Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawwamah (RA)
Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) was a medieval scholar, Sufi saint ,Mentor and an Islamic philosopher and writer of few valuable books on Sufism and religion.Although he hails from Bukhara,Iran but as he resided in Sonargaon from 1274 AD up to his death 1300 AD for 26 years, he became well conversant in Bangla of the medieval period.Despite he was well conversant in 'Farsi' and 'Arabic'.
His early Life
Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) born in the year 610 Hijri (1210 AD) in Bukhara,Iran (Now in Uzbekistan ). His father was a famous Islamic Scholar of Bukhara and his mother was also a pious and learned lady, but their names or the details of their and mother parental family identity could not be discovered.He received his primary education under his Scholar father in Bukhara and as such his initial learning was of much advanced of his period.He achieved all the good quality of his parents.
Education
Left Delhi
During his stay at Delhi, he quickly drawn the attention of the people by his knowledge and Spiritual power and gained tremendous popularity among the inhabitants of Delhi. His name and fame was increased so high that the Sultan Giyas-Uddin Balban Shah,on the conspiracy of some vested quarter, felt it not safe to allow Hazrat Abu Tawamah (RA) to remain in Delhi any more. But as he has high regards for this and other Sufi Saint,s he without making Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) annoyed, requested him humbly to go some other place for preaching Islam,where such preaching is actually required and Islam is unknown in that region. Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA), although realized the hidden intention of the Sultan, yet he conceded the request of the Sultan.
Stay at Maner, Bihar.
Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah ((RA) left Delhi in the year 1270 AD for Maner, Bihar where his Spiritual friend Hazrat Yahya Maneri was residing. Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) stayed at Maner for four years and served the Madrasha at Maner where the only son of Hazrat Yahya Maner (RA) Shahebjada Sharf-uddin Yahya Maneri became his student and disciple at his age of 15.
His early Life
Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) born in the year 610 Hijri (1210 AD) in Bukhara,Iran (Now in Uzbekistan ). His father was a famous Islamic Scholar of Bukhara and his mother was also a pious and learned lady, but their names or the details of their and mother parental family identity could not be discovered.He received his primary education under his Scholar father in Bukhara and as such his initial learning was of much advanced of his period.He achieved all the good quality of his parents.
Education
He having been God Gifted
extra-ordinary genius Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (R)
attained proficiency in different
branches of Islamic studies including Quran, Hadith and
Fiqh. He earned the
reputation specially in the commentaries of Bukhari Sharif,
the famous book on
Hadith. Even after completing his studies in his own
country, Abu Tawama's thirst for
acquiring knowledge was not quenched. So he went to Khurasan
in Iran. There he
pursued higher studies in various subjects along with
Islamic Studies. In a short while,
his fame spread throughout every comer. By his devotion and sincerity he attained great reputation as a Hanafi jurist and traditionalist (muhaddis) and was well versed in Chemistry, Natural sciences and Spirituality especially Sufism. People started to treat him as great Scholarly Sufi Saint and resorts to him for spiritual advice. He got married at the age of 45 after the death of his parents and blessed with a daughter while he was in Bukhara..
Spread of Knowledge
After the completion of his studies, Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) engaged
himself in
disseminating education and preaching and for better apriciation he decided to establish in Delhi and went there from Khurasan travelling through different places. After crossing his initial period of struggle, he established a mosque and
a Madrasha attached to it in Delhi which drawn the attention of the local peop.
He began teaching Islamic studies including Quran and
Hadith from this madrasha. Within a short time
students from far-flung areas began to gather there for
pursuing knowledge. The Sultan
of Delhi at that time, Sultan Gyiasuddin Balban Shah (1266-1287) was
religious minded man and he
became charmed by the fame of Hazrat Abu Tawama (RA). Occasionally
he himself attended
his institution for religious learning.
Left Delhi
During his stay at Delhi, he quickly drawn the attention of the people by his knowledge and Spiritual power and gained tremendous popularity among the inhabitants of Delhi. His name and fame was increased so high that the Sultan Giyas-Uddin Balban Shah,on the conspiracy of some vested quarter, felt it not safe to allow Hazrat Abu Tawamah (RA) to remain in Delhi any more. But as he has high regards for this and other Sufi Saint,s he without making Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) annoyed, requested him humbly to go some other place for preaching Islam,where such preaching is actually required and Islam is unknown in that region. Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA), although realized the hidden intention of the Sultan, yet he conceded the request of the Sultan.
Stay at Maner, Bihar.
Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah ((RA) left Delhi in the year 1270 AD for Maner, Bihar where his Spiritual friend Hazrat Yahya Maneri was residing. Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) stayed at Maner for four years and served the Madrasha at Maner where the only son of Hazrat Yahya Maner (RA) Shahebjada Sharf-uddin Yahya Maneri became his student and disciple at his age of 15.
