Ilyas Burney

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Professor Muhammad Ilyas (Elias) Burney (1890–1959) MA LLB (Aligarh University) was the first head of Department of Economics at Osmania University,[1] Hyderabad, India. Prof. Mohammad Elias Burney published about 40 books in Urdu, Persian, Arabic and English. He is also credit to have written the first books of Economics in Urdu by Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal. Iqbal complimented Burney on his book in a letter written to him on March 8, 1917 in these words: “Received Kitabul Maeeshat—your book is a great favour to Urdu language. I have no hesitation in saying that this is the first book on economics in Urdu language, and complete in all respects”.[2] His other books in economics included Ilm ul Maaeshat (Knowledge of Economics),[3] Muqaddima e Maashiyat (Treastise of Economics / Translation) [4] and Indian Economics.[5][6] Prof. Mohammad Elias Burney is particularly known for his monumental work on the Ahmadiyya sect. His book in Urdu “Qadiani Muzhab”, (Ahmadiyya faith) is considered a comprehensive study on the subject.[7][8][9] It was also translated into Arabic as “Adiyanatul al Qadianiah” by Maulana Abdul Quddoos Nadvi. Among his other quoted books are Mishkat-us-Salawat which is a collection of poetry in praise of Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was also appointed by Muhammed Ali Jinnah to the Planning Committee of Pakistan.[10] However after the partition of India he decided to remain in India.

He was born at Khorja district Bulandshahr (baran) U.P., India on 19 April 1890 (28th Shaaban 1307 Hijrah). An award winning student throughout, after his initial education at Khorja high school he went on to Aligarh Muslim College & University to finish his MA & LLB with distinction. At Aligarh he associated himself with Dr. Sir Ziauddin Ahmed in the promotion of the University and also taught economics there to BA classes for two years. Character building of youth was his favourite theme. His acquaintances and friends liked their sons to be in his company. A keen athlete and sportsman himself since his younger days he encouraged youth to participate in sports activities. At Osmania he was the President of the Football Club.[11] Nizam of Hyderabad entrusted to him the role of tutor to the royal princes Prince Mukarram Jah (the current Nizam) and his brother Muqaffamjah.

In the year 1917 the government of Nizam of Hyderabad urgently sought his services for the newly created Translation Bureau as a translator of economics (for translation from English and other languages into Urdu). From there he moved on to teach at Osmania University and in due course assumed the position of head of the economics department. As he continued to serve at Osmania University, some of the other positions he held there included Director of Translation Bureau, Director of Dairatul Maarif and Registrar of the University.

One his books called Urdu Hindi Rasmulkhat (Scripts) - a comparative study of Urdu and Hindi scripts Maulvi Abdul Haq commented that the book is a "great national service which must be commended".[12] These also included Bertanwi Hukumat e Hind(Sociology),[13] Hizbullah (Azkars), Asrare Haq (Maarifat),[14] Mishkatus Salat (Arabic, Salat & Darood), Sirat ul Hameed,[15] Tas-heel-ut-Tarteel (Tajweed), Islam (English), Maarooza (his own poetry) and selections from Urdu and Persian Naats & other poetry, Maarif-e-Millat (Urdu poetry),[16] Manazir-e-Qudrat (Literature),[17] Jazbat-e-Fitrat,[18] Tohfa-e-Mohammadi and Jawahir-e-Sukhan (Persian). Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi in his discussion with George Bernard Shaw has mentioned that he presented Shaw with Professor Ilyas Burney's book Islam.[19]

