Saheb Qibla Fultali

Saheb Qibla Fultoli (1913-January 16, 2008)

Allamah Abdul Latif Chowdhury (Fultali Saheb Qiblah) was born in 1913 (1321 Bangla) on a Thursday in the village Fultali of Zakigonj, Sylhet in a family of a renowned scholar. His honorable father Mufti Maulana Abdul Majid Chowdhury (R) was a revered and famous Muslim cleric and jurist. He was a well known scholar and sage of Indian sub-continent, his fame was widespread throughout the country.

In that period ninety percent of the worlds Islamic scholars were his students. He used to give written verdicts of various difficult religious issues.

Saheb Qiblah Fultoli died on the 15th of January 2008.

More than 20 million mourners came together in one of the biggest funeral processions in Bangladesh in living memory. It is estimated by the Bangladesh Army that a further 500,000 people joined the prayers at the border with India. Many more millions were caught out by the swift arrangements for the funeral and were unable to get to the funeral which took place less than 18 hours after the passing of this eminent scholar of Islam.

Ancestors

*The sages in this tariqa up to shaheed Sayyid Ahmed Berlovi (R) are Hadrat Shah Muhammad Abdullah Chowdhury (R), Hadrat Maulana Gulam Salman (R), Hadrat Sufi Foteh Ali (R), Gazi e Balakut Hadrat Sufi Noor Muhammad Nizampuri (R), Hadrat Sayyid Ahmed Berlovi (R).

*Allamah Abdul Latif Chowdhury Fultali Saheb Qiblah is the descendant of the renowned sage Hadrat shah Ala Baksh (R) who is the descendant of Hadrat Shah Kamal (R) a famous companion of Hadrat Shah Jalal (R). His family lineage is as follows:

*Allamah Abdul Latif Chowdhury Fultali son of Mufti Maulan Abdul Majid Chowdhury son of Shah Muhammad Hiron son of Shah Muhammad Danish son of Shah Muhammad Sadeq son of Shah Muhammad Elahi Baksh son of Shah Muhammad Ala Baksh (R).

*During the period when Hadrat Mujaddid e Alfe Sani Ahmed Sirhindi (R) revolted against the Deen e Elahi of Mughal emperor Akbar, Hadrat Ala Baksh (R) was one of the great sages who had a significant role in that movement.

*He moved to Fultali with his family from Jalalpur of Sylhet to occupy himself in strict spiritual endeavors.

*From his offspring Hadrat Mufti Maulana Shah Muhammad Abdul Majid Nakshbandi Mujaddidi (R), Hadrat Allamah Fultali Saheb Qiblah was born.

Educational Background

Primary-Secondary:

Hadrat Allamah Fultali Saheb Qibla started his education from his own family. He received basic religious education from his respected parents and then joined Fultali Alia Madrasah. His primary tutor Maulana Fatir Ali (r) was his distant cousin brother. During that period he studied qirat and tajweed under qari Syed Ali Saheb. At that time his honourable father was the headmaster of Gongajol madrasah. His student the headmaster of Rangauti Madrasah ( Kasar, India) a renowned scholar Moulana Abdur Rashid requested his respected teacher to enrol fultali Saheb in that madrasah. In 1336 Bangla he took admission and studied there successfully.

Maulana Abdur Rashid was a student of Saheb Qiblah’s father. After that, he enrolled into Badarpur Senior Madrashah in 1338 Bangla and finished higher secondary education from there. After the accomplishment of his higher secondary level, his teacher and Murshid Abu Yusuf Shah Muhammad Yakub Badarpuri suggested him to enroll into Madrasha e Alia Rampur. As a consequence, he finished Fanunnat (...) at Madrasha e Alia Rampur and then enrolled into Matlaul Ulum Madrashah in order to gain knowledge on Hadith. He studied there for a couple of years and obtained first class- first position in the final exam of Hadith in 1355 Hijri. His teachers at that Madrashah were Allama Khalilullah Rampuri and Allama Waji uddin Rampuri. Apart from this, he attained degrees on Tafsir and Fiqah.

tudy of Ilm e Qirat & Tajweed

Ilm e qirat & tajweed is a highly important aspect of religious knowledge. Many people regard this knowledge with negligence. Numerous Islamic scholars who possess profound knowledge in shariah are incorrect in qirat. However Hadrat Allamah Fultali Saheb Qiblah gained proficiency in ilm e qirat with great importance.

