HISTORY & ORIGINS
H azrat Syed Muslim (RA) the 14th great-grandson of Syedna Hazrat Ahmad Mujtaba Muhammad Rasul-Allah (PBUH) migrated from Mecca to Andrab the village center of the district of Andarab in the southern part of Baghlan Province of Afghanistan to preach the message of love and submission to Allah.
Andrab is also the name of a large stream in Afghanistan and it empties into the stream which originates in the Hindu Kush near Khawak Pass and flows to the west for about seventy five miles before merging into the Surkhab. Together the two streams form a long narrow valley. The upper part of that valley is also called Andrab, the lower part alternately as Khinjan or Doshi. Both parts of the valley are united under a single administrative unit.
A bdul Habibi, the author of Tarikhi Afghanistan Baad-Auz Islam writes about Andrab's origin and the occupation of people. He says “according to Hieun-Sangs version, it was best known by the name of Anth-polo”.
Agriculture was the main occupation of people. Andrab remained the main center of gold and silver trade. The people were freedom loving, kind and compassionate.
The climate in the two parts of the valley varies considerably. Khinjan and Doshi have comparatively mild winters, while Andarab's winter is rather severe. However, Andarab stays comparatively cooler during the summer, though it gets quite hot in Khinjan and Doshi.
The descendants of Syed Muslim spread over to various parts of sub-continent in order to propagate Islamic teachings. The absolute love of God made them to sacrifice their native land for the purpose of propagation of Islam.
During the reign of Sultan Qutub-ud-Din 775-792 AH/1373–1389 CE, Hazrat Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (RA) requested Hazrat Syed Ahmad (RA) the seventh great-grandson of Hazrat Muslim (RA) to gather his bloodline and travel with him to Kashmir.
After Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (RA) went back to Persia, Syed Ahmad Andrabi (RA) along with his descendants took charge to spread Islam in the valley. They imparted spiritual and religious teachings to the people of Kashmir who found peace and unity in their message.
Syed Ahmad Andrabi (RA) died in 804 A.H.( = 1402 C.E.). The ruler of that time, Sultan Sikander built a Khankah & Madrasa at Malaratta in Srinagar for him which is known as Khankah-i-Andrabi. This became the place of prayer, meditation and preaching for the generations to come.
The descendants who came to be known as Andrabis' spread over to various parts of sub-continent in order to propagate Islamic and spiritual teachings.