A Golden Era Comes to an End

A Golden Era Comes to an End

By: Khursheed Alam Dawood Qasmi

Email: qasmikhursheed@yahoo.co.in

Maulana Sayyid Nizamuddin Sahib Qasmi (Rahmatullh Aleih) (1927-2015), the Sixth Amire Shariat (Religious Guide) of the Muslims of Bihar, Odissa and Jharkhand under the umbrella of Imarat Shariah (Est.1921), the General Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (Est.1972), the largest united platform of Indian Muslims and a member of the governing body of Darul Uloom, Deoband (Est.1866) and Nadvatul Ulama, Lucknow (Est.1898), breathed his last in Patna, the capital city of Bihar at a time when the nation was in crying need of the personalities like him.

Amire Shariat was one of the few eminent and distinguished living scholars and Muslim leaders in India. He was one of the notable students of Sheikhul Islam Maulana Sayyid Husein Ahmad Madani Rahmatullh Aleih (1879-1957). Moreover, he was deeply attached to him spiritually. After acquiring basic education, he remained in the company of his able father till he learnt Al-Mukhtasar Al-Qudur from him. In 1941, just for a year, he got admission in “Madrasa Imdadiyah”, a celebrated seminary then in Darbhanga of Bihar state. In 1942, for higher studies, he moved to Deoband. He got admission in Darul Uloom, Deoband, a renowned center of Indian freedom struggle then and a popular Islamic University of Indian Subcontinent. He learnt the various subjects from the skilled and internationally acclaimed teachers at Darul Uloom, Deoband and graduated in 1946. Following the graduation, he remained for one more year there to specialize in Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and Tafseer. Thus, he completed his higher education in 1947.

After completing the studies, in 1948, Maulana Nizamuddin Sahib was appointed as a head-teacher in Madrasa Riyazul Uloom in Sathi of Champaran district in Bihar. He successfully discharged his duty as a teacher and head till 1962. Then, he joined “Madrasa Rasheedul Uloom”, Chatra, Jharkhand as a head teacher and worked for a year from 1963 to 1964 as a devoted head-teacher. He was one of the best teachers and administrators too. He had good taste of Urdu language and literature as well. As he used to express his feelings in prose, he used to compose poetry as well. A poet like Dr. Kaleem Ahmad Ajiz Patnavi (1926-2015) had praised and acknowledged his beautiful poetry.

While staying in “Madrasa Riyazul Uloom”, Sathi, he was introduced to Maulana Sayyid Minnatullah Rahmani (1912-1991). The time, Maulana Rahmani was elected the fourth Amir-e-Shariat of Imarat Shariah, he picked some highly intelligent and god-gifted young Ulama to successfully work in Imarat Shariah, Patna. One among them was Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi (1936-2002), the teacher of Fiqh and Hadeeth at Jamia Rahmani, Monger, whom he selected as Qazi (Justice) with additional charge of being Secretary of Imarat Shariah. When the activities of Imart Shariah spread day by day and a crying need arose to recruit one more quality person, Maulana Rahmani appointed a complete new face to lead Imarat Shariah as its secretary in 1965. It was none other than Maulana Sayyid Nizamuddin Qasmi (RA). It was time when Imarat Shariah had not even its proper office at its own land and all activities of Imarat Shariah were being carried out from “Khanqahe Mujibiyah”, Patna. When the Imarat activities were expanding day-by-day, Allah, the Al-Mighty, arranged the means to acquire a piece of land for Imarat in Phulwari Shareef, Patna, for construction of Imarat’s building and several offices within. They played a key role to convey the message of the Imarat throughout Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand in particular and in the whole country in general in Rahmani’s life and after his sad demise equally. All praise belongs to Allah the Al-Mighty.

The forth Amir-e-Shariat left the mortal world for heavenly abode on 19th March, 1991. Maulana Abdur Rahman Darbhangavi Rahmatullahi Aleih (-1998) was made the fifth Amir-e-Shariat and he chose Maulana Nizamuddin Sahib (RA) as his Deputy to carry out the job. Following the departure of the fifth Amire Shariat on 2nd September, 1998, Maulana Sayyid Nizamuddin Sahib was promoted as the sixth Amir on 1st November 1998. The sixth Amir-e-Shariat (RA) served almost half a century in Imarat Shariah's different fields, but never gave a chance to point finger at him in any regard. He worked untiringly for the progress, development and expansion of Imarat without keeping a personal gain in his eye.

Due to the sincere efforts of the sixth Amir Shariat and Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi under the direction of Maulana Rahmani, Imarat’s growth never stopped. They strived to take forward the Imarat on both the lines of education and social welfare in the area. With the help of those sincere efforts, Imarat has expanded its noble jobs to various fields and now running Maulana Sajjad Hospital, Maulana Minnatullah Rahmani Technical Institute, a Baitul Maal (to assist the widows and poor people etc.), Al-Mahadul Aali Lit-Tadreeb Fil-Qaza Wal-Iftaa and Wafaaqul Madaaris Bihar, Usman Ghani Imarat Computer Center etc.

