Sylhet News Desk:

Maulana Muhammad Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury

The passing of the renowned Islamic scholar, Islamic law expert, Allama Mufti Muhammad Mujahid Uddin Choudhury Dubagi (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) is like losing a religious guardian for the British Islamic scholar community and the common people. This prominent Islamic scholar was a source of pride for the British Bangladeshi. An erudite scholar who was a shining example in the field of knowledge and deeds. His position was at the top in the Ulama community living in Britain. He was like a teacher and was also a direct teacher to many.

I just moved into the UK in 2001, and my location was in Luton. I asked my father-in-law, about Allama Dubagi (RA). I still did not know that Dubagi Sahib was his teacher. My father-in-law, Maulana Qari Abdul Qadir Sahib, had Allama Dubagi (RA) as a teacher at the Satpur Darul Hadith Kamil Madrasa, a traditional prestigious religious institution in Sylhet, Bangladesh. He called him on the phone. This was the first time I spoke to Allama Dubagi (RA). Since then, I have known him well. I found him to be a kind-hearted, generous, learned scholar and religious teacher.

During my time as Managing Editor of the monthly Parwana magazine in Dhaka, my workplace in Bangladesh (1992-2001), the name of the respected scholar in the UK, whom I knew very well, especially through the editor of monthly Parwana, Sahibzada Maulana Husham Uddin Chowdhury Fultali and others in the Fultali Sahib’s household, whose connection or communication I developed with the affairs of UK, the name that was most often mentioned by them, was Allama Mufti Muhammad Mujahid Uddin Choudhury Dubagi (RA). People knew him as ‘Leicester’s Sahib’. His primary place of work was in Leicester, England. He was the founder and Chief Imam of Darus Salam Mosque in Leicester. The great saint of the era, Hazrat Allama Fultali Sahib Qiblah Rahmatullahi Alaihi, was his Shaykh and Ustad. He represented his respected Shaykh in the UK as ‘Khalifa-e-Fultali’. This honour and prestigious responsibility elevated him to a distinguished position. The depth of his knowledge gave him a unique feature among the scholars and dignitaries of all the organisations and schools of thought in the UK. He was known to the people of his own maslak as ‘Leicester’s Sahib’ and the scholars of other maslak knew him as ‘Allama Sahib’.

Hearing the news of ‘Allama Mujahid Uddin Choudhury Dubagi Sahib has passed away’, I kept thinking, the best proof that Allah the Almighty will make the earth devoid of knowledge by taking away His beloved servant, the scholar of Islam, from the earth is before my eyes. I felt the urge to inform some of my elders and respected relatives about the news. Hearing this, the servants of Allah said in a voice filled with pain, ‘Ah! We have lost a custodian; we have lost a dependable religious custodian.’ Many even said, ‘He is the most accomplished scholar living in the UK.’ Those who have seen him for a long time and witnessed his activities said, ‘He was a strong pillar of Sunni Islam.’ The number of people who have been blessed by his teaching and training in the UK for several decades would not be limited.

He was an expert scholar whose working life truly became an example for the people. Whether it was at work, at home, or while travelling, his life and example of sincere good deeds shone in earnest. The ascetic life style that he cherished and practiced, turned the daily behaviour of his family and relatives into beauty. The genuine and pure acknowledgment of such people, who have seen him very closely, compel me to say that he embodied an example of piety, both internally and externally, that would have been acceptable not only to ordinary people but also to many Dai-Illallah (who engages in Dawah) and renown theologians.

Sometimes, the complex or intricate qualities of human beings obscure much of the beauty. The genuineness and sincerity of a person is the best quality - Allama Dubagi (RA) was a person with such qualities, who was full of uncomplicated personality. His admirers have already started expressing - he was a sincere and pious learned scholar; we have lost a hospitable, generous, and affectionate teacher; a diligent and knowledgeable person has departed from us. He had an outstanding acceptance among people as a reliable scholar of Islam. Subhanallah! Isn't this signs of a believer as a proof of acceptance or acceptance by Allah the ultimate achievement in a person's life!

It is literally true that I or we could not have a complete and intimate bond with Him. He liked to keep the company of scholars of all ages and all levels. He would forget the burden of old age and the lack of physical fitness when he would sit in discussion with young people like us who had vastly different ages and knowledge. Like many, I too was overwhelmed by the burden of pain and sorrow, and was pierced by the terrible blow of the sad news of his departure. Many may say that he passed away at a ripe old age, but alas! We have lost a high-level scholar of Islam, a pious guardian, we have lost Allama Mujahid Uddin Choudhury Dubagi Sahib; who will be an example and example for the people of this age in the field of knowledge and spirituality.

He was born in 1929 in Dubag, a village in Beani Bazar Upozilla, Sylhet, Bangladesh. He studied under the renowned scholars, muhaddiseen and mufis of that time. During his career, he set an example of his wisdom and talent through teaching as a muhaddith and mufti. Many of his students are muhaddith, mufassir and mufti who are still serving in Bangladesh and abroad.

He started his career in Britain as the Chief Imam of Darus Salam Mosque in Leicester city in 1978. He made his muqtadi, musalli so well-versed on Islam by teaching and educating them on daily matters, it is said that after coming into contact with all these people, even the scholars of different countries ​​​​started to have a high opinion of him. Even during his student life, his amazing skill in studying books made him the centre of discussion among the teachers and students of his time. His outstanding work in Britain is reflected in many valuable books written in different languages ​​on various subjects.

