Shabbir Ahmad Usmani
Encyclopedia
Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (6 October 1886 - 13 December 1949) was an Islamic scholar who supported the creation of an Islamic system of governance in Pakistan after its creation in 1947. He was a theologian, writer, orator, politician, and expert in tafsir
and hadith
. He was also a student and khalifa
of Shaikhul Hind Mahmud ul Hasan.
, a city in Uttar Pradesh
, India. His father, Moulana Fadhlur Rahman, was the deputy inspector of schools and had been sent to Bareilly
when his son was born. Usmani was educated at Darul 'Ulum Deoband, where he became a disciple of Shaikhul Hind Mahmud ul Hasan, and graduated with distinction in 1908. After his graduation, he was appointed as a mudarris (teacher) at Darul 'Ulum Deoband. In 1915, when Shaikhul Hind journeyed to Hijaz, Usmani filled his position as the teacher of Sahih Muslim
. In 1925, Sultan Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
scheduled a conference for prominent 'Ulama from all over the world. A deputation of a number of 'Ulama from India participated in this conference, with Usmani among them. Sultan Abdul Aziz bin Sa'ud was impressed by Usmani's eloquent and scholarly lectures and initiated a number of reforms in his administration. In 1926, he moved to Dabhel
and became a teacher at Jami'a Islamiyyah Dabhel
. In 1933, when Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri
died, Usmani became the teacher of Sahih al-Bukhari
.
translation of the tafsir of the Qur'an written by his Shaikh, Shaikhul Hind Mahmud ul Hasan. In this work, Usmani derived extracts from thirteen or fourteen other works. His next most renowned literary work is Fathul Mulhim Sharh Sahih Muslim, which is a commentary on Sahih Muslim. He completed three volumes, and his work was complemented by a six-volume work, Takmila Fathul Mulhim, published by Mufti Muhammad Taqi 'Uthmani. Another of Usmani's notable works is Tark-e-Muvalaat Par Mufassal Tabsera, a pamphlet written in 1921 requesting that the 'Ulama lead the Muslims of India against the British
. This pamphlet was banned by the British government. Usmani's other literary works include Hamara Pakistan (a pamphlet written in 1942), Hamara Islam, and Khutbat-e-'Uthmani.
in 1945, to counteract the perceived propaganda of the Anti-Pakistan Movement and activities held by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
. He served as its president until his death. It was due to Usmani's efforts that the Muslim League became a powerful organization and succeeded in the achievement of its goal.
After the Partition of India
, Usmani became a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
, and remained a member till his death. Usmani is remembered for having written the Qarardad Maqasid (Objective Resolutions) in March 1949, which was passed by the Constituent Assembly and became the basis of the Constitution of Pakistan
. He participated in the preparation of the first draft of the Constitution, and conducted the inauguration of the flag of Pakistan and of the Constituent Assembly itself.
.
ISBN 0754644340, 9780754644347
Tafsir
Tafseer is the Arabic word for exegesis or commentary, usually of the Qur'an. Ta'wīl is a subset of tafsir and refers to esoteric or mystical interpretation. An author of tafsir is a mufassir .- Etymology :...
and hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
. He was also a student and khalifa
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
of Shaikhul Hind Mahmud ul Hasan.
Early life
Usmani was born on October 6, 1886 in BijnorBijnor
Bijnor variously spelt as Bijnaur and Bijnour, is a city and a municipal board in Bijnor district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India...
, a city in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India. His father, Moulana Fadhlur Rahman, was the deputy inspector of schools and had been sent to Bareilly
Bareilly
Bareilly is a prominent city in Bareilly district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Standing on the Ramganga river, it is the capital of the Bareilly division and the geographical region Rohilkhand...
when his son was born. Usmani was educated at Darul 'Ulum Deoband, where he became a disciple of Shaikhul Hind Mahmud ul Hasan, and graduated with distinction in 1908. After his graduation, he was appointed as a mudarris (teacher) at Darul 'Ulum Deoband. In 1915, when Shaikhul Hind journeyed to Hijaz, Usmani filled his position as the teacher of Sahih Muslim
Sahih Muslim
Sahih Muslim is one of the Six major collections of the hadith in Sunni Islam, oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. It is the second most authentic hadith collection after Sahih Al-Bukhari, and is highly acclaimed by Sunni Muslims...