Maulana Nizamuddin Qasmi’s relation, after he took the office of General Secretary of Imarat Shariah, developed and strengthened with Maulana Rahmani by leaps and bounds. He was always at service to discharge his assigned duties by Maulana Rahmani, be it associated to Imarat or whatsoever. In 1972, when Maulana Rahmani gave a voice to the Muslim Personal Law on national level, Maulana Nizamuddin Sahib Qasmi and Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi worked for it wholeheartedly. After the establishment of the board as All India Muslim Personal Law Board in 1972, Qari Mohammad Tayyib Sahib Qasmi Rahmatullahi Aleih (1897-1983), ex-VC of Darul Uloom, Deoband, was elected for its prestigious presidential post; while Maulana Rahmani was elected as its General Secretary, the second highest post in the board. People from different schools of thought across the country, were elected as members of the board. Maulana Nizamuddin Qasmi, then Secretary of Imarat, was also elected as a member. After the demise of the board President Qari Mohammad Tayyib Sahib Qasmi on 17th July 1983, Maulana Sayyid Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi Rahmatullhi Aleih (1914-1999), a distinguished scholar and towering personality of the time, was elected the 2nd President of the board. After Maulana Rahmani's departure, Maulana Nizamuddin Qasmi was elected unanimously as the second General Secretary of the board in May 1991. He remained in the office of Board’s General Secretary until he breathed his last.

Being General Secretary of the board and handling its affairs is not an easy job as it requires expertise with large heart and wide brain. The reason is that, the board comprises of a good number of members in hundreds, associated to different organizations and schools of thought. They come up with their own views and opinions freely. In such case, the difference of opinions and views are always likely to arise. To cope with such situations, one needs to be humble, farsighted, large hearted, soft spoken, highly intelligent; but firm in the mission. Maulana Sayyid Nizamuddin Sahib (RA) held the post of General Secretary about 25 years and succeeded to keep the board a united platform of Indian Muslims using his wisdom and marvelous character.

His works were not limited and restricted within Imarat Shariah and Muslim Personal Law Board only, but he was also the prominent member of the governing bodies of the two prestigious Islamic institutions, Darul Uloom, Deoband and Nadvatul Ulama, Lucknow. He was one among the patrons of Islamic Fiqh Academy India (Est. 1998). He was the patron of many organizations and institutes. He was elected as the member of the governing body of Nadvatul Ulama, Lucknow in 1996; whereas he was made the member of governing board of Darul Uloom, Deoband in 1997. He was very much punctual in attending all the meetings of these institutions without fail. He used to consider these institutions as a trust of the elders. He never tolerated a statement against these institutions.

This writer, as a student in “Takmeele Adab” (Specialization in Arabic Language & Literature) in Darul Uloom, Deoband in 2004, remembers a story to tell. "I was told by a colleague of mine that in the same year in the month of Shawwal, a student from Darul Uloom, Deoband, reached in the service of Maulana Sayyid Nizamuddin Sahib to get his recommendation letter for the admission in “Takmeele Iftaa” (Specialization in Islamic Jurisprudence). He started talking to Amir-e-Shariat for the same. At one point he said, “I have come to get a recommendation letter for admission in “Takleeml Iftaa”, since the students from Bihar don’t get admission in “Takmeele Iftaa” easily comparing to the students of the other provinces.” As soon as the Amire Shariat heard this statement, he got angry and displeased immediately. He said to the student, “You are trying to accuse the authorities of Darul Uloom, Deoband. As a member of the governing body, I myself know, what the fact is? The fact is there are many students who try to get admission in “Takmeele Iftaa” and they do have secured the deserving marks for the course. But due to the internal circumstances, there are limited seats in “Takmeele Iftaa”. So, even many deserving students are failing to secure a seat in the desired course. The authorities pick the candidates, securing highest marks, one after another from each province. You have spoken a lie. Please beware next time!”

Along with being the member of these well-known organizations and institutes, Amire Shariat was the patron of many educational and charitable organizations. He guided those in charge of these organizations sincerely and selflessly. He discharged the given responsibility by the elders in a beautiful manner his whole life. The people working under him were much pleased with his good conduct and way of functioning. His sincerity and honesty played a key role to make him successful to fulfil his assigned duties.

Amire Shariat was born in Purani Jail of Gaya district in Bihar on 31st March, 1927, to Maulana Qazi Sayyid Husain (RA). He was from a famous Qazi family. The family has good academic and spiritual background. His father was a Darul Uloom, Deoband alumnus and the student of Allamah Sayyid Anwar Shah Kashmiri Ramatullahi Aleih (1875-1933) and his grandfather, Qazi Sayyid Sharfuddin was a disciple of Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Ali Mongeri. His grand-grand-father, Qazi Sayyid Sadiq Ali was the Qazi (Justice) of “Pargana Kothi Kandah”, which included Chatra, Hazaribagh, Palamun and Gaya at that time. He was blessed with three sons and six daughters.

Amire Shariat was ailing and bed ridden from a few months back. He was being treated in a Hospital in Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand. Some days back to his departure, he was brought back to Phulwari Shareef from the hospital. Then, the shocking time came and the fine soul left this mortal world on 17th October, 2015 at 6:15 pm, being 88 years old. His funeral prayer was led by the Deputy Amir-e-Shariat Maulana Sayyid Muhamamd Wali Rahmani, the acting general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board. He was buried in “Haji Harmain Qabristan” of Patna by the thousands of people attended his funeral prayer. May Allah, the Supreme Lord, grant him Jannatul Firdaus! qqq

(The author is a Darul Uloom, Deoband alumnus and presently Head of Islamic Studies Department, Moon Rays Trust School, Zambia.)