Faiz Ahmad Owaisi

Mufti Muhammad Faiz Ahmad Owaisi (1932–2010) was a Pakistani Sunni Islamic scholar, Quran commentator, hadith scholar, author, translator, Sufi, poet and teacher. He founded Jamia Owaisia Razvia in Bahawalpur and authored numerous works on Quranic exegesis, hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, theology and devotional literature.Malik Mahbubur-Rasul Qadri (2004), "Mawlana Muhammad Faiz Ahmad Owaisi say Aik Yadgar Nishast", in Ilm kay Moti, Karachi: Qutb Madinah Publishers, p. 7

Early life

Mufti Muhammad Faiz Ahmad Owaisi was born in 1932 (1351 AH) in the village of Hamidabad, Khanpur Tehsil, Rahim Yar Khan District, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan). His father was Noor Ahmad Owaisi.Abu al-Abdāl Muḥammad Rizwān Ṭāhir Farīdī. (2022), Taʿāruf-i Faiz-i Millat Mufassir-i Qurʾān ʿAllāmah Muftī Faiz Aḥmad Owaisī, Okārah: Dār al-Abdāl, pp. 5-13.

Family

According to biographical accounts published by his followers, Owaisi belonged to the Lad community, which traditionally claims descent from Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. His family was originally settled in Sindh before later migrating to the Rahim Yar Khan region.

Education

Owaisi began his religious education under the supervision of his father, Noor Ahmad Owaisi. After completing elementary Quranic recitation, he attended primary school before devoting himself to memorizing the Quran, completing it between 1942 and 1946.

He subsequently studied Persian literature, completing texts including Karima, Pand Nama and portions of the Masnavi by 1947. He then enrolled in the traditional Dars Nizami curriculum, studying under Muhammad Nawaz Owaisi, Khurshid Ahmad and Muhammad Abdul Karim. He completed the curriculum in 1951.

In 1952, Owaisi undertook advanced studies in hadith under Maulana Sardar Ahmad of Faisalabad, from whom he received formal authorisation, ijazah, upon completing the Dawrah Hadith programme.Mufti Muhammad Faiz Ahmad Owaisi has also been covered by Pakistani media outlets. Dunya News Urdu published a profile/article discussing his religious and scholarly activities.

Teaching career

After completing his studies, Owaisi returned to his native village of Hamidabad, where he established Madrasah Manba al-Fuyuz. The institution provided instruction in the traditional Islamic sciences and educated students from the surrounding region.

In 1963, he moved to Bahawalpur, where he established Jamia Owaisia Razvia and Jamia Masjid Sirani. The seminary offered instruction in Quran memorisation, the Dars Nizami curriculum, advanced hadith studies and Islamic legal studies, ifta. According to the institution, many scholars graduated from the seminary, which later developed a network of affiliated branches.

Owaisi also conducted specialised courses in Quranic exegesis, tafsir. Beginning in the early 1960s, he delivered tafsir programmes in numerous cities throughout Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Khanpur, Khanewal, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Khairpur, Dadu, Mianwali, Muridke and Kamoke. Institutional sources state that these programmes were conducted on more than seventy occasions and attended by several thousand students.

In addition to his teaching activities, Owaisi was known for delivering public lectures on the Quran and Sunnah throughout Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

Selected works

Owaisi began writing during his student years and continued throughout his life. According to biographical publications issued by his institution, he expressed the wish to remain engaged in writing until the end of his life. His writings primarily focus on Quranic exegesis, hadith studies, Islamic jurisprudence, theology, devotional literature and especially translations of classical Islamic texts. Institutional sources state that he authored more than 3,500 books, treatises, translations and pamphlets, while some later publications place the figure at over 4,000 works.Imran Raza Madani (2002), Tahrir ki Zarurat o Ahamiyyat (The Importance of the Scholarly Work), Hadarabad (India), Sabiya Publication, pp. 28-29.Muhammad Saleem Ansari Adrawi (2003), Maqalat Adrawi (The Discourse of the Adrawi), n.p.: Sabiyah, p. 121.Asma Nazir and Dr Muhammad Ramzan Najam Barvi, (2021). "The Method and Style of Tafsir Ruhul Bayan", Al-Aijaz Research Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities, 5(2), 416-433. https://doi.org/10.53575/Urdu30.v5.02(21).

