The Role of Ulama-Mashaikh and Sufi­Saints in Spreading Islam in the District of Noakhali Till the 20th Century A.C.

Abstract

Islam is the last and well encompassing revealed religion for mankind. It is the religion of peace and it advocates for establishing cordial relation among human species of the global expanse. On an analysis of the related primary sources it may be surmised that since its inception (in 610 A.C.) Islam got its entrance and expansion in any land by three groups of the Muslims - the traders, the missionaries consisting of ulama-mashaikh and the conquerors. Of these three groups the role of ulama-mashaikh is worth mentioning regarding the presenting of Islam to the people of different faiths and beliefs. The sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) like 'Ballighu anni wa law ayah' (Communicate from me even though it may be a single message) and ‘Fal yuballigh al­Sahid al-ghaib' (Those present here convey to those who are not) encouraged the votaries of Islam to preach and present the teachings of Islam to the people of other lands than those of theirs. In this respect the Indian sub-continent, especially, the Bengal is not an exception. From the testimony of the hagiological literature and other available sources it is known that Islam had its contact with the people of the coastal region of Bengal as a whole and Noakhali in particular since the 8th or the 9th century A.C. The numismatic evidences like the discovery of a silver coin (dirham) of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 A.C.) dated 788 A.C. / 172 A.H. at Paharpur and some other Arab coins of the same period unearthed at Mainamati substantiate the above mentioned proposition. Since then the ulama-mashaikh of Arabia, Persia and Central Asia entered Bengal from the sea and land routes and unfolded to the people of this land the egalitarianism of Islam. Strict social stratification of pre-Muslim Bengal and the adjacent lands culminated in many vices, which sapped the vitality of the social fabric of the people. Due to the ignorance of the general Muslims about the fundamental principles of pristine Islam in the period of British domination, the social fabric of Islam was down rated and the common Muslims were dragged to the depth of degradation in all aspects of their lives. In this milieu the ulama-mashaikh came to the rescue of the Muslims of Bengal as well as the coastal belt of Noakhali District and infused in their minds the true spirit of Islam. The ulama-mashaikh of Noakhali took all possible endeavours to propagate the true cardinal features of the Islamic Shari 'ah alongside the teachings of particular Sufi-orders, and exerted untiring efforts to regenerate the people to the sublime ideal oflslam in the critical juncture of their socio-religious and cultural life. By dint of the sincere endeavours of the ulama-mashaikh and Sufi-saints Islam exerted a tremendous influence on the lives of the people of this land. By founding masajid, madaris, maqatib, khanqat and other substantial religious institutions, and at the same time by undertaking social services for the well-being of the afflicted and destitute people, they became able to easily attract the local people to the fold of pristine Islam. Thus, the extraordinary humanitarian activities of the ulama-mashaikh and Sufi-saints contributed a good deal to unveil the obscurity regarding the emergence and cropping up of Islam in the district of Noakhali. Eventually the Muslim population increased to a great extent in the soil of the coastal territory under review through the ages with the passage of time. Hence, this thesis aims at studying this most important aspect of the District of Noakhali vertically and to a greater depth.