Sultan Shab-ud-Deen was the founder of the Muslim State of Kashmir.
He belonged to the Shah Meeri dynasty. His real name was Sheera
Shamak. He succeeded his father Allaho ud-deen in 760 Hijra and
adopted the title of Shahab-ud-Deen. He ruled the state very wisely,
tactfully and boldly for 19 years. Shahab-ud-Deen is a central figure among the Kashmiri sultans (emperors). It is admitted by all Muslim
and non-Muslim historians. Jonraj (a historian) writes that:
“Among the rulers of the past, present and future, the status
of this ruler is as distinct as that of a diamond in the garland of
pearls.”
G. M. D. Sofi writes in Kashir: Shahab-ud-Deen’s era was
indeed briliant and great. During his rule, the army of Kashmir
proved its mettle in the region.”
Shahab-ud-Deen set the foundation of the state on very solid
basis. He was a great fighter. He was a brave soldier, an experienced
General and a great administrator and king. He corrected and
improved the internal situation of Kashmir as soon as he took over.
He subsequently planned to extend his state. He divided the army
into three sections, trained and armed it properly. He appointed
three generals with full command, giving them maps of the areas
from Kashghir to the Arabian Sea and from Arabian Sea to the Pacific
Ocean and demanded of his generals to get that state. The brave
Generals assured him to fulfil his dream. The King kept the command
of the troops with himself. In his initial expeditions, he conquered
Laddakh, Baltistan and Kashghir, followed by Kishtwar and Jammu.
The Kashmir army exerted huge influence over the neighbouring
states. He conquered Punjab and then defeated the ruler of Sindh,
Jam Bahan, hoisting his flag over the shore of Arabian Sea. After
taking over Sindh, he moved towards Kabul, Ghazni and Kandhar,
respectively. Sir Willsly Hag writes in the Cambridge History of India
that Shahab-ud-Deen caused havoc by conquering Ghazni and
Kandhar. Sultan’s army moved to Delhi after this. Feroz Shah
Tughlaq was the ruler in Delhi at that time, who got terrified of Shabud-Deen. He offered a ceasefire on the condition of indemnity,
which led to reconciliation between the two rulers. Feroz Shah
married his three sisters with close relatives of Shahab-ud-Deen, which
developed former’s subordination to the later. The historians state
that the day on which there was no news of conquest somewhere
was considered dull, boring and useless by Shab-ud-Deen. He
improved the state internally as well. He set examples of triumph,
tolerance, justice and welfare. He built new towns and cities as well
as hotels and roads. He respected the scholars and writers. He
improved education by building more schools and institutions. A
great preacher, Syed Ali Hamdani, visited Kashmir during the reign of
Shahab-ud-Deen and changed the fate of Kashmir. As the state
treasure dwindled and declined, a minister suggested to him to melt
the golden Buddhist statue, but the King rebuked him, saying that "the
statues were erected in the past to be remembered in history, and you suggest me to destroy them." This shows King’s tolerance and respect
for other faiths. Shahab-ud-Deen was the first nationalist Kashmiri
leader. All of his armed men and their commanders were Kashmiris.
He created a tolerant, brotherly and in discriminatory environment.
This great ruler of Kashmir passed away after ruling for 19 years in
1378 A.D
عمر ہا گل رخت بر بست کشاد
خاک ما دیگر شہاب الدین نژاد
Means: 👆👇




