The Sufi Sheikhs and their Socio-cultural Roles in the Islamization of Bengal during the Mughal Period (1526-1858)

Abstract

One of the most observable influences of Islam on the Indian-subcontinent, especially in today's Bangladesh, is the spiritual and humane teaching of Sufism during the medieval period. Based primarily on a critical elaboration of Eaton's The Rise of Islam in Bengal Frontier 1204-1760(1993, this article attempts to describe the socio-cultural and religious role of the Sufi sheikhs in the conversion to Islam of the Bengali people during the period of Mughal Empire (1526-1858). The earliest Sufis attempted at Islamic conversion began in the very hostile environment maintained by the local Hindu or Buddhist rulers. However, these Sufis sheikhs or pirs were able to convert most of the local population to Islam by preaching about the great teachings of the new religion about love, brotherhood, and equality. Among other success factors in the Sufi mission in Islamic conversion of the Bengali during the period under discussion were their unconquerable dedication and exceptional piety as well as the common belief among the Bengali people that these pirs could perform incontestable miracles.

Bengal'i̇n Türk İslâm Hâki̇mi̇yeti̇ne Gi̇rmesi̇nde Muhammed Bahti̇yar Kalaç'in Rolü Ve Önemi̇

“…Bu amaç doğrultusunda faaliyetler Muhammed Bahtiyar Kalaç döneminden daha önce başlayarak yüzlerce yıl devam etmiştir. 42 Bu durumu Şeyh Baba Adem Şehid'in henüz Muhammed Bahtiyar Kalaç'ın Leknevtî'ye hakim olmasından neredeyse yüz yıl önce bu bölgede bulunduğu hatta dönemin Sena racası Ballalasena tarafından şehit edildiğine dair aktarılan ifadelerle örneklendirebiliriz. 43 Bengal halkı arasında Muhammed Bahtiyar Kalaç döneminden başlayarak günümüze kadar sanat, edebiyat, giyim-kuşam, yiyecek ve içecek kültürü de dâhil olmak üzere her alanda Türk ve İslâm etkisini görmek mümkündür.…”