Shabbir Ahmad Usmani facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shabbir Ahmad Usmani
Ameer of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
In office 1945–1949
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Zafar Ahmad Usmani
Member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
In office 11 August 1947 – 13 December 1949
Member of the Constituent Assembly of India
In office November 1946 – 11 August 1947
Religion	Islam
Denomination	Sunni
Founder of	Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
Personal
Born	11 October 1887 Bijnor, North-Western Provinces, British India
Died	13 December 1949(1949-12-13) (aged 62) Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur State, Pakistan
Resting place	Islamia Science College (Karachi), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Parents	Fazlur Rahman Usmani (father)
Relatives	Usmani family of Deoband
Religious career
Students	Athar Ali Bengali, Azizul Haque, Shah Abd al-Wahhab

Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (Urdu: شبیر احمد عثمانی; October 11, 1887 – December 13, 1949) was an important Islamic scholar. He strongly supported the idea of creating Pakistan in the 1940s. He was even named the first Shaykh al-Islam of Pakistan in 1949. He was also the first person to ask for Pakistan to be an Islamic state. Usmani was known as a religious teacher, writer, speaker, and politician. He was very skilled in explaining the Quran (Tafsir) and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Hadith).

He was born in Bijnor, British India. He studied at a famous Islamic school called Darul Uloom Deoband. His father was Fazlur Rahman Usmani. Shabbir Ahmad Usmani was the first person to raise the Flag of Pakistan in Karachi on August 14, 1947. He also led the funeral prayers for Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who founded Pakistan. One of his most important works is the Tafseer-e-Usmani, which he wrote with his teacher Mahmud Hasan Deobandi.

Shabbir Ahmad Usmani: A Leader for Pakistan

His Early Life and Education

Shabbir Ahmad Usmani was born on October 11, 1887, in Bijnor, a city in British India. His father, Fazlur Rahman Usmani, worked as a school inspector. He was on assignment in Bareilly when Shabbir was born.

Usmani received his education at Darul Uloom Deoband, a well-known Islamic university. He became a student of Mahmud Hasan Deobandi. He finished his studies and graduated in 1908. After graduating, he was appointed as a teacher at the same university.

Teaching and Scholarship

In 1915, his teacher Mahmud Hasan went to Hijaz, Saudi Arabia. Usmani took over his position as the teacher of Sahih al-Muslim. This is an important book of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

In 1925, Sultan Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia organized a meeting. It was for important religious scholars from all over the world. A group of scholars from India attended this meeting. It is believed they chose Usmani as their leader after talking with him.

In 1926, he moved to Dabhel, a town in India. He became a teacher at Jamiah Islamiah Talimuddin Dabhel. In October 1929, a committee decided to create Jamia Millia Islamia, a new university. Usmani was chosen as a member of this founding committee. Many other Islamic scholars were also part of this group.

In 1933, after Anwar Shah Kashmiri passed away, Usmani became the teacher of Sahih al-Bukhari. This is another very important book of Prophet Muhammad's teachings.

His Role in Pakistan's Creation

Shabbir Ahmad Usmani was one of the people who helped start Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. He was part of the founding committee that met on October 29, 1920.

In 1944, he joined the All-India Muslim League. This was a political party that wanted to create Pakistan. He led a small group of scholars who supported the idea of Pakistan.

Founding Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam

The old Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind party was founded in 1919. Usmani led a group of its members who supported Pakistan. In 1945, he started a new political party. It was called the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. He founded it with other religious leaders who also supported Pakistan.

He joined the Muslim League at a very important time for the Pakistan movement. Many powerful leaders in some areas were influenced by another party, the Congress. Shabbir Ahmad Usmani and about 500 other religious leaders worked hard. They changed people's minds and gained support for the Pakistan movement.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, often asked Usmani for advice. Usmani served as the first president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam until he died in 1949.

After Independence

When Pakistan became an independent country, Usmani was the first to raise its flag in West Pakistan. This happened in Karachi on August 14, 1947. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan were present. In East Pakistan, his colleague Zafar Ahmad Usmani raised the flag.

After the Partition of India, Usmani became a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. This group helped create Pakistan's first laws. He remained a member until his death in 1949.

He is especially remembered for leading the effort for the Qarardad-i-Maqasid (Objectives Resolution). This important resolution was passed by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on March 12, 1949. In 1946, Usmani also used the Quran to explain why Pakistan should be created.

Death and Lasting Impact

Shabbir Ahmad Usmani passed away in Bahawalpur State on December 13, 1949. He was buried at Islamia Science College (Karachi) the next day.

In 1990, Pakistan's postal service honored him. They issued a special postage stamp in his memory. It was part of their 'Pioneers of Freedom' series.

His Important Books