Mufti e Azam Maharashtra
Mufti e Azam Maharashtra is the senior most fatwa issuing authority of the Mahrashtra state of India. The first person to hold this title was Hazrat Mufti Ghulam Muhammad Khan Ashhar, after the formation of Maharashtra state in May 1960. Mufti Ashhar was the disciple of Mufti Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri. After his wisal, Mufti Mujeeb Ashraf Sahab from Nagpur held the position up.
Mufti Ghulam Muhammad Khan "Ashhar"
Mufti Ghulam Muhammad Khan "Ashhar" was the Sufi Shaykh of Qadirriya Barkatiyya Razviyya order. Mazar mubarak is located in Bothali, Nagpur. According to Ghulam Rabbani Fida, his forefathers had migrated from Afghanistan and settled in Delhi during 1857 war of independence before finally settling in Nagpur. Fida also confirms his forefather's participation in 1857 rebellion. His father was Hazrat Hakim Miya Khan Sahab.
Life history
Mufti Ghulam Muhammad Khan Ashhar born on 5 December 1920. He Completed his religious studies from Jamia Arabiya Nagpur under the guidance of Allama Abdul Rashid Fatehpuri. It is said that he is one among the most trusted Scholar of Nagpur of his time. His religious opinions (Fatawas) were trusted by great scholars of his time including Huzur Mufti e Azam e hind, Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri.
He received Wisal in 2003. His funeral prayer was performed by his successor and maternal grandson Mufti Mujtaba Shareef Baghdadi. Urs festival is celebrated annually at his shrine at Bothali Nagpur.