Holy Ginans were composed by our great Pirs, amongst them were Pir Satgur Noor Pir Shamsuddin, Pir Sadardin and Pir Hasan Kabiruddin. Our Imams lived in different countries at different periods of time, and during their Imamat they sent dais and Pirs for propagation of Ismaili religion. The first Pir who came to India was Pir Satgur Noor in the time of our 18th Imam Shah Mustansiribillah; then followed Pir Shams in the time of our 29th Imam Shah Qasim Shah and Pir Sadardin and Pir Hasan Kabiruddin in the time of our 30th Imam Shah Islam Shah. These Pirs had to undertake a very long and difficult journey to India. They travelled for several months, crossing rivers, mountains and forests. They encountered many difficulties and faced great dangers, but because of their deep love and staunch faith in their Imams they never faltered in their mission.
They found that the people of India were mainly Indians following the Hindu religion which was thousands of years old. To be able to work among these people with their distinct culture and different languages, the Pirs had to use great skill and dexterity and work very hard. The first thing the Pirs did was to know about them completely. They learnt about their languages, history, customs, habits, religious beliefs and practice and culture. They found that songs and music had a very important place in the ceremonies of ancient religion. Artis, Bhajans, Garbis, etc. had their special charms and created religious sway in their hearts. Our great Pirs used this form to the best advantage in presenting the concepts and beliefs of Ismaili Faith to the local people. Their technique of preaching through devotional and religious songs which are known as Ginans was highly successful. People began to like these Ginans which contained matters with which they were familiar. The effect of these Ginans was also very deep as it made great impact of the Ismaili faith on their minds. The Ismaili religion did not appear to them any far from their age old faith and it began to take roots in this new land and amongst new peoples.
Our Pirs presented the Ismaili Faith in relation to Indian beliefs because the people to whom it was being preached were Indians. This was largely a matter of technique and Pirs used it successfully in converting the followers of a different faith to the great faith of Islam. The holy Ginans form a very significant and important part of Ismaili literature and because of their voluminous nature, they become distinctly classed as Ginanic Literature. It has inspired and continues to inspire the Ismailis to the true practice of the Ismaili Faith and to the proper way of life that is expected of the Imam's followers. The holy Ginans, with their melodious tunes, are therefore recited with devotion and great reverence in the Jamatkhanas. It is a tradition which has come down to us from our ancestors, and it is for us to see that we faithfully pass on this wonderful tradition to the future generations.