Shah Ahmad Shafi

Shaikhul Hadith, Allama
Shah Ahmad Shafi

Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi is praying after in seminar.
Born Shah Ahmad Shafi
1920 (1341 Hijri)
Rangunia, Chittagong
Nationality Bangladeshi
Era Modern era
Jurisprudence Hanafi
Movement Deobandi
Main interest(s) Hadith
Notable work(s) Establishing Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh
Alma mater Darul Uloom Deoband

Sheikh ul-Islam Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi (Bengali: শাহ আহমদ শফী) is the present chief of allegedly fundamentalist Islamist group Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh, present rector of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari and also the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board.[1][2][3] He was born in Rangunia, Chittagong and was educated at Hathazari Madrasah and Darul Uloom Deoband.[4]

In 2013 he came gained notoriety for the violent protest of Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh at Dhaka against the 2013 Shahbag protests movement.[5][6][7] He is criticized for what opponents view as his regressive views on women and stands against female education and work outside the home.[8][9][10][11]

Early life

He was born in Rangunia, Chittagong. He received his primary education from his family. Then he joined Al-Jamiatul Arabiatul Islamiah, Ziri and spent five or six months there. He was admitted to Hathazari Madrasah in 1361 Hijri at the age of 10. In Hathazari Madrasah he studied for 10 years. Then Shafi went to Darul Uloom Deoband for higher studies in the field of Hadith and Tafsir. He studied there for four years before returning to his homeland.[12]

Career

Ahmad Shafi commenced his career as a teacher at Hathazari Madrasah. In 1407 Hijri, he was elected honorable rector of Hathazari Madrasah. Shafi is also the present chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board[1]

Views

In 2009, Ahamd Shafi, along with Allama Azizul Haque and other senior Bengali Muslim scholars, in a joint statement to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, condemned terrorism and militancy committed in the name of Islam.[13]

2013 Misogynist comments

In 2013, a religious speech of Ahmad Shafi delivered at Hathazari, Chittagong was highly criticized by different women's association, intellectuals and general people. They alleaged the sermons to be insulting to women.[14]He said:

The Quran says: You [women] should stay at your home…Your duty is to stay at the husband’s house and safeguard property. Your primary duty is to stay home and look after your family and children only. Do not go out even for shopping.

In same speech he stated [10][11]

Why are you sending your daughters to work in garment factories?... She goes to work after Fajr at 7/8:00am and does not come back even at 8/10/12 at night... You do not know which man she is hanging out with. You do not know how much zina [unlawful sexual activity] she is getting involved in. Through zina, she is earning money, which does not bring prosperity [Barkat].

[10][11]

Responses

Woman rights activists protests his statements and demand his imprisonment.[10][15] Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh termed the statement of Shafi as "disgusting" and "distasteful".[16]

Works

Urdu:
Bangla:

Without these there are many other books in Urdu and Bengali by Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=84699
  2. ↑ "Unknown Islamist group flexes its muscles in Ctg". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 25 February 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "৩০ জন আহত, গ্রেপ্তার ৩৯, আট ঘণ্টা সড়ক অবরোধ চট্টগ্রামে হেফাজতে ইসলামের কর্মীদের সঙ্গে পুলিশের সংঘর্ষ (Hefajat-e-Islam clash with police at Chittagong, 30 injured and 39 arrested, road blocked for 8 hours)". Prothom Alo. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?43085-Bangladeshi-Madaris-Marakiz/page2
  5. ↑ "‘Hifazat chief implementing Jamaat agenda’". bdnews24.com. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Bangladesh: 1 dead in clash over women's rights". AP. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "‘Hifazat chief implementing Jamaat agenda’". bdnews24.com. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "The 13-point demands". The Hindu. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "Govt must accede to our demands: Hifazat". bdnews24.com. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Shafi’s video creating storm in social media". Dhaka Tribune. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Sermon Shafi style". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 11 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  12. ↑ http://hifazat-e-islam.blogspot.com/p/allama-ahmed-shafi-ahmad-shafi-is.html
  13. ↑ "Kawmi madrasa leaders to help govt fight militancy". The Daily Star. UNB. 19 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  14. ↑ http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/sermon-shafi-style/
  15. ↑ "Women’s right activists denounce Shafi’s statement". Dhaka Tribune. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Hasina flays Hifazat chief". bdnews24.com. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.

External links