Abu Taher Misbah (Bengali:আবু তাহের মিসবাহ; born 6 March 1956), also known asAdib Huzur (Bengali:আদিব হুজুর), is a BangladeshiDeobandi Islamic scholar, academic and author.[1][2] He is the founder ofMadani Nesab, and the first textbook that he wrote for it,Eso Arabi Sikhi, is read as the primary textbook of Arabic learning in Bangladesh.[3]
Abu Taher Misbah was born on 6 March 1956. His father's name is Mishbahul Haque. Although his ancestral home was inComilla, he grew up inDhaka. After studying inJamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh, Jamia Nooria Islamia, he completed Dawra-e Hadith (MA) fromAl Jamia Al Islamia Patiya in 1977.[4]
He started his career as a teacher at Jamia Islamia Darul Uloom Madania. Later he taught in Jamia Nooria Islamia for about 25 years. While teaching at Nooria Madrasa, he started an education reform movement by publishing the handwritten Arabic magazineIqra. Later, Madrasatul Madina was established in the light of his thinking.
Since then he started writing experimental textbooks forMadani Nesab. Later, the teaching method he introduced spread throughout the country.[5] The first textbook he wrote for Madani Nesab wasEso Arabi Sikhi, which is read as the primary textbook of Arabic learning inBangladesh. Other textbooks authored by him include:Ēsō Saraf Śikhi, Ēsō Nāhu Śikhi, Ēsō Bālāgāt Śikhi, Ēsō Fikāh Śikhi, Ēsō Urdu Śikhi, Ēsō Kalam Mērāmat Kari, Islāmkē Jāntē Halē, Āt Tāmrin, Ēsō Tāfsir Śikhi. Ēsō Kōr'ān Śikhi is the first introductory book on the Qur'an for madrasa students in the Indian subcontinent.Al Manar andAl Muzamul Wasit are two modern Arabic-Bengali dictionaries written by him.[5][6]
In 1992, he founded Madrasatul Madina under the supervision of Abdul Hai Paharpuri in the light of his thinking.[4][7]
He is the founding editor of the Bengali literary periodicalMasik Al Qalam (Pushp). In the field of Bengali literature, he has shown a new way to the scholars. Many of his disciples devoted themselves to Bengali literary practice.[8] He translatedAbul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi'sIslam and the World,Saviours of Islamic Spirit, Arkane Arbaa, Al Murtaza, Qasasun Nabiyyin andTaqi Usmani'sLegal Status of Following a Madhab, Hadhrat Ameer Mu'awiyah aur Tareekhi Haqa`iq into Bengali. He also translated Guru Dutt Singh Dara'sRasul-e Arabi.[9] His travelogue of Hajj as a young man withMuhammadullah Hafezzi,Baitullah's Musafir, Aso Kalam meramat Kari, In Search of Turkistan in Turkey, etc. are his outstanding creations in Bengali literature.[5][10]Child Aqeedah series, Child Seerat series etc. are notable additions to his children's literature.[11]
The British Association of Teachers of Arabic hosted their 3rd Annual International Conference at the University of Manchester. The conference was titled "Shaykh Abū Ṭāher Miṣbāḥ: A Man Who Inspired Thousands to Master Arabic in Bangladesh" and was presented by Mahfuj Ahmed on July 6th and 7th, 2023, in the United Kingdom.[12]