He obtained the first sanad in ilm e qirat from his Pir and Murshid Hadrat Abu Yousuf Shah Muhammed Yaqub Badarpuri (R). He studied further ilm e qirat by the suggestion of his Pir and Murshid, from the renowned Qari of India sub-continent Hadrat Maulana Hafiz Abdul Rauf Karampuri Shahbazpuri (R). Hadarat Shah bazpuri (R) was the student of world famous Qari Hadrat Irqisus al Misri(r). Hadrat Abdur Rauf (R) was from Karampur (presently known as Shabazpur) in Borolekha sub- district of Moulovi Bazaar district, and due to this fact he was known as Karampuri and Shabazpuri. In 1351 Bangla with the permission of his murshid he made journey to the holy land of revelation to study and achieve the highest sanad in ilm e qirat and tajweed. There he attended at the service of Raisul Qurra Ahmed al Hejazi(R) who was the most famous Qari of the whole muslim world and the chief examiner of the qurras and imams of masjidul – haram, to study ilm e qirat. At first Hadrat Ahmed al Hejazi (R) mildly refused to listen to someone from India as the pronunciation of Indian student is incorrect, however when he was informed that allamah fultali Saheb Qibla studied under the student under the student of famous qari irkusus al misri (r), instructed. He started serving as a teacher at Badarpur Alia Madrashah in 1946 A.D. after he had finished his education. He pursued his job there until 1950 A.D. After that, he joined Gasbari Alia Madrshah as a Muhadith in 1954. He served there for 6 years. He was respectively made vice principal and principal within this short period. He then joined Shatpur Alia Madrasshah and Isamati Alia Madrashah as a Muhadith and taught Hadith. He, at this time, successfully taught Bukhari, Nasa-i, Ibn Majah, Itkan, Nurul Anwar, Akaid, Tirmiji, Abu Daud, Hidaya, Jalalain and so on. He still teaches Hadith at Kamil Jamat in Fultali Alia Madrashah two days a week. He bestowed the certificate of hadith to his students in 2006. In his long sphere of teaching, he has illuminated thousands of students by his knowledge.

Darul Qirat Majidia Fultali Trust:

It has been mentioned earlier that Allama Fultali Saheb Qiblah received his Ilm-e-Qirat’s certificate from his Murshid Hazrat Moalana Shaha Yaqub Bdarpuri (Rh). Hazrat Badarpuri would urge his disciples and followers to take themselves to the utmost perfection of reciting holy Quran. Because one’s Salat wouldn’t be accepted unless one’s Qirat is perfect, and failure to recite Quran perfectly is meant as a failure to gain perfection in any Ibadat. So it is obvious for all of us to learn the way of reciting at least a few Surahs in perfect way. Badarpuri Saheb was ever pleased with Fultali Saheb’s Qirat since he taught him on his own. Nevertheless, Badarpuri Saheb could perceive that Fultali Saheb would have to contribute in this outlet in a broader field, and that’s why he must attain more knowledge and higher degree in this outlet. Consequently, he started advising him to upgrade his eligibility in Ilm-e-Qirat. Fultali Saheb Qiblah was involved with teaching at Badrapur Alia Madrashah during that time. He then went to the famous Qari of the subcontinent, Qari Maolana Abdur Rouf Karampuri Shahbazpuri to enhance his knowledge in reciting Quran. Shahbazpuri was a student of Hazrat Irkasus Al Misri. He stayed at Mecca in later times and was taught by the famous Qari, the examiner of Haram Sharif, descendent of Egyptian caste, Raisul Qurra Ahmad Hijaji (Rh.). His enterprise took him to the utmost perfection in Ilm-e-Qirat. Consequently, he established Darul Qirat Majidia Fultali Trust in order to teach people Ilm-e-Qirat.