. In 1925, Sultan Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as Saudi Arabia. He was commonly referred to as Ibn Saud....
scheduled a conference for prominent 'Ulama from all over the world. A deputation of a number of 'Ulama from India participated in this conference, with Usmani among them. Sultan Abdul Aziz bin Sa'ud was impressed by Usmani's eloquent and scholarly lectures and initiated a number of reforms in his administration. In 1926, he moved to Dabhel
Dabhel
Dabhel is a town in Gujarat state of India. It is famous for its Arabic education, most notably given in Jamiah Islamiah Talimud-din.Dabhel lies some 25-30km south of Surat and 10-15km north of Navsari, to the east is Vesma crossroad on NH 8 and to the west is Maroli...
and became a teacher at Jami'a Islamiyyah Dabhel
Jamiah Islamiah Talimuddin Dabhel
Jamiah Islamiah Talimuddin Dabhel, popularly known as Dabhel Jamiah Islamiah or Jamiah Islamiah Dabhel, is one of the historical institutions of higher Islamic education in the sub-continent. Maulana Hasan Ahmad established the Jamiah...
. In 1933, when Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri
Anwar Shah Kashmiri
Maulana Anwar Shah Al Lolabi Kashmiri was an Indian scholar of Islam. During his career, he taught at a number of prominent institutions, including the Darul Uloom Deoband which contains a gate named at his honor...
died, Usmani became the teacher of Sahih al-Bukhari
Sahih al-Bukhari
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī , as it is commonly referred to, is one of the six canonical hadith collections of Islam. These prophetic traditions, or hadith, were collected by the Persian Muslim scholar Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari, after being transmitted orally for generations. Muslims view this as one of...
.
Literary works
Usmani's greatest literary work is Tafsir-e-'Uthmani. This is an UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
translation of the tafsir of the Qur'an written by his Shaikh, Shaikhul Hind Mahmud ul Hasan. In this work, Usmani derived extracts from thirteen or fourteen other works. His next most renowned literary work is Fathul Mulhim Sharh Sahih Muslim, which is a commentary on Sahih Muslim. He completed three volumes, and his work was complemented by a six-volume work, Takmila Fathul Mulhim, published by Mufti Muhammad Taqi 'Uthmani. Another of Usmani's notable works is Tark-e-Muvalaat Par Mufassal Tabsera, a pamphlet written in 1921 requesting that the 'Ulama lead the Muslims of India against the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. This pamphlet was banned by the British government. Usmani's other literary works include Hamara Pakistan (a pamphlet written in 1942), Hamara Islam, and Khutbat-e-'Uthmani.
Political career
During the Balkan War, Usmani held a prominent position collecting donations for the Hilal-e-Ahmar Fund. In 1944, he became a member of the Muslim League and was one of the few Deobandis who supported the creation of Pakistan. Usmani also founded the Jamiat Ulema-e-IslamJamiat Ulema-e-Islam
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is a political party in Pakistan. It formed a combined government in national elections in 2002 and 2008...
in 1945, to counteract the perceived propaganda of the Anti-Pakistan Movement and activities held by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind or is one of the leading Islamic organizations in India. It was founded in 1919 by Abdul Mohasim Sajjad, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Ahmed Saeed Dehlvi, and Abdul Bari Firangi Mehli...
. He served as its president until his death. It was due to Usmani's efforts that the Muslim League became a powerful organization and succeeded in the achievement of its goal.
After the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, Usmani became a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was formed to write Pakistan's constitution, and serve as its first parliament. It first convened on 11 August 1947, before the end of British rule on August 15, 1947. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first President of this Assembly until his death on...
, and remained a member till his death. Usmani is remembered for having written the Qarardad Maqasid (Objective Resolutions) in March 1949, which was passed by the Constituent Assembly and became the basis of the Constitution of Pakistan
Constitution of Pakistan
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the supreme law of Pakistan. Known as the Constitution of 1973, it was drafted by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and, following additions by the opposition parties, was approved by the legislative assembly on April 10, 1973...
. He participated in the preparation of the first draft of the Constitution, and conducted the inauguration of the flag of Pakistan and of the Constituent Assembly itself.
Death
Usmani died at Baghdad ul Jadid in Bahawalpur State on December 13, 1949, and was buried at Islamia College, KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
Sources
- Deoband Movement (1866-1947) at Storyofpakistan.com
- Rizwan Hussain. Pakistan and the emergence of Islamic militancy in Afghanistan. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2005
ISBN 0754644340, 9780754644347