Syed Mahbub E Khoda

Syed Mahbub-e-Khoda (14 December 1949 – 28 December 2020) also known as Dewanbagi^[1][2], was a Bengali sunni muslim, sufi saint, scholar, writer, reformer, philosopher and preacher of the Islam; which he referred as Muhammadi Islam^[3]. He was also the founder of Dewanbag Sharif.^[4][5] He taught his followers the teachings of Muhammadi Islam^[6] which in emphasizes on spiritually awakening of^[7] the heart and soul through meditation and following Islamic rituals in a certain manner.^[8]

He had the honorific title of Muhammadi Islām-er punarjjībandānakārī denoting his status according to many Sufis as a reviver of Islam.^[9] He also had the honorific title of Sufi Samrāṭ means emperor of the all Sufis.^[1][8]

His nisba al-Dīwānbāghī or Dewanbagi indicates his origin from Dewanbag village in Madanpur Union under Bandar upazila of Narayanganj, which is located 16 kilometers east of the capital Dhaka.^[1][8]

Syed Mahbub-e-Khoda was born on 14 December 1949^[10][11] at village Bahadurpur of No. 3 Durgapur Union of Ashuganj upazila in Brahmanbaria.^[12] His father was Syed Abdur Rashid and mother was Syeda Zobeda Khatun.^[6][13]

Mahbub-e-Khoda began his education at Sohagpur Primary School. He later attended Talshahar Karimiya Alia Madrasa, completing his fazil degree (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree) with distinction.^[1] He served as Vice President of the Madrasa Students' Council throughout his time there.^[6]

During the mass uprising of 1969, Mahbub-e-Khoda served as the president of the 'All-Party Students’ Action Committee' in the western region of Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh. After the general elections of 1970, as the political situation in the country deteriorated, he, along with members of the Students’ Action Committee, began organizing preparatory activities. Even before the start of the Liberation War, he was involved in various preparatory efforts for the war.^[14]

After the beginning of the Liberation War on 25th March 1971, Mahbub-e-Khoda formed a team of volunteers with the members of the Students Action Committee and ensured food, shelter and security for the people driven out by the Pakistani occupation force. On April 11, 1971 he joined the camp of the freedom fighters at Brahmanbaria along with his 72 volunteers. In the first few months of the Liberation War, he fought bravely against the Pakistan Army on various fronts as a platoon commander of freedom fighters under Sector No. 3. ^[15][16] Later, at the headquarters of Sector No. 3 at Hejamara in India he used to administer the ‘attestation parade’ or oath taking ceremony for the freedom fighters. During the Liberation War, he established two mosques in India.^[14]On 19 November 1971, at the Hejamara Camp, he led Eid al-Fitr prayers and inspired the assembled freedom fighters with his faith and resolve. He declared,

By Allah! The country will be free before the next Bakra Eid (Eid al-Adha). I will pray the Eid prayers with you at the Race Course Maidan in Dhaka.^[17][14]

A promise that reflected his unwavering belief in the liberation of Bangladesh. 27 days after this prophecy, Bangladesh achieved victory on 16 December 1971. Mahbub-e-Khoda led the Eid al-Adha congregation at the then Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) in Dhaka.^[6][18][14]

After Bangladesh gained independence, Mahbub-e-khoda joined the newly formed 16 East Bengal Regiment in 1972 as a Religious Teacher (RT). His appointment was made at the request of Major General K. M. Shafiullah,^[19] the former commander of Sector No. 3 during the Liberation War, who later became the Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army.^[6]

In 1974, Mahbub-e-Khoda came to know about one of the foremost spiritual leaders (Awliya) of that time, Imam Syed Abul Fazal Sultan Ahmad Chandrapuri, through a spiritual guide (Qutub) from Joydebpur. On 3 February 1974, a Sunday, he traveled to the Darbar Sharif in Chandrapara, Faridpur, to attend the annual Urs Sharif.^[20]

Upon their first meeting, Chandrapuri recognized Mahbub-e-Khoda as his spiritual successor.^[21] As a step toward to this succession, on 16 March 1974, he arranged the marriage of his fourth daughter, Syeda Hamida Begum, with Mahbub-E-Khoda.^[1] Following his formal initiation into the Tariqa, Mahbub dedicated himself to worship and intensive spiritual practices as guided by the Tariqa’s teachings.^[22]

Upon request by his Murshid, he resigned from the Bangladesh Army in 1975 and permanently relocated^[23] to the Darbar Sharif where Chandrapuri Hujur appointed him as Chief Khalifa and Chief of the Ulama Mission.^[9][21]