Prof. Mohammad Elias Burney twice went on pilgrimage to Haramain shareef and wrote the account of his travels in his travelogue “Sirath-ul-Hameed”. On the first occasion he also visited Iraq, Syria and Palestine and was accompanied on the trip by Bahr-Ul-Uloom Hazrat Maulana Moulvi Muhammad Abdul Qadeer Siddiqi Qadri,Professor and the former Head of Department of Theology at Osmania University, Late Syed Lutfe Ahmad and Late Col. Habib Ali. In the above mentioned book he gives a vivid description of ziarats, all the places visited and the prevailing conditions there. Prof. Burney always had a special bond with the family of Hazrat Ghouse-ul-Azam (Abdul Qadir Al-Gilani). In Bagdad Pir Hussamuddin Al-Gilani (father of Pir Tahir Allauddin Al-Gilani) Naqibul Ashraf and Pir Ahmad Sharfuddin Al-Gilani Kaleed bardar, showered their blessings on the group. He was also close to Hazrat Pir Abu Nasr Al-Gilani Al-Hamavi and Hazrat Pir Yusufuddin Al-Gilani.

He was widely respected in the intellectual, social and religious circles in Hyderabad and India. In his autobiography “Burney Nama”[20] he referred to his associations with many prominent personalities.

He died at Bulandshahr on 26 January 1959 (16th Rajab 1378 Hijrah) when he returned there from Hyderabad Deccan after a gap of many years to visit his ailing brother and sister. Following him, notable contributions were made by one of his students Late Mohammed Abdul Haleem Eliasi who republished his books with translations and is renowned for publishing the roman English transliteration of Quran which is widely available around the world.

References

  1. ↑ [Osmania University - Department of Economics]
  2. ↑ [The Pakistan Development Review 40 : 4 Part II (Winter 2001) pp. 1167–1176]
  3. ↑ Ilm Ul Mayeeshat, Mohd. Ilyas Barni, Mohd. Muqdati Khan Sherwani Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu Publication Series Aligardh, 1917
  4. ↑ Muqaddima e Maashiyat, Mutarajjim Muhammad Ilyas Barni, Dar ut taba Jama e Osmania Hyderabad, 1919 pg 478
  5. ↑ [The Osmania University]
  6. ↑ Mohammad Elias Barni, M'¯ash¯ı¯at-i hind (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India: Osmania University Press, 1920
  7. ↑ [REPORT of THE COURT OF INQUIRY Printed by the Superintendent, Government printing, Punjab 1954]
  8. ↑ [Khatme Nabuwat, 1984]
  9. ↑ Burney, Mohammed Elias. Qadiani Movement: An Exposition of the So-Called Ahmadiyyat. Durban, South Africa: Makki Publications, 1955.
  10. ↑ [Planning for Pakistan: The Planning Committee of the All-India Muslim League 1943-46 Ian Talbot Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 28, No. 4. (Oct., 1994), pp. 875-889].
  11. ↑ [My Life and Experiences, Mohd A R Khan 1953 Krishnavas Hyderabad]
  12. ↑ Burni Nama (Autobiography) Prof Ilyas Burney 1st Edition Vol 2 Ibraheemia Press Hyderabad 1958
  13. ↑ Bertanwi Hukumat e Hind, Muhammad Ilyas Barni,Darut Taba Hyderabad, 1919
  14. ↑ Asrar-i haq, Muhammad Ilyas Barni, Osmania University (1967) ASIN: B0000CRO4A
  15. ↑ Sirat ul Hameed (Ilyas Burni)Vol 1,2 Matba Berqi Azam Jahi 1935 pgs 230
  16. ↑ Maarif e Millat, Prof Ilyas Burney, Vol 1,2 Muslim University Institute Press Aligarh 1922
  17. ↑ Manazir E Qudrath, Muhammad Ilyas Barni, Vol 1,2 and 3, Matba Institute Aligarh, 1921
  18. ↑ Jazbat e Fitrath, Muhammad Ilyas Barni, Muslim University Press Aligarh, 1921 Vols 1,2 and 3 pgs 156
  19. ↑ [George Bernard Shaw and the Islamic Scholar, Imran Hosein December 2000]
  20. ↑ Burni Nama (Autobiography) Prof Ilyas Burney 1st Edition Vol 1 Ibraheemia Press Hyderabad 1957
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