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{{Short description|Indian Islamic scholar and activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Sheikh al-Hadith]], [[Maulana]]
| name = Ahmed Ali Badarpuri<br/>احمد علی بدر پوری
| native_name = আহমদ আলী বদরপুরী
| native_name_lang = bn
|image =
|caption =
| birth_name = Ahmed Ali
| birth_date = 1915
| birth_place = [[Badarpur, Assam|Badarpur]], [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet district]], British India
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2000|06|11|1915}}
|death_place = [[Mumbai]], Maharashtra, India
| spouse =
| children = Yahya
| alma_mater = {{ubl|[[Sylhet Government Alia Madrasah]]|[[Darul Uloom Deoband]]}}
|order1 = 2nd President of [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind#Administration|Assam State Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind]]
|term_start1= 1957
|term_end1 = 11 June 2000
|predecessor1 = Noor Ali Badarpuri
|successor1= Maulana Abdul Haque
|order2 = Amir-e-Shariat of [[Northeast India]]
|term_start2= 1990
|term_end2 = 11 June 2000
|predecessor2 =
|successor2=
| module2 = {{Infobox religious biography
|embed = yes
|religion = Islam
|denomination = [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]]
|Maddhab = [[Hanafi]]
|creed =
|movement = [[Deobandi]]
|nationality = {{ubl|[[British Raj|British Indian]] (1915–1947)| [[India]]n (1947–2000)}}
|main_interests = [[Sufism]], [[Tafsir]], [[Fiqh]], [[Hadith]]
|notable_works =
|literary_works =
|disciple_of = Hussain Ahmad Madani
|teachers = [[Hussain Ahmad Madani]], [[Izaz Ali Amrohi]]
|influenced =
}}}}
'''Ahmed Ali Badarpuri''' (1915–11 June 2000), also known as '''Ahmed Ali Banskandi''' and '''Ahmed Ali Assami''', was an Indian Islamic scholar, a [[Sufi]], a [[Indian independence movement|freedom fighter]], and a teacher. He was the president of the [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind#Administration|Assam State Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind]] for 44 years.

== Early life and education ==
Ahmed Ali Badarpuri was born in 1915 into a [[Sufi]] family in [[Badarpur, Assam|Badarpur]], Assam, then located in the [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet district]] of [[British India]].{{sfn|Badarpuri|1996|p=6}} He was a descendant of Munawwar Khadim Yemeni, who was an [[Wikt:attendant|attendant]] of [[Shah Jalal|Shah Jalal Mujarrad]]'s authorised disciple, [[Sikandar Khan Ghazi]].{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=8–9}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1992|p=1}}{{sfn|Assami|2016|p=19–21}}

Badarpuri received his primary education in Badarpur and then enrolled at the [[Sylhet Government Alia Madrasah]] for further studies from 1938 to 1940 and graduated in [[dars-e-nizami]]. He subsequently joined [[Darul Uloom Deoband]] to study the courses again but could not continue due to certain health complications. In 1950, he attended the Deoband seminary once more to study the courses of Daura-e-Hadith (The last year in dars-e-nizami) and Daura-e-Tafsir (specialisation in the exegesis of the Quran), and completed his studies by the next year. At that time, he [[Hafiz (Quran)|memorized the Quran]] in a period of two and a half months. His teachers included [[Hussain Ahmad Madani]], Abdus Samī' Deobandi, [[Izaz Ali Amrohi]], Fakhrul Hasan Muradabadi, and Abdul Ahad Deobandi.{{sfn|Badarpuri|1992|pp=1–8, 13}}{{sfn|Ahmed|2000|pp=6–7, 54–55}}{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=10–14}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1996|p=7}} He was an authorised disciple of Madani in [[Sufism]].{{sfn|Badarpuri|1997|p=7}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1992|p=12–13, 18}}{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=7, 16}}<ref name="number">{{cite journal|editor1-last=Farqaleet|editor1-first=Mohammad Usman|editor2-last=Barni|editor2-first=Bahar|title=Shaikhul Islam Number (A special issue)|journal=Al-Jam'iyyat Weekly|edition=2nd|date=10 July 1998|publisher=[[Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind]]|location=[[Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg]], New Delhi|page=16|language=ur}}</ref><ref name="Farid">{{cite book|last=Al-Wahidi|first=Farid|title=Shaikhul Islam Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani: Ek Sawanihi O Tareekhi Mutala'a|trans-title=Shaykh-ul-Islam Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani: A Biographical and Historical Study|url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/maulana-husain-ahmad-madani-ek-sawanehi-wa-tareekhi-mutala-fareedul-waheedi-ebooks|publisher=Qaumi Kitab Ghar|location= Zakir Nagar, Jamia Millia Islamia, [[New Delhi]]|page= 828 |chapter=Caliphs|date=1991|language=ur}}</ref><ref name="encyclopaedia">{{cite book|last=Hanif|first=N.|title=Biographical Encyclopaedia of Sufis: South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O3GXOqPa67MC&q=ahmad+%27Ali+of+Banskandi&pg=PA393|publisher=Sarup and Sons|location= Ansari Road, Daryaganj, [[New Delhi]]|page=357|date=2000|isbn=9788176250870 |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Badarpuri started his career as a teacher at [[Darul Uloom Banskandi]]. In 1955, Hussain Ahmad Madani sent him there without any invitation from the institution. The madrassa authority refused to appoint him as a teacher. However, they later accepted him after they obtained a letter from Madani.{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=17–21}}{{sfn|Qasmi|2000|pp=3–4}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1992|pp=18–21}}