Travel towards Sonargaon
During the last 78 years, the Islamic state of 'Lakhnauti' got its root firmed in the 'Bangala' The then Muslim Sultan of Bangala invited Sufi Saints,Oli-Allah's and preachers of Islam to Bangala in order to establish and maintain a cultured muslim society in Bangla. In such course, the then Sultan of Bengal Mugis-Uddin Tughril (1272-1281 AD) invited Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) to migrate to Sonargaon to establish Khankah and Madrasha so that the people of Sonargaon could get standard Islamic education. Accepting the invitation on consultation with his spiritual friend at Maner, Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) left Maner, Bihar in the year 1273 AD with his family ,the wife ,the only daughter and upon consent of his spiritual friend Hazrat Yahya Maneri took the student-disciple Shahebjada Sharf-Uddin Yahya Maneri with him for his education and training in religion and Sufism.
During the last 78 years, the Islamic state of 'Lakhnauti' got its root firmed in the 'Bangala' The then Muslim Sultan of Bangala invited Sufi Saints,Oli-Allah's and preachers of Islam to Bangala in order to establish and maintain a cultured muslim society in Bangla. In such course, the then Sultan of Bengal Mugis-Uddin Tughril (1272-1281 AD) invited Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) to migrate to Sonargaon to establish Khankah and Madrasha so that the people of Sonargaon could get standard Islamic education. Accepting the invitation on consultation with his spiritual friend at Maner, Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) left Maner, Bihar in the year 1273 AD with his family ,the wife ,the only daughter and upon consent of his spiritual friend Hazrat Yahya Maneri took the student-disciple Shahebjada Sharf-Uddin Yahya Maneri with him for his education and training in religion and Sufism.
The Khankah and the Madrasha at Sonargaon
Sometimes in 1274 AD Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) along with his family,consisting of his wife and only daughter, along with his disciple Shahebjada Sharf-uddin Yahya Maneri came to Sonargaon. Here he got the blessings of the current Sultan of Sonargaon Sultan Mugis-Uddin Tughril (1272-1281 AD),who declared himself independent in the year 1275 AD, and also the blessings of the next Sultan, Sultan Nasir-Uddin Mahmud Bugra Khan (1281-1291AD) and further up to his death the subsequent Sultan of Sonargaon Sultan Rukun-Uddin Kaikaus (1291-1313AD) and upon getting Land from the Sultan Mugish-Uddin Tughril for using religious education purpose, known as Madad-e-mash, he established his Khankah and founded a Madrasa on the next year in 1275 AD at Sonargaon. He also received monetary aid from the Sultan Nasir-Uddin Mahmud Bugra Khan to built the Madrasha and separate Khankah Building on his Madad-e-mash land which as built in a modern planning having underground rooms.
From the Khankah he used to preach Islam to the non-muslim people and made the Madrasha an institution per excellence wherein all branches of Islamic learning as well as secular subjects were taught.The subject of study includes Natural science,Medical science,Chemistry,Literature and Social Science. The method of teaching was very modern and much advanced of the contemporary period.Very quickly the Madrasha gained the status of Islamic University of that period and drawn the attention of the civilized society of the Indian Sub-continent. Students from all over the Indian Subcontinent used to study there and established themselves as well qualified person.A student of his Madrasha used to be treated as honorable person in the society.
Hazrat Sheikh Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) possessed vast knowledge of the Quran and Hadith. Besides he was an expert in other subjects too. He established laboratory, Khanka (place of meditation),longar Khana (place where food is distributed in charity) and training center.In that training center, arrangement was made for making the learners self-dependent.
From the Khankah he used to preach Islam to the non-muslim people and made the Madrasha an institution per excellence wherein all branches of Islamic learning as well as secular subjects were taught.The subject of study includes Natural science,Medical science,Chemistry,Literature and Social Science. The method of teaching was very modern and much advanced of the contemporary period.Very quickly the Madrasha gained the status of Islamic University of that period and drawn the attention of the civilized society of the Indian Sub-continent. Students from all over the Indian Subcontinent used to study there and established themselves as well qualified person.A student of his Madrasha used to be treated as honorable person in the society.
Hazrat Sheikh Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) possessed vast knowledge of the Quran and Hadith. Besides he was an expert in other subjects too. He established laboratory, Khanka (place of meditation),longar Khana (place where food is distributed in charity) and training center.In that training center, arrangement was made for making the learners self-dependent.
The foundation of Islamic education and culture was strengthened owing to
his untiring efforts in the early period of muslim rule in Bengal, upon which the present days Muslim culture spread over Indian Sub-Continent..
Hazrat Sharf-Uddin Yahya Maneri (RA) studied under Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) at Sonargaon Madrasha for 15 years and later became the Mudarris of the same Madrasha in the year 1290 AD. Under his administration and academic skill the name and fame of the Madrasha spread all over the Indian subcontinent. He continued to run the Madrasha up to 1310 AD. He started his family life by marrying the only daughter of his mentor Hazrat Sheik Sharf-ddin Abu Tawamah (RA).After the death of his mentor he decided and intended to serve his motherland Maner, Bihar, but waited till his son grown up.
