About two thousand years or more ago, Kashmir was a great centre of Buddhism and some famous Buddhist councils were held there. From then onwards it continued to be one of the principal centres of Sanskrit learning. Arab and Persian influences first affected Kashmir nearly a thousand years ago and later, Persian became the official language. The influence and teachings of Islam had penetrated the valley long before a Muslim king ascended the throne in the fourteenth century.

History of the Kashmiri Muslim Community: Missionaries and adventurers professing Islam came to Kashmir when it was still governed by Hindu kings and queens. The people had been groaning under the misrule of the later Hindu rulers, when trade languished and agriculture was at a standstill. As the shackles of caste had been broken by the teachings of Buddhism, the general mass of the people did not find it difficult to embrace the new egalitarian faith and Islam`s social and religious humanism which was projected by a band of Sufi dervishes. By the time the last Hindu king ascended the throne of Kashmir, a fair proportion of the people had already accepted Islam.

Kashmiris, both Hindu and Muslim, have many points of resemblance in dress, social customs and ceremonies. The sacred shrines of both the communities are situated close together and celebrations and fairs are held at these shrines simultaneously. Hindus and Muslims join each other`s important social functions.

Dress of the Kashmiri Muslim Community: Kashmiri dress consists of a long loose smock worn over salwar, by both men and women. Women wear a skull-cap surrounded by a fillet of red and a shawl or white chudder thrown over the head and shoulders. Men wear turbans as a sign of status and affluence. The ordinary peasant is content with wearing a long pointed skull-cap. The peasant has a unique way of fighting the Himalayan cold. In winter a kangri, a little earthen brazier in a casing of wickerwork, in which charcoal cinders of a special type are lit to give constant warmth, is placed against the chest and under the pheran (gown).

Society of the Kashmiri Muslim Community: With the coming of Islam the social set up of the kashmiris underwent sea change. However the changes were balanced by retaining some of the older customs and traditions as well.