Mufti-e-Azam Pakistan Mufti Waqar-ud-Din

Hazrat Mufti Aazam Pakistan Allama Mufti Muhammad Waqaruddin Qadiri Razvi (alaihir rahmah)

(Darul Uloom Amjadiya - Bahadurabad, Karachi)

Muhammad Waqaruddin Qadri (1 January 1915 - 9 September 1993) also known as Waqar-e-Millat was an Islamic scholar associated with the Sunni Barelvi movement of South Asia. His fatawa (rulings) are compiled in three volume of the book titled Waqar-ul-Fatawa. He taught & administered in Islamic institutes in India, Bangladesh & later in Pakistan. He was conferred title of Grand Mufti of Pakistan during Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq regime.

Birth & family:
He was born on 1 January 1915 (14 Safar 1333 AH) to a family of scholars. They were middle class-landlords of the Arain tribe in the village Khamaria of Pilibhit, District of Uttar Pradesh, India. His father Hameeduddin had memorized the Quran. His mother Imtiaz-un-Nisa was the daughter of Haji Nisar Ahmad of village Pandri, District Pilibhit.

Education & career:

He received his primary education & training in his ancestral village Khamaria, then in Madarsa-e-Astana-e-Sheria, Pilibhit & later in Manzar-e-Islam, at dargah Ala Hazrat, Bareilly. Thereafter, he went to Dadon, village of Aligarh to complete Daura-e-Hadith was Amjad Ali Aazmi.

In 1937, he was awarded degree for the completion of hadith by Hakim Amjad Ali. In 1945, he got married with Mohatarma Jameela Begum Daughter of Anwar-ul-Haaq of village Karghaina, District Pilibhit. On appointing as Vice-President for Faculty affairs, Mufti-e-Azam Hind Mustafa Raza Khan gave him a certificate of appreciation.

Academic contribution:

He was appointed as teacher in Madarsa Manzar-e-Islam & later promoted as an in charge & manager for teaching at Manzar-e-Islam. He was among the panel of debaters who continuously debate with scholars of another school of thought. The debate with an Ahle Hadith scholar in village Tanda, District Bareilly is famous of his life time where he was awarded by Mufti-e-Azam Hind Mustafa Raza Khan.

He participated in the activities of All India Sunni Conference. He taught & prepared scholars here till 1954 & moved to Jamia Ahmadiyya Sunnia Kamil Madrasa in Chittagong, Bengal (now Bangladesh). Up to 1971, the residents of East Pakistan benefited by the services of Maulana Waqaruddin. Due to chaos & civil war in East Pakistan, he decided to move towards West Pakistan in 1971. After facing the difficult time, he was able to board the ship to Karachi along with his family members & close associate on 23 March 1971.

Life in Pakistan:

He joined Dar-ul-uloom Amjadiya in 1971 as the head of teaching & learning. He was also responsible for the center of jurisprudence. In this branch of Islamic studies, his contributions were acknowledged by scholars of his time.

Spiritual permissions & successorship:

He received the oath of allegiance (the Bay'at) to Hamid Raza Khan Qadri. He was awarded successorship (Khilafat) i.e the spiritual vice regency by Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri. One of his students was Ilyas Qadri, leader of Islamic missionary movement Dawat-e-Islami.

Fatwa:

He ruled that it is not permissible to shave the beard.

Books:

• Waqar-ul-Fatawa
• Zakat Ki Ahmiat
• Masail-e-I'tikaf

Teachers:

Qadri's teachers included:

• Allama Muhammad Raza Khan - brother of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan
• Amjad Ali Aazmi - The Grand Mufti of India
• Hamid Raza Khan - known as Hujjat-ul-Islam
• Mufti-e-Azam Hind Allama Mustafa Raza Khan
• Allama Hasnain Raza Khan - Nephew of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan
• Muhaddis-e-Azam Pakistan Maulana Sardar Ahmed
• Abdul Haq
• Habib-ur-Rehman

Recognition:

He was bestowed with the title Grand Mufti of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan nominated him as the member of Markazi Ruatay Hilal Committee during the tenure of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. He coined the definition of the term "Muslim" in Pakistani constitution.

Death:

He died on 19 September 1993 (20 Rabi' al-awwal 1413 AH). He was buried at Dar-ul-Uloom Amjadia, Karachi, Pakistan.

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