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Harun Islamabadi

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Harun Islamabadi
হারুন ইসলামাবাদী
Islamabadi speaking at a gathering held at Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya
Director-General of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya
In office
14 February 1992 – 27 September 2003
Preceded byMuhammad Yunus
Succeeded byNurul Islam Qadim
Chairman of Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh
In office
14 February 1992 – 1996
Preceded byMuhammad Yunus
Succeeded byNur Uddin Gohorpuri
Chairman of Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh
In office
14 February 1992 – 27 September 2003
Preceded byMuhammad Yunus
Succeeded byNurul Islam Qadim
Personal details
Born
Muhammad Harun

(1938-09-21)21 September 1938
Patiya
Died27 September 2003(2003-09-27) (aged 65)
Dhaka
Political partyBangladesh Nezame Islam Party
Children7
Alma mater
Known forPopularize Islamic literature and reform the traditional Qawmi madrasa curriculum
Religious life
DenominationSunni
SchoolHanafi
MovementDeobandi
Senior posting
Teacher
Disciple ofAbrarul Haq Haqqi

Harun Islamabadi (21 September 1938 – 27 September 2003) was a 20th-century Bangladeshi Islamic scholar, educator, translator, and law and media personality who served as the third Director-General of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya. He also held the position of Chairman of both Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh and Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh. He worked with the Federal Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates and took part as a delegate in the drafting process of the Shari'ah bill in Pakistan. He was the Director of the Bangladesh branch of the Muslim World League. His diplomatic involvement included a role at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi. He was also associated with Abu Dhabi Radio as a producer and presenter.

Early life

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Muhammad Harun was born on 21 September 1938 in the village of Asia, under Patiya Upazila in Chittagong District.[1] His father was Muhammad Ismail, and his mother was Umm Habiba.[2] He later adopted the last name 'Islamabadi,' which is derived from the historical name of Chittagong—Islamabad.[3] His mother died around 1942, and his father died on 15 March 1952.[2] Since he lost his father during childhood, the responsibility for his education was taken up by his elder brother, Ishaq al-Ghazi.[4] He began his Qur'anic education under the supervision of his elder brothers and also attended a nearby primary school. In 1946, he enrolled in the Hifz section of Al Jamiatul Arabia Nasirul Islam but later switched to the Kitab (general Islamic studies) section.[5] In 1949, he transferred to the nearby Asia Emdadul Uloom Madrasa.[6] In 1951, he was admitted to Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, where he completed his Dawra-e-Hadith in 1960.[7] Among his teachers at Patiya were Azizul Haque and Muhammad Yunus.[8] After graduating, he intended to pursue higher studies at Al-Azhar University in Egypt but withdrew this plan after consulting with senior ulama.[9][10] In 1961, he traveled to India with the aim of studying at Darul Uloom Deoband and completed the admission process, but due to political unrest, he moved to Pakistan and enrolled at Jamia Ashrafia in Lahore, where he again completed the Dawra-e-Hadith program.[11][12] In 1962, he joined Jamia Madania in Lahore and studied advanced philosophy (fununat-e-aliyah) under two instructors. He returned to East Pakistan in 1963.[13] While in West Pakistan, his teachers included Idris Kandhlawi, Rasul Khan Hazarwi, and Khalid Mahmud.[14] After returning to his homeland, he developed his skills in the Bengali language under the guidance of Muhiuddin Khan, editor of the Monthly Madina.[9] Spiritually, he was initially affiliated with Muhammad Yunus and later received spiritual training and guidance under Abrarul Haq Haqqi.[9]

Career

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Early career

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Islamabadi began his career after returning to his homeland by serving as the news editor of the Urdu-language Daily Pasban, published in East Pakistan. He later became the deputy editor of the paper.[13] Subsequently, he established Idaratul Ma'arif in Faridabad, Dhaka, which aimed to prepare Qawmi madrasa students for academic and literary pursuits.[15][13] After spending some time in Dhaka, he moved to Chittagong in 1972, where he taught at Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar from 1972 to 1974.[16] During this period, he drafted the outline for the monthly magazine At-Tawheed and submitted it to Muhammad Yunus. Under Yunus's direction, At-Tawheed was launched as the official publication of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, with Islamabadi serving as its founding editor.[17]

