Template:Infobox religious biography
Ahmad Wali Faisal Rahmani (born 12 May 1975) is an Indian Muslim community leader. He is the eighth Ameer-e-Shariat of Imarat-e-Shariah, an Islamic organization operating in Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand.[1] He is also the Sajjada Nashin (spiritual successor) of Khanqah Rahmani, a khanqah in Munger, Bihar, succeeding Wali Rahmani.[2]
Early life and education
Ahmad Wali Faisal Rahmani was born on 12 May 1975 in Munger to Wali Rahmani.[3][4] He received his early education at Jamia Rahmani in Munger, under the supervision of his father.[5] He later moved to the United States for higher studies, where he completed a degree in engineering from the University of California.[6] Following his graduation, he briefly taught at the University of California and then joined the software company Accenture, where he was a manager.Template:Sfn He later took a two-year leave from work to pursue Arabic language and literature studies in Egyptian villages near Al-Azhar University, before returning to the United States.[7]Template:Sfn
Career
Before returning to India, Rahmani worked in the United States. He was associated with the University of California and worked at Adobe Systems and BP.[6] He later joined Accenture, where he had a managerial role.Template:Sfn In addition to his professional work, he is associated with Jamia Rahmani (in Munger), where he is involved in managing and directly overseeing teaching Arabic language through online classes aimed at Quran memorization students as well as studies for middle school and high school students and a program for college preparation.Template:Sfn
In 2015, he was appointed as the Sajjada Nashin of Khanqah-e-Rahmani by his father, Wali Rahmani. His formal Sajjada Nashini ceremony took place on 9 April 2021.[2] Following the death of his father on 3 April 2021, he was elected as the eighth Ameer-e-Shariat of Imarat-e-Shariah on 9 October 2021.[8] His election was conducted through voting, a departure from the previous practice of consensus-based selection.[9] He secured 347 votes against 197 votes received by his closest rival, Anisur Rahman Qasmi.[10]
As Ameer-e-Shariat, Rahmani has focused on modernizing Imarat-e-Shariah while maintaining its traditional role in religious guidance.[4] His initiatives include the expansion of Darul Qaza (Islamic arbitration centers), strengthening educational institutions affiliated with Imarat-e-Shariah, protecting Waqf properties and addressing land reform issues, implementing self-sufficient maktab (primary Islamic schools) programs, and enhancing the use of technology in religious and educational activities.[7][6] Rahmani has emphasized the need for technical education among madrasa students. Under his leadership, Imarat-e-Shariah introduced digital tools to modernize Islamic education.[11]
Rahmani was elected secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in June 2023[3][12] and resigned in November 2024.[13]
Political and social stances
In January 2020, Rahmani supported the anti-CAA protests in Bihar, including the Subzibagh demonstration in Patna. Alongside other community leaders, he emphasized that the protests were aimed at protecting constitutional values rather than being driven by religious identity. Rahmani raised concerns that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and National Population Register (NPR) could undermine India's secular fabric and disproportionately impact marginalized communities.[14]
In September 2023, Rahmani, as a secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), was involved in efforts to ensure women's rightful share in inheritance under Sharia law. The initiative aimed to address concerns over women being denied inheritance rights and was part of a broader social reform effort by the Board.[15]
In March 2024, Rahmani, with other Muslim leaders, signed a joint statement opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019. The statement argued that the law violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution by selectively granting citizenship based on religion and excluding Muslims. It also criticized the timing of its implementation before general elections, calling it politically motivated.[16][17]
In June 2025, Rahmani, as Ameer-e-Shariat, publicly opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, (which was to override Islamic management of donated lands for Muslim institutions and mosques) describing it as a threat to religious autonomy and waqf properties. He stated that the law could allow state interference in religious endowments and heritage sites, and claimed that some BJP Members of Parliament had expressed support for his stance.[18][19][20] Addressing the “Waqf Bachao, Dastoor Bachao” rally at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, he said the Act violated fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution and undermined established legal principles. The event, organised by Imarat-e-Shariah with participation from opposition leaders including Tejashwi Yadav, Salman Khurshid, and Kanhaiya Kumar, drew thousands of attendees. Rahmani called the legislation "draconian" and demanded its rollback, asserting that the movement was a constitutional and peaceful expression of the community’s will.[21]
References
- ↑ مولانا فیصل رحمانی امارت شرعیہ بہار، اڈیشہ و جھارکھنڈ کے آٹھویں امیر شریعت منتخب. Qaumi Awaz(9 October 2021). Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 مولانا احمد ولی فیصل رحمانی ازہری خانقاہ رحمانی کے نئے سجادہ نشیں منتخب، تقریب میں امیرشریعت آسام ، امیرشریعت کرناٹک اور خلفاء سمیت متعدد علماء کی شرکت. Millat Times(9 April 2021). Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 مفکر ملت حضرت مولانا احمد ولی فیصل رحمانی حفظہ اللہ, Qasmi, Muhammad Sanaul Huda. Baseerat Online(10 July 2023). Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 ہاں میں امیر شریعت احمد ولی فیصل رحمانی ہوں۔۔۔! ہاں میں ہوں, Qasmi, Nazish Huma. Baseerat Online(17 October 2021). Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ↑ Hayat-e-Wali{{#if:Hasan|, Hasan}. Rahbar Book Service(2016)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 IT professional Maulana Rehmani heads Imarat-e-Sharia. Awaz The Voice(10 October 2021). Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bihar: Imarat-e-Shariah’s new chief is a man of technology, who believes ‘massive action’ can change course of Muslim community. TwoCircles(12 October 2021). Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ↑ مولانا احمد ولی فیصل رحمانی امیر شریعت منتخب - امیر شریعت کے انتخاب. ETV Bharat News(9 October 2021). Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ↑ مولانا احمد ولی فیصل رحمانی امارت شرعیہ بہار، اڑیسہ، جھارکھنڈ کے آٹھویں امیر شریعت منتخب. News18 Urdu(9 October 2021). Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ↑ After months of conflict, Maulana Wali Rahmani’s son elected as Imarat-e-Sharia chief. Muslim Mirror(10 October 2021). Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ Story of Wali Faisal Rahmani, a leader dedicated to Indian Muslims, Rahmani, Wali. eNewsroom India(2024-11-29). Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ Cong to make Waqf bill key poll issue.... The Times of India(2024-10-04). Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ آل انڈیا مسلم پرسنل لا بورڈ کے سکریٹری کا استعفیٰ(25 November 2024). Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ Bihar: ‘Not about religion, protest against bid to create rift’, Singh, Santosh. The Indian Express(2020-01-20). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ AIMPLB to start ‘movement’ to ensure women get rightful share in inheritance, Roy, Esha. The Indian Express(2023-09-19). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ CAA undermines principle of equality: Muslim bodies, Verma, Lalmani. The Indian Express(2024-03-13). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ Muslim bodies condemn CAA notification, want it repealed. The Hindu(2024-03-12). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ Waqf law protest likely to draw large crowd today. The Times of India(28 June 2025). Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ↑ Waqf Act Bihar Assembly Election 2025: मुस्लिम समुदाय वक्फ कानून के विरोध में लामबंद. Jansatta(29 June 2025). Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ↑ ‘Some BJP MPs backing our Waqf stand’: Top Muslim body chief on eve of Patna rally. The Indian Express(29 June 2025). Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ↑ Muslims hold rally in Patna demanding rollback of Waqf Act. The Hindu(29 June 2025). Retrieved 22 August 2025.