The diverse branches of the Sadaat who chose Kashmir as their permanent homeland did incredible, transformative work for Islam in Greater Kashmir
To walk through the historic quarters of Shehr-e-Khas in Downtown Srinagar is to traverse layers of an extraordinary past. Yet, few places hold as much collective memory, spiritual reverence, and silent history as Malkha—the vast, ancient resting place for generations of Kashmiri families.
What many passing by today might view simply as a crowded urban cemetery is, in reality, a profound monument to the socio-economic, spiritual, and structural transformation of the Valley.
To understand Malkha, one must understand the journey of the diverse lineages of the Sadaat (Sayyids), who travelled thousands of kilometres from Persia and Central Asia to make this beautiful vale their homeland, doing incredible work for Islam and permanently rewriting its social fabric.
The Sacred Stream
From Karbala to the Valley: To comprehend the immense prestige historically associated with the Sadaat, one must look to their theological foundations. By definition, a Sayyid is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). While the Prophet fathered both sons and daughters, no male children survived into adulthood to pass down his name.
Instead, the lineage was carried forward through his deeply revered daughter, Hazrat Fatima az-Zahra (RA), and her marriage to Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (KW). Through this sacred union, the bloodline flowed via their sons, most notably Hazrat Imam Hasan (AS) and Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS).
The lineage faced its most pivotal and tragic crucible during the Battle of Karbala. Though Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS)—the "Martyr of Martyrs"—sacrificed his life, the bloodline was miraculously preserved through his son, Hazrat Imam Ali ibn al-Hussain (Zain-ul-Abideen), the sole male survivor of the family at Karbala. Over the subsequent centuries, his descendants migrated, flourished, and spread across the Islamic world, eventually arriving in distinct, powerful waves to the Kashmir Valley.
The Early Pillars
Grapes, Sovereigns, and the Gift of Malkha: The bedrock of this presence is inextricably tied to the 14th-century arrival of Hazrat Ameer-e-Kabir Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (RA), a native of Hamadan, Iran, who led a massive migration of roughly 700 Sayyids across three distinct visits.
These Sayyids did not return to Persia; they voluntarily settled or were strategically stationed across the Valley to guide the newly converted population. Beyond theology, they introduced Central Asian civilization—mastering languages, reshaping court culture, and implementing the iconic craft economy of carpet weaving (Qaleen bafi), shawls, and paper-mâché that lifted Kashmir economically.
The profound benevolence of this elite is perfectly preserved in the revenue and settlement records of Srinagar. Historically, the area known as Malkha was a magnificent 1000-kanal orchard, primarily dedicated to the cultivation of grapes. This vast tract of land was purchased by Mir Muhammad Hamadani—the illustrious son of the Ameer-e-Kabir—entirely out of his own pocket for a sum of 29.50 Rupees of Raijul Waqat (the currency of the era).
In an act of unparalleled community welfare, he donated this entire land as a Waqf (endowment) to serve as a collective graveyard for the fresh converts to Islam, ensuring they had a dignified, unified resting place.
Tragically, contemporary urban pressures have squeezed this 1000-kanal legacy down to a mere 100 kanals or slightly more. Private and governmental encroachments have risen over a mass graveyard that rightfully belongs to all Muslims of Kashmir.
More disappointingly, a space explicitly designed to be a unified, egalitarian sanctuary has been fragmented and partitioned, earmarked among specific "numbered families"—a stark reflection of modern social stratification disrupting historic benevolence.
The Great Lineages
A Tapestry of Intellectual and Political Might: The narrative of the Sadaat in Kashmir is incredibly rich and multi-dimensional, composed of distinct clans who brought specific administrative, military, and spiritual strengths to the kingdom:
The Simnani Sayyids (The Pioneers): Arriving even before the main wave of Shah-e-Hamadan, figures like Sayyid Hussain Simnani—a cousin of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani hailing from Simnan, Iran—settled in Kulgam. They laid the crucial foundational groundwork of diplomatic goodwill and spiritual attraction, softening the regional political landscape for the larger migrations that followed.
The Baihaqi Sayyids (The Aristocrats and Statesmen): Hailing from Sabzevar (historically part of the Baihaq region in Iran), the Baihaqis entered Kashmir during the Shah Mir Sultanate. They became the ultimate political heavyweights of medieval Kashmir. By marrying into the royal family—most notably when the great King Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin (Budshah) married the daughters of Sayyid Hasan Baihaqi—they gained immense administrative power, serving as ministers, chief justices, and military commanders, deeply weaving their lineage into the sovereignty of the state.
The Andrabi Sayyids (The Intellectual Custodians): Tracing their origins to Andarab in Central Asia, the Andrabis (led by pioneers like Sayyid Ahmad Andrabi) established major centers of learning and jurisprudence. They served as the literary and legal backbone of the Valley, maintaining meticulous family records (Shajrahs) and ensuring that Islamic law and high Persian literature flourished hand in hand.