Inauguration of Darul Qirat:

Hazrat Saheb Qiblah returned to Badarpur Alia Madrashah once he was certified in Ilm-e-Qirat by Ahmed Hijaji and resumed his teaching. One day Maolana Abdunnur Garkaponi (Rh.), a renowned Alim then, paid a visit to him while he was teaching in a class. Saheb Qiblah gleefully welcomed him and asked him to sit by his side. He then resumed teaching the class once his guest was seated. After finishing the class, Saheb Qiblah asked him to tell the reason behind his visit. Abdunnur Garkaponi (Rh.) said, “There is hardly any Alim who can recite holy Quran perfectly let alone the general people. So I request you to spare at least one hour a week from your valuable time in teaching Quran.” Fultali Saheb Qiblah replied, “I can hardly leak out from my business, because I happen to spend the same time in preparing my classes’ lectures that I do in the class.” Having heard this answer, Abdunnur Saheb made his leave.

INTERCESSION ON DAY OF JUDGMENT

It is stated that there are rumours that intercession may be available via this and other sheiks. This is not possible except via Muhammed: see belowNarrated Anas: The Prophet said, "On the Day of Resurrection the Believers will assemble and say, 'Let us ask somebody to intercede for us with our Lord.' So they will go to Adam and say, 'You are the father of all the people, and Allah created you with His Own Hands, and ordered the angels to prostrate to you, and taught you the names of all things; so please intercede for us with your Lord, so that He may relieve us from this place of ours.' Adam will say, 'I am not fit for this (i.e. intercession for you).' Then Adam will remember his sin and feel ashamed thereof. He will say, 'Go to Noah, for he was the first Apostle, Allah sent to the inhabitants of the earth.' They will go to him and Noah will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking.' He will remember his appeal to his Lord to do what he had no knowledge of, then he will feel ashamed thereof and will say, 'Go to the Khalil--r-Rahman (i.e. Abraham).' They will go to him and he will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking. Go to Moses, the slave to whom Allah spoke (directly) and gave him the Torah .' So they will go to him and he will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking.' and he will mention (his) killing a person who was not a killer, and so he will feel ashamed thereof before his Lord, and he will say, 'Go to Jesus, Allah's Slave, His Apostle and Allah's Word and a Spirit coming from Him. Jesus will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking, go to Muhammad the Slave of Allah whose past and future sins were forgiven by Allah.' So they will come to me and I will proceed till I will ask my Lord's Permission and I will be given permission. When I see my Lord, I will fall down in Prostration and He will let me remain in that state as long as He wishes and then I will be addressed.' (Muhammad!) Raise your head. Ask, and your request will be granted; say, and your saying will be listened to; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.' I will raise my head and praise Allah with a saying (i.e. invocation) He will teach me, and then I will intercede. He will fix a limit for me (to intercede for) whom I will admit into Paradise. Then I will come back again to Allah, and when I see my Lord, the same thing will happen to me. And then I will intercede and Allah will fix a limit for me to intercede whom I will let into Paradise, then I will come back for the third time; and then I will come back for the fourth time, and will say, 'None remains in Hell but those whom the Quran has imprisoned (in Hell) and who have been destined to an eternal stay in Hell.' " (The compiler) Abu 'Abdullah said: 'But those whom the Qur'an has imprisoned in Hell,' refers to the Statement of Allah: "They will dwell therein forever." (16.29)

Organizations

* Darul Qirat Majidiah Fultali Trust.

* Anjumane Al Islah Bangaldesh.

* Anjumane Al Islah UK.

* Anjumane Al Islah USA.

* Bangladesh Anjumane Talameze Islamiah.

* Anjumane Madaresa Arabia.

* Darul Hadis Latifiah (Secondery School & College).

* Darul Qirat Majidiah UK.

* Latifiah Qari Society.

* Latifiah Qari Society UK.

* Latifiah Yatimkhana.

* Ulama Society UK.

* Al Islah Youth Forum UK.

* and others to come