AllamaMahmudul HasanMahmudul Hasan

Reliable accounts hold that his forefathers came to this land from Afghanistan, Iran or that region. From childhood his foresight, liveliness and intelligence — and a rare gift for winning hearts — were widely spoken of.

Thereafter, under the supervision and encouragement of his cousin Maulana Nuruddin, he entered the Kitab department.

A year after his father's death he received news of another sorrow: his mother, the one support left to two children adrift on a shoreless sea, also departed this world.

The Muhtamim of the madrasa at the time was Mujahid-e-Azam Shamsul Haq Faridpuri (rah.), known as Sadar Sahib Hujur. Seeing his intense thirst and irrepressible ardour for knowledge, Sadar Sahib Hujur (rah.) encouraged him to travel to West Pakistan.

It so happened that Allama Yusuf Binnori (rah.) — the worthy student of Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri (rah.), the greatest Muhaddith of the subcontinent — came one day to Lalbagh Madrasa. Sadar Sahib said to him: 'In my madrasa there is a student who loves you; he has written something out of his affection for you.' Binnori (rah.) read the writing, was greatly pleased, and granted him admission to his own institution, Jamiatul Uloomil Islamia, New Town. Thus in 1967 he was admitted to the Mishkat class there.

Having completed the highest level of Qawmi madrasa education, that very year he sat the examination of Pakistan's Wifaq — the Qawmi madrasa education board — and stood first with the highest marks, the highest recorded in the Wifaq's history at that time. After completing Dawra-e-Hadith, a powerful desire arose in him to memorise the entire Qur'an; by the mercy of Allah and the strength of his keen intellect and memory, he completed the memorisation of the whole Qur'an in twenty-eight days of a single Ramadan.

In 1970 he went again to Pakistan for higher study and completed advanced research at New Town. In that period he was blessed with the closest companionship of Binnori (rah.). He even played a notable part in Binnori's compilation of Ma'arif al-Sunan, the peerless commentary on Jami' al-Tirmidhi. More than once he had the privilege of accompanying Binnori (rah.) on journeys to Egypt.

Following the address given in the letter, Maulana Abul Hasan (rah.) came to Mymensingh and appointed Allama Mahmudul Hasan as a teacher in his madrasa. Thus his teaching career began at the Jessore Railway Station Madrasa. While there he taught twelve books in all, including Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Sharh al-Tahdhib. He taught there for about a year.

While he was in Jessore, the foundation of the Jatrabari madrasa was laid through Hafizul Hadith Allama Abdullah Darkhwasti (rah.). That day Qazi Mu'tasim Billah (rah.) brought Allama Mahmudul Hasan to Jatrabari, where he taught for six months. Then, in 1970, he went once more to Pakistan and there earned a higher degree in Fiqh and Hadith.

Later he also discharged the duties of Talimat for a period. There he taught the Hadith works Sahih Muslim and Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar of Imam Tahawi. In those days Nizamuddin Shamzai — who later served as Shaikhul Hadith and Chief Mufti at Binnori's madrasa — recorded his learned and finely researched lessons. From those lessons he afterwards composed a commentary on the Muqaddimah of Sahih Muslim and was honoured with the title 'Sharih-e-Muslim'.

In Pakistan Allama Mahmudul Hasan taught regularly at Jamia Farooqia. Then in 1974 he returned home and once more joined the Jatrabari madrasa.

From his arrival he served as acting Nazim-e-Talimat. Then in 1976 Qazi Sahib (rah.) departed along with several other teachers. At that time Shaikh Tajammul Ali (rah.) was Muhtamim of the madrasa. After Qazi Sahib (rah.) left, Shaikh Tajammul Ali (rah.) remained at the Jamia for two years, and he too took his leave in 1978.

From the moment he took charge the picture of the Jamia began to change; from a small institution it has grown into the vast establishment and rich garden of knowledge and wisdom that it is today. Through his years of labour and striving, of teaching and spiritual training and skilful administration, the Jamia rose to become a historic lighthouse of prophetic ideals and consciousness.

In 1983 there were only six students in the Dawra-e-Hadith class. Today nearly two thousand students of sacred knowledge study Hadith at the Jamia, making it the second-largest gathering for Hadith in the world.

His adherence to even the smallest Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is truly astonishing. He holds a deep affection for his students and is scrupulous about their rights. However busy he may be, however far away, he will travel by air if need be to reach the Jamia and deliver a single lesson to his students.

He honours the teachers of the Jamia greatly. Beyond their salaries he assists them wholeheartedly in every need. He gives to the needy with both hands. From his own charity he bears the maintenance of many widows. He himself bears the study and living expenses of many students of the Jamia.

Apart from his influence and standing in the Middle East, he is held in particular reverence throughout the countries of the subcontinent in the chain of Dawatul Haq. The learned of the Arab world too incline more each day towards his knowledge, his call and his work of reform, in which his Arabic and Urdu writings have played an immeasurable part. To this end he has travelled to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan, India, Bahrain and America.

Under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, a two-day international Islamic conference began in Makkah on Sunday 13 August 2023, attended by more than one hundred and fifty scholars and muftis from eighty-five countries. Representing Bangladesh at that conference, Allama Mahmudul Hasan delivered an epoch-making address and presented seven proposals for the peace and security of the global Muslim ummah.