Shamsul Haque Faridpuri
Shamsul Haque Faridpuri was an Islamic scholar, educationist, and social reformer. He was the founding principal of Jamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh. He also founded many other madrasas. Organisations that he initiated include Khademul Islam Jamat and Anjuman-e-Tabligh-al-Quran.
Ghazi Shamsul Haque was born on a Friday in 1896, to the Bengali Muslim Ghazi family in the village of Ghoperdanga in erstwhile Faridpur District, Bengal Presidency, British Raj. He traces his paternal ancestry to an Arab soldier who was one of the members of Bakhtiyar Khalji's army during his conquest of Bengal. His ancestors settled in Jessore where they propagated Islam to locals with his great-great-grandfather, Mawlana Abdul Awwal al-Ghazi, relocating the family to Faridpur. His father, Ghazi Muhammad Abdullah ibn Chiragh Ali, was a munshi and participant of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and his mother, Amena Khatun, was a homemaker. Faridpuri's great-grandfather, Chand Ghazi, was a student of Syed Ahmad Shaheed and took part in the Battle of Balakot against the Sikhs.
Education
Faridpuri first began his preschool education under the local Hindu pandit of Patgati. He then studied in Tungipara and Sutiakathi School, where he completed his primary education. In 1915, he was the best performer for class 6 in the annual exams at the Baghariya High School in Noapara. He then joined for class 7 at the Calcutta Alia Madrasa and in 1919 he passed the entrance exam for the Anglo-Persian department. With a scholarship, Faridpuri enrolled at the Presidency College Calcutta for a few days before being interrupted by Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement. As a result, Faridpuri left the college and set off for Thana Bhawan, where he met Ashraf Ali Thanwi. Under Thanwi's advice, Faridpuri enrolled at the Mazahir Uloom seminary in Saharanpur, where he completed Islamic studies up to a bachelor's level. He then moved on to study at Darul Uloom Deoband where he studied tasawwuf under Thanwi and hadith under Anwar Shah Kashmiri, Izaz Ali Amrohi and Hussain Ahmad Madani until 1927. Faridpuri also gained khilafat from Zafar Ahmad Usmani and Abdul Ghani.
Career
After completing his education, Faridpuri returned to his homeland in Bengal, where he became a prominent teacher of hadith. He became the principal of Jamia Islamia Yunusia in Brahmanbaria in 1928 until 1935, when he founded the Gazalia Madrasa in Bagerhat. He then moved on to Ashraful Uloom in Bara Katara, Dhaka, from 1936 until 1950. He founded the Jamia Islamia Darul Uloom Khademul Islam in his home village of Gawhardanga in 1937. In 1940, he founded Khademul Islam Jamat, an organisation that promoted the implementation of Islamic ideals. He also founded the Anjuman-e-Tabligh-al-Quran to challenge the activities of Christian Missionaries that were actively propagating to Muslims in the region. Faridpuri was an advocate of campaigns such as the Pakistan Movement and the Tablighi Jamaat. The Idaratul Ma`arif was a centre for Islamic research that was established by Faridpuri. From 1951 up until his death, he taught hadith classes in Jamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh. He also founded the capital's Jamia Arabia Imdadul Uloom in Faridabad in 1956.
Writings
Shotru Theke Hushiar Thako; English translations: Beware of the enemyChoritro Gothon ; English translations: Character DevelopmentPotito Pabon ; Fallen windMa-Bap O Shontaner Hoq ; English translations: Rights of the parents and childrenTafsire Sura Fateha ; English translations: Exegesis of Surah al-FatihaTaubanama O Jiboner Pon ; English: The story of repentance and the stake of life Allahr Porichoy O Manusher Porichoy ; English translations: God's background and mankind's background Matri Jatir Morjada ; English translations: The dignity of matriarchsMosjid O Jibonto Mosjid ; English translations: Mosque and living mosquesHoqqani Tafsir ; Dhormer Ashol Uddeshyo Ki? ; English translations: What is the main goal of religion?Oshot Alem O Peer Ebong Shotorko Bani ; English: The dishonest alim and pir and words of warningTasauof Totto ; English translations: Inquiry of MysticismBhul Shongshodhon ; English translations: Emendation of MistakesQuraner Upor Hostokhep Bordasht Kora Jabe Na ; English: Interference against the Quran will not be toleratedShongkkhepe Islam ; English translations: Islam in shortNamazer Ortho ; English translations: The meaning of prayerHajjer Masail ; English: The topic of HajjHalal-Haram O Bidat-Ijtihad ; English: Halal-haram and bid'ah-ijtihadProloyongkari Ghurnijhorer Karon Ki? ; English translations: What is the reason behind catastrophic cyclones?Tabligh O Islami Zindegi ; English: Tabligh and Islamic lifeVotarer Dayitto O Vote Shomporke Shorioter Nirdesh ; English translations: Responsibilities of the voter and instructions for voting from the ShariaAdorsho Muslim Poribar O Shushthu Porikolpona ; English: Ideal Muslim family and elegant plansRozar Fazilat ; English: Virtue of FastingIslahe Nafs ; English: Soul reformationJibon Patheyo ; English Viaticum of lifeDhormo O Rajneeti ; English: Religion and politicsHadiser Rotno-Bhandar Ba Shashon Poddhoti ; English: The gem-stores of Hadith or ruling methodJihader Gurutto O Fazilat ; English: ''Importance and virtue of Jihad''
Translations