Akhtar Raza Khan

Akhtar Raza Khan
Personal life
BornMuhammad Ismail Raza
(1943-11-23)23 November 1943[1]
Bareilly, United Provinces, British India
(present day Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died20 July 2018(2018-07-20) (aged 74) (7 Zul-Qaida 1439)
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
Resting placeBareilly Dargah
NationalityIndian
Children6, including Asjad Raza Khan
Parent
EraContemporary
Notable work(s)Azhar Ul Fatawa
Alma materManzar-i Islam (Bareilly), Islamia Inter College, Bareilly, Al-Azhar University 1963 -1966[2]
Known forFatawa Taajush Shariah
Other namesTajush Sharia
RelativesAhmed Raza Khan Barelvi (great-grandfather)
Religious life
ReligionIslam
Founder ofJamiatur Raza
SectSunni
JurisprudenceHanafi
MovementBarelvi
Muslim leader
Influenced by
Awards"Fakhre Azhar" (Pride of Azhar)[2]
Websitemuftiakhtarrazakhan.com

Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari[a] (born Muhammad Ismail Raza; 23 November 1943 – 20 July 2018),[1] also known as Tajush Shari'a,[b] and Azhari Miyan,[3][4] was an Indian Islamic scholar. He was the great-grandson of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi who was the founder of the Barelvi movement.[5] He was considered the leading authority of the Barelvi school of thought in India, succeeding Mustafa Raza Khan. After his death in 2018, Khan was succeeded by his son Asjad Raza Khan.

Akhtar was ranked 24th[6] on the list of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world in 2018 edition, 26th in 2010, 28th in 2011, 26th in 2012, 22nd in 2013-2014, 22nd in 2014-15, 25th in 2016 editions,[7][8] compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.[9] He had tens of millions of followers in India.[10]

Early life and education

He was born on 23 November 1943 at Muhallah Saudagaran in Bareilly, British India,[1] to Ibrahim Raza Khan as the grandson of Hamid Raza Khan and as a great-grandson of Ahmad Raza Khan, who was considered to be a mujaddid by his followers and founder of the Barelvi movement.[5][11]

He went to attended and graduated from the Manzar-i Islam of the Bareilly Dargah,[10] and then Islamia Inter College, Bareilly.[10] He post-graduated from the Al-Azhar University in Egypt in the Arabic literature and Islamic Studies with specialisation in Hadith and Tafseer from 1963 to 1966,[1] where he was conferred with the Fakhr-e-Azhar (Pride of Azhar) award by Gamal Abdel Nasser.[10][12][13]

Religious career

In 1967, at the age of 25, he became a teacher at the Manzar-i Islam at Bareilly Dargah.[1]

Spiritual life

Khan was a spiritual follower and successor of his maternal grandfather Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri in the Qadriyya-Barkatiyya-Razviyya-Nooriya order of Sufism.[12]

After retirement

He formally retired from teaching in 1980,[1] but continued to issue fatwa,[1] and holding seminars for students at Dar al-Ifta.[1]

In 2000, he founded the Centre of Islamic Studies Jamiatur Raza based in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.[9][14][15]

Khan was known by several titles among Barelvis in India, such as Tajush Sharia ("Crown of Sharia"), Mufti-e-Azam ("Supreme Mufti"), Qazi ul-Quzzat ("Islamic Chief Justice"), and others.[16][12] He had been ranked 22nd on the list of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world (2014–15 edition), compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.[9][17] He had tens of millions of followers in India.[10]

He died following a long illness on 20 July 2018, aged 74.[18][19][20][21][22] After his death Mufti Mohammad Salim Noori, spokesperson of the Bareilly Dargah, said Khan was "the lone cleric in India to get a title of Tajushariya and "one of the few prominent persons across the world to be allowed to visit the inside [of the] Kaaba in Mecca."[10]

Funeral

Hundreds of thousands of people attended his funeral.[10][23][24] His funeral occurred on 22 July 2018 at Islamia Inter College, Bareilly. The prayer was led by his son and successor Asjad Raza Khan.[25] His funeral was watched by at least 12,500,000 people across the world.[26][27][28][29] A day of mourning was organised in Bareilly.[30][31]

The funeral was organised by the Members of Bareilly Dargah and other organisations related to Dargah. The Namaz-e-Janaza was led by the son of Akhtar Raza Khan and head Mufti of Bareilly, Asjad Raza Khan at 10:00 AM on 22 July 2018.[20]