The Bukhari Sayyids (The Scholars of the Core): Migrating from Bukhara (modern-day Uzbekistan), one of the grandest intellectual capitals of the Islamic world, the Bukharis brought an elite academic tradition. They settled in both urban Srinagar and rural strongholds, acting as the ultimate spiritual arbiters and educators for generations of Kashmiris.
A sub clan among Bukharis named after Mir Nazuk Niyazi Qadiri emerged as Nazkis. Mir Nazuk was among the illustrious descendants of Syed Mir Ali Bukhari who was brought to Kashmir by Sultan Zain-ul- Abidin to head his judiciary.
Qazi Musa Shaheed who was martyred during rule of Chaks belonged to the same family as also Mir Syed Yaqub whose shrine at Sonwar draws thousands. Qazi Musa Shaheed is buried in Malkha whereas the shrine of Mir Nazuk Niyazi Qadiri, the founder of qadiri order in Kashmir exists at Qadi Kadal in downtown Srinagar.
The Muntaqi Sayyids (The Monks of Asceticism): Known for their profound asceticism, piety, and detachment from worldly politics, the Muntaqis—such as Sayyid Mir Nazuk Muntaqi—anchored the inner, mystical dimensions of faith. Their khanqahs became sanctuaries for the poor, emphasizing spiritual cleansing, social equality, and public charity.
Waves of Later Migration
The Gilanis of Khanyar: The influx of sacred lineage continued well into the later centuries, bringing new dimensions of prestige. The Gilani Sayyids, who trace their direct biological descent to the great Peeran-e-Pir Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) of Baghdad, arrived much later than the medieval Hamadani wave.
Traveling through the subcontinent, they settled for generations in the historic, metropolitan Mughal hub of Thatta in Sindh before migrating to Kashmir in the 18th century. Bringing with them the sacred Moi-e-Muqaddas (holy relic) of the Sheikh, they anchored the spiritual gravity center of Ziyarat Dastgeer Sahib at Khanyar, reshaping the cultural geography of eastern Srinagar.
Even the linguistic variations of this surname highlight a global story of migration. Because the classical Arabic alphabet lacks the hard Persian/Urdu "G" (\text{\underline{G}af}) sound, the original geographical name Gilan naturally transitioned into Jeelani (\text{ج}) or Kilani (\text{ك}). This is a matter of geography, not clan; while the lineage is identical, branches of the family in the subcontinent write Gilani or Jeelani, while second and third cousins who have settled in Amman, Jordan, officially maintain the surname as Kilani.
Separating Bloodline from Devotion
The Local Pirs: For any researcher analyzing the social structure of Kashmir, a crucial distinction must be made between hereditary lineage and devotional affiliation. Across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir, there is a prominent presence of native, local Pirs who use the titles Qadri or Baghdadi.
It is historically vital to note that these local Pirs are not biological descendants of the Gilani Sadaat; they are indigenous to the soil. Their adoption of these titles serves as a beautiful benchmark of their deep faith, service, and generational allegiance to the Khanqahs and the spiritual order of the Peeran-e-Pir. Their identity is anchored in devotion rather than genealogy.
The Royal Naqshbandis and Preserved Relics
In addition to the aforementioned lines, the Naqshbandi Sadaat made their immense presence felt, dedicating their lives and energy to promoting Islam in Greater Kashmir. Their lineage was woven into the highest echelons of imperial history.
In a fact lost to many modern citizens, the sister of the great Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was married to Syed Mehmood Naqshbandi. Today, both stand buried within the serene, impeccably maintained premises of the historic Shrine of Naqshband Sahib at Khawaja Bazar, Srinagar.
The imperial legacy of this union extends to nearby Shamswari, Kusha Sahab, located in close proximity to both the Naqshband Sahib and Dastgeer Sahib shrines. Preserved within a local mosque-cum-shrine lies an extraordinary relic: chapters of the Holy Qur'an written by the third Caliph, Khalifa Usman (RA), in ancient Arabic calligraphy—originally gifted by Emperor Aurangzeb to his sister on her wedding day.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the diverse branches of the Sadaat who chose Kashmir as their permanent homeland did incredible, transformative work for Islam in Greater Kashmir. They did not merely preach; they built the civilisation, political systems, legal structures, economy, and physical geography of Srinagar out of their own pockets and through royal alliances.
As the city modernises, preserving the physical boundaries of our historic spaces like Malkha and maintaining absolute clarity regarding our multi-faceted spiritual histories is paramount. It is a legacy of selfless benevolence that must never be allowed to fade into oblivion.
(The Author is a former civil servant from the administrative service and RK Columnist, can be reached at: nisargilani57748@gmail.com)
