Maulana deen Muhammad Wafai

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Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai (b. 1894 - d. 1950) was a scholar, academic, writer and poet. In terms of political activism he was heavily involved in the Khilafat movement.

Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai was born on 14th April 1894 AD corresponding to 27th Ramzan 1311 AH in a small village “Khathee,” also known as “Nabiabad” in district Shikarpur in Sindh. His father’s name was Khalifo Hakeem Gul Muhammad. He was a scholar and poet in his time. Maulana Deen Muhammad belonged to bhatti tribe. He learnt from his father in the beginning and when he was only 9 years old, his father dies. After the death of his father, he learnt Persian from Molvi Mian Muhammad Alim.

Then he went to Garhi Yaseen to Maulana Muhammad Qasim to learn Arabic, further he went to Maulana Khadim Hussain in Osta Bhalaydinabad. To learn more Arabic he went to Maulana Ghulam Umar in Sono Jatoi in district Larkana. From 1907 to 1911, he learnt Arabic completely and read all the course books on logic, Arabic and Persian. He was very intelligent and hardworking.

Maulana Wafai led a simple life. He never wished for luxuries of life. He would propagate equality within the various classes of society.

Maulana Sahib spent all his life learning and teaching. He used to spend most of his leisure time reading books. Many people who were interested in seeking knowledge would spend their time in his company. He was a quiet person and did not like to talk much, but when he was to explain something, he would give many examples from life, quotations from other writers and his observations.

He was never shy to ask questions from people who were experts in their fields. He used to like and respect scholars and writers and was acquainted with most of them. He kept in touch with scholars, researchers and writers all over the Muslim world.

Married twice and had three sons. His son Ali Nawaz Wafai continued his literary work.

He is buried in “Wari Jo Tarr” in Sukkur.

Maulana Sahib was a multifaceted person; two of his prominent aspects of life were journalism and literature.

He started his carrier as journalist in 1916, when he was in Ranipur. There under the supervision of Hakim Muhammad Sadiq Ranipuri, he started a monthly Sahifa Qadria which was published for short period of time.

After two years he started living in a Madrasah in Thallah near Dokri, while living there he met great scholars and he continued studying. During this time, he read basic books on Arabic, Persian and Religion.

He started a literary magazine from Thallah named “Alkashif”. The magazine started in April 1918, and was supported by Anjuman-e-Islam, Larkana. Many articles on history, fiqa Islamic law and health were published in the magazine along with literature. The magazine also had a question answer column, Maulana sahib used to reply to the questions himself. This magazine was first of its kind in Sindh and was published for a long time.

After First World War the social and political conditions of sub-continent were deterred. Britishers cunningly made local people fight with each other. Maulana sahib in those unstable conditions left Thallah and started his political career and started working with Maulana Taj Mehmood Amroti , joining Khilafat Movement. In 1920, in Larkana, “All India Khilafat Conference” was called, in which along with others Maulana AbulKalam Azad, Maulana AbdulBari and Maulana Shaukat Ali participated.

On that occasion, Maulana Wafai, under the supervision of Maulana Taj Mehmood Amroti published “Izhar-ul-Karamat,” which was distributed in that conference too.

He started a newspaper Alwaheed from Karachi in March 1920, to support Khilafat Movement and to inform its supporters. Maulana Sahab was appointed as subeditor of the newspaper and Qazi AbdulRehman was appointed as the editor. This newspaper played an important role in the awakening of Muslims of Sindh.

After seven months, the British government shut down the newspaper and sent the editor Qazi AbdulRehman to jail for one year.

Maulana Sahab returned to Thallah and continued his studies. “Alwaheed” was issued again, according to Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. Maulana Sahab was the editor of the newspaper this time.

Despite being busy with the newspaper Maulana Sahab regularly published a magazine named, Tauheed. He started this magazine in 1923, this magazine went out of print in 1927 and again started circulating in 1932 and was published by Ali Nawaz Wafai , Maulana’s youngest son, after his death.

This magazine was a collection of historical and literary essays and articles. The magazine was considered as a prestigious publication of literature and the religion. This magazine played a vital role in the political awakening of people of Sindh.

Apart from Maulana Sahab, “Tauheed” was edited by Shaikh Abdul Majeed Sindhi.

Under the supervision of Peer Jeeal Shah Shaheed, also known as, Hizbullah Shah Rashdi, he published a newspaper Alhizb. This was a respectable newspaper of Sindhi language. This newspaper was published for seven months only, and then was shut down for some reasons.