Memorial events

Since 2019, the Urs of Akhtar Raza Khan is organised annually at the Bareilly Dargah to commemorate the death.[32][13]

Publications

Views

His Urdu-language fatwa collection was known as Majmu'ah Fatawa. His English collection is named Azharul Fatawa.[33] One of his fatwas was his edict on the interest given to a Muslim by a non-Muslim:

When there is a dealing between a Muslim and a Muslim or a Muslim and a Zimmi Kaffir (a non-Muslim living in the safety of an Islamic state), the taking more money than loaned is considered as interest and such a dealing will be unlawful. However, if this condition does not exist, this excess money will not be considered as interest and will be legitimate for a Muslim as it is unanimous that there is no interest applicable when there is dealing between a Muslim and a Harbi Kaafir (a non-Muslim who is not living in the safety of an Islamic State).

He had issued fatwa against the sterilisation in 1975 on the order of Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri when Indira Gandhi had made the sterilisation compulsory.[34]

In 2016, Khan wrote a book Tie Ka Mas'ala and he had issued fatwa against wearing ties, Khan had called tie as the symbol of Christians, the non-Muslims.[35]

In October 2016, Khan under the letterhead of Shariat Council of India issued the Fatwa against the Uniform Civil Code in India and said it is made a law, it will be boycotted.[36]

Akhtar Raza Khan was known for some of his extreme views; he penned a pamphlet forbidding prayers behind Deobandi imams.[37] He was also sceptical of the Pakistani Barelvi organisation Dawat-e-Islami and their leader Ilyas Qadri. He wrote a book named "Iblis Ka Raqs" in refutation of Qadri and his organisation.[38]

Poetry

His composition of Na`at was entitled Safina-e-Bakhshish, written in three languages.[39]

Books

He was the author of "more than 50 books on Islamic theology and thought in Urdu and Arabic", including:[10]

  • Hijrat-e-Rasool
  • Al-Mawahib al-Rizwiyyah Fi al-Fatawa al-Azhariyyah
  • Aasaar-e-Qiyamat
  • Al-Haq-ul-Mubeen (Arabic and Urdu)
  • Safeenah-e-Bakhshish (Na'at collection)
  • Fatawa Taj-us-Shari'ah[33]
  • Suno Chup Raho[40]

Notes

  1. ^ Urdu: اختر رضا خان, romanized: Akhtar Raẓā Khān
  2. ^ Urdu: تاج الشریعہ, romanized: Tājush Sharīʿah