Owaisi authored numerous works on Quranic exegesis, hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, theology and religious literature. A selection of his published works includes:

Quranic studies and exegesis

Bounties of the Most Merciful: Tafsir Fuyud al-Rahman (فیوض الرحمان), Urdu translation and brief commentary Tafsir Ruh al-Bayan, 12 volumesAsma Nazir and Dr Muhammad Ramzan Najam Barvi, (2021). "The Method and Style of Tafsir Ruhul Bayan", Al-Aijaz Research Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities, 5(2), 416-433. The Grace of the Benefactor: Commentary on Quranic Verses, Fadl al-Mannan fi Tafsir Ayat al-Qur'an (فضل المنان فی تفسیر آیات القرآن), Arabic, 10 volumes The Grace of the Quran: Commentary on the Quran, Tafsir Faiz al-Qur'an (تفسیر فیض القرآن), Urdu, 10 volumes Owaisi's Quranic Commentary: Tafsir Owaisi (تفسیر اویسی), 15 volumes The Blessings of the Prophet Regarding the Occasions of Revelation: Faiz al-Rasul fi Asbab al-Nuzul (فیض الرسول فی اسباب النزول), 10 volumes The Proof Regarding Chapters and the Quran, Al-Burhan fi al-Suwar wa al-Qur'an (البرہان فی السور والقرآن)

Hadith studies and commentaries

The Flowing Blessing: Commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Fayd al-Jari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari (الفیض الجاری شرح صحیح بخاری), 10 volumes Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Sharh Sahih Muslim (ترجمہ و حاشیہ مسلم شریف), 10 volumes Commentary on Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Sharh Jami' al-Tirmidhi (ترجمہ و حاشیہ ترمذی شریف), 5 volumes Commentary on Sunan al-Darimi, Sharh Sunan al-Darimi (شرح دارمی), 8 volumes Commentary on Sunan al-Daraqutni, Sharh Sunan al-Daraqutni (شرح دار قطنی), 10 volumes Sunni Hadiths in the Razavi Legal Opinions, Al-Ahadith al-Sunniyyah fi al-Fatawa al-Razawiyyah (الاحادیث السنیہ فی الفتاویٰ الرضویہ), 5 volumes Fabricated Hadiths, Ahadith Mawdu'ah (احادیث موضوعہ), 5 volumes Abrogating and Abrogated Narrations in Hadith, Al-Nasikh wa al-Mansukh fi al-Ahadith (الناسخ والمنسوخ فی الاحادیث)Ali, Zeeshan; Qureshi, Kashif Mehmood (2024). "A Comparative Study of Contemporary Scholars view on Naskh (Abrogation) in Islamic Jurisprudence: Perspective of Mufti Faiz Ahmad Owais, Mufti Taqi Usmani and Javed Ahmad Ghamidi". Tanazur. 5 (4): 171–186.

Islamic law and theology

Owaisi Legal Opinions, Fatawa Owaisia (فتاویٰ اویسیہ), 10 volumes The Decision on Eight Issues, Faisla Hasht Mas'ala (فیصلہ ہشت مسئلہ), 10 volumes The Radiant Lights: Commentary on Mishkat al-Masabih, Al-Lama'at Sharh Mishkat al-Masabih (اللمعات شرح مشکوٰۃ), 5 volumes Commentary on al-Jami, Ni'am al-Hami Sharh al-Hami (نعم الحامی شرح جامی), 10 volumes The Two-Nation Theory and the Scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah, Do Qaumi Nazriya aur Ulama-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat (دو قومی نظریہ اور علمائے اہلسنت) The Difference Between Intrinsic and Bestowed Qualities, Zati wa Ata'i ka Farq (ذاتی و عطائی کا فرق)