In 1980, he founded an orphanage and madrasa in Chandrapara, Faridpur. In 1982, he also opened a post office, a hospital, and a high school in Chandrapara. He constructed roads and streets and set up electrification for Chandrapara that same year to make it easier for people to travel about.^[21] In 1983, he founded the Sultanaia Mojaddedia Research Academy to conduct study and disseminate Tariqa.^[21]

Mahbub-e-khoda moved to Dhaka, Bangladesh on 28 March 1985, with the aim of spreading the ideals of Muhammadi Islam.^[21] Then he established the religious institution Dewanbag Sharif. He established a total of 10 Darbar Sharifs to propagate and spread the teachings of Muhammadi Islam in the remote areas of Bangladesh.^[24] First, he established the temporary head office of Muhammadi Islam at 154 Arambagh in the capital Dhaka in 1985. In the same year, he established the 'Babe Jannat' Darbar Sharif at Dewanbag in Narayanganj. Later, he established 'Babe Madina' at Kamalapur in Motijheel, Dhaka, in 1987. In 1992, he permanently shifted the temporary head office of Muhammadi Islam from 154 Arambagh by establishing 'Babe Rahmat' at 147 Arambagh.^[25][6]

In continuation of this, he established 'Babe Najat' in Rangpur in 1995, 'Babe Barkat' in Trishal, Mymensingh in 1998. Then, keeping pace with the growing tide of devotees, he established 'Babe Niamat' in Chuadanga in 2006, 'Babe Morshed' in Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria in 2008, 'Babe Ferdous' in Moghbazar, Dhaka in 2009, and 'Babe Magfirat' in Chittagong in 2010. In addition, he established hundreds of Khanqay Mahbubiya and Zaker Majlis in more than a hundred countries of the world and in various districts of Bangladesh. He also founded the World Ashek-e-Rasul Organization with the aim of spreading the great ideals of Muhammadi Islam to the outside world. Mahbub-e-Khoda founded the Sufi Foundation Bangladesh in 1992 and the Al Quran Research Center in 1998.^[6]

Mahbub E Khoda has authored books on Sufism in Bengali. Notable works include:

• Tafsir-E-Sufi Samrat Dewanbagi(8 volumes)^[26][27]
• ⁠Eid Moon Sighting Problem and Solution
• ⁠Sufi Samrat Uncovers Actual Identity of Allah: Is Allah Not Really Seen?^[27]
• ⁠Sufi Samrat Uncovers hidden Truth On Great Prophet: Was Muhammad (Sm) Really Poor?^[27]
• ⁠Mohammadi Islam in the Conspiracy of Yazid^[27]
• ⁠Revolutionary Religious Reformation of Sufi Emperor (2 volumes)^[27]
• ⁠The Revolutionary Contribution of Sufi Emperor: Which is the way of Allah?^[27]
• ⁠The Easy way to Get Closer to Allah^[27]
• ⁠Which is the way of Peace?^[27]
• ⁠Which is the way of Freedom?
• Muhammadi Islamer Wazifa^[27]

• ⁠Sufi Samrat Sharanika^[6][27]
• Monthly Atmar Bani^[28]
• The Weekly Dewanbag^[28]
• Weekly The Message^[28]

Mahbub-e-Khoda died^[13] on Monday, 28 December 2020,^[29] at 6:48 am. His Salat al-Janazah was held on the next day,^[30] Tuesday, 29 December, after Dhuhr,^[31] at Babe Rahmat Dewanbag Sharif. Hundreds of thousands of devotees attended his Salat al-Janazah. After the funeral prayer, he was given a Guard of honour^[32][33] as a patriotic freedom fighter.^[34] He was then buried at Babe Madina, Kamalapur, Dhaka^{[5][2][6][12]} beside his wife.^[35]

Before his death, Mahbub-e-Khoda declared his second eldest son, Arsafm Qudrat E Khoda,^[36] as the successor.^[37]

Syed Mahbub-e-Khoda was subject to criticism and controversy at various times, largely driven by misunderstanding and differing interpretations of his spiritual teachings. Some groups questioned his Sufi practices; however, his followers assert that his philosophy was firmly rooted in the core principles of Islam, focusing on spiritual purification, moral reform, and service to humanity through the institutions he established.^[8]

In 2016, the Islamic Foundation sought to counter his "controversial statements" on Islam and Sharia.^[38]

• Media related to Syed Mahbub E Khoda Dewanbagi at Wikimedia Commons
• ⁠dewanbagsharif.org