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Khan, Taajush Shari'ah Mufti Akhtar Raza (2018). "Brief synopsis of the life of Taj al-Shariah, by Muhammad Kalim". Safeena-e-Bakshish. TheSunniWay. pp. 17–22 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b "Bareilly cleric among world's most influential Muslims | Bareilly News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Azahri miyan urs: अजहरी मियां के पहले उर्स का हुआ आगाज". 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  4. ^ "अजहरी मियां 10 मार्च को मकराना में-" [Azhari Miyan at Makranah on 10 March] (in Hindi). 8 March 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  5. ^ a b "World's 500 'Most Influential Muslims': 24 Indians in the list; Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan, Mahmood Madani in first 50 117". TwoCircles.net. 16 October 2014. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015. He is the great-grandson of Ahmed Raza Khan (d. 1921), who founded the Barelwi movement in South Asia
  6. ^ "The Top 50 – 2018". The Muslim 500. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  7. ^ "दुनिया के टॉप 50 मुस्लिमों में भारत के दो चेहरे". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Bareilly cleric among world's most influential Muslims". The Times of India. 8 August 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Tiwari, Mrigank (20 October 2014). "Barelvi cleric in 'most powerful Muslims' list". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Agarwal, Priyangi (21 July 2018). "Noted Barelvi cleric Azhari Miyan dies". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  11. ^ Kamal, Md Yousuf (16 August 2023). "Tajush Shari'ah: A Beacon of Spiritual Influence in the Sunni Tradition". Islamonweb. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qaadiri Al-Azhari | The Muslim 500". 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b Agarwal, Priyangi (3 May 2019). "First urs-e-tajusharia to be observed on July 9–10 | Bareilly News". Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  14. ^ Sanyal, Usha (2008). "Ahl-i Sunnat Madrasas: the Madrasa Manzar-i Islam, Bareilly, and Jamia Ashrafiyya, Mubarakpur". In Malik, Jamal (ed.). Madrasas in South Asia: Teaching terror?. Routledge. ISBN 9780415442473. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  15. ^ Plan to develop Bareilly's Jamiatur Raza into an Arabic Persian University Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine By NA Ansari, The Milli Gazette "Maulana Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari set up Madrasa Jamiatur Raza in 2000 in the city's CB Ganj area with the ultimate objective of imparting all types of education."
  16. ^ Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (2018).
  17. ^ Usha Sanyal. Generational Changes in the Leadership of the Ahl-e Sunnat Movement in North India during the Twentieth Century Archived 17 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Modern Asian Studies (1998), Cambridge University Press.
  18. ^ rasia (23 July 2018). "10 lakh people attend funeral of Taajush Shariah Mufti Mohammad Akhtar Raza Khan Quadri". The Siasat Daily – Archive. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  19. ^ "बरेली शरीफ के अजहरी मिया के जनाजे में शामिल होने को लोग रवाना -". Jagran (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  20. ^ a b "अजहरी मियां के जनाजे में उमड़ा जन सैलाब, गमगीन माहौल में हुए सुपुर्दे खाक | Tajush Sharia Azahari Miyan ke Janaze mein umada jan sailaab hindi new". Patrika News (in Hindi). 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  21. ^ "ताजुशरिया के आखिरी सफर में उमड़ा जनसैलाब". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  22. ^ "भूख की परवाह और न बारिश की फिक्र ऐसा रहा पीर से बेइंतहा मुहब्बत का तारीखी मंजर". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  23. ^ "अजहरी मियां के जनाजे में दिखा जो जनसैलाब, आपने कभी नहीं देखा होगा, देखें तस्वीरें". www.patrika.com. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  24. ^ "ताजुशरिया के आखिरी सफर में उमड़ा जनसैलाब". Dainik Jagran. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  25. ^ "10 lakh people attend funeral of Taajush Shariah Mufti Mohammad Akhtar Raza Khan Quadri". The Siasat Daily - Archive. 23 July 2018. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  26. ^ MuslimMirror (22 July 2018). "Renowned Barelvi cleric Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan passed away, lakhs attend final journey". Muslim Mirror. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  27. ^ "अजहरी मियां के जनाजे में दिखा जो जनसैलाब, आपने कभी नहीं देखा होगा, देखें तस्वीरें". Patrika News (in Hindi). 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Thousands throng funeral of noted Barelvi cleric; traffic blocked for eight hours". The Times of India. 23 July 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  29. ^ "लाखों की भीड़ के बीच आज उठेगा अजहरी मियां का जनाजा, 10 बजे नमाजे जनाजा". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  30. ^ "अलविदा ताजुशरिया". Hindustan (in Hindi). 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  31. ^ "ताजुशरिया हुए दुनिया से रुखसत, मुरीदों के सैलाब में भगदड़, पुलिस से झड़प". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  32. ^ "परचम कुशाई की रस्म के साथ शुरू हुआ ताजुश्शरिया का उर्स". inextlive (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  33. ^ a b Fatawa Tajush Sharia (in four volumes) by Dar al-Ishaat al-Islamiyya, Jamia al-Raza, Bareilly.
  34. ^ "नसबंदी पर फतवे से हिल गई थी हुकूमत -". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  35. ^ "In India, Barelvi Cleric Issues Fatwa Prohibiting Muslims From Wearing Ties: Muslims Must Not 'Adopt The Symbols Of Non-Muslims'". MEMRI. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  36. ^ "Barelvi sect opposes government's stand on triple talaq, Uniform Civil Code | India.com". www.india.com. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  37. ^ Ingram, Brannon D. (21 November 2018). Revival from Below: The Deoband Movement and Global Islam. Univ of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-29799-9.
  38. ^ "47 ابلیس کا رقص" – via Internet Archive.
  39. ^ "Ahlesunnat.net – Safina E Bakhshish (Jild 8)". books.ahlesunnat.net. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  40. ^ Fikr e Raza Pakistan (1 September 1990). Listen, Be quiet. سنو چپ رہو: تاج الشریعہ مفتی محمد اختر رضا قادری بریلوی.

Bibliography

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