Maulana Sayyid Nizamuddin Sahib
Qasmi (Rahmatullh Aleih) (1927-2015), the Sixth Amire Shariat (Religious Guide)
of the Muslims of Bihar, Odissa and Jharkhand under the umbrella of Imarat
Shariah (Est.1921), the General Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(Est.1972), the largest united platform of Indian Muslims and a member of the
governing body of Darul Uloom, Deoband (Est.1866) and Nadvatul Ulama, Lucknow
(Est.1898), breathed his last in Patna, the capital city of Bihar at a time when
the nation was in crying need of the personalities like him.
Amire Shariat was one of the few eminent and distinguished living scholars and
Muslim leaders in India. He was one of the notable students of Sheikhul Islam
Maulana Sayyid Husein Ahmad Madani Rahmatullh Aleih (1879-1957). Moreover, he
was deeply attached to him spiritually. After acquiring basic education, he
remained in the company of his able father till he learnt Al-Mukhtasar Al-Qudur
from him. In 1941, just for a year, he got admission in “Madrasa Imdadiyah”, a
celebrated seminary then in Darbhanga of Bihar state. In 1942, for higher
studies, he moved to Deoband. He got admission in Darul Uloom, Deoband, a
renowned center of Indian freedom struggle then and a popular Islamic University
of Indian Subcontinent. He learnt the various subjects from the skilled and
internationally acclaimed teachers at Darul Uloom, Deoband and graduated in
1946. Following the graduation, he remained for one more year there to
specialize in Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and Tafseer. Thus, he completed his
higher education in 1947.
After completing the studies, in 1948, Maulana Nizamuddin Sahib was appointed as
a head-teacher in Madrasa Riyazul Uloom in Sathi of Champaran district in Bihar.
He successfully discharged his duty as a teacher and head till 1962. Then, he
joined “Madrasa Rasheedul Uloom”, Chatra, Jharkhand as a head teacher and worked
for a year from 1963 to 1964 as a devoted head-teacher. He was one of the best
teachers and administrators too. He had good taste of Urdu language and
literature as well. As he used to express his feelings in prose, he used to
compose poetry as well. A poet like Dr. Kaleem Ahmad Ajiz Patnavi (1926-2015)
had praised and acknowledged his beautiful poetry.
While staying in “Madrasa Riyazul Uloom”, Sathi, he was introduced to Maulana
Sayyid Minnatullah Rahmani (1912-1991). The time, Maulana Rahmani was elected
the fourth Amir-e-Shariat of Imarat Shariah, he picked some highly intelligent
and god-gifted young Ulama to successfully work in Imarat Shariah, Patna. One
among them was Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi (1936-2002), the teacher of Fiqh and
Hadeeth at Jamia Rahmani, Monger, whom he selected as Qazi (Justice) with
additional charge of being Secretary of Imarat Shariah. When the activities of
Imart Shariah spread day by day and a crying need arose to recruit one more
quality person, Maulana Rahmani appointed a complete new face to lead Imarat
Shariah as its secretary in 1965. It was none other than Maulana Sayyid
Nizamuddin Qasmi (RA). It was time when Imarat Shariah had not even its proper
office at its own land and all activities of Imarat Shariah were being carried
out from “Khanqahe Mujibiyah”, Patna. When the Imarat activities were expanding
day-by-day, Allah, the Al-Mighty, arranged the means to acquire a piece of land
for Imarat in Phulwari Shareef, Patna, for construction of Imarat’s building and
several offices within. They played a key role to convey the message of the
Imarat throughout Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand in particular and in the whole
country in general in Rahmani’s life and after his sad demise equally. All
praise belongs to Allah the Al-Mighty.
The forth Amir-e-Shariat left the mortal world for heavenly abode on 19th March,
1991. Maulana Abdur Rahman Darbhangavi Rahmatullahi Aleih (-1998) was made the
fifth Amir-e-Shariat and he chose Maulana Nizamuddin Sahib (RA) as his Deputy to
carry out the job. Following the departure of the fifth Amire Shariat on 2nd
September, 1998, Maulana Sayyid Nizamuddin Sahib was promoted as the sixth Amir
on 1st November 1998. The sixth Amir-e-Shariat (RA) served almost half a century
in Imarat Shariah's different fields, but never gave a chance to point finger at
him in any regard. He worked untiringly for the progress, development and
expansion of Imarat without keeping a personal gain in his eye.
Due to the sincere efforts of the sixth Amir Shariat and Qazi Mujahidul Islam
Qasmi under the direction of Maulana Rahmani, Imarat’s growth never stopped.
They strived to take forward the Imarat on both the lines of education and
social welfare in the area. With the help of those sincere efforts, Imarat has
expanded its noble jobs to various fields and now running Maulana Sajjad
Hospital, Maulana Minnatullah Rahmani Technical Institute, a Baitul Maal (to
assist the widows and poor people etc.), Al-Mahadul Aali Lit-Tadreeb Fil-Qaza
Wal-Iftaa and Wafaaqul Madaaris Bihar, Usman Ghani Imarat Computer Center etc.
