Muhammad Azhar Nomani
Maulana Muhammad Azhar Nomani | |
|---|---|
| Rector, Madrasa Husainia, Ranchi | |
| In office 1958–2017 | |
| Preceded by | Founding rector |
| Succeeded by | Muhammad Qasmi |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 7 July 1924 |
| Died | 13 May 2017 (aged 92) |
| Resting place | Kadru Graveyard, Ranchi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Darul Uloom Deoband |
| Occupation | Islamic scholar, Sufi |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Teachers | Hussain Ahmad Madani |
| Movement | Deobandi |
Muhammad Azhar Nomani (7 July 1924 – 13 May 2017), also known as Maulana Azhar Ranchwi, was an Indian Islamic scholar and Sufi. He was a student and authorised disciple (khalifa) of Hussain Ahmad Madani. In 1958, he co-founded Madrasa Husainia in Kadru, Ranchi, where he served as rector until his death. He also held leadership positions in Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and was a member of the Majlis-e-Shura of Darul Uloom Deoband.[1]
Early life and education
Muhammad Azhar Nomani was born on 7 July 1924 in Rathos, Madhubani district (then part of Darbhanga district). His father, Sharafuddin, was also an Islamic scholar and had established Madrasa Mahmood al-Uloom in Damla, Madhubani district.[2]
He received his early Arabic education at Madrasa Mahmood al-Uloom, Damla, and at Miftahul Uloom, Mau. In 1950, he enrolled at Darul Uloom Deoband and graduated in 1953.[3]
In 1374 AH (1954), he studied Sahih al-Bukhari under Hussain Ahmad Madani. His classmates in the hadith program included Mujahidul Islam Qasmi and Abdul Haq Azmi.[4]
Career
After completing his studies, he spent several years travelling with his teacher Hussain Ahmad Madani and received authorization for spiritual initiation and succession from him.[5]
He moved to Ranchi in 1956 and taught children at the local Jama Masjid. On 29 April 1958,[6] he co-founded Madrasa Hussainia in Kadru, Ranchi, with Muhammad Fakhruddin Gayawi and remained its rector throughout his life. Alongside the establishment of the madrasa, he founded more than one hundred maktabs in the surrounding region, many of which later developed into formal madrasas.[7]
From 1413 AH (1992) until his death, he served as a member of the Darul Uloom Deoband Majlis-e-Shura. Through Darul Uloom Deoband and Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, he remained active in educational, religious, and social initiatives.[8]
He also served as a member of the working committee and vice-president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, and as joint president of Jamiat Ulama Bihar and Jharkhand. After Jharkhand became a separate organisational unit in 2009, he served as president of Jamiat Ulama Jharkhand until his death.[7]
Death and legacy
Muhammad Azhar Nomani died on 13 May 2017 (16 Sha'ban 1438 AH) in Ranchi. His funeral prayer was led the following day by Mahmood Asad Madani, and he was buried at Kadru graveyard.[9][10]
According to Mahmood Madani, a large number of people attended the funeral, with visitors continuing to arrive at the cemetery from noon until evening.[11]
He was survived by five daughters and three sons—Ahmad, Muhammad Qasmi, and Asjad—each of whom became Islamic scholars. Following his death, Muhammad Qasmi was appointed rector of Madrasa Husainia, having previously served as deputy rector since 1996.[10]
See also
References
- ^ Chishti, Seema (2011-02-01). "The reticent clerics wholl decide Maulana Vastanvi8217;s fate". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ^ Khalili Qasmi, Muhammadullah (May–June 2017). Bijnori, Muhammad Salman (ed.). "Wafiyāt: Rukn-e Majlis-e Shūrā Ḥaẓrat Maulana Azhar Sahib Ranchi kā intiqāl" [Obituary: Maulana Azhar Sahib of Ranchi, Member of the Majlis-e Shura, Passes Away]. Monthly Darul Uloom (in Urdu). 101 (5–6): 108.
- ^ Khalili Qasmi 2017, p. 108.
- ^ Hardoi, Tayyib Qasmi (2015). Darul Uloom Diary (Lail o Nahar): Faizan e Shaykhul Islam Number (in Urdu). Deoband: Idara Paigham e Mahmood. pp. 74–75.
- ^ Khalili Qasmi, Muhammadullah (October 2020). Darul Uloom Deoband Ki Jame O Mukhtasar Tareekh [Comprehensive and Concise History of Darul Uloom Deoband] (in Urdu) (2nd ed.). India: Shaikh-Ul-Hind Academy. p. 669. OCLC 1345466013.
- ^ "दिल का दौरा पड़ने से कडरू मदरसा के मौलाना अजहर का निधन" [Maulana Azhar of Kadru Madrasa passed away due to a heart attack.]. Hindustan (in Hindi). 2017-05-14. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Khalili Qasmi 2020, p. 669.
- ^ "معروف عالم دین مولانا ازہر رانچوی کا انتقال، علمی و ملی حلقوں میں شدید غم کی لہر" [Renowned religious scholar Maulana Azhar Ranchi passes away, sparking a wave of grief in academic and national circles]. Millat Times (in Urdu). 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ^ Mansoorpuri, Muhammad Salman (April 2020). "Hazrat Maulana Azhar Sahab Ranchi". Zikr-e-Raftagāñ (in Urdu). Vol. 3. Lalbagh, Moradabad: Al-Markaz al-ʿIlmī li al-Nashr wa al-Taḥqīq. pp. 501–502.
- ^ a b Qasmi, Obaidullah (2025-01-31). "حضرت مولاںا ازھر صاحب علیہ الرحمہ کی شخصیت اور ان کی خدمات" [The Life and Contributions of Maulana Azhar Sahib]. Khabar Only (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ^ "مولانا ریاست علی بجنوری اور مولانا محمد ازہرکی وفات دارالعلوم دیوبند اور جمعیۃ علماء ہند سمیت ملت اسلامیہ کابڑا خسارہ : مولانا محمود مدنی" [The death of Maulana Riyasat Ali Bijnori and Maulana Muhammad Azhar is a great loss to the Islamic nation, including Darul Uloom Deoband and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind: Maulana Mahmood Madani]. News18 Urdu (in Urdu). 2017-05-25. Archived from the original on 2024-12-01. Retrieved 2026-02-26.