Abu Zafar Mohammad Saleh | |
|---|---|
আবু জাফর মোহাম্মদ সালেহ | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1915 |
| Died | 13 February 1990(1990-02-13) (aged 74–75) |
| Resting place | Sarsina Darbar Sharif graveyard |
| Parent | Nesaruddin Ahmad |
| Education | Darussunnat Kamil Madrasa Mazahir Uloom Darul Uloom Deoband |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Teachers | Nesaruddin Ahmad Zakariyya al-Kandhlawi |
| Muslim leader | |
Influenced by | |
| Awards | Independence Day Award (1980) |
| 2ndPir of Sarsina | |
| In office 31 January 1952 – 13 February 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Nesaruddin Ahmad |
| Succeeded by | Shah Muhibbullah |
| Arabic name | |
| Personal (Ism) | Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ محمد صالح |
| Patronymic (Nasab) | ibn Nithār ad-Dīn Aḥmad ibn Ṣadr ad-Dīn ibn Ẓahīr ad-Dīn بن نثار الدين أحمد بن صدر الدين بن ظهير الدين |
| Teknonymic (Kunya) | Abū Jaʿfar أبو جعفر |
| Epithet (Laqab) | Pīr Ṣāḥeb Sārsīna পীর সাহেব ছারছিনা |
| Toponymic (Nisba) | Ākhūnd آخوند al-Barīsālī البريسالي |
Abu Zafar Mohammad Saleh (Bengali:আবু জাফর মোহাম্মদ সালেহ; 1915 – 13 February 1990), popularly known as thePir of Sarsina, was aBangladeshiIslamic scholar.[1] He was said to have contributed to the establishment of 3000 educational institutions. Saleh had also pushed for the establishment of theIslamic Arabic University andibtedayimadrasas in Bangladesh.[2] Despite being a recipient of theIndependence Day Award,[3] he has been accused of collaborating with thePakistan Army and committing war crimes during theBangladesh Liberation war.[4]
Saleh was born on a Thursday in 1915, to a scholarlyBengali Muslim family ofPirs in the village of Sarsina inSwarupkati (later renamed to Nesarabad),Firozpur, then situated in theBackergunge District of theBengal Province. His father,Nesaruddin Ahmad, was akhalifah (spiritual successor) ofFurfura Sharif'sMohammad Abu Bakr Siddique and the inaugural Pir of Sarsina. His grandfather, Haji Sadruddin Akhand, and great-grandfather, Munshi Zahiruddin Akhand, were also prominentSufis of theGreater Barisal region.[5]
Saleh began his education under his father. He enrolled at theDarussunnat Kamil Madrasa in Sarsina – one of the most prominent institutions in greater Barisal, founded by his father in 1915. Saleh studied several books there including theMishkat al-Masabih. He then set off forHindustan, where he studied at theMazahir Uloom seminary ofSaharanpur. He completed his studies there by reciting theKutub al-Sittah to his teachers. Among his teachers in Saharanpur wereZakariyya al-Kandhlawi,Abdur Rahman Kamilpuri, Allamah Asadullah and Allamah Siddiq. Saleh was then admitted intoDarul Uloom Deoband where he maintained a cordial relationship withHussain Ahmad Madani.[6]
After his father's death in 1952, Saleh inherited the leadership of Sarsina Darbar Sharif and the chairmanship of theDarussunnat Kamil Madrasa. Saleh supportedAbdus Sattar, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate for presidency in 1981.[7] He headed the Bangladesh Jamate Hizbullah Hazrat and Bangladesh Jamate Ulema.[8]
Saleh was awarded by theGovernment of Bangladesh with theIndependence Day Award, the highest civilian honour, for his contribution to the education sector of Bangladesh in 1980. During this time, theBangladesh Nationalist Party was in power.[9] TheAwami League government has thought of revoking this award as various government documents claim that Saleh was involved in crimes against humanity. Among them is the book "War of Independence of Bangladesh: Documents" (Vol. 7) and "Where are the killers and brokers of 1971", which give direct account of his crimes.[4] It has also been said that he enjoyed friendly relations with thePakistan Army during the war.[10]
Saleh died on 13 February 1990, and was buried near his father in Sarsina.[6]