Maulana Sharif-ul-haq amjadi

(The shrine of Hazrat Shareef-ul-Haq Amjadi is located in Ghosi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

Mufti Shareef-ul-Haq Amjadi was honoured with the titles of Faqih-e-Azam-e-Hind (Grand Jurist of India) & Shareh-e-Bukhari (Commentator of Sahih al-Bukhari).

He was born in 1320 Hijri (1921 CE) in the Karimuddinpur locality of Azamgarh (Ghausi), Uttar Pradesh. His father's name was Hazrat Abdus Samad bin Sanaullah. His great grandfather, Hazrat Maulana Khairuddin Aazmi, was a revered saint & scholar of his era, known for his spiritual insight & learning.

Mufti Sahib acquired knowledge & spiritual grave (faiyz) from numerous eminent scholars of the Ahle Sunnat, including:

Hazrat Sadr-ush-Shariah Mufti Amjad Ali Aazmi, Hazrat Hujjat-ul-Islaam Mufti Muhammad Haamid Raza Khan Barelvi,  Mufti-e-Azam Hind Muhammad Mustafa Raza Khan Barelvi, Hazrat Hafiz-e-Millat Hafiz Shah Abdul Azeez Muradabadi, Hazrat Muhaddis-e-Aazam-e-Pakistan Maulana Sardar Ahmad, Hazrat Sadr-ul-Ulama Maulana Ghulaam Jilaani, Hazrat Khair-ul-Azkiya Maulana Ghulaam Yazdaani, Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Ma'aqoolaat Maulana Mohammad Sulaiman, Hazrat Maulana Sana'ullah Muhaddis, Hazrat Hakeem Ahmad Ali Aazmi (brother of Sadr-us-Shariah), Hazrat Shaikh-ut-Tajweed Maulana Qaari Mohammad Usmaan Aazmi & Hazrat Bulbul-e-Faarsi Maulana Sayyid Shams-ul-Haq Mubarakpuri.

In 1359 Hijri (1940 CE), during a gathering at Madrasa Ashrafia Misbah-ul-Uloom in Mubarakpur, he pledged spiritual allegiance (bai'at) at the hands of Hazrat Sadr-us-Shariah Mufti Amjad Ali Aazmi, becoming one of his earliest disciples. Later, during the Hajj pilgrimage in Shawwal 1368 Hijri (1948 CE), Sadr-us-Shariah bestowed upon him the spiritual succession in the Qadri Razvi order.

Prominent Ahle Sunnat scholars frequently entrusted him to lead counter-debates against heterodox groups. In the renowned debate at Cuttack (Odisha), Hazrat Maulana Shah Mohammad Habeeb-ur-Rahman appointed him as the chief debater (Sadr Munazir). During a Dawati mission to Junagadh (Gujarat), on the directive of Hazrat Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind, he decisively refuted a Shia critic’s objections regarding the Ḥadees-e-Qirtas & the stature of Hazrat Umar Farooq. In Barhalganj (Gorakhpur), he responded to a challenge issued by a Deobandi scholar against Hazrat Muhaddis-e-Azam-e-Hind Syed Shah Muhammad Ashrafi, earning profound appreciation. Hazrat Hafiz-e-Millat held such confidence in him that he would specifically summon Mufti Shareef-ul-Haq Amjadi to represent Mubarakpur in debates, including the notable discourse at Dariyapur (Malda, West Bengal). Hazrat Sayyid-ul-Ulema Sayyid Shah Aale Mustafa Barkati appointed him president (Sadr) of All India Sunni Jamiat-ul-Ulama meetings. Hazrat Ahsan-ul-Ulama Sayyid Shaah Mustafa Haider Hassan Barkaati relied on his scholarly & administrative acumen, consulting him on critical matters.

Mufti Sahib issued approximately 70,000 juristic rulings (fataawa), later compiled into the 2-volume work Fatawa Sharah-e-Bukhari. His authored books include Ashraf-us-Siyar, the 4-volume Tehqiqaat, Sunni Deobandi Ikhtilaaf ka Munsifaana Jaiza (An impartial analysis of Sunni-Deobandi differences), & Nuzhat-ul-Qaari.

As a principal disciple & spiritual successor of Hazrat Sadr-ush-Shariah Mufti Amjad Ali Aazmi, he also received khilafat from Hazrat Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind Muhammad Mustafa Raza Khan Barelvi on 7 Ramazan 1381 Hijri & from Hazrat Ahsan-ul-Ulama Sayyid Mustafa Haider Hassan Marehrvi in 1404 Hijri. His own chief successor is Hazrat Ashraf-ul-Fuqaha Mufti Mujeeb Ashraf Nagpuri.

His legacy lives on through his scholarly works, which continue to benefit the global Muslim community. His dedication to preserving & explaining authentic Hadith has left a lasting impact. He emphasized adherence to the Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet) & promoted a balanced understanding of Islam. He encouraged believers to seek knowledge, practice compassion & maintain good character.

He passed away on 6 Safar 1420 Hijri (11 May 2000 CE). The shrine (mazaar) of Hazrat Shareef-ul-Haq Amjadi is located in Ghosi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

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A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Sahil Razvi is a research scholar specialising in Sufism & Islamic History. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia.