Abu Taher Nadwi

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Abu Taher Qasmi Nadwi
আবু তাহের কাসেমী নদভী
Director-General of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya
Assumed office
14 February 2024
Signature Abu Taher Nadwi's signature.svg
Personal life
Nationality Bangladeshi
Main interest(s) Education
Religious life
ReligionIslam
Denomination Sunni
Jurisprudence Hanafi
Movement Deobandi
Senior posting
Disciple of

Abu Taher Qasmi Nadwi (born 1960) is a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar and educator. He has served as the Director-General of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, also known as Patiya Madrasa, since February 2024 and has been serving as Chairman of Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh since his appointment in October 2025. He also holds the position of vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and oversees affiliated organizations under Patiya Madrasa, including the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Tahfizul Quran Organisation. In addition, he serves as the editor-in-chief of Monthly At-Tawhid, a religious periodical published in Chittagong.

Contents

Early life

Abu Taher was born in 1960 in Uttar Nichintapur, Fatikchhari Upazila, Chittagong District. His father was Nazir Ahmad. He began his early education within the family environment, receiving instruction in Quranic recitation and basic Islamic studies from Qari Harun. [1]

He later studied at Jamia Islamia Obaidia Nanupur for one year, followed by four years at Jamia Yunusia. After returning to Nanupur for three additional years, he enrolled at Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, where he completed the Dawra-e-Hadith in 1980 and the Ifta program in 1981. Among his teachers was Abdur Rahman. [1]

After graduation, Nadwi traveled to Pakistan for advanced studies in Ifta. During this period, he paused at Darul Uloom Deoband in India to attend a Ramadan lecture series on Sahih al-Bukhari by Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri. He subsequently enrolled at Darul Uloom Deoband to repeat the Dawra-e-Hadith. After completing the program a second time, he joined Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow to pursue higher studies in Arabic language and literature. [1]

Alongside his academic studies, Nadwi undertook spiritual training. He initially received instruction in Tasawwuf from Abrarul Haq Haqqi and later received Bay'ah (spiritual allegiance) from Abdur Rahman, from whom he also received khilafat (spiritual succession) and ijazat (authorization to teach). [1]

Career

After completing his studies, Nadwi was advised by Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi to return to Bangladesh and dedicate himself to religious service. Following the guidance of his teachers, he joined Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, where he served as a teacher of Hadith and Arabic literature and held administrative responsibilities, including acting as Nazim of Darul Iqama for several years. [1]

In 2022, following the death of Patiya Madrasa's fourth Director-General, Abdul Halim Bukhari, Obaidullah Hamzah was appointed Director-General, and Nadwi was named Assistant Director. [2] Soon after Hamzah assumed office, internal disagreements among students and faculty increased, reaching a significant level by late 2023. [3] Efforts to resolve the conflict through the madrasa's Majlis-e-Shura in October–November 2023 were unsuccessful due to Hamzah being abroad and disputes regarding the meeting's legitimacy. [4] Protests by students and faculty over alleged misconduct escalated on 28 October 2023, resulting in Hamzah's resignation and temporary administrative control of the madrasa by opponents. [5] Hamzah challenged the resignation as coerced and filed a police complaint. [6] Renewed tensions in December 2023 and January 2024 led to another Shura meeting on 14 February 2024, which appointed Hafez Ahmadullah as President and Nadwi as Director-General. [7] This appointment was opposed by Sultan Zauq Nadwi, Hamzah, and their supporters, who considered it illegitimate. [8]

Following this period, disputes emerged within Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh. At an emergency session held at Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya on 16 December 2023, Hafez Ahmadullah was elected Chairman and Ekram Hossain Adudi as Secretary-General of the organization, with the justification that authority over the board belonged to members affiliated with Patiya Madrasa. [9] [10] On 12 March 2024, a meeting convened by Sultan Zauq Nadwi, Hamzah, and their supporters in Chittagong declared the Ahmadullah-Adudi committee illegitimate and reaffirmed the committee led by Sultan Zauq Nadwi and Hamzah. [11] The Ahmadullah-Adudi group expanded on 13 August 2024, adding 73 committee members and naming Muhibbullah Babunagari as chief patron. [12] After the death of Hafez Ahmadullah, a Shura meeting in Patiya on 12 October 2025 nominated Abu Taher Nadwi as Chairman of the organization. [13]

Nadwi was appointed Vice-President of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh on 31 August 2023. [14] He also supervises several bodies affiliated with Patiya Madrasa, including the Organization of Islamic Conference (from 14 October 2024) and the Tahfizul Quran Organisation. [15] [16]

In addition to his administrative and organizational roles, Nadwi serves as editor-in-chief of Monthly At-Tawhid, a religious periodical published in Chittagong. [17] He has also authored several works, including Durusul Lughatul Arabiya, Amar Dekha London (Travelogue), Qawmi Madrasah: Ki o Keno?, Hum Kaun Hai? Hamari Zimmedari Kya Hai?, and Tazkia-e Shah Ali Ahmad Bualvi. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Allama Mufti Abu Taher Qasmi Nadwi". Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya . Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  2. "Maulana Obaidullah Hamzah is the new Director General of Patiya Madrasa". Daily Naya Diganta . 7 July 2022. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022.
  3. "Tension at Patiya Al Jamiatul Islamia Madrasa in Chittagong". kalbela. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  4. Labib, Kawser (12 October 2023). "The reason Patiya Madrasa postponed the Shura meeting". OurIslam24. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  5. "Allegation of forced signing of resignation by the Director-General of Patiya Madrasa". Jugantor. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  6. "New governing board at Patiya Madrasa, declared illegitimate by the Director-General". Jugantor. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  7. "Patiya Madrasa Director General Abu Taher Nadwi, Obaidullah Hamza permanently expelled". Jaijaidin . 15 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  8. "Appointment of Muhtamim through unconstitutional Shura at Patiya Madrasa is illegal". Dainik Azadi. 12 March 2024. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  9. "Committee of Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Formed in Patiya". Daily Inqilab . 25 December 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  10. "Firm Condemnation and Objection". Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh. 17 March 2024.
  11. "Appointment of New Muhtamim Through Unconstitutional Shura at Patiya Madrasa Deemed Illegal". Dainik Azadi . 12 March 2024. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  12. "Council Session of Anjuman Ittehadul Madaris Takes Place in Patiya". Dainik Azadi . 14 August 2024. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024.
  13. "Majlis-e-Shura ceremony of Patiya Al-Jami'a Qawmi Madrasa Education Board". Dainik Azadi . 13 October 2025.
  14. "Hefazat announces 202-member committee, 54 of them are advisors". Dhaka Post . 31 August 2023. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  15. "Hifzul Quran competition of Tahfizul Quran Organization". Dainik Azadi. 29 December 2024. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  16. "Maulana Abu Taher Nadvi is the secretary of the 'Islamic Conference Organization'". Ourislam24. 15 October 2024.
  17. "Monthly At-Tawhid: May 2025 (PDF)". Monthly At-Tawhid. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.