In 1957, Madani appointed him to the post of [[Sheikh al-Hadith]] and entrusted to him the charge of the institution. He retained his position until his last breath. Thus, his teaching career lasted for over 45 years.{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=17–21}}{{sfn|Qasmi|2000|pp=3–4}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1992|pp=18–21}} He associated himself with the [[Indian independence movement]].{{sfn|Badarpuri|1992|pp=1–8, 13}}{{sfn|Ahmed|2000|pp=6–7, 54–55}}{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=10–14}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1996|p=7}}

In 1957, he was elected president of the Assam State Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind. Before it, he had worked as a secretary and convener. He carried out his leadership responsibilities by facing the Pakistani Deportation Movement, also known as the [[Bongal Kheda|Bongal Kheda Movement]], which intensified in the 1960s and continued into the 1970s and 1980s.{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=20–23, 39–42}}{{sfn|Raghibi|Mustafi|2000|pp=41–47, 51}}{{sfn|Islam|2000|p=9}}

He raised a voice against the then-[[Bimala Prasad Chaliha|Chaliha government]] and forced it to stop inhumane violence towards minorities in the name of foreigners. He opposed the [[Assam Movement]], which peaked with the [[Nellie massacre]]. He forced [[Hiteswar Saikia]], law minister [[Abdul Muhib Mazumder|Abdul Muhib Mazumdar]], and Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] to provide some special protections for minorities. The result was the [[Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983|IMDT Act of 1983]].{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=20–23, 39–42}}{{sfn|Raghibi|Mustafi|2000|pp=41–47, 51}}{{sfn|Islam|2000|p=9}}

In the early 1990s, Badarpuri had to face another movement known as the [[Bodoland Territorial Region#Etymology of Bodoland|Bodo Movement]], which created a cruel massacre in [[Lower Assam division|lower Assam]]. He raised a strong demand with the government for the security and rehabilitation of the victims. Shouldering the burden of 600 homeless orphans affected by this movement, he sheltered them in Banskandi Madrasa. Thus, he fought against any kind of injustice and finally against some communal remarks made by the government in arranging a historical Jamiat meeting at [[Guwahati]] on 1 April 2000.{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=20–23, 39–42}}{{sfn|Raghibi|Mustafi|2000|pp=41–47, 51}}{{sfn|Islam|2000|p=9}}

Badarpuri participated in the [[Indian Freedom Struggle|freedom struggle]] being inspired by his teacher, Hussain Ahmad Madani. He was arrested and imprisoned several times for [[Anti-British sentiment|anti-British activities]]. He worked in support of the [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind|Jamiat]] and opposed the [[partition of India]]. He took a bold step to get Sylhet into India during the [[1947 Sylhet referendum|Sylhet Referendum]] held in July 1947.{{sfn|Raghibi|1994|pp=4–6}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1992|pp=4–5}}{{sfn|Raghibi|Mustafi|2000|pp=11–17, 51}}<ref name="Dainik Sonar">{{cite news|title=চিরনিদ্রায় মৌলানা আহমেদ আলি...|trans-title=Maulana Ahmad Ali in eternal sleep...|journal=Dainik Sonar Cachar|location=[[Cachar]], Assam|date=12 June 2000|page=1|language=bn}}</ref>

