Plural Society and Islam: Sufism, Kashmiriyat, and the Ethics of Religious Coexistence in Kashmir

This paper examines the role of Sufism in shaping a pluralistic socio-religious ethos in Kashmir, with particular attention to the emergence of Kashmiriyat as a shared cultural and ethical identity. Drawing on Sufi epistemology and the concept of Ihsan, the study argues that Sufism represents not a deviation from Islam but an embodied ethical practice grounded in Qur’anic and prophetic teachings. Through historical analysis of key Sufi figures and orders in Kashmir, including the Rishi tradition, the paper explores how Sufi engagement facilitated coexistence by emphasizing values such as compassion, nonviolence, and spiritual equality. The interaction between Sufi metaphysics, particularly Wahdat al-Wujud and indigenous traditions like Kashmiri Shaivism provided a shared ontological framework that enabled cross-religious understanding. Institutions such as Khanqahs further institutionalized pluralism through inclusive social and spiritual practices. The paper concludes that Sufism played a central role in fostering religious tolerance and cultural syncretism in Kashmir, while also noting the challenges posed by modern socio-political transformations and reformist movements.