Abu Taher Qasmi Nadwi | |
|---|---|
আবু তাহের কাসেমী নদভী | |
| Director-General ofAl Jamia Al Islamia Patiya | |
| Assumed office 14 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Obaidullah Hamzah |
| Chairman ofAnjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh | |
| Assumed office 12 October 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Hafez Ahmadullah |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1960 (age 65–66) |
| Alma mater | |
| Signature |  |
| Personal life | |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Main interest(s) | Education |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Movement | Deobandi |
| Senior posting | |
| Disciple of | |
Abu Taher Qasmi Nadwi (born 1960) is a BangladeshiIslamic scholar and educator. He has served as the Director-General ofAl Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, also known as Patiya Madrasa, since February 2024 and has been serving as Chairman ofAnjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh since his appointment in October 2025. He also holds the position of vice-president ofHefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and oversees affiliated organizations under Patiya Madrasa, including the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Tahfizul Quran Organisation. In addition, he serves as the editor-in-chief ofMonthly At-Tawhid, a religious periodical published inChittagong.
Abu Taher was born in 1960 in Uttar Nichintapur,Fatikchhari Upazila,Chittagong District. His father was Nazir Ahmad. He began his early education within the family environment, receiving instruction inQuranic recitation and basic Islamic studies from Qari Harun.[1]
He later studied atJamia Islamia Obaidia Nanupur for one year, followed by four years at Jamia Yunusia. After returning to Nanupur for three additional years, he enrolled atAl Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, where he completed the Dawra-e-Hadith in 1980 and the Ifta program in 1981. Among his teachers wasAbdur Rahman.[1]
After graduation, Nadwi traveled to Pakistan for advanced studies inIfta. During this period, he paused atDarul Uloom Deoband in India to attend a Ramadan lecture series onSahih al-Bukhari bySaeed Ahmad Palanpuri. He subsequently enrolled at Darul Uloom Deoband to repeat the Dawra-e-Hadith. After completing the program a second time, he joinedDarul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow to pursue higher studies in Arabic language and literature.[1]
Alongside his academic studies, Nadwi undertook spiritual training. He initially received instruction inTasawwuf fromAbrarul Haq Haqqi and later receivedBay'ah (spiritual allegiance) from Abdur Rahman, from whom he also receivedkhilafat (spiritual succession) andijazat (authorization to teach).[1]
After completing his studies, Nadwi was advised byAbul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi to return to Bangladesh and dedicate himself to religious service. Following the guidance of his teachers, he joined Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, where he served as a teacher of Hadith and Arabic literature and held administrative responsibilities, including acting as Nazim of Darul Iqama for several years.[1]
In 2022, following the death of Patiya Madrasa's fourth Director-General,Abdul Halim Bukhari,Obaidullah Hamzah was appointed Director-General, and Nadwi was named Assistant Director.[2] Soon after Hamzah assumed office, internal disagreements among students and faculty increased, reaching a significant level by late 2023.[3] Efforts to resolve the conflict through the madrasa's Majlis-e-Shura in October–November 2023 were unsuccessful due to Hamzah being abroad and disputes regarding the meeting's legitimacy.[4] Protests by students and faculty over alleged misconduct escalated on 28 October 2023, resulting in Hamzah's resignation and temporary administrative control of the madrasa by opponents.[5] Hamzah challenged the resignation as coerced and filed a police complaint.[6] Renewed tensions in December 2023 and January 2024 led to another Shura meeting on 14 February 2024, which appointedHafez Ahmadullah as President and Nadwi as Director-General.[7] This appointment was opposed bySultan Zauq Nadwi, Hamzah, and their supporters, who considered it illegitimate.[8]
Following this period, disputes emerged within Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh. At an emergency session held at Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya on 16 December 2023, Hafez Ahmadullah was elected Chairman and Ekram Hossain Adudi as Secretary-General of the organization, with the justification that authority over the board belonged to members affiliated with Patiya Madrasa.[9][10] On 12 March 2024, a meeting convened by Sultan Zauq Nadwi, Hamzah, and their supporters inChittagong declared the Ahmadullah-Adudi committee illegitimate and reaffirmed the committee led by Sultan Zauq Nadwi and Hamzah.[11] The Ahmadullah-Adudi group expanded on 13 August 2024, adding 73 committee members and namingMuhibbullah Babunagari as chief patron.[12] After the death of Hafez Ahmadullah, a Shura meeting in Patiya on 12 October 2025 nominated Abu Taher Nadwi as Chairman of the organization.[13]
Nadwi was appointed Vice-President of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh on 31 August 2023.[14] He also supervises several bodies affiliated with Patiya Madrasa, including the Organization of Islamic Conference (from 14 October 2024) and the Tahfizul Quran Organisation.[15][16]
In addition to his administrative and organizational roles, Nadwi serves as editor-in-chief ofMonthly At-Tawhid, a religious periodical published in Chittagong.[17] He has also authored several works, includingDurusul Lughatul Arabiya,Amar Dekha London (Travelogue),Qawmi Madrasah: Ki o Keno?,Hum Kaun Hai? Hamari Zimmedari Kya Hai?, andTazkia-e Shah Ali Ahmad Bualvi.[1]