Maulana Nizamuddin Qasmi’s relation, after he took the office of General
Secretary of Imarat Shariah, developed and strengthened with Maulana Rahmani by
leaps and bounds. He was always at service to discharge his assigned duties by
Maulana Rahmani, be it associated to Imarat or whatsoever. In 1972, when Maulana
Rahmani gave a voice to the Muslim Personal Law on national level, Maulana
Nizamuddin Sahib Qasmi and Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi worked for it
wholeheartedly. After the establishment of the board as All India Muslim
Personal Law Board in 1972, Qari Mohammad Tayyib Sahib Qasmi Rahmatullahi Aleih
(1897-1983), ex-VC of Darul Uloom, Deoband, was elected for its prestigious
presidential post; while Maulana Rahmani was elected as its General Secretary,
the second highest post in the board. People from different schools of thought
across the country, were elected as members of the board. Maulana Nizamuddin
Qasmi, then Secretary of Imarat, was also elected as a member. After the demise
of the board President Qari Mohammad Tayyib Sahib Qasmi on 17th July 1983,
Maulana Sayyid Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi Rahmatullhi Aleih (1914-1999), a
distinguished scholar and towering personality of the time, was elected the 2nd
President of the board. After Maulana Rahmani's departure, Maulana Nizamuddin
Qasmi was elected unanimously as the second General Secretary of the board in
May 1991. He remained in the office of Board’s General Secretary until he
breathed his last.
Being General Secretary of the board and handling its affairs is not an easy job
as it requires expertise with large heart and wide brain. The reason is that,
the board comprises of a good number of members in hundreds, associated to
different organizations and schools of thought. They come up with their own
views and opinions freely. In such case, the difference of opinions and views
are always likely to arise. To cope with such situations, one needs to be
humble, farsighted, large hearted, soft spoken, highly intelligent; but firm in
the mission. Maulana Sayyid Nizamuddin Sahib (RA) held the post of General
Secretary about 25 years and succeeded to keep the board a united platform of
Indian Muslims using his wisdom and marvelous character.
His works were not limited and restricted within Imarat Shariah and Muslim
Personal Law Board only, but he was also the prominent member of the governing
bodies of the two prestigious Islamic institutions, Darul Uloom, Deoband and
Nadvatul Ulama, Lucknow. He was one among the patrons of Islamic Fiqh Academy
India (Est. 1998). He was the patron of many organizations and institutes. He
was elected as the member of the governing body of Nadvatul Ulama, Lucknow in
1996; whereas he was made the member of governing board of Darul Uloom, Deoband
in 1997. He was very much punctual in attending all the meetings of these
institutions without fail. He used to consider these institutions as a trust of
the elders. He never tolerated a statement against these institutions.
This writer, as a student in “Takmeele Adab” (Specialization in Arabic Language
& Literature) in Darul Uloom, Deoband in 2004, remembers a story to tell. "I was
told by a colleague of mine that in the same year in the month of Shawwal, a
student from Darul Uloom, Deoband, reached in the service of Maulana Sayyid
Nizamuddin Sahib to get his recommendation letter for the admission in “Takmeele
Iftaa” (Specialization in Islamic Jurisprudence). He started talking to
Amir-e-Shariat for the same. At one point he said, “I have come to get a
recommendation letter for admission in “Takleeml Iftaa”, since the students from
Bihar don’t get admission in “Takmeele Iftaa” easily comparing to the students
of the other provinces.” As soon as the Amire Shariat heard this statement, he
got angry and displeased immediately. He said to the student, “You are trying to
accuse the authorities of Darul Uloom, Deoband. As a member of the governing
body, I myself know, what the fact is? The fact is there are many students who
try to get admission in “Takmeele Iftaa” and they do have secured the deserving
marks for the course. But due to the internal circumstances, there are limited
seats in “Takmeele Iftaa”. So, even many deserving students are failing to
secure a seat in the desired course. The authorities pick the candidates,
securing highest marks, one after another from each province. You have spoken a
lie. Please beware next time!”
Along with being the member of these well-known organizations and institutes,
Amire Shariat was the patron of many educational and charitable organizations.
He guided those in charge of these organizations sincerely and selflessly. He
discharged the given responsibility by the elders in a beautiful manner his
whole life. The people working under him were much pleased with his good conduct
and way of functioning. His sincerity and honesty played a key role to make him
successful to fulfil his assigned duties.
Amire Shariat was born in Purani Jail of Gaya district in Bihar on 31st March,
1927, to Maulana Qazi Sayyid Husain (RA). He was from a famous Qazi family. The
family has good academic and spiritual background. His father was a Darul Uloom,
Deoband alumnus and the student of Allamah Sayyid Anwar Shah Kashmiri
Ramatullahi Aleih (1875-1933) and his grandfather, Qazi Sayyid Sharfuddin was a
disciple of Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Ali Mongeri. His grand-grand-father, Qazi
Sayyid Sadiq Ali was the Qazi (Justice) of “Pargana Kothi Kandah”, which
included Chatra, Hazaribagh, Palamun and Gaya at that time. He was blessed with
three sons and six daughters.
Amire Shariat was ailing and bed ridden from a few months back. He was being
treated in a Hospital in Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand. Some days back
to his departure, he was brought back to Phulwari Shareef from the hospital.
Then, the shocking time came and the fine soul left this mortal world on 17th
October, 2015 at 6:15 pm, being 88 years old. His funeral prayer was led by the
Deputy Amir-e-Shariat Maulana Sayyid Muhamamd Wali Rahmani, the acting general
secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board. He was buried in “Haji Harmain
Qabristan” of Patna by the thousands of people attended his funeral prayer. May
Allah, the Supreme Lord, grant him Jannatul Firdaus! qqq
(The author is a Darul Uloom, Deoband alumnus and presently Head of Islamic
Studies Department, Moon Rays Trust School, Zambia.)