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Let Me Tell You About The Juristic Insight Of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi

Rajib Sk

Juristic insight of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (R)

Abstract

‘Some are born great’ and one of them was Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (R). He was regarded as one of the greatest Sunni revivalists of Islam, Master of both modern and Islamic Sciences. He was known to have proficiency in over 60 branches of knowledge including Fiqh, Aqeeda, Mantiq, Science, geography and mathematics. Moreover, jurisprudence was one of main subject of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (R). He was totally proficient in Fiqh and received acceptance by the great Ulema of east and west. The methodology of issuing Fatwa and literary works produced by him are the conclusive evidence of his position and status in the juristic world. Furthermore, Fatwa-e-Rizwiya is the living example. However, when there is plethora of unresolved cases and acrimonious debate over Triple Talaq, love Jihad, Hadd and Qisas in the world and especially in India, we must re-refer the juristic works of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelevi (R). Therefore, this essay is an attempt to find out the juristic insight of Ala Hazrat and its significance to contemporary society.

Keywords: Imam Ala Hazrat, juristic insight, fatawa Methodology, influences, conclusion, references.

INTRODUCTION

Among the galaxy of intellectuals produced by Indian subcontinent in 18th century, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan was one of them. He was great scholar, a poet, expert writer, theologian, famous jurist, mathematician, logician, a great exegete and the modernizer of Islamic applications. Moreover, he is considered as the revivalist of Ahle-Sunnat Movement. The movement now has over 200 million of followers more specifically in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa. Through this movement he made tireless effort to counter the false belief of Wahabism, Salafism, Deobandi and Ahle Hadith and gave deliberate concern to spread the correct religious dogma of Ahle Sunnat in the light of Quran and Hadith. Although, he was expert in various arena, but juristic insight was at another level. Obviously, he owns a distinctive position by acquiring mastery in the jurisprudence of four schools of thought Hanafi, Maliki, Hanbli and Shafi. furthermore, how influenced leader he was can be assessed looking at the institute of Jamia-Ashrafiya of UP, Raza Academy Publishing Centre of Mumbai and the Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Academy Durban of South Africa. Therefore, this all-academic centers and institution like Jamia Ashrafia are running based on his teachings, where his methodology of issuing fatwa and several books especially Fatwa Rizviya has been taught. Moreover, when there is acrimonious debate over Triple Talaq and multiple unresolved issues slumbered in court, time demands to read Ala Hazrat (R). Therefore, in this essay an attempt made to find out the contribution and mastery of Imam Ala Hazrat in Islamic jurisprudence and its significance to contemporary society.

LITRARY WORKS AS A SYMBOL OF HIS JURISTIC INSIGHT

Imam Ahmad Raza Khan was a great writer who used his pen for the reformation of obsolete Islamic Sharia Law. In order to reform the society, he wrote extensively on juristic Masail, which contains the solutions of daily problems from religion to business and from war to marriage. Al-Ataya Fi-Navawiya Fatwa Rizwiya was his magnum opus work, spans over 30 volumes. Today, it is regarded as the encyclopedia of Hanafi Jurisprudence. It is historically recorded that due to the decline of Mughal Empire and advent of British rulers many alterations happened in Islamic Sharia and cases were handled by non-Muslims judges. Therefore, he prepared innumerable researched treaties on an academic level in order eradicate anti-Islamic laws. To this day the Muslim masses benefit from his Ahkame-Shariat, Irfane-Shariat, Al-Malfooz and Fatawaye-Africa which deal with almost every Masail of our day-to-day life.

Whenever, he used to issue any Fatwa, doing with incisiveness and substantiated details. For example, he has described 306 kinds of water, discussing qualities, chemical reactions and proved that with 160 kinds of water ablution can be made and with 146 kinds of water the ablution is not permissible. Likewise, he has drawn a list of 181 kinds of soil and matters which fit to be used for Tayyammum while 130 things unfit it. Furthermore, Fatwa-e-Rizwiya is an ocean of learning and knowledge. Imam Ahmad Raza Khan has used theories of physics, Geology, chemistry, logarithm, spherical trigonometry, algebra and viewpoints of trade, commerce and economics in this book to elaborate Islamic legal verdict.

The great writer of Bar-e-Sagir, Maulana Kausar Niyazi remarked that”Ala Hazrat is Second Abu Hanifa”. In another statement, he said that there are two most dependable Hanafi Books one is Fatawaye Alamgir, which is the outcome of 40 scholars’ collective effort, while second one is Fatawa-e- Rizwiya, the effort of individual.

Moreover, his juristic works “Jiddul Mumtar”and “Kilful Faqihi Fahim-Fi-Ahkam-e-Kirtas-e- Darahim”is also the symbol of his juristic insight. Jiddul Mumtar is the commentary (Sharah) of Radd-al-Muhtar, the masterpiece of Allama Shami. Inspite of being a Kitab of commentary, Ala Hazrat managed to add Main body (Matan) and footnotes (Hashia), which makes this Book special.”Kilful Faqihi Fahim-Fi-Ahkam-e-Kirtas-e- Darahim” was a compilation of answers of currency notes.

