Islam in Gilgit, Nagar and Hunza

Abstract

This paper inquires about Islam in Gilgit, Nagar and Hunza which were formerly sub-divisions of one district, Gilgit. These three regions can not be separated from one another because they have almost same geo-political and socio-cultural conditions. The paper gives the geography and history of the entire region, Gilgit-Baltistan, as the background to the topic. In the three regions, three Muslim sects, Ismailis, Ithna’asharis and Sunnis inhabit. The first Muslim saint and scholar who introduced Islam was Nasir-e Khusraw, famous poet-philosopher and Ismaili Da’i of 5th/ 11th century. He and his disciple and later da’is spread Islamic thoughts in these areas. However, Ismailism strengthened after Taj Mughal’s invasion of Gilgit and HunzaNagar in 1320 AD. By the middle of the sixteenth c. Ithna’ashari (Twelver) Shi’ite da’wa started to spread in Gilgit, Nagar and later in Hunza.In this respect, Sayyid Shah Burya Wali, Sayyid Shah Wali, Sayyid Arif and others played a vital role. However, in the 19th c. Ismaili da’wa was reorganized and Ismaili da’is, such as Sayyid Shah Ardabel, S. Shah Hussain, S. ShahYaqoot, his descendants and other da’is and pirs propagated Ismail faith and converted the rulers and their subjects to Ismailism. From 18th c. Sunni thoughts started to spread in Gilgit and its adjacent areas. The rulers of Khushwaqt familiy of Yasin and Mastuj and Muslim officers and clerics of Sikh and Dogra régimes contributed in spreading Sunni faith in Gilgit. Gilgit thus became centre of Ithna’asharis, Sunnis and Ismailis. While the Nagaris are Ithna’asharis and in Hunza all most all the people are Ismailis except of few hundred families from Ganish and Murtaza Abad who are Ithna’ashary Shiites.