This Bengali-speaking expert scholar has made an outstanding contribution not only to the Muslims living in Britain but also to all classes of people through his valuable writings. We can mention a few of his written books here at this stage: Manasul Mufti (Urdu), Al- Masailun-Naadirah (Urdu), Fatwa-e-Mujahidiya, Milad-e-Benazir, Hajj and Ziyarat at a Glance, Orphans issues, Guide to Virtue, Fatiha and grave Ziyarah, Sunnah and Nafl Prayers, The Greatness of Dua, Bengali Translation of Manasul Mufti, Miscellaneous Matters, Evidence on Qadam Busi, It is Mustahab to make Dua after Janaza Prayer, Significance of Shab-e-Qadr, Fadayel Shab-e-Barat, Shifa-e-Ruh, Questions and Answers etc.

He was an exemplary scholar of the Bangladeshi community living in Britain, who remained awake and kept the people awake through his writings. Apart from publishing books, his much-needed fatwas, which were disseminated in a simple manner on various social and religious issues, were like a guide for the community.

Despite his involvement in various religious services, he kept himself engaged in writing books, which not only enabled him to make beneficial contributions to society and the ummah, but was also able to set an example of single-minded dedication to his work and skills.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal (may Allah have mercy on him) has beautifully and deeply described the single-mindedness behind the vastness of a writer, poet or Musannif's work: "Be it Sufi emperor Attar, world-loving Rumi, great scholar Razi or Ghazali, no creative hand has come until dawn, which has spent a sleepless and dangerous night." The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in a saying, "A scholar of religion is like a star in the sky for the society and the nation." A star-like scholar will be a role model for society and the nation. This saying of the Holy Prophet says, “Just as sailors in the dark of night seek direction by looking at the stars, similarly, people get the right direction from a scholar.” In the light of the Holy Prophet’s saying, that scholar will be a more qualified scholar, a great scholar, whose deeds and practices will set an example of piety and practices. The scholar’s ​​own life will surpass the given standards of acceptability, and the specific matters related to his field cannot be avoided in the judgment of purity, that must be ensured. In our time, the characteristics of a person who is called a ‘great scholar’ are often determined by the glitter of fame. When purity and soundness are going to be determined in consideration of thinness, why can’t the definition of ‘great’ be specialized in relation to ‘smallness’!

In this regard, I am reminded of some significant statements made by one of our respected scholars. Allama Wajih Uddin Lakshmipuri, Shaykhul Hadith of Madrasa-e-Alia Dhaka, while giving us a deep discussion on Bukhari Sharif's first day class, about knowledge, Ulama, and the specialty, history, and history of Madrasa-e-Alia Dhaka, was telling us such things that I still feel the sharp, deep impact of the words I heard sitting among more than three hundred students twenty-seven years ago. He was delivering his words like a teacher, guardian, and specialist doctor at the same time. That is, you have no choice but to listen or obey - his words were presented in such a way that you have no choice but to correct your aqeedah. First, he spoke about correcting your aqeedah. In his words, 'You have come to study Hadith Sharif, so there is no choice but to correct your aqeedah.' Then he spoke about the importance of knowledge and the responsibility of a scholar. Finally, the historical importance and characteristics of Madrasa-e-Alia Dhaka as an educational institution. At this stage, he continued pointing at the benches, tables, teacher's chairs and desks of our classroom, "I also sat on this bench and took a class one day, and the renowned Muhaddith Mufti-e-Azam Hazrat Amimul Ihsan Mujaddidi Barakati Rahmatullahi Alaihi was sitting in the teacher's seat. I never thought that one day I would sit on his seat and teach the students sitting like me. He was a great scholar of that time, a very great scholar! Now people call us great scholars; and one day they will call you great scholars too! And people will use the wood of the balam tree as good wood!" I still think about the words of Shaykhul Hadith and find a similarity with the reality of this Urdu poet's poem—

" Hamare ba'd zamane me

keun na khak ure;

keh karwan ke pichhe

gubaar rahta hay."

(It is unlikely that we will see dust flying in the next era;

Because when the caravan leaves a place, the dung of their horses or camels is always seen lying around.)

The sound of pain constantly resonates in the depths of our minds - the crowns of our heads are being lost. Like the example of the ages, the treasures of knowledge and deeds are being buried in the earth. The lights are going out, we need a lot of light to prevent the darkness behind.

We are convinced that Mufti-e-Zaman (mufti of this age) Allama Mufti Mujahid Uddin Choudhury Dubagi Sahib Rahmatullahi Alaihi will live on in the greatness of his work. Our prayer is that Allah accepts the good deeds of his life, and may Allah make him a resident of the highest paradise. May we be enlightened by his teachings, sacrifice, patience, diligence and sense of responsibility.

[Author: Chairman, Islamic Research and Da’wah Council UK; Chairman, Tanzimus Sunnah Foundation UK; Former Khatib Shadwell Jame Masjid London, Former Senior Teacher Darul Hadis Latifia London, Former Executive Editor, Monthly Parwana Dhaka; Former Central President – Bangladesh Anjuman-e-Talamiz-e-Islamia.]