Shah Ahmad Shafi

Shah Ahmad Shafi (Bengali: শাহ আহমদ শফী) is the present chief of Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh, present 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 1916 (1334-35 AH) in Rangunia, Chittagong and was educated at Hathazari Madrasah and Darul Uloom Deoband.[4][5]

Shaikhul Hadith, Allama

Shah Ahmad Shafi
Ahmad Shafi is making concluding du'a (a prayer) in a seminar.
Personal
Born
Shah Ahmad Shafi

1916 (age 103–104)
Rangunia, Chittagong
ReligionIslam
NationalityBangladeshi
EraModern era
JurisprudenceHanafi
MovementDeobandi
Main interest(s)Hadith
Notable work(s)Establishing Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh
Alma materDarul Uloom Deoband
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Deobandism
Ideology and influences
Founders and key figures
Notable institutions
Darul ulooms and madrasas
Centres (markaz) of Tablighi Jamaat
Associated organizations
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Islam
  •  Islam portal

Early life

He was born in 1916 (1334-35 AH) in Rangunia, Chittagong. He received his primary education from his family. Then he joined Al-Jamiatul Arabiatul Islamiah, Ziri and spent five or six months there. He was admitted to Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam in 1926 (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 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 most youngest official successor from Indian subcontinent. Ahmed Shafi is 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 is also the present chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board.[1]

Shah Ahmad Shafi will 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.[6]

Views

In 2009 (1430 AH), Ahamd 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.[7]

Controversy

2013 comments

In 2013, a speech given by Ahmad Shafi at Hathazari, Chittagong was described as highly misogynist.[8] 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."

The comments caused outrage among woman rights activists who demanded his imprisonment.[9] Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh termed the statement "disgusting" and "distasteful".[10]

Relationship with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

Although the Awami League describes him as a frontman for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, analysts say this is highly unlikely as Ahmad Shafi belongs 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]

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
  • Fazlul Hoque Amini - student of Ahmad Shafi
  • Mufti Izharul Islam
  • Allama Junaid Babunagari
  • Allama Nurul Islam Ulipuri
  • Maulana Muhiuddin Khan

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. 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. 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. "Shafi to remain Hathazari madrasa rector till death". Dhaka Tribune. 15 July 2017.
  7. "Kawmi madrasa leaders to help govt fight militancy". The Daily Star. UNB. 19 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  8. "Sermon Shafi style". The Daily Star. 11 July 2013.
  9. "Women's right activists denounce Shafi's statement". Dhaka Tribune. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  10. "Hasina flays Hifazat chief". bdnews24.com. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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