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Farid Uddin Masood

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Allamah
Farid Uddin Masood
Masood in 2023
Grand Imam, Sholakia National Eidgah
Incumbent
Assumed office
2009
Preceded byAbul Khair Muhammad Saifullah
Chairman,National Religious Madrasa Education Board of Bangladesh
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 October 2016
President,Bangladesh Jamiyatul Ulama
Incumbent
Assumed office
2014
Personal details
Born(1950-03-07)March 7, 1950(age 74)
Hijlia,Pakundia,Kishoreganj
NationalityBangladeshi
Children4
Alma mater
Personal
Parents
  • Abdur Rashid (father)
  • Sayeda Zebunnisa (mother)
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanafi
MovementDeobandi
Main interest(s)
Notable idea(s)Fatwa of Peace for Humanity
Notable work(s)
Senior posting
Influenced by

Farid Uddin Masood(Bengali:ফরীদ উদ্দীন মাসঊদ;born 7 March 1950) is an Islamic scholar in Bangladesh known for his role as the Imam ofSholakia National Eidgah,Chairman of theNational Religious Madrasa Education Board of Bangladesh,President ofBangladesh Jamiyatul Ulama,Director of Iqra Bangladesh, and former Director ofIslamic Foundation Bangladesh.He has made significant contributions in various areas, such as serving as a key member of the Lajnatut Talaba for the expansion of Bengali Islamic literature. As the co-chair of theBangladesh Qawmi Madrasa Education Commission,he played a pivotal role in obtaining recognition for the equivalency ofQawmi madrasacertificates. He is renowned for hisFatwa of Peace for Humanityagainst terrorism and suicide bombings, which has been endorsed by over 100,000 scholars. He has authored and translated more than a hundred books and serves as the editor-in-chief of theMonthly Patheo.

Early life

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Masood was born on 7 March 1950 in Hijlia inPakundia UpazilaofKishoreganj district.His paternal residence was in Belanka underTarail Upazilain the same district. His father, Abdur Rashid, was a teacher by profession and his mother was Sayeda Zebunnisa. In his personal life, he is the father of one daughter and three sons.[1]

He completed his primary education under his father. Then he enrolled inAl Jamiatul Imdadiya, Kishoreganj.[1]Later, with the aim of acquiring higher education, he went toDarul Uloom Deobandin India. In 1976, he obtained the first position and completed his studies in Hadith at Deoband.[2]Among his teachers at Deoband were notable figures such as Sharif Hasan Deobandi, Muhammad Ali, andMuhammad Zakariyya al-Kandhlawi.He has received the permission for Baiat fromAsad Madni.[3]

Career

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After completing his Takmil fil Hadith fromAl Jamiatul Imdadiya, Kishoreganj,in 1969 he began teaching there. When theBangladesh Liberation Warstarted, he actively participated in the war. After the independence, he started teaching atJamia Islamia Darul Ulum Madaniain Dhaka. Later, he moved to Darul Uloom Deoband and then joinedJamia Arabia Imdadul Uloom Faridabadas a muhaddith. He taught at institutions likeJamia Shariyyah MalibaghandJamia Madania Baridhara,and currently he is serving as Sheikhul Hadith at Jamia Iqra Bangladesh.[1]

In 1977, he joinedIslamic Foundation Bangladeshand served as a director.[2]Afterwards, he was appointed as the chairman of the Islahul Muslimin and also served as the chairman of the Islamic Research Council Bangladesh.[4]

Currently, he is the Imam of theSholakia National Eidgah,the President of theNational Religious Madrasa Education Board of Bangladeshand theBangladesh Jamiyatul Ulama,the Director of Iqra Bangladesh, a special adviser toThe Asia Foundation,the Foundation for Global Policy Studies, the Islamic Research Council of Bangladesh, the Chairman of Iqra Multimedia Worldwide Limited, and the editor of theMonthlyPatheo.[2]

