Died 1951 | Title Pir | |
 | ||
Religion Islam, specifically the Naqshbandi Sufi order Similar Humayun, Akbar, Naeem ud Deen Muradabadi | ||
Haji Hafiz Pir Syed Jamaat Ali Shah ( 1834–1951) born in Alipur Sharif Dist, Sialkot, Pakistan was a Naqshbandi Sufi Saint and mass leader of traditional Barelvi Muslims of south Asia. He was President of Sunni Barelvi organisation All India Sunni Conference and was main leader in Shaheed Ganj Mosque. Through his standing among the Sunni Sufi followers he gave his open support to Pakistan Movement and therefore one of the prime religious leader of Pakistan Movement
Contents
- Family background
- Socio political and religious services
- Leadership in Lahores Shaheed Ganj Mosque Movement
- Leadership of the All India Sunni Conference
- Participation in Pakistan movement and Aligarh Movement
- Relationship with Jinnah
- References
Family background
He was born in 1834 in a Sayyid family and his father was Sayyid Karim Shah. His ancestors came to India with Emperor Humayun and settled in Alipur, Sialkot when Akbar started his new religion, Din-i Ilahi.
Socio-political and religious services
Jama'at Ali Shah completed his religious studies in jurisprudence and especially in the sciences of hadith. He laid the foundation stones and funded hundreds of mosques throughout the Subcontinent. He was a central figure in the Khilafat Movement and worked against Arya Samaj's Shuddhi movement. He opposed the rise of Qadianism and Wahhabism.
He refused to pray behind the official Salafi Wahabi Imams in Mecca and Medina appointed by King Saud, and he would not obey an order to visit the King. He explained: "I am a faqeer, he is a king". Saud relented and allowed him to pray by himself. He established the Anjuman Khuddamus Sufia, Hind. in March 1901, he published the monthly Anwarus Sufia from Lahore.
He was associated with Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam, Lahore, Anjuman Hizbul Ahnaf, Lahore, Anjuman Nomania, Lahore, Anjuman Islamia Amritsar, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Anjuman Khuddamus Sufia Hind, Anjuman Khuddamul Muslimeen, Kasur, Anjuman Ta’limul Qur’an Lahore, Madrasa Saulatia Makkah Mukarramah, Madrasa Naqshbandia Mysore, All India Sunni Conference, Anjuman Islamia, Sialkot, and Central Muslim Association Bangalore.
Leadership in Lahore's Shaheed Ganj Mosque Movement
He was a leader in the Shaheed Ganj Mosque movement, which opposed British rule in Lahore. He presided over the first session of the Conference to organize protests. He was appointed the Chief and "Shaheedganj Day" occurred on 20 September 1935 under his leadership.
His appointment as leader of this movement garnered support from other Sufi scholars. Fazal Shah of Jalalpur and Ghulam Mohiuddin of Golra Sharif, from Multan, Zainulabedin Shah of the Gilani family and Anjuman Hizb-ul-Ahnaf from Lahore offered support to Shah's leadership. This consensus created a religious and political base which reduced urban-rural differences. The struggle continued for several years.
Leadership of the All India Sunni Conference
Between 16 and 19 March 1925, three hundred Sunni scholars met at Jamia Naeemia Moradabad and established Jamiyyat-e-Aliyah-al Markaziah, commonly known as All India Sunni Conference (AISC).
In the first meet from 16 to 19 March 1925, Shah supported the anti-Hindu and anti-Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind stance for Sunni ulemas.
Shah was elected its president with Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi as General Secretary.
The inaugural session discussed political and social transformation, extremist Hindu movements Shuddhi, the unstable political situation of Muslims, the Khilafat movement, and the possibility of migration. The definition of Sunni was given and policies of Deobandi organisation Jamiat-Ulem-a-Hind and Congress were criticized.
Shah gave the keynote address. He spoke against Wahhabism and in favour of Islamic unity and cohesion.
At the following All India Sunni Conference, held in Badaun during October 1935, he was declared Ameer-e-Millat or leader of Muslim community. In his address, he highlighted the need for unity among the Muslim scholars and common Muslims Ummah. He condemned the Ibn Saud’s policies in Arabia, and demanded to maintain the honor of the Holy and sacred places of the Muslims.
The Third All India Sunni Conference which was held on 27–30 April 1946 at Benaras was attended by five hundred Mashaikh, seven hundred ulema and around two lac people under his president-ship. In this session leaders supported the demand for Pakistan and vowed to make every sacrifice for the establishment of an Islamic government. When some nationalist Ulema criticized the Jinnah. Pir Jamat Ali Shah took his defense by saying. " Think of Jinnah Sahib whatever you like, but I say that Jinnah Sahib is Waliullah.
Participation in Pakistan movement and Aligarh Movement
Shah supported the Aligarh Movement and contributed funds to it.
Shah toured throughout the country to get the support of Muslim League and Pakistan. Following the Lahore Resolution's approval, he threw his support behind Mohammad Ali Jinnah's vision for Pakistan, urging his followers to join and contribute to the efforts of the Muslim League. He made a bold declaration that he would not conduct funeral prayers for those who did not support the Pakistan Movement. His involvement in the election campaigns of 1945 and 1946 significantly contributed to the success of Muslim League candidates. Furthermore, in a bid to consolidate support for the Muslim League, he made a strategic visit to the North-West Frontier Province during the 1947 referendum.
Relationship with Jinnah
He supported the Pakistan movement and was admired by Muhammad Iqbal, the poet. He wrote many letters to Jinnah, offering advice and support. He gave prayer beads and a prayer mat to Jinnah to encourage him to follow Islamic practices.
He served in rehabilitating the refugees and launched the Nifaz-i-Shariat Movement in new country.