The Role of Mir Shams al-Din Arāqī in the Spread of Shi ism in Kashmir

Mir Seyyed Ali Hamedani was one of the many immigrants to the northwest of India who had great contributions to and left drastic impacts on Kashmir to the extent that even today Kashmir remains to be under the influence of this outstanding scholar and his immigrant followers who made a small island-like Iran in the heart of India. Amongst Hamedani’s followers and disciples, Mir Shams al-Din Arāghi had the greatest impact on Kashmir, especially from a religious point of view, so that he has deserves the title ‘the founder of Shi’ism and the propagator of the Persian culture and language in Kashmir’. The book Tohfat al-Ahbāb written in Persian by Mohammad Ali Kashmiri, one of Mir Shams al-Din Arāghi’s disciples, is an account of his biography, works, travels, and social activities.