1. Medieval Bengal Early Muslim rule A K M Khademul Haque University of Dhaka

2. Summery In 1204, the first Muslim ruler, Bakhtiyar, a Turk, captured Nadia and established Muslim rule. After his death, the Sultan of Delhi extended his authority into Bengal. It was a period of instability and there was in-fighting amongst rivals for the Delhi Sultanate, so the Turkish rulers of Bengal were almost independent. The spread of Islam in Bengal was also enabled by Muslim saints called Sufis.

3. Sources of the History of Medieval Bengal a.Written History in Arabic & Persian Language Tabakat-i-Nasiri by Minhāj Sirāj Jūzjānī Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi by Ziauddin Barani Futuah us Salatin by Khwaja abdul Malik Isami Riazus Saltin by Sayed Gulam Hossain Salim b. Sufi Litarature Tazkirat, Maktubat, Malfuzat c. Inscriptions & Coins d. Travelogues Ibne Batuta (1333) From Morrocco, Mahuan, Fei Sin European Travelers

4. The Sufis and the spread of Islam in Bengal  Sufis were Muslim saints who were considered to possess the blessing of God and spiritual power. Sufis derive their inspiration from Hazrat Muhammad, who forms the source of spiritual knowledge and teachings in Islam.  Sufis led a very simple life and preached Islam through their words and deeds. When in danger, the Sufi leader (Pir) and his disciples (Murids) took up arms as well.  Most Sultans of Bengal tried to keep good relations with the Sufis. In Bengal, the Sufis were numerous and they played a prominent role in delivering the Islamic message of equality and social justice and thus drew people of different religions towards Islam.

5. Shah Jalal  Sufis arrived in Bengal from the Middle East or Central Asia as early as the time of the arrival of Bakhtiyar Khalji.  One of the earliest and most revered Sufis of Bengal was Shah Jalal (died 1346), who arrived and settled in Sylhet with his 313 disciples.  It is said that his simple life, love of ordinary people of different religions and castes and his Keramati (power of making miracles) attracted the people of Sylhet to Islam.

6. Notable other Sufis and Pirs  Baba Adam Shahid, who selected the Dhaka region as his area of activity sometime in the fourteenth century. He is buried in Munshiganj.  Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (died 1459), who preached Islam in Khulna and Jessore and settled in Bagerhat. He built the famous shat-gambuj or Sixty-Tomb mosque there.  Hazrat Shah Makhdum (died 1313), who preached and settled in Rajshahi.  Hazrat Bayazid Bostami (died 874) is associated with a famous dargah situated on top of a hillock at Nasirabad in Chittagong. Popular belief has it that he visited Chittagong long before the Muslim conquest of Northern Bengal in 1204. This belief is based on the fact that Chittagong was a sea-port where the Arabs came for trade as early as the ninth century.

7. Wider influence of Sufism  It appears that Sufism not only helped the spread of Islam in Bengal, but it also influenced the local religions.  The ideal of Sufism, attaining the love of God through love of His creation, has greatly influenced the devotional doctrines of Vaishnavism as well as the mysticism of the Bauls.  Sufism in Bengal has been transformed into a folk religion with many of the Sufis being regarded as saints or folk deities. During a maritime journey, for example, especially if a storm arises, sailors pray to Pir Badar, repeating his name, 'Badar Badar'.  The names of different Sufi saints are inscribed on the bodies of buses, trucks, launches, and steamers to ensure safe journeys.