Today, we are further introduced to the great mystic of 8th Century AH, Mir Seyed Ali Hamedani.

The Iranian mystic, Seyed Ali Hamedani, spent a lifetime for promotion of the divine religion of Islam, purification of soul, and education of the followers of the righteous path and the truth, in Kashmir and Tajikistan. Scientists and the virtuous refer to him as Sultan al-Aarefin, and his followers have granted him the title of King of Hamedan. He is popularly known as Hazrat-e Amir Jaan, in Tajikistan.

It was said that Mir Seyed Ali Hamedani was born in the city of Hamedan in the year 714 AH. After completing his preliminary studies, he attended the classes of prominent Hadith scholars and mystic figures. After completing the phases of mysticism, he was urged by his teachers to promote the divine religion of Islam, overseas. He maintained this prophecy for a lifetime, spending his entire life promoting the sacred religion of Islam and grooming students.

He was highly respected in the majority of cities of Iran, Central Asia, and India, by people, from all walks of life. In addition to his piety, he highly excelled in sciences and was an expert in the rational and traditional sciences of his age. He has penned more than 110 volumes of books, treatises, and poems, which are well-known works in prose and verse. These writings cover a number of fields, such as philosophy, ethics, mysticism, and literature. The delicacies of this great Iranian mystic in creation of works in prose and verse have caught the attention of every reader. After the demise of Seyed Ali Hamedani, his children and grandchildren continued his activities, and made every effort to guide people.

Mir Seyed Ali Hamedani considered promotion of Islam as a divine and human duty. To fulfill his holy mission, he considered several approaches such as educating Islamic teachings and ideological principles, grooming students, holding preaching sessions, and establishing seminaries for purification of soul, and promotion of ethical virtues. He shaped a large establishment to convey the message of monotheism to the seekers of truth. He was also engaged in promotion of virtues and prevention of vice, thereby teaching his associates and followers to resist against corruptions. He guided the rulers, and called on them to be fair, and to comply with religious rules and regulations. He also constructed schools and mosques, in addition to founding libraries.

He started his journeys for promotion of Islam as of the age of 20, and continued efforts to this end for the next decades. His students have pointed out that he maintained a high spiritual strength for endurance of the hardships of his journeys, and was determined to fulfill his elevated goals in his trips. He traveled to majority of cities in Central Asia, Caucasus, Azerbaijan Republic, Sri Lanka, and Tibet, north and south of the Indian Subcontinent, and Arab countries, promoting Islamic teachings and introducing the divine religion of Islam to quench the thirst of those, who sought the truth. He succeeded in guiding many people toward the traditions of Prophet Mohammad.

 In one of his journeys to Central Asia, he bought a village and endowed it for the sake of God. He built a school in this village, paving the way for grooming students. He guided many people in that region, and compiled many of his books over there.

One of the regions in which Mir Seyed Ali Hamedani stayed for a long while to fulfill his mission is Kashmir. This is a mountainous region in northwest India, on the foothills of Himalaya Mountain Range, which maintains a mild climate and scenic landscapes. Meanwhile, 75% of this region which is popularly known as Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India and part of it belongs to Pakistan. A part of this region is also under the authority of China, and has been seized by this country following the battle between China and India. The mild climate, strategic position, ample sources, and several rives that run throughout the region, have granted especial advantages to this region in South Asia.

Although the divine religion of Islam has entered this land as of 1st Century AH, it gained strength as of the year 776 AH. As of this year, thanks to the activities of Seyed Ali Hamedani, this location turned into a predominantly Shia region. He traveled to Kashmir several times and stayed in this region for a number of years throughout some of his journeys. He went to Kashmir in the company of 700 of his followers and students, becoming a highly influential figure over there.

MR/ME