By Sheikh Qayoom Srinagar, Aug 15 (IANS) It is a pageant of rare
Quranic manuscripts that not only provides an insight into the
glory and richness of Islam but also sets back the clock of the
religion’s advent into Kashmir by almost a century. A rare 1237
AD Quranic manuscript calligraphed by Fathullah Kashmiri,
displayed at an exhibition here, is the oldest-known copy of the
Islamic scripture prepared in Kashmir and reveals Islamic
communities were present in the Valley much earlier than
generally believed. “This rare manuscript sets the calendar of
Islam’s advent in Kashmir back by a century. The manuscript
contains Persian translation of the holy verses,” said Khalid
Bashir, secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art,
Culture and Languages that organised the exhibition, which ended
Tuesday, in the academy’s premises. Khalid said the manuscript
is autographed by the calligrapher and clearly depicts the date
when it was written. “This proves Muslims existed in Kashmir at
least 83 years before they gai