Zamiruddin Ahmad
Zamiruddin Ahmad was a Sufi scholar active in the early 20th century in the Bengal region, now part of Bangladesh, and was a successor to Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. He served as the founding patron of Darul Uloom Hathazari for over three decades, and Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya was established under his direction. His successors include Azizul Haque and Muhammad Yunus.
Early life
Zamiruddin Ahmad was born in 1878 in Shoabil village of Fatikchhari in the Chittagong region. He experienced early hardship following the death of his father, Nur Uddin, which resulted in financial difficulties for his family. Seeking employment, he moved to Rangoon, where he worked in a factory. During this time, he engaged in informal religious learning under a Punjabi imam and developed a particular interest in the text Rahe Najat. This growing focus on Islamic scholarship led him to leave his job and pursue formal religious education in India. Aiming to join the spiritual circle of Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, Ahmad sought to pledge allegiance to him; however, Gangohi advised him to first undertake structured Islamic studies. Ahmad then enrolled at Darul Uloom Deoband, where he studied under Mahmud Hasan Deobandi and received additional instruction in Islamic jurisprudence from Aziz-ul-Rahman Usmani. After completing his studies, he further developed his knowledge of Islamic law under Gangohi and, in 1906, received both spiritual succession and scholarly authorization.Later years
After returning to Bengal, Ahmad began teaching at Jamiaul Uloom in Fatikchhari. When discussions arose about establishing a madrasa in Hathazari, community leaders were advised by Ashraf Ali Thanwi to consult him. Following the foundation of the Darul Uloom Hathazari, Ahmad served as its chief patron for 35 years. In addition to his administrative duties, he taught Mishkat al-Masabih and Al-Hidayah and provided spiritual guidance to his students. Among his disciples were Muhammad Faizullah, Shah Ahmad Hasan, Shah Abdul Wahhab, and Saeed Ahmad Sandwipi.In later years, Ahmad stepped back from formal administrative responsibilities to focus on spiritual teaching and outreach, traveling across Bengal, Assam, and Burma. He appointed successors such as Azizul Haque and Muhammad Yunus, with Azizul Haque later establishing Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya in 1938 under his direction. Ahmad was married seven times and had fourteen children. He died on 6 July 1940 and was buried near Nur Mosque, near to the Darul Uloom Hathazari. Tazkira-e-Zamir by Faiz Ahmad Islamabadi is the primary source of his biographical information.