Abstract
Defined as the religion of nature (dīn al-fitrā), it was the spiritual message of Islam and its call for a simple and natural approach towards the life journey on earth, that played a vital role in popularizing Islam in Bengal, an eastern deltaic region of South Asia. Islam harmonized well with the local nomadic population who were gradually opting for a settled agrarian life, often clearing forests and preparing land for rice cultivation. With the expansion of Muslim rule, sufis also started coming to the region; they were often successful in presenting Islam to the commoners in an indigenous form. With their ongoing effort, the institution of khānqāh started emerging which had a significant impact on the religious, cultural and social life in the region. These mystical movements also affected the art and architecture, glimpses of which can be captured through this minute study of the rich heritage of Islamic inscriptions of this region.
Mahmood Yusuf Siddiq . (2013) Nature, the Aesthetic Realization, Sufis and Shrines The Spiritual Aspect of Bengal’s Islamic Inscriptions, Bunyad, Vol 4 , Issue 1.
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