Masroor Abbas Ansari

• Mohammad Abbas Ansari (father)

Quaid-e-Itthad Maulana Allama Masroor Abbas Ansari
Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 October 2022
Era	Modern era
Region	Kashmir
Political party	Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen
Main interest(s)	Islamic philosophy, Quranic exegesis, mantiq, logic, tawhid, Kashf al-Asrar, tahrir al-wasilah, Islamic government, uṣūl al-fiqh, nahj al-balagha
Alma mater	Ganghi College, Srinagar Kashmir University Houza Ilmia Qom, Iran
Occupation	Religious Shia scholar and moderate separatist leader
Relatives	Mustafa Hussain Ansari (uncle) Sajjad Haider Ansari (cousin)
Religious life
Religion	Islam
Denomination	Usuli
School	Twelver Shia
Sect	Pan Islamic Unity in Jammu and Kashmir
Jurisprudence	Ja`fari
Profession	Khateeb and Imam of Friday Prayer of Majid Sajjadia Chattabal, Srinagar
Muslim leader
Based in	Srinagar
Post	Cleric Jurist Shia Muslim leader
Period in office	2015 – present
Influenced by Muhammad Iqbal Ruhollah Khomeini Ali Khamenei Ali al-Sistani Syed Jawad Naqvi
Website	ittihadul.tripod.com

Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari is Kashmiri Twelver Shia scholar. He is also a cleric, preacher, activist, theologian, religious and political leader in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. ^{[1] [2]} He is the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), a Kashmiri nationalist Shia political party that aims for Shi'a–Sunni unity in Kashmir and is also a religious organization that conducts the Grand Ashura Procession in Kashmir. ^{[3] [4]} He is a senior leader of the separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference. He is also one of the founder leaders of Majlis Ulema Immamia. ^{[5] [6] [7]} He succeeded his father Mohammad Abbas Ansari after his death. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

Early life and education

Ansari was born on 5 March 1971, in Downtown Srinagar. ^[15] He graduated from Sri Pratap College in Srinagar and then went to University of Kashmir. Later, he traveled to Iran to study at the Qom Seminary. ^[15]

Career

After 14 years of study in Iran, Ansari returned to Kashmir in 2004 and started his religio-political activities. Soon he was elected the president of JKIM. He was the Sub Editor of the monthly Urdu magazine Safina, which was published from Karan Nagar, Srinagar. He is a senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference. He has been detained many times over the Kashmir conflict. On 9 July 2023, he was detained again. ^{[12] [16]}

Ansari, said that the police action against peaceful mourners on and before Ashura in 2022 is reprehensible and that the government's assertion of taking action during the pandemic is false, as participants were following all SOPs. ^[17]

Educational upliftment

Masroor Abbas worked for the upliftment of the educational level of Shia community in the Kashmir Valley. In the initial stages when he returned to Kashmir, Masroor organized different classes to teach different subjects especially ethics in modest rooms at different places, the impact of his words was immense, as he imparted the teachings of the Islamic religion to these eager minds. Additionally, he selflessly collaborated with other Islamic organizations to further advance their shared goals in this noble endeavor. Maulana Masroor in his Friday prayer sermons mostly stressed on education and in his lectures, he shed light on how important education is for the successful society. Maulana Masroor organized and participated into number of educational conferences and seminars to propagate the values of education. He also participated in educational conferences of different colleges as representative of Shia community. Masroor has emphasised the teaching of kalam.

He is also one of the founders of Majlis Ulema Immamia, an amalgam of all Shia clerics of Jammu and Kashmir.

Politics

See also: Kashmir conflict and Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir

2016

All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Ansari and Syed Ali Shah Geelani were arrested after they tried to lead a march towards Eidgah in Srinagar. Thousands of people protested against their arrest. ^[18]

2018

On 15 October 2018, a day after Ansari was again detained by the police during local elections, thousands of Shias from Mirgund, Rambail, Matipora and its adjoining areas staged a protest while blocking the Srinagar Muzaffarbad Highway at Mirgund Pattan on Sunday.