Later leaving the responsibility of the Sonargaon Madrasha to his grown-up son Hazrat Zaki Yahya Maneri (RA), he left Sonargaon in the year 1310 AD, after 10 years of death of Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) and upon stayin some other places for few years he ultimately went to Maner,Bihar after obtaining further learning from different Sufi Saints.. In Maner he became a famous saint and served his nation till he died there.His mazar is a famous place and attended by lacs of his fans at the time of URS.
Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawwamah (RA) wrote a valuable book on Tasawwaf (Islamic mysticism) entitled Maqamat but it has not come down to posterity. Nam-i-Haq, a Persian work on fiqh was either written by him or compiled by one of his disciples on the basis of his teachings. There are 180 verses in it. It was first published from Bombay in 1885 AD and subsequently from Kanpur in 1913 AD. In his Manakkibul A'sfia, Shah Shuhaib, a contemporary of Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawwamah (RA), has profusely praised him. The fame of Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawwamah (RA) spread in the Muslim world including the Indian subcontinent, Arabia and Iran.
Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) died at Sonargaon in 690 AH corresponding to 1300 AD and buried in the graveyard, which is now at the 'Dargah Bari' premises in Mograpara, Sonargaon near the site of his khankah and Madrasha . But unfortunately his mazar has not been kept in a state of care.There is no iota of trace of his Khankah or the Madrasha excepting a ruin of the building,which disappeared recently.
The only grand son of Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) was Hazrat Zaki Yahya Maneri (RA) begotten by his only daughter Maqdhoom-e-Jehan,wife of Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Yahya Maneri (RA).
Hazrat Zaki Yahya Maneri (RA) although a grown up man but did not survive long and died unmarried within 10 years after his father Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Yahya Maneri (RA) left Sonargaon. Earlier his mother also died and as such the later administrators of the Madrasha could not continue the reputation of the Madrasha and consequently it declined to be destroyed and ultimately abolished.. Yet it is surprising that how the existence of such a vibrant Madrasha established by such a Sufi saint has abolished keeping no trace of it ?
The currant inhabitants of the 'Dargha Bari', Mograpara, Sonargaon after 700 years either does not know anything about the celebrated existence of Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) or may have willfully ignored and distorted his identity. A Bengali book titled "Oithijjer Sonargaon" (Heritage of Sonargaon) written by one of the inhabitant of Dargah Bari and descendants of Hazrat Ibrahim Daneshmand (RA) Syed Bazlul Hossain Kaderi although a good works on ancient Sonargaon, wrongfully identified Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawama (RA) as a paid teacher of the Madrasha established not by him but by Hazrat Ibrahim Daneshmand (RA), the founder of the 'Dargha Bari'. This assertion is palpabel erroneous. Admittedly Hazrat Ibrahim Danesmand (RA) came to Sonargaon in the year 1168 AD and resided there till 1260 AD when he died there. Thereafter 14 years later Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) came to Sonargaon and established his Madrasha in the year 1275 AD. Therefore there could not be any plausible reason for employer and employee relationship in between these two Oli-Allah. History evidenced that during the year 1168 AD Raja Lakhan Sen was in the throne of Bikrampur which includes Sonargaon when Hazrat Ibrahim Daneshmand (RA) came to Sonargaon. He being a Muslim saint could not be believed to have been favored with Land by the Hindu Raja as 'Lhakheraj' for establishing khankah for preaching Islam.. Practically it was the Madad-e-mash land granted to Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA) which was situated beside the tomb of Hazrat Ibrahim Daneshmand (RA).Later the decedents of Hazrat Ibrahim Daneshmand (RA) adopted the entire land whereupon 210 years after, in the year 1485 AD, a grand son of Hazrat Ibrahim Daneshmand (RA) Hazrat Muahammad Yusuf Kaderi (RA) built a Mosque beside the abolished and ruins of the Madrasha with the help of later Sultan of Sonargaon Sultan Jala-Uddin Fateh Shah (1481-1487). The mosque was once known as 'Khundaker Yusuf Mosque' as recorded in the British Government record,but popularly known as 'Fateh Shah Masjid'. A stone plaque affixed to the mosque wall evidenced the fact. The erroneous fact about this celebrated Sufi Saint required to be corrected.
Fortunately 'Banglapedia' and the English medium religious book for class VII, published by the National Curriculum Authority has correctly recorded the life sketch of Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA).The contribution of this Sufi Saint in building Muslim Bangala must be recognized in its true perspective.
Fortunately 'Banglapedia' and the English medium religious book for class VII, published by the National Curriculum Authority has correctly recorded the life sketch of Hazrat Sheik Sharf-Uddin Abu Tawamah (RA).The contribution of this Sufi Saint in building Muslim Bangala must be recognized in its true perspective.
Alhamdulillah.....
ReplyDelete