern-Southern Area (Sonargaon, Dhaka, Faridpur, Mymensingh,
Barishal: 1274-1290):
Sultan Mugisuddin Tugril of Lakhnauti became active to establish Muslim
rule in entire Bengal. He defeated the last Sen king Madhu Sen and
brought Eastern Bengal under Muslim rule. As a result Sonargaon, Dhaka
and Faridpur came under Islam. He build a fort at a place called Larikal
25 miles south to Dhaka and named it 'Killa-e-Turgil'. Bughra Khan
was appointed ruler of Bengal in 1281. He ruled Bengal until 1290.
Meanwhile, he brought Mymensingh and Barishal under Muslim Rule.
3. Sylhet (1303):
Sylhet was being ruled by a tyrant king named Gaur Gavinda. In 1301,
Sultan Shamsuddin Feroz Shah sent forces against him twice in the
commands of his Army Chief Sekander Gazi. It failed. He sent a group
of soldiers again in 1303 in the leadership of Sayed Nasiruddin. Sekander
Gazi too fought against Gaur Gavinda in this battle. Famous saint
Shah Jalal assisted the force with his 313 companions. Gaur Gavinda
escaped after being defeated. Shah Jalal stayed in Sylhet till his
death in 1446 and preached and established Islam there.
4. Chittagong (1340):
Although Islam reached Chittagong much earlier, it took time to establish
Muslim rule there. Sultan Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah was thorn in Soanargaon
in 1338 and extended the area of his rule to southeast. During that
period Ali Qadar Khan, Ali Mubarak Khan and Shamsuddin Mubarak Shah
were in power in North Bengal. Fahkruddin Mubarak Shah brought Chittgaong
under Muslim rule for the first time in 1340 and built a road from
Chandpur to Chittagong.
5. Khulna Division (1418-1449):
Khan Jahan Ali played a remarkable role in preaching and establishing
Islam throughout Khulna Division. Few Hindu Zaminders were ruling
a small portion of the area and the remaining vast land was occupied
by jungle. Khan Jahan Ali was engaged in building habitants, preaching
Islam among non-Muslims and carrying out humanitarian activities.
He built 360 mosques, dug 360 ponds for drinking water and constructed
numerous pukka roads. He started building mosques, digging ponds and
constructing roads from Barabazar of Jhenidah and reached Bagerhat.
There he settled and build famous Shat Gambuj (Sixty Domes) Mosque.
He established Quranic rule there in the name 'Khalifatabad' meaning
the place of God's representatives.
[to be continued..]
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