Shah Ahmad Shafi

Shah Ahmad Shafi (Bengali: শাহ আহমদ শফী) (1916 – 18 September 2020) was a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar, the chief of Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh, 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 1916 (1334-35 AH) in Rangunia, Chittagong and was educated at Hathazari Madrasah and Darul Uloom Deoband.[4][5]

Shaikhul Hadith,

Shah Ahmad Shafi
Personal
Born1916
Rangunia, Bengal, British India
Died18 September 2020(2020-09-18) (aged 104)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
ReligionIslam
NationalityBangladeshi
Citizenship British Indian (1916-1947)
 Pakistani (1947-1971)
 Bangladeshi (1971-2020)
EraModern era
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanafi
MovementDeobandi
Main interest(s)Hadith
Notable work(s)Establishing Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh
Alma materDarul Uloom Deoband
OccupationScholar
Muslim leader
Disciple of Hussain Ahmad Madani

Early life

He was born in 1916 (1334-35 AH) in Rangunia, Chittagong. He received his primary education from his family. Then he joined Al-Jamiatul Arabiatul Islamiah.[6] He was admitted to Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam in 1926 (1344-45 AH) 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 Bangladesh. During his study time at Darul Uloom Deoband he became close to Hussain Ahmed Madani and later he became his youngest official successor from Indian subcontinent. Ahmad Shafi was the leader of Hifazat-E-Islam Bangladesh, (a non-political Islamic organization).

Career

Ahmad Shafi commenced his career as a teacher at Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari, Chittagong (Hathazari Madrasah). In 1986/1987 (1407 AH), he was elected rector (Head of the University Madrasah) of Hathazari Madrasah. Shafi was also the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board.[1]

Shah Ahmad Shafi was to continue to serve as the director general of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam, also known as Hathazari Madrasa, as decided by Majlis-e-Shura. "No one will be appointed as the acting rector of the madrasa as long as Shafi is alive," Press Secretary of the Hefazat chief, Munir Ahmed said.[7]

Views

In 2009 (1430 AH), Ahmad Shafi, Azizul Haque, and other Bengali Muslim scholars, in a joint statement to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, condemned terrorism and militancy committed in the name of Islam.[8]

Controversy

2013 comments

In 2013, a speech given by Ahmad Shafi at Hathazari, Chittagong was described as highly misogynist.[9] He reportedly said: "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 (fornication) she is getting involved in."[9]

The comments caused outrage among women's rights activists who demanded his imprisonment.[10] Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh termed the statement "disgusting" and "distasteful".[11]

A Political Party Demand that a Relationship with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

Although the Awami League described him as a frontman for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, analysts say this is highly unlikely as Ahmad Shafi belonged to a band of Islamists that unlike Jamaat, did not oppose the independence of Bangladesh, and supported a united India and rejected the creation of Pakistan in 1947.[5]

remarks on girls' education

In 2019 Ahmad Shafi again made a controversy telling against the girl's education in a religious gathering in Chittagong. He took a promise from the audience not to educate their girls above four or five grade.[12] Women Labor Leaders, National Domestic Women Workers Union, religious organization World Sunni Movement, etc. organizations condemned and protested against the remarks of Ahmad Shafi on girl's education.[13][14]

Death
Drone shot of Ahmad Shafi's large congregatory funeral prayer in Chittagong.

He was suffering from various complex diseases of old age including Diabetes and heart disease for years. On 17 September 2020 midnight, Shafi was brought by ambulance from Hathazari Madrasah to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) as his physical condition deteriorated.[15] He was later admitted to the 6th bed of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on the 3rd floor of the hospital as his pressure and pulse rate decreased.[16]

A medical board was formed on the morning of 18 September 2020, who suggested he should be moved to Dhaka for better treatment.[17] On the advice of doctors, the family members took him to Asgar Ali Hospital in Dhaka by air ambulance at 4.30 pm for better treatment. Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh leader Mufti Mohammad Faizullah confirmed that he died at 6pm on Friday.[18] He was 103-104 years old at the time of his death.

Works

Urdu
  • Faizu-l-Jaari (Explanation of Bukhari)
  • Al-Bayaanu-l-Fasil Baina-l-Haqqi wa-l-Baatil
  • Al-Hujaju-l-Qaatiah Li-daf-yin Nahjil Khatiah
  • Al-Khairu-l-Katheer Fee Usuli-t-Tafseer
  • Islam o Siyaasat
  • Izhar-e-Haqeeqat
  • Takfeer-e-Muslim
  • Chand Raoyejna
  • Fuyoozat-e-Ahmadiyah

Bengali
  • Haq O Batiler Chiranton Dondo
  • Islami Ortho Bebostha
  • Islam O Rajniti
  • Sotter Dikhe Korun Ahoban
  • Sunnat O Bid'ater Sothik Porichoy
  • Mukhosh Ummochon
  • Qur'aan o Sunnat er Alokay Apnar Namaaj

See also

References
  1. "Kawmi madrasa leaders to help govt fight militancy". The Daily Star. 19 April 2009.
  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. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  4. Archived 2013-11-03 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Khalidi, Toufique Imrose (6 May 2013). "Behind the rise of Bangladesh's Hefazaat". AL Jazeera. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  6. "Hefazat chief Ahmad Shafi no more". The Daily Star. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  7. "Shafi to remain Hathazari madrasa rector till death. Just before his feath he resigned the post". Dhaka Tribune. 15 July 2017.
  8. "Kawmi madrasa leaders to help govt fight militancy". The Daily Star. UNB. 19 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  9. "Sermon Shafi style". The Daily Star. 11 July 2013.
  10. "Women's right activists denounce Shafi's statement". Dhaka Tribune. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  11. "Hasina flays Hifazat chief". bdnews24.com. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  12. Correspondent, Staff (12 January 2019). "Hefazat chief speaks against girls' education". Prothomalo. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  13. রিপোর্টার, স্টাফ (14 January 2019). "হেফাজত নেতার ফতোয়া ইসলাম ও মানবতার বিরুদ্ধে যুদ্ধ -মানববন্ধনে বিশ্ব সুন্নী আন্দোলন". DailyInqilabOnline (in Bengali). Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  14. "Remarks on Girls' Education: Rights activists demand legal action against Shafi". The Daily Star. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  15. "Hefazat chief Ahmad Shafi no more". The Daily Star. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  16. "আল্লামা শফি আর নেই". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  17. "এয়ার অ্যাম্বুলেন্সে ঢাকায় পাঠানো হলো আল্লামা শফিকে". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  18. "হেফাজতে ইসলামের আমীর আহমদ শফী মারা গেছেন". BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 September 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.