2019

Main article: 2019–2021 Jammu and Kashmir lockdown

Ansari, Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Lone were denied permission to meet Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, after he had been detained under house arrest following the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August 2019 at his Nigeen residence. ^[19]

In September 2019, Molana Masroor Abbas was also put under house arrest on Ashura. Thousands of his followers protested against the detention. Jammu and Kashmir Police would later release Ansari in August 2020. ^[20]

2023

Ansari hailed the decision of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha ^{[21] [22]} to lift the 34 year old ban on Muharram 8th procession. ^{[23] [24]}

On 9th Muharram, he urged the authorities to release all religious leaders, lift the ban on the traditional Ashura processions and allow Friday prayers at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid without any hindrance. ^[25] In 2023, Ashura processions in Kashmir were held in Srinigar. ^[26]

Several JKIM leaders were expelled from the party by Ansari after they joined the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari. ^{[27] [28]}

2025

In 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs under Amit Shah declared two Jammu and Kashmir-based separatist political parties -- Awami Action Committee headed by Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKIM headed by Ansari -- as unlawful associations and banned them for promoting the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. ^{[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]}

See also

• Mohammad Abbas Ansari
• Mustafa Hussain Ansari
• Ghulam Rasool Noori

References

1. "Senior Pro-Independence Leader and President Itehadul Muslim J&K Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari lead a rally at Chattabal Srinagar on Youm al Quds to express solidarity with the people of Palestine and other oppressed nations". wilayattimes.com.
2. "Supporters of Masroor Abbas Ansari". Shutterstock .
3. "Masroor Abbas Ansari hailed for promoting Muslim unity in IIOJK". kmsnews.org. 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
4. "Kashmiri Famous Shia Personalities, Important Shia Personalities". Imam Hussain Research Centre.
5. "Hurriyat: Its History, Role, and Relevance". The Indian Express . 31 August 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
6. "Masroor Abbas condemns the killing spree". Greater Kashmir . 11 September 2016.
7. "Security of all 18 Hurriyat leaders, 155 politicians withdrawn". Daily Excelsior . 21 February 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
8. "Maulana Abbas Ansari Bereaved". Kashmir Observer . 24 November 2020.
9. "Former Hurriyat chairman Maulana Abbas Ansari passes away". Telegraph India .
10. "Hurriyat 'dove' Maulana Abbas Ansari passes away". Deccan Herald . 25 October 2022.
11. "Thousands Attend the Fateha Ceremony of Maulana Abbas Ansari". Kashmir Observer . 28 October 2022.
12. "Shia leader, others arrested from Srinagar hotel; police say 'attempt to revive JKLF & Hurriyat'". The New Indian Express . 9 July 2023.
13. "Moulana Masroor Ansari detained along with others, claims the party". thekashmiriyat.co.uk. 9 July 2023.
14. "Indian police arrest APHC leader Maulana Masroor Abbas in Srinagar". kmsnews.org. 9 July 2023. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
15. "Hurriyat: A crowded house, a divided house". The Indian Express . 23 May 2002. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
16. "Masroor Abbas Released from House Detention". Kashmir Observer . 31 August 2020.
17. "Molvi Masroor Abbas Ansari has condemned the excessive use of PAVA in Downtown localities in Srinagar". Kashmir News Observer. 2016.
18. Raafi, Muhammad (26 August 2016). "#Day49: Mirwaiz Umar, Masroor Abbas Detained". Kashmir Life . Retrieved 5 March 2024.
19. Wani, Fayaz (29 July 2021). "Hurriyat demands release of Mirwaiz, alleges no one allowed to meet him". The New Indian Express . Retrieved 5 March 2024.
20. "Masroor Abbas Released From House Detention". Kashmir Observer . 31 August 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
21. "Historic 8th Muharram Procession Takes Place in Kashmir Valley After 34 Years". The Chenab Times. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
22. "Muharram Procession Held First Time After 34 Years in Srinagar: LG Manoj Sinha". Daily Excelsior . 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
23. "After 3 decades, J&K allows Muharram procession". The Indian Express . 27 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
24. "Muharram 2023 | Shia Muslims Carry Out Muharram Procession in Srinagar, Permission After 3 Decades". Times Now . 27 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
25. "Masroor Credits Those Who Fought For 8th Muharram Route". Kashmir Observer . 28 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
26. Hassan, Tahir (15 July 2024). "Molana Masroor Abbas Ansari exclusive speaking to JK News Today in Srinagar". JK News Today. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
27. Peerzada, Ashiq (12 September 2023). "J&K Apni Party in talks with Hurriyat leaders to join party: sources". The Hindu . ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 11 September 2024.
28. "Apni Party appoints former separatist leader as vice president". Deccan Herald . Retrieved 11 September 2024.
29. Centre bans Mirwaiz's Awami Action Committee, JK Ittihadul Muslimeen for five years. Tribune India.
30. Amit Shah bans Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's AAC and Masroor Abbas Ansari's JKIM in JK. Navbharat Times.
31. Centre bans Awami Action Committee, JK Ittihadul Muslimeen for 5 years. News18.com.
32. JK: Centre bans Mirwaiz's AAC, Masroor Abass Ansari's JKIM under UAPA. The Week. 11 March 2025.
33. MHA bans 2 JK organisations for 5 years. The Asian Age.

External links

• Lectures and speeches of Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari