Allama Kazi Nurul Islam Hashemi
Islamic scholar, teacher, and preacher. He was the president of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat.
Introduction:
Allama Kazi Nurul Islam Hashemi (Born: December 28, 1928 – Died: June 2, 2020) was an Islamic scholar, teacher, and preacher from Bangladesh. He served as the president of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and was a presidium member of the Bangladesh Islami Front. He also played a unique role in founding the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Sena. Additionally, he was a member of the organizing committee for the national observation of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH). He founded the Bat Tala Ahsanul Ulum Jameya Gausia Kamil Madrasah on August 1, 1964. During Bangladesh’s War of Independence, he supported the liberation and actively opposed the establishment of camps for Razakars (collaborators with the Pakistani army) in various madrasas in Chittagong. He was an opponent of shrine culture. Allama Hashemi performed Hajj eight times and traveled to several countries, including his first visit to Saudi Arabia in 1989. He traveled to several U.S. states in 1994 upon the invitation of the Sunni community there. He received the title of Pir from his father, Maulana Kazi Mohammad Ahsanuzzaman Hashemi.
Family and Birth:
Kazi Nurul Islam Hashemi (Rahimahullah) was born on December 28, 1928, in the Hashemi family of Kulgawn village, under the jurisdiction of Panchlaish Police Station, Chittagong, in what was then British India. His father was Shah Sufi Kazi Ahsanuzzaman Hashemi, and his mother was the daughter of Allama Safirur Rahman, the Khatib of Chittagong Shahi Jame Masjid. It is believed that the Hashemi lineage came from Turkey during the Mughal period and is connected to Imam Hussain’s (RA) descendants.
Educational Life:
At just 6 years old, Kazi Nurul Islam Hashemi memorized the Quran. He learned Urdu, Farsi, and Arabic at an early age at home. After completing his primary education, he enrolled at Wajediya Alia Madrasa, where he earned a gold medal in the 1945 board exams for the fifth grade. He completed his Jamia Ula studies in 1949, learning Arabic from Musa Mujaddedi there. He then began teaching at Wajediya Madrasa for a year before joining Dhaka Alia Madrasa in 1951 in the Hadith department of the title class. He studied under Syed Amimul Ehsan and Abdur Rahman Kashgari, and Amimul Ehsan granted him the certification “Nailul Muram Bi-Asanid Aoush Shaikh Nurul Islam.” In addition, he learned from scholars such as Muhammad Shafi Firangi and Mawlana Mumtazuddin. He also completed a diploma course in Urdu at Dhaka University.
His Teachers:
Allama Kazi Nurul Islam Hashemi gained knowledge (Ilm) from many prominent scholars. He studied Ilm-e-Hadith and Bukhari Sharif (Part 2) under Allama Mufti Syed Amimul Ehsan Mujaddedi (Rahimahullah). He studied Tafseer-e-Kashaf under Allama Abdur Rahman Kashgari, Tafseer-e-Baizawi under Allama Huzatul Muhammad Shafi Firangi (Rahimahullah), Abu Dawood (Part 2) and Muslim Sharif (Part 1) under Allama Abdus Sattar Bihari (Rahimahullah), and Tirmizi (Part 1) under Mawlana Mumtazuddin (Rahimahullah). He completed Sahih Bukhari (Part 1) under Allama Zafar Ahmed Usmani (Rahimahullah).
Career:
He began his career as a teacher at Wajedia Alia Madrasa in Chittagong. He later taught at Shahchan Aulia Alia Madrasa in Patiya, Jameya Ahmadia Sunnia Alia Madrasa in Soloshahar, and Odudiya Sunnia Madrasa in Hathazari. In 1964, he established an Islamic spiritual learning center and a mosque. He was the director and spiritual guide (Pir) of this institution.
Some of His Notable Students:
As a teacher, Allama Qazi Nurul Islam Hashemi (RA) taught many students, and it is tough to count their number. Several renowned scholars, religious figures, and spiritual leaders were once his students. Among them are:
- Sher-e-Millat Allama Obaidul Haq Naeemi (RA), Shaykhul Hadith, Jamia Ahmadia Sunnia Alia Madrasa, Chittagong.
- Allama Azizul Haq Al Qadri, Founder and Principal, Sipatli Alia Madrasa.
- Allama Mufti Inamul Haq, Former Principal, Wajidia Alia Madrasa.
- Allama Muhammad Nurul Munawar, Former Principal, Gahira Alia Madrasa.
