Shabbir Ahmad Usmani
| Shabbir Ahmad Usmani شبير أحمد عثماني | |
|---|---|
| Born |
October 6, 1886 Bijnor, British India |
| Died |
December 13, 1949 (aged 63) Baghdad al-Jadid, Bahawalpur State |
| Resting place |
Islamia Science College Karachi, Pakistan |
| Region | Indian subcontinent |
| Occupation | Islamic scholar, Teacher, Politician |
| Denomination | Sunni Islam |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Movement | Deobandi |
| Main interest(s) | Tafsir, Hadith, Shari'a |
| Notable idea(s) | Objectives Resolution |
| Notable work(s) | Tafsir-e-Usmani |
| Alma mater | Darul Uloom Deoband |
| Sufi order | Chishtiya-Sabiriya-Imdadiya |
| Disciple of | Mahmud al-Hasan |
|
Influenced by
| |
| Key figures | |
|
Qasim Nanotvi · Rashid Gangohi | |
| Notable Institutions | |
|
Darul Uloom Deoband, India | |
| Movements | |
|
Tablighi Jamaat |
Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (Urdu: شبير أحمد عثماني, Shabbīr Aḥmad ‘Usmānī; October 6, 1886-December 13, 1949) was an Islamic scholar who supported the creation of Pakistan in the 1940s. 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.
Early life
Born on October 6, 1886 in Bijnor, a city in Uttar Pradesh, India, his father, Maulana Fadhlur Rahman, was a deputy inspector of schools and had been sent to Bareilly when his son was born. He was educated at Darul Ulum Deoband, where he became a disciple of Maulana 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 Mahmud ul Hasan travelled 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. Ibn Saud was impressed by Usmani's eloquent and scholarly lectures and instituted a number of reforms in his administration. In 1926, he moved to Dabhel, a small predominantly Deobanti town in the Indian state of Gujarat, 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.
Literary works
Usmani's greatest literary work is Tafsir-e-Usmani. This is an Urdu translation of the tafsir of the Quran written by his shaikh, Mahmud ul Hasan. In this work, Usmani derived extracts from 13 or 14 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 Usmani. Another of Usmani's notable works is Tark-e-Muvalaat Par Mufassal Tabsara, a pamphlet written in 1921 requesting that the 'ulema 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-Usmani.
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. In order to counteract the propaganda and activities of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, he founded the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in 1945. He served as JUI's president until his death.
After the Partition of India, Usmani became a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, and remained a member until his death. He was given the honor of inaugurating and flying the flag of Pakistan . However, despite his prominence he was not given a cabinet position.
He is best remembered for having spearheaded the Qarardad-i-Maqasid Objectives Resolution, which was passed by the constituent assembly on March 12, 1949. It may be added here that non-Muslim members of the constituent assembly opposed the Objectives Resolution, and none of them voted for it. For example, Chandra Chattopadhyaya said in the constituent assembly on March 12, 1949: "In my conception of state where people of different religion live there is no place for religion in the state. Its position must be neutral: no bias for any religion. If necessary, it should help all the religions equally. No question of concession or tolerance to any religion. It smacks of inferiority complex. The state must respect all religions: no smiling face for one and askance look to the other. The state religion is a dangerous principle. Previous instances are sufficient to warn us not to repeat the blunder. We know people were burnt alive in the name of religion. Therefore, my conception is that the sovereignty must rest with the people and not with anybody else."[1]
Death
Usmani died at Baghdadul Jadid in Bahawalpur State on December 13, 1949, and was buried at Islamia College, Karachi.
References
Sources
- Deoband Movement (1866-1947) at Storyofpakistan.com
- Rizwan Hussain. Pakistan and the emergence of Islamic militancy in Afghanistan. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2005
ISBN 0-7546-4434-0, ISBN 978-0-7546-4434-7
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