He founded thousands of [[mosque]]s, [[madrasa]]s, and [[khanqah]]s, and finally the ''Gauhati Khanqah'', where thousands of people visit every year seeking spiritual guidance. He opposed the hypocrisy and deviance of the Qadianis. He even wrote a book in [[Bengali language|Bangla]], named ''Khatme Nabuwwater O Qadianiater Gumrahir Akatya Dalil Samooh'' ({{translation|Irrefutable Proofs of [[Seal of the Prophets|Khatm-e-Nabuwwat]] and the Deviances of the [[Qadiani]]s)}}.{{sfn|Ahmed|2000|pp=15, 38–39}}<ref name="Khanqah">{{cite book|last=Ali|first=Sayid Yasin|title=Khanqah–A brief introduction|date=1998|publisher=Sayid Yasin Ali|location=Ali Nagar, Sijubari, Guwahati, Assam|pages=2–5|language=as}}</ref>{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=29–32}}{{sfn|Raghibi|Mustafi|2000|pp=27, 54}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1998|pp=21–38}}<ref name="Al-Dā'ī">{{cite journal |editor1-last=Amini|editor1-first=Noor Alam Khalil|editor1-link=Noor Alam Khalil Amini|title=فضيلة الشيخ أحمد علي رحمه الله وجهوده التربوية والإصلاحية بولاية "آسام" الهندية؛ بقلم فريد الدين أحمد|trans-title=Sheikh Ahmed Ali and his educational and reform efforts in the Indian state of Assam by Fariduddin Ahmad|url=https://darululoom-deoband.com/arabicarticles/archives/3092|journal=[[Al-Daie]]|publisher=[[Darul Uloom Deoband]]|location=Deoband|volume=38|issue=1–2|date=November–December 2013|language=ar}}</ref>

== Honours and positions ==
After the demise of Badarpuri, the [[Second Tarun Gogoi Ministry|Tarun Gogoi government]] started the [[Ahmed Ali Baskandi Award|Ahmed Ali Banskandi Award]] in his honor.{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=23–24, 98–100}}<ref name="Honour">{{cite web|title=Ahmed Ali Baskandi Award presented|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/ahmed-ali-baskandi-award-presented/|website=www.sentinelassam.com|publisher=The Sentinel|date=2 March 2016|access-date=6 July 2023|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Honour2">{{cite web|last=Khosa|first=Aasha|title=Assam revives awards in the name of historic Muslim personalities|url=https://www.awazthevoice.in/india-news/assam-revives-awards-in-the-name-of-historic-muslim-personalities-12797.html|website=www.awazthevoice.in|publisher=Awaz The Voice|date=3 July 2022|access-date=6 July 2023|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=2010-09-15 |title=CM presents Ahmed Ali Baskandi Award |url=https://assamtribune.com/cm-presents-ahmed-ali-baskandi-award |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=assamtribune.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kashyap |first=Samudra Gupta |date=10 March 2015 |title=Assam govt institutes award in name of journalist killed by ULFA rebels |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/assam-govt-institutes-award-in-name-of-journalist-killed-by-ulfa-rebels/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311184713/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/assam-govt-institutes-award-in-name-of-journalist-killed-by-ulfa-rebels/ |archive-date=11 March 2015 |access-date=23 December 2024 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref> Since 1990, he has also served as the ''Amir-e-Shariat'' of [[Northeast India]] until his death.{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=23–24, 98–100}}{{sfn|Badarpuri|1992|p=26}}<ref name="Khalili">{{Cite book |last=Qasmi |first=Muhammadullah |author-link=Muhammadullah Khalili Qasmi|url=https://archive.org/details/darul-uloom-deob-ki-jamey-wa-mukhtasar-tareekh-edition-2|title=Darul Uloom Deoband Ki Jame O Mukhtasar Tareekh |publisher=[[Shaikhul Hind Academy]] |edition=3rd|date= October 2020 |location=India |language=ur|pages=736–737|oclc=1345466013}}</ref>

