Mawlana Kabiruddin Rahmani (Bangla: মাওলানা কবিরউদ্দীন রহমানী), born in the year 1909 - died 23rd September 1963 was one of the Great Scholar and Educator of Islam in the Indian Subcontinent in mid 20th Century. He was the Professor at the Madrasah-e-Alia, Dhaka (now Govt. Madrasah-e-Alia); Imam of Bangshal Boro Jame Masjid[1] in Old Dhaka; Senior Advisor of Ahl-e-Hadith Jamayet, of the then East Pakistan.
File:Boro Koyer-home.jpgThe Birth Place of Mawlana Kabiruddin Rahmani, Boro Koyer Home. (Image taken November 2019)File:Boro Koyer-home2.jpgThe room where Mawlana Kabiruddin was born in Boro Koyer (Image taken November 2019)
Mawlana Kabiruddin Rahmani was born and brought up on the bank of Belai beel in the village of Boro Koyer[2],Bhawal, Joydebpur (presently Gazipur district), Bengal Presidency, British India (Now Bangladesh). He was the youngest of four sons and four daughters of Munshi Abdul Khaleq and Hajera Khatun. His Grand -Father was Danu Bhuiyan from Bhatira[3], Kaliganj, Gazipur district.
Mawlana Kabiruddin studied in the Darul Ulum Madrasah in Bangshal, Old Dhaka under the supervision of Md. Mofizuddin, a teacher of the famous Hammadia Madrasah of Dhaka. After being recognized as a talented student by Md. Mofizuddin, he admitted Mawlana Kabiruddin to "Madrasah Dar Al-Hadith Rahmaniyah,Delhi"[4][5]and made arrangements for his travel. Delhi, now (New Delhi) the capital of India, was renowned for Islamic education at that time. Mawlana Rahmani left home and commenced his religious education there only at the age of thirteen.
Original entrance of Madrasa Dar Al-Hadith Rahmaniyah, Delhi.
Renovated entrance of Madrasa Dar Al-Hadith Rahmaniyah in 2015. Now SHAFIQ MEMORIAL SR SEC SCHOOL (Image taken Dec. 2016)
The main Madrasah (Image taken Oct. 2019)
Madrasa Dar Al-Hadith Rahmaniyah Student Hostel, Main Building (Image taken Oct. 2019)
Madrasah Dar Al-Hadith Rahmaniyah was abolished at the time of Partition of India. After the Independence of India it was reopened in different name but closed soon. Later in 1950 Shafiq Memorial Senior Secondary School[6] was established on the same premises.
Mawlana’s family was very influential and his older Brothers were powerful personals of that region as because they were Bhuiyan. At that time there were different doctrines among the Muslims of East Bengal and the religious theology was unclear. New leaders would emerge with new religious direction very frequently, making the common people confused. Munshi Abdul Khaleq was a rich, influential and wise man. He was Imam of Boro Koyer Masjid as well as Teacher of Maktab (Now Boro koyre Nurani Hafizia Madrasah[7]). Therefore he was named Munshi. Munshi Abdul Khaleq was involved with the Faraizi movement led by Haji Shariatullah. He decided that he would send his youngest son at any distance required in order to acquire the true knowledge. At the same time, he also thought of the welfare of the society. As his teenage son was leaving home, he told him dearly, ’You will come back after knowing the truth, you are going to the right place.”
Mawlana Kabiruddin amazed everyone by his outstanding academic performance at Rahmania Madrasah in Delhi. He became more accustomed to speaking and writing in Urdu, instead of Bengali, due to his stay in Delhi for long twelve years, but He practiced Bengali. He was Multilingual, achieving fluency in Arabic, Urdu, Farsi and English. His reputation grew as a brilliant student, an exceptional orator, and a skilled sophist all over North India. It is said Kabiruddin attended a meeting held in Lahore and the audience was amused by his speech.[8][9]
Gaining all the achievements, still Kabiruddin had a special attraction to his native land Bengal and moved back to Dhaka with huge aspiration. Nationalism was very deep with in him despite diverse ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds.