Literary works

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He started writing from his student life.Workers Rights in Islamis one of his notable books. In addition to writing for various national dailies such asThe AzadandThe Daily Ittefaq,he also wrote editorial pieces under the pseudonym Faran Rashidi inThe Daily Ittefaq.He has a significant role as a cornerstone of the Bengali Islamic literature, as a member of the organization called Lajnatut Talaba, which demanded the expansion of the Bangla language.[5]Qazi Mu'tasim Billahwas the main inspiration for him. He has authored 31 books, including 12 translated works. Additionally, he started a Bengali Islamic magazine calledMonthly Patheo.[1]

Deobandism

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Masood is currently teaching Musalsal Hadith in Bangladesh. He has previously taught Musalsal Hadith atAl-Masjid an-Nabawias well.[6]He organized the first international Hadith conference in Bangladesh through his institution, Iqra Bangladesh Madrasa, which saw the participation of several Hadith scholars from Mecca, Syria, and Iraq.[7]He has recently completed aSiratspanning two thousand pages.[8]

Madrasas

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As a proponent of theDeobandi movement,he actively promoted and spread its teachings in Bangladesh. To that end, he founded a madrasa called Jamiatul Islah Al-Madania in Ichhapur village, located in the Jaora Union ofThakurgaon.He arranges an annual four-day IslahiIjtemaon the grounds of the madrasa, drawing scholars, educators, and the general public from far and wide. Through this event, he motivates the public to pursue self-purification.[9]In addition to this madrasa, he established Jamia Iqra Bangladesh in Rampura, Dhaka, of which his younger brother Arif Uddin Maruf is currently the chairman. He also established several other unorthodox religious schools under the banner of Iqra Bangladesh, which are overseen by his eldest son, Sadaruddin Maknoon.

Organisations

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He established an organization called Lajnatut Talaba, which became part of theDeobandi movement.He stated, "Lajnatut Talaba was not only a hub for Bengali Islamic discourse, but it was also an organization dedicated to promoting awareness of the Deobandi movement." In 2014, he foundedBangladesh Jamiyatul Ulama,and through this organization, he served as the co-chair of theBangladesh Qawmi Madrasa Education Commission,aiming to gain recognition for Qawmi madrasas in Bangladesh.[10]Additionally, he called for the provision of government salaries for imams in Bangladesh during a sukrana conference.[11]He also urgedShah Ahmad Shafi,the former chairman of the Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasa Education Commission, to be honored with theIndependence Awardat the same event.[12]

Government recognition of Qawmi madrasa

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Farid Uddin Masood played a pivotal role in the implementation of government recognition forQawmi madrasas.In 2006, Islamic scholars gathered to demand recognition for Qawmi madrasas from former Prime MinisterKhaleda Zia,but their efforts were unsuccessful. Later, underSheikh Hasina's government, a committee was formed to focus on implementing recognition, with Shah Ahmad Shafi as the chairman and Farid Uddin Masood as the co-chairman. The government urged for unity among the Islamic scholars, leading to the formation of the committee.[10]In 2017, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that the highest degree from Qawmi madrasas would be recognized as equivalent to a generalMaster's degree.Within a few days, the government issued a declaration of recognition.

Works for Peace

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Interfaith Harmony

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Masood has actively participated in various seminars organized by the Bangladesh Inter-Religious Forum for Peace and Harmony, discussing different perspectives on mutual respect and global peace and security.[13]He has also denounced attacks on religious institutions such as churches, pagodas, temples, and other places of worship throughout the country as being forbidden in Islam.[14]

Fatwa against terrorism

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Main article:Fatwa of Peace for Humanity