- Allama Mufti Ahmed Nazir, Muhaddith, Ahsanul Uloom Alia Madrasa.
- Allama Abdus Sattar Anwari, Principal, Wajidia Alia Madrasa.
- Allama Muhammad Abdur Rob Chishti, Pir, Badrpur Darbar Sharif, Dhaka.
- Allama Zafar Ahmed Siddiqui (RA), Founder and Principal, Burishor Ziaul Uloom Madrasa.
- Allama Mufti Qazi Muhammad Aminul Islam Hashemi (RA).
- Allama Bazlur Rahim Hashemi (RA).
- Allama Khairul Bashar Haqqani, Founder and Principal, Ashiqan-e-Awliya Madrasa.
- Mufti Syed Muhammad Asiyur Rahman Al-Qaderi, Principal, Jamia Ahmadia Sunnia Alia Madrasa.
- Maulana Salah Uddin Imami, Principal, Mirsharai Latifia Alia Madrasa.
- Muhammad Marjam Hossain Chowdhury, Vice Principal, Sipatli Gausia Moinia Madrasa.
- Maulana Muhammad Khairullah, Vice Principal, Patiya Shahchand Awliya Alia Madrasa.
- Allama Moinuddin Ahmed (RA), Former Principal, Nanupur Gausia Madrasa.
- Maulana Shamsul Alam Helali (RA).
- Maulana Syed Abul Bahar, Former Principal, Katirhat Madrasa.
- Mufti Maulana Abul Mohsen, Former Muhaddith, Gahira Alia Madrasa.
- Maulana Muhammad Zillur Rahman Ali Shah, Pir, Yunia Betagi Darbar Sharif, Ranga.
- Maulana Muhammad Arif Billah, Pir, Mirzakhil Darbar Sharif, Satkania.
- Maulana Muhammad Abdus Salam, Principal, Kalapul Wahidia Senior Madrasa.
- Maulana Shamsul Alam Chowdhury, Principal, Alamsah Para Alia Madrasa.
- Maulana Muhammad Safiqul Anwar, Former Principal, Mirzapur Momenia Madrasa.
- Maulana Muhammad Harisur Rahman, Principal, Nangalkot Senior Madrasa, Comilla.
- Maulana Hafiz Abdul Hayat, Principal, Nangolmora Senior Madrasa.
- Maulana Syed Muhammad Hossain, Principal, Hathazari Odudiya Madrasa.
- Maulana Abul Bashar (Head), Anwara Sunnapara Memorial Marirul Islam Senior Madrasa.
- Maulana Abdur Rashid, Principal, Patiya Sirmai Senior Madrasa, Chittagong.
Organizational and Political Life:
Allama Hashemi played a key role in founding the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Sena, an organization promoting Sunni ideals.
Throughout his life, he worked to strengthen Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat. He served as the elected president of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, the chief advisor to the Ahle
Sunnat Conference, and the convenor of the national Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi observation committee. Even in his old age, he remained active in the propagation and expansion of Islam.
Reformation Efforts:
As a social reformer, Allama Hashemi took many initiatives to save the youth from misguidance and lead them on the path of truth and justice. He gave lectures throughout the year, and each year he organized a seminar on Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) to commemorate the enlightened life of The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He opposed shrine culture, tearing down two false shrines in the Khondakia and Badamtali areas. To bring peace and harmony to society, he formed the Anjuman Muhibban-e-Rasul Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam Gausia Jilani Committee, which attracted youth away from antisocial activities and toward the path of truth.
Journeys:
Allama Hashemi traveled widely for the cause of Sunni Islam. He performed Hajj eight times and Umrah once. He first visited Saudi Arabia in 1989 and identified the Wahhabi influence in the Emirati dynasty through his speeches. He was the first to openly preach to the Sunni community in that region, and later, he was invited to the United Arab Emirates by the Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities. In 1994, he visited several U.S. states upon invitation from the Sunni community, delivering speeches at various seminars. Several non-Muslims converted to Islam after hearing his lectures.
Books Authored:
Allama Hashemi wrote several books on various Islamic topics, including:
- Nasiha-tut-Talibin
- Zadu-l-Muslimin
- Aqaid-e-Batil
- Call to Truth
- Ad-Durru-d-Dala’il
- Al-Arba’in fi Muhimmat-id-Din
- Me’raj-ul-Mu’minin
- Milad-un-Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam – Why?
