Shabbir Ahmad Usmani

Part of a series on
The Deobandi movement
Darul Uloom Deoband, India
Ideology and influences
Dars-i Nizami Maturidi theology Hanafi fiqh
Founders and key figures
Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi Rashid Ahmad Gangohi Husain A. Madani Mahmud al-Hasan Ashraf Ali Thanwi Anwar Shah Kashmiri Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi Shabbir Ahmad Usmani Muhammad Zakariya Kandhlawi
Notable institutions
Darul ulooms and Madrasas Deoband Mazahir Uloom Nadwatul Ulama Dabhel Hathazari Madrassah Ashrafia Karachi Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia Bury In'aamiyyah List of Deobandi universities
Centres (Markaz) of Tabligh
Nizamuddin Raiwind Dhaka Dewsbury
Associated Organizations
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam Tablighi Jamaat

Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (Urdu: شبیر احمد عثمانی‎, Shabbīr Aḥmad ‘Usmānī; October 11, 1887 – December 13, 1949) was an Islamic scholar who supported the Pakistan Movement in the 1940s. He was a theologian, writer, orator, politician, and expert in tafsir and Hadith.

Early life

Born on October 11, 1887 in Bijnor, a city in Uttar Pradesh, British India. His father, Fadhlur Rahman, was a deputy inspector of schools and had been sent on assignment to Bareilly, when his son Shabbir was born. He was educated at Darul Ulum Deoband, where he became a disciple of Mahmud ul Hasan, and graduated in 1908. After his graduation, he was appointed as a teacher at Darul Uloom Deoband.

In 1915, when Mahmud ul Hasan travelled to Hijaz, Usmani filled his position as the teacher of Sahih Muslim, a book of teachings of prophet Muhammad. In 1925, Sultan Abdul Aziz 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. In 1926, he moved to Dabhel, a small predominantly Deobandi town in the Indian state of Gujarat, and became a teacher at Jami'a Islamiyyah Dabhel. In October 1929, when the foundation committee set for the foundation of Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, he was elected as a member of the committee. Many such Islamic scholars was the member of Foundation Committee such as Maulana Hussein Ahmad Madani, Maulana Abdul Bari Farang Mahli, Sheikh ul Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan, Maulana Mufti Kifayatullah, Maulana Abdul Haq etc. In 1933, when Anwar Shah Kashmiri died, Usmani became the teacher of Sahih al-Bukhari, a book of teachings by prophet Muhammad.

Literary works

Usmani's literary works are

1. Tafsir-e-Usmani, an Urdu translation of the tafsir of the Quran written by Mahmud ul Hasan
2. Fathul Mulhim Sharh Sahih Muslim, a commentary on Sahih Muslim, a book of teachings by prophet Muhammad

Political career

In 1944, he became a member of the Muslim League and was one of the 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 in 1949. He is also notable for having led the funeral prayer of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

After the Partition of India, Usmani became a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, and remained a member until his death.^[1] Although he was not given a cabinet position, he chose to remain a member of the 'Constituent Assembly of Pakistan' until his death.

He is best remembered for having spearheaded the Qarardad-i-Maqasid Objectives Resolution, which was passed by the constituent assembly on March 12, 1949.^[2]

Death and legacy

Usmani died at Baghdadul Jadid in Bahawalpur State on December 13, 1949, and was buried at Islamia College, Karachi the next day.

Pakistan Postal Services issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honor in 1990 in its 'Pioneers of Freedom' series.^[3]

References

Sources

• 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