Anwar Shah Kashmiri | |
|---|---|
انور شاہ کشمیری | |
| 4th Principal and Sheikh al-Hadith ofDarul Uloom Deoband | |
| In office 1915–1927 | |
| Preceded by | Mahmud Hasan Deobandi |
| Succeeded by | Hussain Ahmad Madani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1875-11-26)26 November 1875 |
| Died | 28 May 1933(1933-05-28) (aged 57) |
| Children | Azhar Shah Qaiser,Anzar Shah Kashmiri |
| Alma mater | Darul Uloom Deoband |
| Signature |  |
| Main interest(s) | |
| Notable work(s) | |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Movement | Deobandi |
| Muslim leader | |
| Teacher | Mahmud Hasan Deobandi,Ghulam Rasool Hazarvi |
| Disciple of | Rashid Ahmad Gangohi |
Students
| |
Influenced | |
Anwar Shah Kashmiri (Urdu:انور شاہ کشمیری; 26 November 1875 – 28 May 1933) was an Islamic scholar fromKashmir in the early twentieth century, best known for his expertise in thestudy of hadith, a strong memory, and a unique approach to interpreting traditions, as well as the fourth principal ofDarul Uloom Deoband. With an ancestral heritage of religious scholarship rooted inBaghdad, he acquired training in Islamic sciences at Darul Uloom Deoband under the mentorship ofMahmud Hasan Deobandi, alongside enjoying a spiritual journey withRashid Ahmad Gangohi. Initiating his vocation as the first principal ofMadrasa Aminia, he embarked on a hajj in 1906 with a sojourn inMedina, dedicated to exploring the depths of hadith literature. Subsequently, he joined Darul Uloom Deoband, serving as the post ofSheikh al-Hadith for nearly thirteen years before choosingJamia Islamia Talimuddin as his final destination for his academic voyage. Although he displayed limited inclination toward the written word, a handful of treatises flowed from his pen. Yet, the bulk of his literary legacy has been preserved through the efforts of his students, who transcribed his classroom lectures, discourses, and sermons. While the crux of his scholarly work centered on championing theHanafi school and establishing its supremacy, he also garnered recognition for his comparatively liberal approach to various religious matters. His publications found their place under the patronage of Majlis-i Ilmi, a scholarly institution established inDelhi in 1929. His scholarly credentials received official endorsement with the publication ofFayd al-Bari, a four-volume Arabic commentary onSahih al-Bukhari, curated byBadre Alam Merathi and published inCairo, with the financial support ofJamiatul Ulama Transvaal.
The spectrum of his literary endeavors touched diverse subjects, encompassing the Quran, Fundamental Beliefs, Metaphysics,Islamic Jurisprudence, Zoology, Poetry, and Political Thought, mostly in Arabic, with two in Persian. He also left behind 15,000 couplets of poetry. Many Indian scholars frequently referenced his views and opinions in their works, and he was often referred to as a Mobile Library. During his eighteen-year teaching career at the Deoband seminary, he contributed to the training of approximately two thousand hadith scholars. Regarding his engagement in the political arena, he was a vehement opponent ofBritish colonial rule in India and encouraged Muslims not to cooperate with the British as a member ofJamiat Ulema-e-Hind. He is particularly remembered for his 1927 presidential address at the Peshawar annual meeting. In the twilight of his life, he directed his energies towards countering the rising tide ofQadiyanism, and his erudition manifested in the creation of approximately ten works on the subject. His intellectual prowess even inspired other figures likeMuhammad Iqbal to undertake an exploration ofIslam and Ahmadism.[1] Thegovernment of Jammu and Kashmir has declared his house in Kashmir as an old wooden heritage site.
Anwar Shah Kashmiri was born inKashmir on 27 [Shawwal] 1292AH (26 November 1875) in aSayyid family. Aged four, he started reading theQuran under the instruction of his father, Muazzam Ali Shah.[2] In 1889, he relocated toDeoband, where he studied at the Darul Uloom for three years. In 1892, he moved to Darul Uloom Deoband where he studied withMahmud Hasan Deobandi and others. Then, in 1896 (1314 AH), he went toRashid Ahmad Gangohi and obtained a teaching certificate in Hadith (which he had been studying for two years) and esoteric knowledge.[2]
After graduating from Darul Uloom, he taught inMadrasa Aminia, Delhi, serving as its first principal. In 1903 he went to Kashmir, where he established Faiz-e A'am Madrasah.[2] In 1905 (1323 AH) he performed Hajj. Four years later, he returned to Deoband. Until 1933, he taught books of Hadith without taking a salary. He held the guardianship of Darul Uloom for nearly twelve years. He resigned in 1927 (1346 AH) and went to the Madrasah of Dabhel in western India, where, until 1932 (1351), he taught Hadith. He left his family in 1887 and moved into the Madrasah inIndia.[3]
He taught at the Madrasah Fay'm for three years before embarking on hisHajj toMecca andMedina.[3] He visited his Deoband instructor Mahmood Hasan, who persuaded him to take a position teaching in Deoband. When Mahmood Hasan himself subsequently relocated to Medina in 1908, Shah began teaching Hadith.[4] He retained the position until 1927, when he departed after a disagreement with management.[3]
Kashmiri moved toJamia Islamia Talimuddin along withAzizur Rahman Usmani in 1927 where he taught Hadith until 1932.[2]
In 1933, Shah became ill and traveled to Deoband for medical care. He continued addressing students there until he died on 28 May 1933. He was survived by his elder sonAzhar Shah Qaiser and younger sonAnzar Shah Kashmiri.[3]Muhammad Iqbal arranged a condolence ceremony, at which he described Kashmiri as the greatest Islamic scholar of the last five hundred years.[5]
Anwar Shah Kashmiri is regarded by many as one of the most versatile and prolifichadith scholars produced by thesubcontinent.[6] In recognition of his contributions in the field of hadith literature and revival of various Islamic sciences, Islamic scholarSayyid Rashid Rida said, "I have never seen a more distinguished scholar of hadith than Allamah Kashmiri."[6]
Jamia Imam Muhammad Anwar Shah, Deoband is an Islamic school named after Kashmiri. Yunoos Osman wrote hisD.Phil thesisLife and Works of Allamah Muhammad Anwar Shah Kashmiri at theUniversity of Durban-Westville.[7]
A book about Kashmiri entitledThe Pride of Kashmir was released in December 2015. During the release of the book,Engineer Rashid, then MLA ofLangate renamed Student of the year award ofKupwara to "Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Award for Excellence".[8]
Kashmiri also wrote poetry and often put his scholarly writings in that form. Some of his articles and manuscripts remain unpublished.[3]
Kashmiri's students includeManazir Ahsan Gilani,Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi,Hifzur Rahman Seoharwi,Saeed Ahmad Akbarabadi,Zayn al-Abidin Sajjad Meerthi,Muhammad Miyan Deobandi,Manzur Nu'mani, andMuhammad Shafi.[13][14]
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