Life in the United Arab Emirates

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On 19 December 1975, Islamabadi was appointed translator at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi. On 1 March 1977, he joined the Federal Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates as an official translator and was appointed deputy to Judge Ahmed Bin Abulaziz Al Mubarak.[16] He also served as a counselor to The Judicial Council of the UAE.[18] Registered as a khatib with the UAE Ministry of Islamic Affairs, he was assigned in 1985 as producer and presenter of Islamic programs on Abu Dhabi Radio. Later, he was promoted to head of the translation department.[16] Islamabadi also initiated Bengali-language programming in Abu Dhabi.[18] He was a member of the board of directors of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. Additionally, he helped establish several organizations for the Bangladeshi community in the UAE, including the Bangladesh Islami Parishad, Jamiat-e Falahul Muslimin, and the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bangladesh Islamia School.[19][20]

In 1990, he was appointed director of the Bangladesh branch of the Muslim World League.[16] He was part of a delegation to Pakistan at the invitation of then-President Zia-ul-Haq, participating in the drafting of Shariah-related legislation as part of Zia's Islamization efforts.[21] Following Bangladesh's independence in 1971, Islamabadi maintained ongoing dialogue with leading figures in the Arab world to present information about Bangladesh's Muslim community and religious environment. He wrote articles for major Arabic and English newspapers in the Arab world and took part in conferences and seminars to present information on Bangladesh's Muslim society.[22] Through his efforts, in 1977, under the leadership of Ahmed Bin Abulaziz Al Mubarak, then Minister of Islamic Affairs of the UAE, a delegation was organized to visit Bangladesh and assess the religious and social conditions of Bangladesh's Muslims. This was the first official visit by a delegation from an Arab country to Bangladesh.[22]

Director-Generalship at Jamia Patiya

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Central Library of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya

In 1991, following the illness of Muhammad Yunus, Islamabadi was recalled to Bangladesh and appointed Deputy Director of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya.[20] After Yunus's death, he was appointed Director-General on 14 February 1992.[23] During his tenure, he facilitated a bilateral academic agreement between Jamia Patiya and Al-Azhar University in Egypt. He also oversaw several infrastructure developments at the institution, including the construction of the central library building, installation of a deep tube well, and the building of a central entrance gate.[23] In 1999, he established the New Muslim Foundation for the rehabilitation of converts to Islam,[24] initiated the Islamic Research Council, and founded the Asia Islamic Women's Vocational Training Center and Islamic kindergarten.[25]

To enhance academic standards at the institution, Islamabadi led a team of ulama on study tours of leading madrasas in India and Pakistan. Following these visits, he introduced a number of curriculum reforms. These included implementing a structured Qur'an memorization program across all class levels—from primary to higher grades—allowing students to memorize portions of the Qur'an alongside their regular studies. The book Qawaid fi Ulum al-Hadith was added to the higher class syllabus. Hadith literature was gradually incorporated into lower class curricula to help students develop early familiarity with the subject. Additionally, various texts on Islamic creed (Aqidah) were added at different levels to provide a foundation in theological concepts. Other updates to the curriculum included a range of additions, revisions, and removals to better align with the institution's educational goals.[25][26] Islamabadi initiated a short-course division within the Qawmi madrasa system in Bangladesh, intended for individuals without a madrasa background who sought religious education at a later stage in life. The program offered a condensed version of the traditional 12-year curriculum, structured to be completed in five years. Formal admissions for the program began in 1997 at Jamia Patiya.[25]

Other positions and activities

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Islamabadi was involved in various religious and political movements. He was a member of the Majlis-e-Shura and the advisory council of the Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party.[24] He participated in anti-Ahmadiyya campaigns, the fatwa movement, and initiatives organized by the Islamic Law Implementation Committee.[24] He held several organizational roles, including President of Tanzim Ahle Haq, Chairman of the Supreme Ulama Council, and President of the Islamic Relief Committee.[27] He also served as an executive member of the International Tahfizul Qur'an Organization, Chairman of both Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh and Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh,[28][29] and coordinator of the Shane Risalat (Dignity of Prophethood) Conference. Additionally, he held administrative or advisory positions at around 50 madrasas and was a member of the consultative council (Majlis-e-Shura) for over 100 madrasas across Bangladesh.[30] Among the institutions he established was Al-Batul Mahila Madrasa, a women's madrasa in Brahmanbaria, where he served as director until his death.[31]

Literary works

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In 1997, Islamabadi established the literary organization An-Nadi As-Saqafi at Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya and appointed Mahmudul Hasan Al-Azhari as its director.[32] The organization published the Bengali literary magazine Droho and the Arabic literary magazine As-Sahwa. In 1992, Islamabadi launched the quarterly Arabic magazine Balagh Ashsharq as the official publication of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya. He also founded a publishing house called Al-Balagh Publication.[32] During his tenure as sub-editor of Pasban, all of his manuscripts were kept at the Idaratul Ma'arif. However, these writings were lost when the building was set on fire.[33] His published works include translations and original writings such as Fazail-e-Sadaqat (translation), Ahkam-us-Sultania, Islamic Economics, Muwatta' Imam Malik (translation), and a travelogue titled Amake Porho (Read Me).[24]