A fatwa has been issued by 100,000 Bangladeshi Islamic clerics forbidding terrorism and suicide bombings, which have been declared "haram" or forbidden under Islamic law. The fatwa comes in response to increasing concerns about extremist attacks in Bangladesh, including the July 2016 attack on a cafe in Dhaka, which killed 22 people. The Bangladesh Jamiyatul Ulama, one of the country's largest Islamic groups, endorsed the fatwa, and its leaders have called on the government to enforce it and take strong action against violators. The move is seen as a positive step in countering extremist ideology in Bangladesh.[15][16]

Liberation war and war criminals

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Contribution in Liberation war

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Farid Uddin Masood is a noteworthy figure among the freedom fighters of Bangladesh. He was actively involved in organizational work during theliberation warand consistently fought for independence.[1]In an interview, he mentioned that he served as a teacher atAl Jamiatul Imdadiya, Kishoreganjduring the war. Although he did not participate in any armed conflict, he worked towards unifying people for the cause of the liberation war. He provided assistance to freedom fighters and also carried out various organizational tasks. Throughout the war, he resided in Tarail, Kishoreganj.[17]Essentially, he was motivated by his teachers to work towards the betterment of the country and subsequently joined the liberation war. One of his teachers,Qazi Mu'tasim Billah,was also a freedom fighter.[18]

Works against war criminals

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In 2001, when thefour-party allianceformed the government in Bangladesh,Motiur Rahman NizamiandAli Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheedof theBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islamiwere appointed as ministers. In protest, Masood voluntarily resigned from his position as director of theIslamic Foundation Bangladesh,citing his stance against enemies of Bangladesh's independence. In 2005, while traveling to the UK for an international peace conference, Masood was arrested atHazrat Shahjalal International Airportin connection with a countrywide bombing campaign on August 17, 2005. After two days of remand, the investigating officer in the case granted him impunity from charges of involvement in the bombing campaign and referred to the accusation as "false, baseless, and fabricated" in the investigation report.[19]TheInternational Criminal Tribunalhad accused Jamaat-e-Islami of war crimes, and in 2006, Masood began a political resistance movement against the party.[20]Later, he joined the Sector Commanders' Forum in demanding the trial of war criminals and supported theShahbag protests,which called for the trial of war criminals.[21]

