Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani (Rahimullah Tala)
Muhammad Shafi was born on 25 January 1897.[1] His name, "Muhammad Shafi", was proposed by Rashid Ahmad Gangohi.[2]
In 1325 AH (1907/1908) he was admitted into Darul Uloom Deoband.[1] He graduated in 1336 AH (1918) at the age of 21.[2]
In 1336 AH (1917/1918)[1] or 1337 AH (1918/19) he was appointed as a teacher of the primary level at Darul Uloom Deoband, though he quickly reached a position of teaching higher classes.[2] He had an affinity to fiqh and fatawa, so he frequently assisted Mufti Azizu'r-Rahman Usmani, the head of Darul Ifta (the fatwa department of Darul Uloom Deoband).[1] Muhammad Shafi was appointed to the position of Grand Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband in 1350 AH (1932). He held this position until 1354 AH (1935/36), and again from 1359 AH (1940/1941) to 1362 AH (1943).[2]
Estimates of the number of fatwas that he issued while at Darul Uloom Deoband range from 26,000[2] to over 40,000. Some of Muhammad Shafi's fatwas have been published in eight large volumes titled Imdad al-Muftin, while the majority remain unpublished.[1]
At the time Muhammad Shafi was teaching at Darul Uloom Deoband, Indians were struggling for independence from the British. When the All-India Muslim League was formed to campaign for the creation of a separate Muslim state, Ashraf Ali Thanvi instructed all ulama and Muslims in general to support this campaign. Muhammad Shafi, with other scholars including Zafar Ahmad Usmani, joined the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, a council of Islamic scholars formed by Shabbir Ahmad Usmani to campaign for the creation of Pakistan. In 1363 AH (1944) Muhammad Shafi resigned from teaching and issuing fatwas at Darul Uloom Deoband in order to devote his time to the movement for the creation of Pakistan. He toured India, gave speeches, and issues fatwas for this purpose.[1]
After partition, in 1367 AH (1948), Muhammad Shafi left his hometown of Deoband and immigrated to Pakistan. He founded Darul Uloom Karachi in 1370 AH (1950/1951)
Muhammad Shafi died on 10 Shawwal 1396 (6 October 1976).
In 1325 AH (1907/1908) he was admitted into Darul Uloom Deoband.[1] He graduated in 1336 AH (1918) at the age of 21.[2]
In 1336 AH (1917/1918)[1] or 1337 AH (1918/19) he was appointed as a teacher of the primary level at Darul Uloom Deoband, though he quickly reached a position of teaching higher classes.[2] He had an affinity to fiqh and fatawa, so he frequently assisted Mufti Azizu'r-Rahman Usmani, the head of Darul Ifta (the fatwa department of Darul Uloom Deoband).[1] Muhammad Shafi was appointed to the position of Grand Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband in 1350 AH (1932). He held this position until 1354 AH (1935/36), and again from 1359 AH (1940/1941) to 1362 AH (1943).[2]
Estimates of the number of fatwas that he issued while at Darul Uloom Deoband range from 26,000[2] to over 40,000. Some of Muhammad Shafi's fatwas have been published in eight large volumes titled Imdad al-Muftin, while the majority remain unpublished.[1]
At the time Muhammad Shafi was teaching at Darul Uloom Deoband, Indians were struggling for independence from the British. When the All-India Muslim League was formed to campaign for the creation of a separate Muslim state, Ashraf Ali Thanvi instructed all ulama and Muslims in general to support this campaign. Muhammad Shafi, with other scholars including Zafar Ahmad Usmani, joined the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, a council of Islamic scholars formed by Shabbir Ahmad Usmani to campaign for the creation of Pakistan. In 1363 AH (1944) Muhammad Shafi resigned from teaching and issuing fatwas at Darul Uloom Deoband in order to devote his time to the movement for the creation of Pakistan. He toured India, gave speeches, and issues fatwas for this purpose.[1]
After partition, in 1367 AH (1948), Muhammad Shafi left his hometown of Deoband and immigrated to Pakistan. He founded Darul Uloom Karachi in 1370 AH (1950/1951)
Muhammad Shafi died on 10 Shawwal 1396 (6 October 1976).