== Literary works ==
Badarpuri wrote a number of books in [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Assamese language|Assamese]], and [[Urdu]]. These include:{{sfn|Raghibi|Mustafi|2000|pp=65–66}}{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|pp=171–175}}{{sfn|Islam|2000|p=4}}{{sfn|Assami|2016|p=221}}<ref name=:"Mausoo'ah">{{cite book |last=Mubarakpuri|first=Arif Jameel|author-link=Arif Jameel Mubarakpuri|title=Mausoo'a Ulama-u- Deoband|trans-title=The Encyclopedia of Deobandi Scholars|date=2021|edition=1st|publisher=Shaikhul Hind Academy|location=Deoband|page=27|language=ar}}</ref>
* ''Alam-e-Barzakh'' (Bengali and Assamese; {{translation|The World Between Death and Resurrection}})
* ''Pabitra Haram Trayer Itihas'' (Bengali; {{translation|The History of the Three Holy Mosques}})
* ''Jamiat-er Mul Katha'' (Bengali; {{translation|Key Points of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind}})
* ''Elme Ma'rifater Bishista Bahantray O Mashaekh Charit'' (Bengali; {{translation|The Three Main Vehicles of Gnosis and Biographies of Sufi Scholars}})
* ''Fazail-e-Shaban, Ramadan O Fazail-e-Nafil Roja'' (Assamese; {{translation|Virtues Of Shaban, Ramadan and Voluntary Fasting}})
* ''Khatme Nabuwwater O Qadianiater Gumrahir Akatya Dalil Samooh'' (Bengali; {{translation|Irrefutable Proofs of Khatme Nabuwwat and the Deviances of the Qadianis}})
* ''Zuhur-e-Mahdi O Nuzool-e-Isa'' (Urdu and Bengali; {{translation|The Appearance of [[Mahdi|Imam Mahdi]] and the Arrival of the Prophet [[Jesus in Islam|Isa]]}})
* ''Salasil-e-Tayyiba'' (Bengali; {{translation|The Holy Chains of the Sufi Scholars}})
* ''Fuyūz-e-Madani'' (Urdu translation of Ahmed Ali's book ''Salasil-e-Tayyiba'', written in Bengali){{sfn|Badarpuri|1996|p=5}}

