Syed Shah Nasiruddin
The shrine of Syed Nasiruddin in Taraf, Greater Sylhet
Personal
Born
Baghdad
Died
Murarband, Chunarughat, Habiganj
Resting placeMurarband Darbar Sharif, Habiganj
ReligionIslam
NationalityIraqi
ChildrenSyed Shah Sirajuddin
Parent
  • Hasan al-Arabi (father)
SchoolSuhrawardiyya
Other namesNasir Uddin
Muslim leader
Based inTaraf
Period in officeEarly 14th century
PostSipah Salar

Syed Shah Nasiruddin (Bengali: শাহ সৈয়দ নাসিরুদ্দীন, Arabic: شاه سيد ناصر الدين) was a Sufi saint and military leader associated with the spread of Islam in Bengal in the 14th century. As the commander of the armed forces (Sipah Salar) of Sultan Shamsuddin Firoz Shah, Syed Nasiruddin is primarily known for his role in the Conquest of Sylhet in 1303, alongside the celebrated Sufi dervish Shah Jalal.

Birth and lineage

Nasiruddin was born into a Syed family in Baghdad, the son of Hasan al-Arabi (Hasan the Arab). Historian Achyut Charan Choudhury traces Nasiruddin's descent from the Twelve Imams of Shia Islam, saying his lineage was:

Syed Nasiruddin, Siphah Salar son of Hasan Arabi son of Khwaja Daud son of Khwaja Abul Fazal son of Khwaja Abul Farah son of Muhammad al-Mahdi son of Hasan al-Askari son of Ali an-Naqi son of Muhammad al-Taqi son of Ali al-Ridha son of Musa al-Kadhim son of Ja'far al-Sadiq son of Muhammad al-Baqir son of Zayn al-Abidin son of Hazrat Husayn son of Hazrat Ali.[1]

Life

Conquest of Sylhet

After being forced to leave the city in 1258 following its destruction by the Mongols under Hulagu Khan, Syed Nasiruddin first moved to Delhi before settling in Bengal.[2] At some point, he became a follower of the Suhrawardiyya Sufi Order and was attributed with a number of supernatural abilities.[2] It is perhaps through these stories of spiritual powers that he gained the patronage of the Sultan of Bengal, Shamsuddin Firoz Shah.[3]

By 1303, Syed Nasiruddin had become the Sipah Salar of the Sultan's army. During this time, Firoz Shah was involved in a war with the Hindu king of Sylhet, Gour Govinda. Two unsuccessful attacks against Govinda had already been attempted by the Sultan's army, led by his nephew Sikander Khan.[4] A third strike, now also under the leadership of Syed Nasiruddin was ordered. This army was later joined by the forces of Shah Jalal and his 360 followers. This attack ultimately proved successful and Gour Govinda was forced to retreat, thereby bringing Sylhet under Muslim control.[5]

Capture of Taraf

Soon after the conquest of Sylhet, word was received of the execution of a local Qadi by Achak Narayan, the ruler of the neighbouring kingdom of Taraf in present-day Habiganj. This was done in response to the Qadi, who was called Nuruddin, sacrificing a cow in celebration of his son's marriage, an action which offended the king.[6]

Syed Nasiruddin was dispatched with a contingent of soldiers as well as twelve of Shah Jalal's followers against Narayan, who fled with his family upon learning of the advance. Taraf was easily captured as a result, with Nasiruddin being subsequently appointed as its governor. He then attempted to console the family of the late Qadi by giving his own son, Syed Sirajuddin, in marriage to Nuruddin's daughter.[6]

Legacy

Nasiruddin was buried in Murarband, Taraf, and his grave later became a shrine (mazar).[2] His family continued as hereditary rulers of the area.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Choudhury, Achyut Charan (1910). Srihattar Itibritta: Purbangsho শ্রীহট্টের ইতিবৃত্ত - পূর্বাংশ (in Bengali). Calcutta: Kotha. p. 503 – via Wikisource.
  2. 1 2 3 Choudhury, Dewan Nurul Anwar Hussain (2012). "Shah Syed Nasiruddin". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ↑ Dutt, Bijoy (20 September 1964). "Shah Jalal's historic trek from Arabia to Sylhet". Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan. p. 31.
  4. ↑ Ali, Syed Murtaza (1971). Saints of East Pakistan. Oxford University Press, Pakistan Branch. pp. 26–27.
  5. ↑ Hanif, N. (2002). Biographical Encyclopaedia of Sufis: Central Asia and Middle East. Sarup & Sons. p. 460. ISBN 978-81-7625-266-9.
  6. 1 2 Choudhury, Achyut Charan (1910). Srihattar Itibritta: Purbangsho শ্রীহট্টের ইতিবৃত্ত - পূর্বাংশ (in Bengali). Calcutta: Kotha. pp. 226, 228 – via Wikisource.
  7. ↑ Khan, Nurur Rahman (1999), Sharif Uddin Ahmed (ed.), "Syed Mujtaba Ali", Sylhet: History and Heritage, Sylhet: Bangladesh Itihas Samiti: 825, ISBN 978-984-31-0478-6
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