Shah Ahmad Shafi

Shah Ahmad Shafi (Bengali: শাহ আহমদ শফী) (5 April 1930 – 18 September 2020) was a Bangladeshi Sunni Islamic scholar, the chief of Hefazat-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 1930 in Rangunia, Chittagong and was educated at Hathazari Madrasah and Darul Uloom Deoband.[4][5]

Shaikhul Hadith,
Shah Ahmad Shafi
Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh
In office
January 2010 – 18 September 2020
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byJunaid Babunagari
TitleSheikhul Islam
Personal
Born5 April 1930
Rangunia, Bengal, British India
Died18 September 2020(2020-09-18) (aged 90)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Resting placeMadrasa cemetery
ReligionIslam
NationalityBangladeshi
CitizenshipBritish Indian (1930-1947)
Pakistani (1947-1971)
Bangladeshi (1971-2020)
EraModern era
RegionChattagram
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanafi
CreedMaturidi
MovementDeobandi
Main interest(s)Hadith
Notable idea(s)Figh jurisprudence
Notable work(s)Established Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh
Alma materDarul Uloom Deoband
TariqaQadri
Chishti
Soharwardi
Naqshbandi
OccupationHadith, Scholar
Muslim leader
Disciple ofHussain Ahmad Madani
Disciples
Influenced by
Influenced

Early life

He was born in 5 April 1930 in Rangunia, Chittagong.[6][7] He received his primary education from his family. Then he joined Al-Jamiatul Arabiatul Islamiah Ziri.[8] He was admitted to Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam in 1941 (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 was a renowned Islamic scholar in Bangladesh.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.[9]

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.[10]

Controversy

2013 comments

In 2013, a speech given by Ahmad Shafi at Hathazari, Chittagong was described as highly misogynistic.[11] 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."[11]

The comments caused outrage among women's rights activists who demanded his imprisonment.[12] Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh termed the statement "disgusting" and "distasteful".[13]

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]

Death
Drone shot of Ahmad Shafi's large congregatory funeral prayer in Chittagong.
Salat al-Janazah of Shah Ahmad Shafi

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.[14] 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.[15]

A medical board was formed on the morning of 18 September 2020, who suggested he should be moved to Dhaka for better treatment.[16] 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.[17]

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. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. 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 (in Bengali). 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. Nijampuri, Ashraf Ali (2013). The Hundred (100 Great Scholars from Bangladesh) (1st ed.). Hathazari, Chittagong: Salman Publication. p. 347. ISBN 978-112009250-2. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  7. Bangladesh Government (6 August 1980), 1980 passport of Shah Ahmad Shafi, retrieved 28 June 2023
  8. "Hefazat chief Ahmad Shafi no more". The Daily Star. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  9. "Shafi to remain Hathazari madrasa rector till death. Just before his feath he resigned the post". Dhaka Tribune. 15 July 2017.
  10. "Kawmi madrasa leaders to help govt fight militancy". The Daily Star. UNB. 19 April 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  11. "Sermon Shafi style". The Daily Star. 11 July 2013.
  12. "Women's right activists denounce Shafi's statement". Dhaka Tribune. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  13. "Hasina flays Hifazat chief". bdnews24.com. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  14. "Hefazat chief Ahmad Shafi no more". The Daily Star. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  15. আল্লামা শফি আর নেই. banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  16. এয়ার অ্যাম্বুলেন্সে ঢাকায় পাঠানো হলো আল্লামা শফিকে. banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  17. হেফাজতে ইসলামের আমীর আহমদ শফী মারা গেছেন. BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 September 2020.


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