== Death and legacy ==
On 11 June 2000, Badarpuri died in [[Mumbai]]. His body was flown to Assam. On 13 June, he was buried on the campus of [[Darul Uloom Banskandi]]. His funeral prayer was attended by several hundred thousand people.{{sfn|Qasmi|2010|p=119}}{{sfn|Islam|2000|p=11}}{{sfn|Raghibi|Mustafi|2000|p=1}}<ref name="Dainik Sonar" />{{sfn|Ahmed|2000|p=92}} He is survived by his son, Muhammad Yahya.<ref name="Tayyib">{{cite book|last=Qasmi|first=Tayyib Ahmed|title=Khanquah|edition=1st|date=2016|publisher=Khanquah Shaikhul Hadith Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali|location=Ahmad Ali Nagar, Hatigaon, Guwahati, Assam|page=3|language=en}}</ref><ref name="mmm">{{cite web|title=Markazul Maarif Mumbai Holds its 18th Convocation|url=http://www.deoband.net/news/markazul-maarif-mumbai-holds-its-18th-convocation|date=7 April 2013|access-date=6 July 2023|website=deoband.net|language=en|archive-date=2023-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707164441/http://www.deoband.net/news/markazul-maarif-mumbai-holds-its-18th-convocation|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many individuals expressed condolences upon the demise of Badarpuri. [[Asad Madani|As'ad Madani]] termed his death one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century. [[Sonia Gandhi]] called him a freedom fighter who always tried to maintain peace and social harmony among the different sections of people. [[Prafulla Kumar Mahanta]], the then chief minister of Assam, called him a symbol of peace, love, and social harmony. [[Santosh Mohan Dev]] opined that his death was a loss to the whole country.{{sfn|Qasmi|2000|pp=20–21}}<ref name="Dainik Sonar" />
== See also ==
* [[List of Deobandis]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Qasmi|first=Abdul Quadir|title=Sheikh Moulana Ahmed Ali, Jeevan Aru Karma|trans-title=The Life and Works of Shaikh Maulana Ahmed Ali|date=January 2010|publisher=Mufassil Ali|location=[[Hojai]], Assam|language=as}}
* {{cite book|last=Assami|first=Muzammil Ali|title=Qutub-e-Aalam Hazrat Maulana Ahmed Ali Sahab: Hayat Aur Karname|trans-title=Qutb-e-Aalam Hazrat Maulana Ahmed Ali Sahib: Life and Achievements|publisher=Mumtaz Book Depot|location=Madani Road, [[Deoband]], Saharanpur|date=January 2016|language=ur}}
* {{cite book|last=Badarpuri|first=Ahmed Ali|title=Pabitra Haram Trayer Etihas|trans-title=History of The Three Holy Mosques|edition=4th|date=January 1997|publisher=Jamia Islamia Jalilia|location=Hojai, Assam|language=bn}}
* {{cite book|last=Badarpuri|first=Ahmed Ali|title=Salasil-e-Tayyibah|date=1992|publisher=Mufassil Ali|location=Hojai, Assam|language=bn}}
* {{cite book|last=Badarpuri|first=Ahmed Ali|title=Fuyudh-e-Madani|date=1996|chapter=Aayena-e-Shakhsiyyat by Muzammil Ali Assami|publisher=Mufassil Ali|location=Jamia Jalalia, Hojai, Assam|language=ur}}
* {{cite book|last=Ahmed|first=Bashir|title=Chirag-e-Madani|edition=1st|date=November 2000|publisher=Md Ahmad Hussain|location=[[Guwahati]], Assam|language=bn}}
* {{cite book|last=Islam|first=Md Nazrul|title=Hazrat Sheikh Maulana Ahmed Ali er Smriti patra|trans-title=Memories of Maulana Ahmed Ali|date=2000|publisher=Darul Uloom Baskandi|location=[[Banskandi]], Cachar district, Assam|language=bn}}
* {{cite journal|editor1-last=Raghibi|editor1-first=Abdul Jalil|editor2-last=Mustafi|editor2-first=A.R.|title=A special issue containing life story of Hazrat Moulana Sheikh Ahmed Ali|journal=Jnyan Sambhar|date=July–October 2000 |volume=2–3|issue=1–4|publisher=Markaz Sahitya Parishad|location=Hojai, Assam|language=as}}
* {{cite book|last=Qasmi|first=Tayib|title=Darul Uloom Banskandi|date=2000|publisher=Darul Uloom Banskandi|location=Banskandi, Cachar district, Assam|language=bn}}
* {{cite book|last=Badarpuri|first=Ahmed Ali|title=Khatme Nabowater O Kadianiater Gumraihir Akatya Dalil Samooh|date=1998|publisher=Sayid Yasin Ali|location=Ali Nagar, Sijubari, Guwahati, Assam|language=bn}}
* {{cite book|last=Raghibi|first=Abdul Jalil|title=Purba Bharater Oli-e-Kamil|trans-title=The Holy Man of Eastern India|date=1994|publisher=[[Markazul Maarif]]|location=Hojai, Assam|language=bn}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|last=Raghibi|first=Abdul Jalil|title=Mashaheer Ulama O Mashayekh e Assam (Shehbaz e Qudus)|trans-title=Famous Scholars and Mashaykhs of Assam|publisher=Noori Islamic Foundation|location=[[Nagaon]], Assam|volume=1st|date=2007|pages=43–90|language=ur}}
* {{cite web |last=Ali |first=Amjed |title=Biography of Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali Badarpuri (RA) |url=https://deobandonline.com/en/2023/10/11/biography-of-hazrat-maulana-ahmad-ali-badarpuri-ra/ |url-status=live |date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101135102/https://deobandonline.com/en/2023/10/11/biography-of-hazrat-maulana-ahmad-ali-badarpuri-ra/ |archive-date=1 January 2024 |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=Deoband Online|language=en}}

{{Hanafi scholars}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Badarpuri, Ahmed Ali}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:Hanafis]]
[[Category:Maturidis]]
[[Category:Deobandis]]
[[Category:Hadith scholars]]
[[Category:Sunni Sufis]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:Indian Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:Indian Islamic religious leaders]]
[[Category:People from Karimganj district]]
[[Category:Darul Uloom Deoband alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Bengali people]]
[[Category:Bengali Muslim scholars of Islam]]

Ahmed Ali Badarpuri - Revision history

Svetlltn at 07:02, 13 November 2025