Zafaruddin Bihari

 

By 

SYED AMJAD HUSSAIN 

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d May 22, 2024

Reviewed by 

 Dr. ASHHAR MALIK

Allama Maulana Malik Muhammad Zafaruddin Bihari (19 October 1885–18 November 1962), popularly known as Malik-ul-Ulama, was an Indian Islamic scholar and Sufi saint belonging to the Barelvi revivalist movement within Sunni Islam. He was a mureed (spiritual student) and the Khalifa (successor) of Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. He was from the generation of Malik Ibrahim Beya, a Sufi saint of Suhrawardy order whose resting place (grave) is on Peer Pahadi, Bihar Sharif, in the Nalanda of Bihar. Beya's family tree meets Abdul Qadir Jilani in the sixth generation. 

Life and Career 

Bihari was born to Abdul Razzak Ashrafi Hanafi on the 10th of Muharram 1303 Hijri, corresponding to the 19th of October 1885, in the region of Bihar Sharif, then known as Bihar only but now a part of Nalanda district of Bihar. He had his earlier education at Madrasa Ghausia Hanafia under Allama Wasi Ahmad Surati and later at Madrasa Manzar-e-Islam, an Islamic seminary founded by lmam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi in 1903, where he also worked as a manager along with Hasan Raza. Zafaruddin Bihari started his career as a teacher at Manzar-e-Islam on the order of his master, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. After completing his graduation Bihari taught there till 1911 and worked at Madrasa Hanafia in Allahabad for nearly a year, from 1911 to 1912.

Zafaruddin Bihari joined the Government Madrasa Shamsul Huda in 1912, just after its establishment in 1912 by Justice Syed Muhammad Noorul Huda in the memory of his father, Syed Muhammad Shamsul Huda. He worked as Shaykh-al Fiqh and Shaykh-al Hadith until 1916.

Zafaruddin Bihari went to the Madrasa of Khanqah Kabeeriya in 1916 and worked there till 1920. He was invited to be a teacher by Syed Shah Malihuddin, the hereditary custodian of Khanqah Kabeeriya. He went back to Madrasa Shamsul Huda in 1920 and started working on the posts of Shaykh-al Fiqh and Shaykh-al Hadith until 1947. He was conferred with the post of Shaykh-al Kul (Head Master) in 1947 and retired in 1951.

Zafaruddin Bihari took the oath of allegiance to Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi in 1903, when he travelled to Bareilly along with Wasi Ahmed Surati. He was a follower of the Qadriyya-Barkatiyya-Razviyya order. He also had khilafat and ijazat of the Ashrafiyya order from Syed Muhammad Ashraf Kichhauchwi.

Works

Bihari has authored various books in his life. His works include Sahih-ul-Bihari, which was a compilation of over 9000 hadiths written in 6 volumes, justifying the Hanafi Fiqh in support of Imam e Azam Abu Hanifa. He also authored Hayat-e-Aala Hazrat, which is regarded as the first biography of Imam Ahmed Rida Khan. Fatawa Malik-ul-Ulama, which was originally written as Nafi'ul Bashar Fi Fatawa Zafar, is the compilation of the fatawa by Zafaruddin Bihari. Mazharul Manaqib and Islahul Dawah (a refutation and correction of the book “Idwah” written by a Deobandi of a local Madrasa, Aziziya of Bihar Sharif.) 

Wisal

Zafaruddin Bihari received Wisal on November 18, 1962 at his residence, Zafar Manzil in Patna, leaving behind his son Mukhtaruddin Ahmad Aarzoo, who was  the professor at Aligarh Muslim University. Bihari was buried in the Dargah premises of Shahganj. His funeral prayer was led by Hazrat Allama Shah Ayyub Abdali Shahidi Rashidi Islampuri.

Bibliography

* M. Y, Abdul Rasheed (2020) Zafruddin Bihari: An Analytical Study On Sahih Al Bihari Notion Press.

* Aarzoo, Muhammad Mukhtaruddin. Hayat-e-Malik-ul-Ulama. Idara Anjum e Numaniya, Lahore, Pakistan.

* Jahan e Malik al-Ulama. Raza Academy.

* Rifaqati, Shaykh Muhammad Mahmud Qadri Ashrafi Malik al-Ulama aur Ilm e Hadith. Mahnama Ashrafiya, Mubarakpur.

References

* Official Website of Malikul Ulama.

* Biography of Zafaruddin Bihari at Scholars.pk

* Journal of Oriental Research of the University of Madras (1982) . University of Madras.

The author is a Bihar-based research scholar on Sufism. His works have been published by different reputed publications on Islam and its mysticism. He is affiliated with Syamaprasad Institute of Technology & Management, Kolkata, India.