In 1943, Maulana Sahab resigned from the newspaper Alwaheed, due to the creation of a control board over it and started working for another newspaper called Azaad.

As soon as Maulana Wafai joined the newspaper it reached its heights and was considered as a reliable and important newspaper. This was the only newspaper in Sindhi language, which published literary material along with the news of national concern.

For endorsement and encouragement of Sindhi literature, on the suggestion of Central Advisory Committee, a bi-monthly magazine Mehran was published in January 1946. Its editor was Allama Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota. Included in the editorial board were Usman Ali Ansari, Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai, Deewan Lalchand Amardino Chugtani, and Dr. Haromal Sada Rangani. This magazine was started in January ’48 and was shut down in ’49 and was started again by Sindhi Adabi Board in ’55 and it is still published. Apart from above mentioned newspapers and magazines Maulana Sahab wrote for numerous other magazines and newspapers. His writings are still worth reading and have not lost their relevance even today.

Maulana Sahab apart from being a journalist was a renowned writer. History, politics, religion and Sufism were his favorite topics.

He was an expert on history, so much that other scholars started calling him “moving encyclopedia of Sindh” and “imam of Sindhi history.”

Sindhi History was one of his strengths. He remembered the works and biographies of prominent personalities, scholars and saints. He also had knowledge about the historical monuments of Sindh and would tell about different incidents and happenings in the right order.

“Greatness of Sindh” (Azmat-e-Sindh) was a favorite topic with Maulana. He had an interest in ancient ruins of Sindh and was considered as an expert in Sindhi language, literature and grammar.

When Maulana Sahab started his research, the facilities for people who wanted to do research were inadequate. Britishers had taken many books with them, many more were taken by Nadir Shah when he attacked Hindustan. Rests were kept in the storerooms of wealthy families and there was no access to them. Even though, Maulana continued his research work. He was the first Sindhi Scholar, who felt the lack of history, literature and research in Sindh and started working in this direction.

Pir Ali Muhammad Rashdee wrote about Maulana Sahab that “Maulana Sahab thought that the nations that do not have their own history and aren't aware of their past, aren't capable of anything great. He not only loved knowledge himself but made others love it too.”

In 1940, when “Central Sindhi Advisory Committee”, formed by Sindh government, formed a committee of editors for “Complete Sindhi Dictionary”, it selected Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai along with others.

After the creation of Pakistan, in January 1949, Sindh government formed a committee to write and edit Sindhi course books, Maulana was a member of that committee.

Maulana was the founding member of “Sindhi Sudhaar Society” (Society for improvement of Sindhi) that worked towards the betterment and expansion of Sindhi language.

Maulana Sahab, along with prose wrote poems too, and used Wafai as his pen name (takhalus). His first poem was published in 1913 with the name 'Imdad-e-Yateema' (Help of Orphans)

He wrote many books few of them are: Shah Je Risalay Jo Mutaleo (Study of the book of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai) Lutf-ul-Latif (Study of poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai) Tazkara-e-Mushaeer-Sindh (Life Histories and work of great people lived in Sindh) Yaad-e-Janan (a book on Jaan Muhammad Khan Junejo, also known as “Raees-ul-Muhajireen”)

He wrote many more books and translated books in Sindhi from Arabic and Persian.

Politically, he was very active and took part in many movements. He worked closely with Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi and Maulana Taj Mehmood Amroti . Maulana Sahab worked as a secretary for 'Bait-ul-Hikmat', an organization formed by Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi to teach the philosophy of Shah Wali Ullah.

While working for 'Alwaheed' in 1920, Maulana almost went to jail, but he didn’t give up and continued the editorship of 'Alwaheed', and also worked for the promotion of Jameeat-ul-Ulema Sindh.

Maulana sahib attended the conferences of 'Khilafat Movement' and Indian National Congress, all over India and worked to spread true teachings of Islam to newly converted Muslims.

He never took money or favors from anyone. He ran the newspaper 'Alwaheed' and the magazine 'Tauheed' with the help of the members of the board.

Living a life of simplicity , he never tried to acquire the luxuries of life for himself or his family. His life was a true example of a hard worker and a revolutionary; being sent to jail many times, he never gave up.

The great son of Sindh and the great scholar died on Tuesday 10th April 1950 in 'Sukkur'.

Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai road in Karachi has been named after him.

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