Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali
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Sheikh Nooruddin Vali's shrine was razed as part of the recent militancy in Kashmir.
[edit] Biography
It is somewhat difficult to trace the exact period when Sheikh Nooruddin Vali lived, but the majority of historians agree that he was born in the year 1377 CE, corresponding to 779 Hijri and that he died at the age of 63 years in the year of 1440 CE or 842 Hijri. In that period when Kashmir was ruled by the sultans Qutub-ud-Din, Sikandar, Ali Shah, and Zain-Al-Abidin.
Nund Rishi, as the Sheik Nooruddin Vali was popularly called by the Muslims as well as the Hindus, was 12 when Sultan Qutub-ud-Din died. During the reign of Qutub-ud-Din, Islam had not spread much in Kashmir and there was no government machinery working for its spread.
During his lifetime, he witnessed a gradual cultural and religious transformation of the people, from Hinduism to Islam. Various historical events helped to shape his mind in such a manner that he produced some works of philosophy, in his own manner of verses and poetry.
During his time, since Islam was still spreading in Kashmir, a multitude of mullahs had cropped up from the new converts who used their newly acquired status in the Islamic state to allegedly exploit the common people. Sheikh ul-Alam was deeply affected by such events and this is apparent in a majority of his verses.
The biggest event that occurred in the Sheikh's childhood was the coming of an another Muslim preacher, Amir Kabir, Mir Syed Hamadani, to Kashmir. Shah Hamadan, as he was popularly called, came to Kashmir in September 1372 CE, 1379 CE and the third time in the year 1383 CE.
Sheikh-ul-Alam is supposed to have loved Kashmir and its people very intensely and was a revolutionary himself.
Shaikh Nur al-Din Wali is one of the most prominent scholars and Du'ah of Kashmir. He used his poetry as tool to spread the true knowledge of Islam. His poetry is commonly known as Shrukhs. Tawhid, Risalah, Ma'ad, Human Lust etc are main subjects of his poetry. He vehemently criticizes the so called Mullas and other psedo-scholars of Islam. Lala Ded one of the famous Muslim Poetess of Kashmir was his contemporary. Some say that she reverted to Islam at the advent of the Shaikh. University of Kashmir is having a great honour to have Shaikh al-'Alam Chair in his name. Beside other writers of Kashmir Dr. Muied-uz-Zafar Kashmir (muieduzzafar@yahoo.com) has also translated forty shruks of the Shaikh into English which have been recently published in a book entitled Who will Light the Lamp? The book is published from Al-Manar Research Institute (MRI), Kashmir.
[edit] Shrine
The shrine of Sheikh-ul-Alam, the structure itself, its attached Khanqahas, inns for the pilgrims and other physical features, the vendors of various prayer merchandise, food stalls etc. All combined to make it a place of pilgrimage for Kashmiris of all communities. The shrine contained 600 years old handmade Persian and Kashmir carpets, ancient objects and scrolls, some antique copies of the holy Quran, extremely precious cut glass chandliers etc., all which were reduced to smoke and ashes.