Indeed, imam wrote a lot of books but what must be noted that the quantity of books is not what makes him great; but quality of books that brought him this position. In many cases, one page written by him was equal to a book of other jurist.

The methodology of issuing fatwa and his depth of Knowledge

Historically, the people of 18th century were carrying bunches of false beliefs regarded the Islam. At this time, Ala Hazrat shone as revivalist. The method of issuing Fatwa and his depth of knowledge really distinguish him from others. Due to the expertness in issuing inquisition, he became the head of Darul Ifta, from where he used to answer the questions that came from all over the country. Therefore, for issuing Fatwa he used to nurture each jurisprudential principle (Usul-Al-Fiqh); Quran, Hadith, Ijma (Consensus), Qaul-Al-Sahaba (The statements of Companions), Qiyas (Analogy), Istihsan (Legal references), Urf (Customs) and Ijtihad (Independent reasoning)

The history of Islamic Jurisprudence is happened in seven phases and ijtihad fi- Masail (independent reasoning in issuing legal Judgement) is coming in third phase. Therefore, the position of Ala Hazrat occurs in this phase. To a further extent, once he forms an opinion, he stays firm on it; he expresses his opinion after a sober reflection. Therefore, the need never arises to withdraw any of his legal Judgment. Moreover, once he was asked any legal judgment, he must solve it through extensive references. Providing even the briefest details is not feasible in this limited page. Therefore, few of them are given below.

Once he was asked, can the funeral prayer be repeated? Imam Ahmad Raza (R) compiled a monograph on this matter and dealt with this issue by segregating it into 10 categories. Most surprisingly, he cited 207 references and at another place gathered 40 another references of Hadith and books of Fiqh.

At another place he asked which water is fit for making Wudhu (Ablution) and which type of water is unfit for the purpose? Such a question came up for consideration before Ala Hazrat. So, in 1915 he wrote separate treaty over the issue. He described 160 kinds of water with which Wudhu can be made. Besides, he has given 146 kinds of water with which wudhu cannot be made. Thus, in all, imam has described 306 kinds of water. However, we understand that he issued Fatwa after scrutinizing the case. The renowned poet of east Allama Iqbal remarked that “Such an erudite jurist did not emerge”

Juristic influence of Ala Hazrat in modern times

Indeed, the works and contributions of Ala Hazrat have left a big influence in community. Now, there are numerous academic and non-academic social organizations around the globe which is functioning on his principles. Some prominent institutions are centre of Islamic studies, Jamiatur Raza, (Bareily, India), Al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya,( Mubarakpur, India) Raza Academy, (Mumbai) Imam Mustafa Raza Academy (Durban, south Africa), Sunni Hanafi Organization, (Nagpur, India) Al-Mustafa Islamic Cultural center Ireland, (Dubling, Ireland) and many more.

Furthermore, ‘Postal Service Department of India’ has acknowledged that Ala Hazrat Mazar Stump printed by Government of India. Moreover, his many juristic works have been translated. The ‘Islamic times” of UK has recently published two articles of Ala Hazrat. First one is” A commentary upon paper currency notes” which has written by Dr. Muhammad A Junejo and second one is “Imam Ahmad Raza and Topology” by Dr. Abdul Naim Azizi of Jesoli, Bareily Sharif.

To a further extend how influential he was can understand by this that the famous Al-Azahar University, in Cairo, Egypt has granted the permission for a graduate to research on Ala Hazrat and his service for Hanafi Fiqh. Recently, 21 Scholars of Pakistan have received Doctorate. Amongst them are, Professor Dr Hafiz Abdul Bari Siddiqi, Dr. Majeedullah Qadiri.

Therefore, the Muslims of India are governed by “the Muslim Personal Law application act, 1937. The dissolution of marriage Act, 1939 and Muslim women (protection of right on divorce) act, 1986. In these Acts we can find several misconceptions. Therefore, time demands to read Ala Hazrat. He often emphasized on establishing Khazi System in India and appointed one of his close followers Amjad Ali Azmi as Kazi and two others Mustafa Raza Khan and Burhanul Haqq Jabal Puri as muftis to assist him at his time. So, we can understand from this that how concerning he was.

A renowned theologian, Hadrat Mawlana Zayd Abul Hassan Faruqi, who completed his education at the Al Azhar University, Cairo, remarked that “None can deny the knowledge of Mawlana Ahmed Raza Khan in the field of Fiqh. He was, no doubt, the greatest Faqih (Jurist) of his time.”

Therefore, when there is cascading criticism over finance and trade, Talaq and inheritance law, we must refer the juristic life of Ala Hazrat (R).

Conclusion

To conclude, one must believe that Ala Hazrat was a leader of enlightenment and progress who stands out most prominently as philosopher, reformer, thinker and revivalist of Islam in 18th century. In spite of became astonishingly well-versed in over 50 disciplines, he majorly contributed to reforming Islamic Shaia Law through the extensive reading and writing of Islamic Jurisprudence. However, when the world is running through the acrimonious debate over Triple Talaq, inheritance Law and many more, we need to re-read the juristic works of Imam Ala Hazrat, which could somehow save us from going astray.

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References and notes

Featured image is for representational purposes only. It has been provided by the author.
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