Maulana Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi

Maulana Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi (1797-1861) was one of the main figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He was a philosopher, a poet, a religious scholar, but is most remembered for his role as a freedom fighter. It was he who issued the fatwa in favour of Jihad against the English in 1857.

Fazl-e Haq was one of the pioneer freedom fighters deported to the Andaman Islands in 1859. After the First War of Independence failed, he was arrested on 30 January 1859 at Khairabad, was found guilty of "revolt" against the Government and sentenced for life to the prison at Kalapani (Cellular Jail) with confiscation of his property by the Judicial Commissioner, Awadh Court. He reached Andaman on 8 October 1859 aboard the Steam Frigate “Fire Queen”.

Shams-ul-Haq, the son of Fazal Haq, somehow managed to obtain the release order of his father. He reached Port Blair on 13 February 1861, but was too late -- Fazl-e-haq had been hanged on February 12th. Fact|date=January 2008

Besides being a scholar of Islamic studies and theology, he was also a literary personage, especially Arabic and Persian literature. He edited the first diwan of Mirza Ghalib on his request.On account of his deep knowledge and erudition he was called Allamah and later was venerated as a great Sufi.Fact|date=January 2008

Muztar Khairabadi is his grandson, Jan Nisar Akhtar is his great-grandson, and Javed Akhtar and Salman Akhtar are his great-great-grandsons.

Fatwa of Jihad against British

Maulana Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi writes:

Criticism of Wahabi Ideology

Fazl-e-Haq was at the forefront of issuing fatwas against Wahabi or gair muqallids. He also argued against the idea of Non Finality of Prophethood given by Ismaael Dehlvi.Dubious|date=March 2008 He wrote that, according to the Qur’an and Hadith, the prophet Muhammad is the final prophet, and there can be no other prophet or "messenger" after him. To believe that there can be another Muhammad would necessitate that Allah did something apart from what He has stated in the Qur’an, that is, that Allah has lied. Lying is a flaw and it is impossible for Allah to have a flaw. [For a detailed discussion on the matter, refer to ‘Fazl Haq Khairabadi’s Tahqeeq al-Fatwa fi Ibtal al-Taghwa. [5] The book has many proofs concerning the matter of ‘possibility of lying by Allah ta`ala’ and ‘Impossibility of another Muhammad to exist’ (Imkan-e-Kizb and Imkan-e-Nazeer-e-Muhammadi) [http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=158113] ]

ee also

*Islam in India
*Indian Freedom Movement
* [http://islamicvoice.com/June2007/DowntheHistory/ Islamic Voice (magazine), June 2007]

References