Sufi and devotional literature

Commentary on Gardens of Blessings, Sharh Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish (شرح حدائقِ بخشش), 25 volumes Commentary on the Masnavi of Mawlana Rumi, Sharh Masnavi Mawlana Rumi (شرح مثنوی مولانا روم), 25 volumes Owaisi Sermons, Mawa'iz Owaisia (مواعظِ اویسیہ), 10 volumes Owaisi's Begging Bowl / Collection of Writings, Kashkol Owaisi (کشکول اویسی), 10 volumes Owaisi Treatises, Rasa'il Owaisia (رسائل اویسیہ), 5 volumes Secrets and Devotion, Raz-o-Niaz (راز و نیاز), 5 volumes Owaisi Notebook, Bayaz Owaisi (بیاض اویسی), 5 volumes The Owaisi Chronicle, Owaisi Nama (اویسی نامہ), 5 volumes Biography of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, Sawanih Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (سوانح خواجہ غریب نواز) The Pre-eternal Wine, Alasti Sharab (الستی شراب)

Other works

Practical Issues, Karamad Masa'il (کارآمد مسائل) Islamic Curriculum for Women, Khawatin ka Islami Nisab (خواتین کا اسلامی نصاب), 5 volumes Pearls of Knowledge, Ilm ke Moti (علم کے موتی) Reflections on Faiz Millat, Tasurat Bara-e-Faiz Millat (تاثرات برائے فیضِ ملت) Identifying Fatimi and Non-Fatimi Sayyids, Fatimi wa Ghair Fatimi Sayyid ki Pehchan (فاطمی و غیر فاطمی سید کی پہچان) History of the Construction of the Ka'bah, Tarikh-e-Tamir-e-Ka'bah (تاریخ تعمیر کعبہ) Causes of Salvation of the Deceased, Mayyit ki Nijat ke Asbab (میت کی نجات کے اسباب) Benefits of Carrots, Gajar ke Fawa'id (گاجر کے فوائد) The Virtues of Betel Leaf, Pan ki Shan (پان کی شان) Educational institutions

Besides Jamia Owaisia Razvia in Bahawalpur, several seminaries associated with Owaisi's family and students continue to operate in different parts of Pakistan. The Bahawalpur seminary provides religious education to both local and residential students.

Students

Among the scholars reported to have studied under Owaisi are:

Muhammad Abdul Hakim Sharaf Qadri Mufti Muhammad Arshad al-Qadri Muhammad Raza Saqib Mustafai Muhammad Farooq Bandialvi Pir Muhammad Ajmal Raza Qadri Abdul Majid Owaisi Mufti Muhammad Iqbal Chishti Muhammad Ashraf al-Alam Qadri Chatgami Qari Muhammad Tayyab Naqshbandi Khan Muhammad Qadri Mufti Muhammad Amir Ahmad Naqshbandi Mufti Muhammad Mateen Naqshbandi Agha Abdul Wahid Jan Sarhindi Muhammad Kokab Riaz Owaisi Tasadduq Hussain Gul Golravi

Death

Owaisi died on 26 August 2010 (15 Ramadan 1431 AH). His funeral prayer was held later that evening at the Central Eidgah in Bahawalpur.

Legacy

Owaisi is remembered in scholarly tradition for his teaching, public lectures and literary contributions. Seminaries established by him and his associates continue to function in Pakistan, and many of his books remain in circulation.A 2024 study published in the journal Tanazur examined Mufti Faiz Ahmad Owaisi's views on naskh (abrogation) in Islamic jurisprudence in comparison with the views of Mufti Taqi Usmani and Javed Ahmad Ghamidi. The study analysed contemporary scholarly perspectives on the interpretation and application of the concept of abrogation in Quranic studies.

Faiz Ahmad Owaisi

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