This area in India's neighbourhood was called 'Kafiristan' after People Refused to Accept Islam
Kafiristan was the previous name for the Afghan province of Nuristan. Prior to the end of the 18th century, not many people were aware of this rugged region.
This region, known as the "country of the infidel people," gained full independence by 1859. This was because the local population was not prepared to convert to islam, even though the surrounding districts had accepted it. However, in 1896, the Afghan monarch Abdur rahman Khan converted the local population to islam, and the area was renamed Nuristan.
Professor Neil Green, who teaches Islamic history and South Asia at the university of california in the United States, has written on the stunning region of Nuristan in Afghanistan.
"Kafiristan was ultimately eradicated. The majority of the inhabitants were forced to convert to Islam. Two techniques—first force and second jizya—were employed for this. Penalties were imposed on anyone who refused to convert under duress. They eventually became Muslims. Later, the region was nicknamed Nuristan," he claims.
History of Nuristan
Chinese traveler Xuanzang reported after visiting the region in 644 AD: "A Buddhist kshatriya monarch ruled there. They called it Kapish Janapada. The ten neighboring countries were influenced by this ruler. Kapish was a member of Kabul's Hindu Shahi dynasty until the ninth century. Following this, buddhism and Hindu monarchy were undermined by the ongoing attacks of Islamic invaders. Islamic invaders of the period also referred to the region between present-day Nuristan and kashmir as Paristan. Due to Islamic assaults, the neighboring areas kept converting to Islam. From the eighth until the sixteenth centuries, this persisted.
Attack by Abdur rahman Khan
Many Buddhists and adherents of old hinduism remained in this region of Kafiristan despite a protracted period of persecution and conversions. However, Afghanistan's king, Abdur rahman Khan, Islamized the whole region. The unity of afghanistan is another accomplishment attributed to Abdur rahman Khan. He is regarded as one of the most influential leaders of the modern era. During 1895–1896 in the late 19th century, Abdur rahman attacked this region with great vigor. In addition to dictatorship and authority, widespread religious conversions were conducted by demonstrating a fear of the jizya levy. Abdur rahman was responsible for renaming this region from Kafiristan to Nuristan.
Kalash is called Kafir
It is stated that the Kalash community, who reside in the Chitral province of modern-day Pakistan, are the ones who escaped following Abdur Rahman's raid at that time. There are reportedly between 20,000 and 30,000 of them. This community is still entirely isolated from society as a whole. The Kalash people are renowned for leading a radically unusual lifestyle. In Pakistan, they are typically regarded as tribal communities. They belong to the same group as the so-called unbelievers.
They have preserved their culture and religion
The Kalash make a living by cultivating and raising goats. The first road in the Chitral valleys was constructed in the middle of the 1970s. This created pathways for tourism, the army, and education, which resulted in significant socioeconomic transformations in the area. It should be noted that the Kalash reside in the most remote settlements. This community fiercely defends its culture and religion and has a strong feeling of identity. The region's landscape is rough, uneven, and seldom flat. There are meadows on the slopes, and the whole hilly area is covered with trees.
This region, known as the "country of the infidel people," gained full independence by 1859. This was because the local population was not prepared to convert to islam, even though the surrounding districts had accepted it. However, in 1896, the Afghan monarch Abdur rahman Khan converted the local population to islam, and the area was renamed Nuristan.
Professor Neil Green, who teaches Islamic history and South Asia at the university of california in the United States, has written on the stunning region of Nuristan in Afghanistan.
"Kafiristan was ultimately eradicated. The majority of the inhabitants were forced to convert to Islam. Two techniques—first force and second jizya—were employed for this. Penalties were imposed on anyone who refused to convert under duress. They eventually became Muslims. Later, the region was nicknamed Nuristan," he claims.
History of Nuristan
Chinese traveler Xuanzang reported after visiting the region in 644 AD: "A Buddhist kshatriya monarch ruled there. They called it Kapish Janapada. The ten neighboring countries were influenced by this ruler. Kapish was a member of Kabul's Hindu Shahi dynasty until the ninth century. Following this, buddhism and Hindu monarchy were undermined by the ongoing attacks of Islamic invaders. Islamic invaders of the period also referred to the region between present-day Nuristan and kashmir as Paristan. Due to Islamic assaults, the neighboring areas kept converting to Islam. From the eighth until the sixteenth centuries, this persisted.
Attack by Abdur rahman Khan
Many Buddhists and adherents of old hinduism remained in this region of Kafiristan despite a protracted period of persecution and conversions. However, Afghanistan's king, Abdur rahman Khan, Islamized the whole region. The unity of afghanistan is another accomplishment attributed to Abdur rahman Khan. He is regarded as one of the most influential leaders of the modern era. During 1895–1896 in the late 19th century, Abdur rahman attacked this region with great vigor. In addition to dictatorship and authority, widespread religious conversions were conducted by demonstrating a fear of the jizya levy. Abdur rahman was responsible for renaming this region from Kafiristan to Nuristan.
Kalash is called Kafir
It is stated that the Kalash community, who reside in the Chitral province of modern-day Pakistan, are the ones who escaped following Abdur Rahman's raid at that time. There are reportedly between 20,000 and 30,000 of them. This community is still entirely isolated from society as a whole. The Kalash people are renowned for leading a radically unusual lifestyle. In Pakistan, they are typically regarded as tribal communities. They belong to the same group as the so-called unbelievers.
They have preserved their culture and religion
The Kalash make a living by cultivating and raising goats. The first road in the Chitral valleys was constructed in the middle of the 1970s. This created pathways for tourism, the army, and education, which resulted in significant socioeconomic transformations in the area. It should be noted that the Kalash reside in the most remote settlements. This community fiercely defends its culture and religion and has a strong feeling of identity. The region's landscape is rough, uneven, and seldom flat. There are meadows on the slopes, and the whole hilly area is covered with trees.