Grand Mufti of India

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The Grand Mufti of India is the most senior and influential religious authority of the Sunni Muslim Community of India.[1][2][3][4][5] The incumbent is Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad,[6][7] general secretary of All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama,[8][9] who was conferred the title in February 2019 at the Gareeb Nawaz Peace Conference held at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi, organised by the All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam.[8]

Role

The Grand Mufti of India is the Islamic authority in the country.[10] His main role is to give opinions (fatwa) on Islamic legal matters and social affairs.[11][12] The Grand Mufti is traditionally chosen from the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam.[13]

History

Mughal period

The first Grand Mufti of India, Shah Fazle Rasool Badayuni was appointed by the final Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. Badayuni was a Hanafi scholar[14] who had deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence. His Urdu statements on Islamic subjects were published as Tariqi Fatwa, which later became famous. His grandson `Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni followed him as the Grand Mufti.[15][16]Template:Not in ref

British period

In the British ruling period, Islamic scholars noted Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi who was the spiritual leader of Indian Muslims, scholar and revivalist.[17][18][19] Thousands of students and scholars were attracted to his works and requested him to become Grand Mufti, but he declined. He wanted to be engaged with educational revival and writing. Instead, his student Amjad Ali Aazmi was elected.[20] His book on Hanafi fiqh, Bahar-e-Shariat became a reference on this subject. Along with him, Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri s/o. Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi was the Grand Mufti during Indira Gandhi's administration. He protested the Family Planning Program enacted by the government.

Grand Muftiship of Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad

Template:Main Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad was sworn in as the Grand Mufti of India on 24 February 2019 at the Ramlila Maidan. He became the first Grand Mufti from south India.[7]

List of Grand Muftis of India

No. Name (birth–death) Madhhab Place Other works & activities Notes
16th century - 17th century
1
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ملا عبد القادر بدایونی (Arabic & Urdu)

Hanafi Badaun Author of Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh (Arabic) The Mughal emperor, Akbar, appointed him to the Muftiate in 1574 where he spent much of his career.
17th century
18th century
19th century
5
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شاہ فضلِ رسول قادری بدایونی (Urdu, his native language),
شاه فضل رسول قدري بدایونی (Arabic)

Hanafi Badaun Author of Tarikhi-Fatwa (Urdu) Badayuni was appointed by the final Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar.
20th century
6
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مفتی اعظم محمد کفایت اللہ دہلوی (Urdu, his native language),
مفتی کفایت اللہ الدہلوی(Arabic)[21][22][23]

Hanafi Shahjahanpur Author of Kifayatul Mufti[24]
7
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صدر الشريعہ مفتى محمد امجد على اعظمى (Urdu, his native language),
مفتى أمجد على أعظمى (Arabic)

Hanafi Bareilly Author of Bahar-e-Shariat (Urdu)
8
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مصطفٰی رضا خان قادری نوری (Urdu, his native language),
مصطفى رضا خان القادري النوري (Arabic)

Hanafi Bareilly Author of Fatawa Mustawafiyah (Arabic)
20th century - 21st century
9
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تاج الشریعہ اختر رضا خان (Urdu, his native language),
مفتي اختر رضا خان (Arabic)

Hanafi Bareilly Founder of Jamiatur Raza and Author of Fatawa Taajush Shariah (Arabic)
21st century
10

ശൈഖ് അബൂബക്ർ അഹ്‌മദ്‌ (Malayalam, his native language),
 الشيخ أبوبكر أحمد (Arabic)

Shafi'i Kozhikode General Secretary of All India Muslim Scholars Association

See also

References

  1. ↑ Grand Mufti Sheikh Abu Bakr Ahmad on COVID19 pandemic: Follow social distancing while visiting public places, Taneja, Parina. indiatvnews.com(9 June 2020). Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  2. ↑ Kerala celebrates Bakrid adhering to COVID protocols. Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  3. ↑ Closed-door celebration for Kerala Muslims on Eid. outlookindia.com/. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  4. ↑ Eid al-Fitr 2020: Closed-door celebrations Muslims across Kerala, Mangaluru on Eid(24 May 2020). Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  5. ↑ Muted Eid Celebrations. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  6. ↑ Education is key to peace, says India's Grand Mufti, Kumar, Ashwani. Khaleej Times. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kanthapuram elected as new Grand Mufti(25 February 2019). Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kanthapuram selected Grand Mufti of India. The Times of India. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  9. ↑ تعيين الشيخ أبوبكر أحمد مفتيا للهند. العين الإخبارية. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  10. ↑ Muslim Women Shouldn't Raise Slogans Against CAA, Says Grand Mufti. Moral Policing Never Stops!(28 January 2020). Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  11. ↑ A mufti day is enormous fun. But time to give it a new name, Pickles, Katie. The Spinoff(12 February 2020). Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  12. ↑ Kanthapuram Grand Mufti of Sunnis in India. The Hindu(27 February 2019). Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  13. ↑ Sects and sub sects among the Muslims of Karnataka with special reference to North Karnataka a study{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}
  14. ↑ History of Fazle Rasool Badayuni. ziaetaiba.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  15. ↑ Chapter 12 – Akbar's Religious Views, as Described by Badauni. ibiblio.org. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  16. ↑ Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh.Vol.1{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors
  17. ↑ The Awakening of Muslim Democracy: Religion, Modernity, and the State{{#if:Cesari|, Cesari}. Cambridge University Press(14 April 2014). ISBN 978-1-107-51329-7
  18. ↑ Religion and Violence{{#if:Esposito|, Esposito}. MDPI(1 October 2018). ISBN 978-3-03842-143-6
  19. ↑ Comparative Study of 'Kanzul Iman' among other Famous Translation. International Journal of Fundamental and Applied Research.
  20. ↑ History of Amjad Ali Azami. ziaetaiba.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  21. ↑ Mufti Azam Hind, Maulana Kifayatyullah Shahjahanpuri Thumma Dehlawi{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library
  22. ↑ Maulana Habibur Rahman Ludhyanvi Aur Unki Tahrik Ahar E Islam Ek Tarikhi wa Tahqeeqi Jaiza Mohd. Irfan, Aligarh Muslim University
  23. ↑ A Biography Of Mufti Kifaayatullaah Dehlavi{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}
  24. ↑ Kifayatrul Mufti. archive. Retrieved 26 March 2020.

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