Kabiruddin started his teaching career at the Rahmania Madrasah in the while he was a senior student.[10][11] However, he returned to Bengal in the early 1930’s to devote himself to work for his society . He established a Madrasah at Bara Beraid[12], on the banks of Balu river near Dhaka, and began teaching with an aim to educate people with religious knowledge. Within a short period of time, he was appointed as the Imam of Bangshal Jame Masjid in old Dhaka. He also took charge of the Darul Hadith Madrasah and moved to Dhaka. Mawlana Kabiruddin joined Dhaka Alia Madrasah in 1947, after the Madrasah was transferred from Calcutta (Present : Kolkata) to Dhaka.
Mawlana Kabiruddin helped Mawlana Shamsul Haque Faridpuri of Lalbagh Madrasah (now Jamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh) for translating Sahih al-Bukhari into Bengali. He used to check the correctness of the material content and proof-read the (now defunct) "Tarjumanul Hadith" during its publication. He used to write articles in the magazine “Al Jadid” published from Egypt and also in "Weekly Arafat and Monthly Tarjumanul Hadith' a news paper and magazine of Bangladesh Jamiyat Ahl Al-Hadith .Copies of these magazines were regularly posted to his home in Bangshal. Mawlana Kabiruddin was well-accepted and highly esteemed by the people from all walks of life. He was the founder of the Mosque- based education system in Swat,Pakistan.
Mawlana Kabiruddin settled in Bangshal[13], Old Dhaka. He was notable for his kindness, wise decisions and involvement with people from all walk of life and religion. He had a splendid relations with Sardars of Dhaka at his time (notably Mirza Kader, Zumman, Moti, Mowla Bukhs, Majed, Pearu, Kahil and Latif Khan). Sardars used to take his advice for solving many problems at the Panchayat. He was also well known to Nawab Khwaja Habibullah Bahadur.
Mawlana also had friendly relations with other religion figures at that time (notably Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission Temple, Father of Armenian Church, Head Monk of Kamalapur Dharmarajika Bauddha Vihara). Mawlana Kabiruddin believed in Human Rights, Culture, Society responsibility, Nationalism and of-course Religion. That is why he was adored by all, no matter who they were. He never forced anyone to do anything. It is being told that Mawlana Kabiruddin only had friends but no Foe.
Islam does not approve of giving three “Talaq”s at the same time. Mawlana Kabiruddin proved this fact with sufficient reasoning and quotation from the verses of the Quran and saved many families from imminent failure whereas other scholars of that era would usually avoid such topics that contradicted social practices. Mawlana Kabiruddin used to address many complex issues on religious matters with logic, proof and courage in the Bangshal Boro Jame Masjid, and for that, he was highly respected by the religious scholars of his time. To date, he is known for his depth of knowledge and his remarkable eloquence throughout the Indian subcontinent. During the riots around the time of separation of India and Pakistan, his initiatives saved many lives and properties from being destroyed. Modern education commenced in Old Dhaka under his leadership. He did not believe in Pirism.
Mawlana Kabiruddin introduced the practice of giving Zakat on the annual harvest in his birthplace, Boro Koyer and in the neighboring villages. He appreciated the joys and sorrows of life. He enjoyed sports. He loved his family. He had the quality of making a fulfilling life with his friends and family with low income but high morale. He synchronized spiritual ideologies with earthly realities.
Mawlana Kabiruddin was married to Begum Faizunnessa[14] of Kazi Bari of Masumabad[15] village of Rupganj, Narayanganj. She was the Eldest Daughter of Kazi Elahi Bukhs and Begum Najibbannesa. Kabiruddin and Faizunnessa had 9 children.
Involvement with Ahl-e-Hadith Jamayet of The then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)[edit]
Ahl-e-Hadith Jamayet of The then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) used to give high importance on the interpretation of Quran and Sunnah in religious matters and therefore they included the eminent scholar Mawlana Kabiruddin in this organization. Mawlana Kabiruddin had served as the President of Ahl-e-Hadith Jamayet for a short period. Eventually, Bangshal Jame Masjid came to be known as the Central Ahl-e-Hadith Mosque of Bangladesh. He also lead the Eid prayers organized by Ahl-e-Hadith in the playground of University of Dhaka Campus for a long time, since 1950`s. From that time on, women has been participating in Eid prayers alongside men in that ground every year.
