Ghiyath al-Din Shah Rukh Shahi Khan (Persian: غیاث الدین شاه رخ شاهی خان, romanized: Ghiyāth al-Dīn Shāh Rukh Shāhī Khān; 25 November 1395 – 5 April 1470), commonly known as Zayn al-Abidin the Great,[a] was the ninth sultan of the Kashmir Sultanate, ruling first from 1418 to 1419 and then from 1420 to 1470.

[4] Under half a century of Zayn al-Abidin's rule, Kashmir enjoyed a stable economy, which led to a commercial expansion.

Ghiyath al-Din Shah Rukh Shahi Khan was born to them on 25 November 1395 (the eleventh day of Safar, 798 AH) at the royal palace in Srinagar.

On 30 December 1416 (on the day of Eid al-Adha), Shahi Khan assassinated the rebellious Wazir of Sultan Ali Shah, Hamsabhatta, in the Eidgah.

Shahi Khan was given the charge of the sultanate, when his elder brother, Ali Shah, left on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

It was at this time that Ali Shah gave Shahi Khan the title of Zayn al-Abidin (ornament of worshippers).

Although a religious man, Ali Shah was weak-willed and his desire to attain Mecca buckled under descriptions of the arduous journey ahead.

The ancient texts vary regarding why it was that Zayn al-Abidin relinquished his recently acquired status without a fight but there is no disagreement that this is in fact what happened.

Ali Shah became angered when this support was forthcoming and he rashly set out with his army to challenge Khokhar which resulted into a civil war.

This however did not end the civil war as Ali Shah with the support from the Raja of Jammu, entered the Valley.

He raised and led an army to stabilise the fractious areas of Ladakh and Baltistan which had originally been conquered by his grandfather, Shihabu'd-Din Shah, and then had become independent on his death until Sikander reasserted control.

With the arrival of Ali Shah on the throne, the territories had once again begun to assert their independence and Zayn al-Abidin recognised that they had an economic and strategic significance which entailed that they could not be allowed to secede.

Similarly, he regained control of Ohind, the chief of which had been overcome by Sikander but had then announced independence during the period of rule by Ali Shah.

The ancient records indicate that he gave and received presents to, and also exchanged embassies with, those who governed over Egypt, Gwalior, Mecca, Bengal, Sindh, Gujarat and elsewhere.

Mirza Haidar Dughlat described this palace as having 12 storeys, a dome made out of gold, and halls lined with glass.