Mir Shams-ud-Din Araqi


Mir Syed Mohammed Isfahani alias Mir Shams-ud-din Muhammad Iraqi was known for having introduced the tenets held by Noorbakshi, the order of the Twelver Shia Sufis in Kashmir who influenced the social fabric of the valley.
Mir Shams ud-Din first came from Araq a city in Iran via Gilgit Skardu Road to Ladakh and Kashmir as a political envoy of Hassan Shah and then became an independent religious missionary. He is considered founder of Shia Islam in Gilgit, Ladakh, Kashmir and its adjoining areas. After arriving in Srinagar, he established his Khanqah in the suburbs, now known as Zaddibal. His Khanqah produced many of the future military leaders of Kashmir. He was best known for influencing the nobles of the Chak clan to embrace the Nurbakshi faith as well as Shia Islam. Mir Sham ud-Din Iraqi translated the book Fiqh-i-Ahwat, which was written in Arabic by his teacher Syed Muhammad Nurbaksh.
He was martyred in 1515 A.D.and was buried at Zaddibal Srinagar. Later his funeral was shifted to Chadoora due to unforeseen conditions. Presently he is buried at the Shrine of Chadoora.
He is a descendant of Musa al-Kazim.