Mulla Muhammad Muqim

Life

Family The exact date of Mulla Muqim’s birth is not known, but it is assumed his birth took place somewhere in the second quarter of the eighteenth century at Srinagar. Kashmiri sources maintain that Mulla Raza, arrived in Kashmir from Bahrain, somewhere in early seventeenth century. Given the close political and cultural linkages between Safavid Iran and Mughal India, involving a steady arrival of Iranian scholars at the Mughal court, it is possible that Mulla Raza’s journey into Mughal Kashmir occurred after the Safavid conquest of Bahrain. Despite this distinguished reputation, Muqim faced significant opposition upon arriving in Awadh, where he incurred the resentment of numerous pretenders. Bihbahani notes that in Awadh, envious scholars, threatened by Muqim's eminence, falsely branded him an Akhbari, seeking to undermine his authority:His adversaries in order to spoil his prospects and to thrive at his costs have dubbed him as a traditionalist (Akhbariaya). A major figure who would help in creating the political background for this Shia revival in Kashmir, was another of Muqim's student, the courtier Mulla Hakim Muhammad Azim-al Din.

Sayyid Safdar Ali Shah

Death Muqims death happened in Srinagar, though there are three different dates advanced for his year of death. Hakim Ghulam Safdar Hamdani records 1195AH/1781CE as the year of Muqim's death. This is based on family traditions preserved in Muqim's family. The same date has been recorded by Moulvi Ghulam Ali Gulzar. Mohsin Kashmiri favors an alternative date, 1235AH/1819CE that was recorded by Muqim's student, Mulla Mahdi Khatai in the sole surviving manuscript of Kashkul. Ather Abbas Rizvi mentions the year of Muqim's passing away as 1274 AH/ 1857-58 CE, which seems incorrect. All sources are unanimous that Muqim died in Srinagar. On his death he was buried next to his grandfather's grave at Baba Mazar, in Srinagar. The grave is marked by an old and unadorned tombstone.

Children Uncertainty surrounds the details of Muqim's children, though all sources concur he had no sons. Mohsin identifies a single daughter, Fatima Bibi, who wed Muqim's nephew, Mulla Ismail ibn Mahdi. In contrast, Mirza Muhammad Ali and Sayyid Murtaza Rizvi name Muqim's son-in-law as Mulla Muhammad Qasim, noting that a child from this union later married Muqim's student, Sayyid Safdar Ali Shah. It remains unclear whether Qasim was Fatima's husband or married to another of Muqim's daughters. On this point, Muhammad Ali specifically remarks: The esteemed sayyid (Safdar) had taken in marriage the daughter of Mulla Muhammad Qasim, who was the son-in-law of Akhund Mulla Muhammad Muqim. Numerous accounts have been heard regarding the asceticism, piety, and godliness of the esteemed Sayyid, his deep engagement in devotional practices, the purity of his sanctified soul, and the connection he had with the celestial realm. Fatima Bibi is said to have been a scholar herself who would offer classes to women. A handwritten manuscript of Quran said to have been copied by Fatima still exits with the Shaykh family.