Shabbir Ahmad Usmani

Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (Urdu: شبیر احمد عثمانی‎, Shabbīr Aḥmad ‘Usmānī; October 11, 1887 – December 13, 1949) was an Islamic scholar who supported the Pakistan Movement in the 1940s. He was a theologian, writer, orator, politician, and expert in tafsir and Hadith.

Early life

Shabbir Ahmad Usmani شبير أحمد عثماني
Personal Details
Born	(1887-10-11)October 11, 1887 Bijnor, British India
Died	Baghdad al-Jadid, Bahawalpur State
Resting place	Islamia Science College Karachi, Pakistan
Region	South Asia
Occupation	Islamic scholar, Teacher, Politician
Religion	Islam
Denomination	Sunni Islam
Jurisprudence	Hanafi
Movement	Deobandi
Main interest(s)	Tafsir, Hadith, Shari'a
Notable idea(s)	Objectives Resolution
Alma mater	Darul Uloom Deoband
Sufi order	Chishtiya-Sabiriya-Imdadiya
Disciple of	Mahmud al-Hasan
Influenced by Mahmud al-Hasan

Born on October 11, 1887 in Bijnor, a city in Uttar Pradesh, India, his father, Fadhlur Rahman, was a deputy inspector of schools and had been sent to Bareilly when his son was born. He was educated at Darul Ulum Deoband, where he became a disciple of Mahmud ul Hasan, and graduated in 1908. After his graduation, he was appointed as a teacher at Darul Uloom Deoband.

In 1915, when Mahmud ul Hasan travelled to Hijaz, Usmani filled his position as the teacher of Sahih Muslim. In 1925, Sultan Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia scheduled a conference for prominent ulama from all over the world. A deputation of a number of 'ulama from India participated in this conference, with Usmani among them. In 1926, he moved to Dabhel, a small predominantly Deobandi town in the Indian state of Gujarat, and became a teacher at Jami'a Islamiyyah Dabhel. In 1933, when Anwar Shah Kashmiri died, Usmani became the teacher of Sahih al-Bukhari.

Literary works

Usmani's literary works are

1. Tafsir-e-Usmani, an Urdu translation of the tafsir of the Quran written by Mahmud ul Hasan
2. Fathul Mulhim Sharh Sahih Muslim, a commentary on Sahih Muslim

Political career

In 1944, he became a member of the Muslim League and was one of the few Deobandis who supported the creation of Pakistan. In order to counteract the propaganda and activities of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, he founded the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in 1945. He served as JUI's president until his death. He is also notable for having led the funeral prayer of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

After the Partition of India, Usmani became a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, and remained a member until his death. Although he was not given a cabinet position.

He is best remembered for having spearheaded the Qarardad-i-Maqasid Objectives Resolution, which was passed by the constituent assembly on March 12, 1949.

Death

Usmani died at Baghdadul Jadid in Bahawalpur State on December 13, 1949, and was buried at Islamia College, Karachi.

Sources

• Rizwan Hussain. Pakistan and the emergence of Islamic militancy in Afghanistan. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2005

ISBN 0-7546-4434-0, ISBN 978-0-7546-4434-7