During an emergency meeting of Ahl-e-Hadith Jamayet on the night of September 21 1963, Mawlana Kabiruddin suffered from a brain hemorrhage and passed away on the September 23, 1963. His unexpected death shook his family to its core and brought very difficult times. Mawlana Mohammad Akram Khan (The Bengali journalist, politician and Islamic scholar) who lead Mawlana Kabiruddin's janaza said- “Kabiruddin, he passed away at such young age. I told him, you would lead my janaza, and today I had to lead his".
Until this day, Mawlana Kabiruddin lives as a prominent scholar among the people of old Dhaka. Mawlana Kabiruddin Rahmani’s contribution in the religious history of Bangladesh is undeniable. He returned to Dhaka from Delhi with religious wisdom, liberal mentality and above all, the devotion to serve his people. His journey through life truly transformed him into a successful human. The unconditional love and respect for him, from the people of all walks of life, remains till today.
Mawlana Kabiruddin Rahmani’s children established "Faizunnessa Kabiruddin Rahmani Memorial Foundation[16][17][18]" Trust Fund in the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh and Boro Koyer High School in Gazipur. Two Other in the same name in the Department of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka for providing gold medals and scholarships to the students with outstanding results. The Asiatic Society organizes lectures every year on different topic on Dhaka. The children of Boro Koyer schools are given scholarship in different level life at grade five, eight and ten for their excellent results.
Mawlana Kabiruddin Rahmani left 9 children at the time of his death. His family became vulnerable at his untimely passing. By the grace and mercy of Allah and by the wisdom and perseverance of his wife (Begum Faizunnesa Kabiruddin[14]), all his 9 children have been established in the society and through out the world well enough keeping in mind the biggest asset is Knowledge and Humanity. Kabiruddin's legacy is followed by his next generations as well.
↑تاریخ وتعارف مدرسہ دار الحدیث رحمانیہ دہلی. "مولانا کبیر الدین صاحب". shamilaurdu.com. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑Moulana Asad Ul Azmaa; Fazeelat Ul Sheikh (2015). تاریخ وتعارف مدرسہ دار الحدیث رحمانیہ دہلی (Darul Hadis Rehmania Dehli Tarekh OTaruf) - History and Introduction Madrasa Dar Al-Hadith Rahmaniya Delhi. India: Darul Abi Tayyab. p. 274. ISBN0000000547192 Check |isbn= value: invalid prefix (help). Search this book on
↑Moulana Asad Ul Azmaa; Fazeelat Ul Sheikh (2015). تاریخ وتعارف مدرسہ دار الحدیث رحمانیہ دہلی (Darul Hadis Rehmania Dehli Tarekh OTaruf) - History and Introduction Madrasa Dar Al-Hadith Rahmaniya Delhi. India: Darul Abi Tayyab. p. 233. ISBN0000000547192 Check |isbn= value: invalid prefix (help). Search this book on
Begum Faizunnessa was a combination of innate qualities of Bengali women. In her daily life, she was the epitome of the ideal woman. Being the first child of a literary family, where both her parents and grandfather were teachers in early 1900s, she had a legendary quality of leadership, politically sensitive with full of courage and versatile/long vision. Many girls of the society got literacy and awareness through her tireless and informal contribution. In a conservative Muslim society she participated passively in all different activities for independence including non-violent resistance called by Mahatma Gandhi against the British, extended her prayer towards the language movement heroes by fasting on 21st February, 1952, encouraged her daughters and brother to participate in the movement. Finally participated in the War of Liberation in 1971 with all her family members and sent her sons to join the Liberation War for Bangladesh and advised them to come back only as HERO but not as subjugator. She was the spouse of Mawlana Kabiruddin Rahmani.
↑Masumabad, Bhulta, Narayanganj. "Map of Masumabad". Google Maps. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
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