Zayn al-Abidin the Great

Ghiyath al-Din Shah Rukh Shahi Khan (25 November 1395 – 5 April 1470), commonly known as Zayn al-Abidin the Great, was the ninth sultan of the Kashmir Sultanate, ruling first from 1418 to 1419 and then from 1420 to 1470. He was famously called Budshah (Great King) by his subjects.

The first 35 years of his reign are described by Jonaraja in the Rajatarangini Dvitiya, while the subsequent years are described by his pupil, Srivara, in the Rajatarangini Tritiya. The Sultan also composed poetry in Persian under the pen name of Qutb.

Under half a century of Zayn al-Abidin's rule, Kashmir enjoyed a stable economy, which led to a commercial expansion. Diplomatic missions were sent to various countries, expanding trade and commerce. This increased the central markets in Srinagar and Anantnag. Education and culture, along with literary traditions like poetry, were extended in his reign. Kashmiri architecture found its way through the Indo-Islamic architecture.

Zayn al-Abidin was succeeded as sultan by his son, Haji Khan, later known as Haider Shah.

Early years
After Sultan of Kashmir Sikandar Shah defeated the chief of Ohind, Firuz, in the early part of his reign, Sikandar married his daughter Mira Khatun as a form of sovereignty. Ghiyath al-Din Shah Rukh Shahi Khan was born to them on 25 November 1395 (the eleventh day of Safar, 798 AH) at the royal palace in Srinagar.

On 30 December 1416 (on the day of Eid al-Adha), Shahi Khan assassinated the rebellious Wazir of Sultan Ali Shah, Hamsabhatta, in the Eidgah. Ali Shah, who was glad at his fall, appointed Shahi Khan as his Wazir.

Rise to power
Shahi Khan was given the charge of the sultanate, when his elder brother, Ali Shah, left on a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was at this time that Ali Shah gave Shahi Khan the title of (ornament of worshippers). Although a religious man, Ali Shah was weak-willed and his desire to attain Mecca buckled under descriptions of the arduous journey ahead. He abandoned his pilgrimage when he arrived at the court of his father-in-law, the Raja of Jammu Bhim Dev, and raised an army consisting of soldiers from Jammu and Rajauri in order to regain his throne. The ancient texts vary regarding why it was that Zayn al-Abidin relinquished his recently acquired status without a fight but there is no disagreement that this is in fact what happened.

Retiring to Sialkot, Zayn al-Abidin sought the support of its ruler, Jasrat. Ali Shah became angered when this support was forthcoming and he rashly set out with his army to challenge Khokhar which resulted into a civil war. The forces met at Thanna and Jasrat routed his forces, who had ignored the advice of his father-in-law to hold back until the Jammu army could join him. According to Srivara, Ali Shah was killed by Jasrat. However, later Persian chronicles state that he was able to escape from the battlefield. Zayn al-Abidin was then able to return to the capital city of Srinagar, where he was welcomed by his subjects. This however did not end the civil war as Ali Shah with the support from the Raja of Jammu, entered the Valley. Zayn al-Abidin marched against him through the Baramulla pass. Both the forces met at Uri but Ali Shah was defeated again. The fate of Ali Shah is uncertain: he may have died in captivity or have been put to death by Khokhar.

Reign
Although fundamentally a peaceful man, Zayn al-Abidin was protective of his territory. He raised and led an army to stabilise the fractious areas of Ladakh and Baltistan which had originally been conquered by his grandfather, Shihabu'd-Din Shah, and then had become independent on his death until Sikander reasserted control. With the arrival of Ali Shah on the throne, the territories had once again begun to assert their independence and Zayn al-Abidin recognised that they had an economic and strategic significance which entailed that they could not be allowed to secede. Similarly, he regained control of Ohind, the chief of which had been overcome by Sikander but had then announced independence during the period of rule by Ali Shah.

He was on friendly terms with regard to the rulers of territories over which he inherited no historic control. The ancient records indicate that he gave and received presents to, and also exchanged embassies with, those who governed over Egypt, Gwalior, Mecca, Bengal, Sindh, Gujarat and elsewhere. Many of the gifts demonstrated the cultured nature of Zayn al-Abidin; they included works about music, manuscripts and people who were scholars, the latter being sent to him when he commented that an original gift of precious stones was of less interest to him than a gift of a learned nature would have been.

During the last days of his reign, his three sons, Adam Khan, Haji Khan and Bahram Khan rebelled against him but he took energetic measures to crush them. He was succeeded by his son Haji Khan, who took the title of Haidar Khan.

Administrative policies
Zayn al-Abidin enforced the system of responsibility of the village communities for local crimes. He regulated the price of the commodities. He stabilized the currency which had been debased during the reign of his predecessors. He was responsible for a large number of public works. He founded several new cities, built many bridges and dug many irrigation canals. He also prevented the local governors from exacting illegal taxes and gave the peasants much needed tax relief.

Religious policies
Zayn al-Abidin earned a name for himself for his policy of religious toleration and public welfare activities. He abolished Jaziya on the Hindus of Kashmir. Although he was a Muslim ruler, he banned the slaughter of cows. He extended liberal patronage to Sanskrit language and literature. He knew Persian, Sanskrit, and Tibetan. The Mahabharata and Kalhana's Rajatarangini were translated into Persian by his order. He was known for his religious tolerance. He called back the Hindus who left Kashmir during his father's reign. He allowed the Hindus to build their temples and follow the personal law according to the Dharmashastras. He stopped the killing of cows by means of poison and passed some regulations about eating beef. He re-introduced the grant of stipends to the learned Brahmans.

Construction projects
Zayn al-Abidin undertook numerous construction projects during his reign, although only two or three of his buildings still exist. He founded the new town of Naushahr, which is now part of Srinagar, to serve as his capital. The pièce de résistance of the new capital was a spectacular 50-room palace built out of wood. Mirza Haidar Dughlat described this palace as having 12 storeys, a dome made out of gold, and halls lined with glass.

Besides Naushahr, Zayn al-Abidin founded at least three other towns: Zaynapur, Zaynagir, and Zaynakot. Zaynagir boasted an impressive palace of its own, which was surrounded by a picturesque garden. This palace was probably destroyed during the later Shah Mir period. Zaynakot still exists as a village 4 km west of Srinagar. Another project Zayn al-Abidin undertook was the reclaiming of an island in the northeastern part of Wular Lake. The island had existed before, but by his time, it had become submerged. In 1443-4, he had a palace, mosque, and garden built on the reclaimed island, which was dubbed Zaynalank.

The only buildings commissioned by Zayn al-Abidin that still exist are the tomb of his mother, and the mosque and tomb of Madani.

Death
At the end of his career, the Sultan suffered from amnesia. He neglected his official duties and let the ministers do the paperwork. He also developed a persecution delusion as he abstained from the food given to him by his ministers, fearing a chance of being poisoned. The Sultan died on his bed on 5 May 1470 and was buried in the Mazar-e-Salatin in Srinagar on 12 May. Kashmir fell into several days of mourning after the demise of the Budshah.

Legacy
Zayn al-Abidin is acknowledged by scholars as a great ruler of Kashmir. Historian Mohibbul Hasan calls him the greatest of all the sultans of Kashmir, who provided half a century of "peace, prosperity and benevolent rule" to the people of Kashmir. "Of all the Sulṭāns who sat on the throne of Kashmīr, Zainu'l-Ābidīn was undoubtedly the greatest."

- Mohibbul Hassan