Death

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Burial site of Islamabadi inside the compound of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya

Islamabadi died on 26 September 2003 at Upasham Hospital in Dhaka.[19] His funeral prayer was held the following day and led by his elder brother, Ishaq al-Ghazi. He was buried in the Azizia Cemetery within the compound of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya. He was survived by six sons and one daughter.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Siddique, Kazi Abul Kalam (2018). Allama Harun Islamabadi : Life, Work and Contributions (in Bengali). Dhaka: Ahmod Prokashon. p. 41. ISBN 9789892107400.
  2. ^ a b Ahmadullah & Qadir 2018, p. 307.
  3. ^ Siddique 2018, p. 46–47.
  4. ^ Ahmadullah & Qadir 2018, p. 308.
  5. ^ Siddique 2018, p. 63.
  6. ^ Ahmadullah, Hafez; Qadir, Ridwanul (2018). Mashayekh-e Chatgam (in Bengali). Bangla Bazar: Ahmod Prokashon. p. 308. ISBN 978-984-92106-4-1.
  7. ^ Siddique 2018, p. 67.
  8. ^ Siddique 2018, p. 71.
  9. ^ a b c Anwari, Ibrahim (1 January 2017). "Islamic personality Allama Sheikh Muhammad Harun Islamabadi". Daily Inqilab.
  10. ^ Qasmi, Mazharul Islam Osman (2015). Student life of 100 famous Ulama-Mashaykhs (in Bengali) (3rd ed.). Bangla Bazar: Bud Comprint and Publications. p. 244. ISBN 98483916605
  11. ^ Qadir, Masudul (2006). Patiya's Ten Legends (PDF) (in Bengali). Andarkilla: Al Manar Library. p. 103.
  12. ^ Islam, SM Aminul (2016). Islam, Samar (ed.). Hundreds of Bengali Ulama: A Biographical Compendium (in Bengali) (2nd ed.). Bangla Bazar: BhoiGhor. p. 371. ISBN 9847016800481
  13. ^ a b c Ahmadullah & Qadir 2018, p. 309.
  14. ^ Ahsan, Sayed (2006). Origin and development of Hadith practice in Bangladesh (in Bengali). Segunbagicha, Dhaka: Adorn Publications. p. 243. ISBN 9842000184. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  15. ^ Hasnabadi, Muhammad Zakaria (2023). Mashayekh-e-Babunagar (in Bengali). Bangla Bazar: Ittihad Publication. p. 99.
  16. ^ a b c d Ahmadullah & Qadir 2018, p. 310.
  17. ^ Qadir 2006, p. 103–104.
  18. ^ a b Harun, Mizan (2018). Rijal sanau al-tarikh wa khadamu al-Islam wa al-ilm fi Bangladesh lil-Shamilah (in Arabic). Dhaka: Darul Bayan. p. 406. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  19. ^ a b Harun 2018, p. 409.
  20. ^ a b Qadir 2006, p. 105.
  21. ^ Nijampuri, Ashraf Ali (2013). The Hundred (100 Great Scholars from Bangladesh) (in Bengali). Hathazari, Chittagong: Salman Prokashoni. p. 382.
  22. ^ a b Rahman 2009, p. 390.
  23. ^ a b Ahmadullah & Qadir 2018, p. 311.
  24. ^ a b c d Qadir 2006, p. 108.
  25. ^ a b c Ahmadullah & Qadir 2018, p. 312.
  26. ^ Jahangir, Salahuddin (2017). Renowned Ulama of Bengal (in Bengali). Vol. 2. Dhaka: Maktabaatul Azhar. p. 303.
  27. ^ Qadir 2006, p. 109.
  28. ^ Bukhari, Abdul Halim (2009). Dasturul Madaris Al-Islamiyyah Al-Ahliyah, Bangladesh (PDF) (in Bengali). Patiya: Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh. p. 4.
  29. ^ "Befaq Chairmen at a Glance". Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  30. ^ Nijampuri 2013, p. 385.
  31. ^ Alam, Md. Morshed (2014). Contributions of Bangladesh's Hadith Scholars to Hadith Studies (PDF) (PhD thesis) (in Bengali). Bangladesh: University of Dhaka. p. 235.
  32. ^ a b Qadir 2006, p. 107.
  33. ^ Harun 2018, p. 408.
  34. ^ Rahman, Muhammad Habibur (2009). We are their successors (in Bengali) (2nd ed.). Mirpur–12, Dhaka: Al-Kawsar Publication. p. 393.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
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