- Nur-e-Mustafa
- Biographical work on Allama Ahsanuzzaman Hashemi
- Shajarat-uz-Zahab
- Doa’r Bhandar
- Tazkiratul Kiram
- Wazifa-e-Hashemia
Social Reformer:
As a social reformer, he accomplished many things. He constantly promoted the teachings of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Specifically, he took numerous measures to save the youth of this region from going astray and to guide them toward the path of truth and justice. He delivered lectures throughout the year and organized an annual Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (peace be upon him) seminar to uphold the enlightened life and numerous deeds of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He fought against the culture of shrines and demolished two false shrines in the Jamadar Para and Badmatli areas of the Khondakia region. To bring peace and harmony to society, he established the Anjuman Muhibban Rasul (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) Gausia Jilani Committee. The youth involved in these activities stayed away from antisocial behavior and were attracted to the path of truth.
Travel:
Allama Qazi Nurul Islam Hashemi did not limit himself to his own country. He traveled to many countries to establish the Sunnah. He performed Hajj eight times and Umrah once. In 1989, he visited Saudi Arabia for the first time. Through his lectures, he was able to identify the Wahhabi lineage in the Emirates. He was the first person to give open lectures to the Sunni community. No one had dared to give a lecture in this region before. Afterward, during a visit to the UAE, he was invited by the Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities living there. In 1994, he visited several states in the United States at the invitation of the Sunni community. He delivered lectures at various seminars, and several newspapers interviewed him. Several non-Muslims who attended his lectures embraced Islam. He visited the shrines of Hazrat Ali (RA), Hazrat Gaus Pak Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA), at least 25 prophets (AS), and many saints in Iraq. He also visited the shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) and several other shrines and Islamic sites in India.
Khilafah and Ijazah (spiritual succession):
He received his Khilafah (spiritual authority) from his father, Hazrat Mawlana Qazi Mohammad Ahsanuzzaman Hashemi (RA), who had received Khilafah from Hazrat Mawlana Abdun Nabi (RA) and Hazrat Mawlana Shah Saleh Lahori (RA). He was also the spiritual guide (Pir Murshid) of Hazrat Shah Ahmadullah Maizbhandari. Additionally, the Pir of Furfura Sharif, Hazrat Mawlana Abu Bakr Siddiqi Allama Hashemi (RA), had granted Khilafah and Ijazah to Allama Hashemi’s father. Later, the elder son of the Pir of Furfura Sharif visited Allama Hashemi’s home and conferred Khilafah upon him. It is said that Imam-e-Ahle Sunnat and Ghazi-e-Deen-e-Millat Hazrat Allama Shah Sayed Azizul Haq Al Qadri Shere-e-Bangla (RA) also gave Ijazah to Allama Hashemi (RA). It is further stated that Hazrat Shere-e-Bangla (RA) had received Khilafah and Ijazah from Hazrat Allama Syed Abdul Hamid Baghdadi Aafidi Azhari (RA). When Allama Qazi Nurul Islam Hashemi (RA) traveled to Saudi Arabia in 1995 to perform Hajj, he was granted Khilafah and Ijazah in the Qadiri, Chishti, Naqshbandi, and Mujaddedi Sufi orders by the famous Pir Hazrat Allama Syed Muhammad ibn Syed Alvi Maliki (RA). Additionally, Hazrat Allama Hashemi (RA) received Bai’at, Khilafah, and Ijazah from Hazrat Mawlana Pir Zamen Nizami Syed Bukhari (RA), who also bestowed upon him the title of “Sirajul Ulama.” Lastly, Allama Hashemi was granted Khilafah and Ijazah by Allama Shah Shafiur Rahman Hashemi (RA), Sayyidul Ulama Wal Muhaddithin Hazrat Allama Mufti Syed Muhammad Amimul Ehsan Mujaddedi (RA), and prominent religious scholars of the Arab world, including Allama Syed Abed Shah Mujaddedi (RA) and Hazrat Mawlana Yahya Mujaddedi (RA).
Allama Kazi Nurul Islam Hashemi’s Islamic Lecture Video:
Death and Burial:
Chairman of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Bangladesh, Ustazul Ulama, Imam of Ahle Sunnat Allama Qazi Muhammad Nurul Islam Hashemi (RA) answered the call of Almighty Allah and took his last breath at dawn around 5:00 AM on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. He was buried at the Hashemiya Darbar Sharif in Chittagong.