Public service

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He established a charitable organization named Islahul Muslimin Parishad that offers aid during natural disasters in various regions across the country. The organization carries out several social welfare programs, including distributing food aid to those affected by floods, providing medical treatment and supplies to the sick, and generating employment opportunities for the impoverished.[22]Additionally, they launch campaigns advocating against dowry and organize dowry-free weddings.[23][24]These events provide essential items such as wedding attire and equipment for orphaned and underprivileged grooms and brides, as well as vehicles, sewing machines, and goats for employment purposes. The organization also collaborates withThe Asia Foundationto conduct teacher training programs for madrasas and promote women's rights in various locations.[25]Moreover, the Islahul Muslimin Parishad has provided relief supplies to Rohingya refugee camps and assistance to families affected by theCOVID-19pandemic throughout Bangladesh.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdeShibli, Shaker Hossain (2008).আলেম মুক্তিযোদ্ধার খুঁজে(in Bengali). Banglabazar, Dhaka: Al Ishaq Publications. p. 508.Archivedfrom the original on 28 August 2021.Retrieved23 February2023.
  2. ^abc'আল্লামা শফীর ১৩ দফায় আরও ১ দফা যোগ করতে চেয়েছিলাম'.Jugantor(in Bengali). 14 October 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2023.Retrieved23 February2023.
  3. ^প্রতিটা নেক কাজের সুগন্ধি আছে: ফরীদ উদ্দীন মাসঊদ.Jugantor(in Bengali). 10 February 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2023.Retrieved23 February2023.
  4. ^বাংলাদেশ বিশ্ব দরবারে সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতির উজ্জ্বল দৃষ্টান্ত.Kaler Kantho(in Bengali). 16 September 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2023.Retrieved23 February2023.
  5. ^Ibn Muslim, Jahir (17 February 2017).বাংলাভাষা ও আলেম সমাজ.Jugantor(in Bengali). Archived fromthe originalon 18 February 2020.Retrieved23 February2023.
  6. ^রওযায়েপাকের সামনে আল্লামা মাসঊদের হাদীসে মুসালসালাতের দরস.Patheo24(in Bengali). 21 August 2019.Retrieved23 February2023.
  7. ^বাংলাদেশে প্রথমবারের মতো আন্তর্জাতিক হাদিস কনফারেন্স.Jugantor(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 23 February 2023.Retrieved23 February2023.
  8. ^অখণ্ড অবসর পেয়ে মহানবীর জীবনী লেখা শেষ করেছি.Kaler Kantho(in Bengali). 25 July 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 10 June 2022.Retrieved23 February2023.
  9. ^ইজতেমা সম্পন্ন.Prothom Alo(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 23 February 2023.Retrieved23 February2023.
  10. ^abহেফাজতপন্থীদের প্রাধান্য দিয়েই কওমির স্বীকৃতি দিচ্ছে সরকার!.Kaler Kantho(in Bengali). 11 April 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 9 June 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  11. ^শোকরানা মাহফিলে ইমাম-মুয়াজ্জিনদের ভাতার দাবি.Jugantor(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 25 February 2023.Retrieved25 February2023.
  12. ^আহমদ শফীকে স্বাধীনতা পদক দেয়ার দাবি.Somoy Tv(in Bengali). 4 November 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 16 August 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  13. ^'বিশ্বে শান্তি প্রতিষ্ঠায় ভিন্নমতের প্রতি শ্রদ্ধা ও সহমর্মিতার বিকল্প নেই'.The Daily Ittefaq(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 29 September 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  14. ^'উপাসনালয়ে হামলা হারাম'.Deutsche Welle(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 12 August 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  15. ^"Terrorism is 'haram': 1 lakh Bangladeshi clerics say in fatwa".The Hindu.19 June 2016.ISSN0971-751X.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2023.Retrieved25 February2023.
  16. ^"Anti-Terror Fatwa Endorsed by 100,000 Bangladeshi Islamic Scholars".VOA News.Archivedfrom the original on 22 October 2021.Retrieved25 February2023.
  17. ^যেমন আছেন আলেম মুক্তিযোদ্ধারা.Bangla Tribune(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 4 June 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  18. ^বেশিরভাগ আলেম মুক্তিযুদ্ধের বন্ধু ছিলেন.Jugantor(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 29 August 2021.Retrieved25 February2023.
  19. ^"The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 443".The Daily Star.Archivedfrom the original on 8 August 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  20. ^"Islamic leaders seek Nizami's punishment for war crimes".The Daily Star.22 May 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 14 August 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  21. ^Jamil, Rashid (2022).বিশ্বাসের বহুবচন(in Bengali). Bangladesh: Kalantar Publications. p. 326.ISBN9789849071426.Archivedfrom the original on 25 February 2023.Retrieved25 February2023.
  22. ^নাটোর ও তাড়াইলে খাদ্য সহায়তা.Samakal(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 17 August 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  23. ^সিলেটে ২০ দম্পতির যৌতুকবিহীন গণবিয়ে.Dhaka Tribune(in Bengali). 6 July 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 19 August 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  24. ^সিলেটে এক মঞ্চে ২০ যৌতুকবিহীন বিয়ে.Prothom Alo(in Bengali). 12 February 2023.Retrieved18 April2024.
  25. ^এশিয়া ফাউন্ডেশনের উদ্যোগে নারী অধিকার উন্নয়ন কর্মশালা.banglanews24.com(in Bengali). 10 June 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 17 August 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.
  26. ^করোনা দুর্যোগে ৫ হাজার পরিবারের পাশে ইসলাহুল মুসলিমীন.Jugantor(in Bengali).Archivedfrom the original on 12 August 2022.Retrieved25 February2023.

Further reading

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