Maulana Marghoobur Rahman (1914-2010)Maulana Marghoobur Rahman, one of the longest serving rectors of the famed Islamic seminary Darul Uloom at Deoband passed away on December 8 in his ancestral town Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh leaving behind thousands of Deoband alumni across the world grieved. He was 96 and had been residing in Bijnor for sometime due to an increasingly failing health. He is survived by a son and a daughter. His body was brought from Bijnor to Deoband. The funeral prayers were offered at Deoband after Isha and he was buried at Mazar-e-Qasmi, the graveyard closest to Darul Uloom. Prayer meetings were held throughout India and abroad.
He took over the rectorship following the unfortunate turn of events that led to the ouster of Qari Muhammad Tayyib (1897-1983) in 1982. The conditions could have worsened further but Maulana Marghoobur Rahman’s farsightedness and sincerity towards the institution made things only better. His tenure saw the landmark fatwa against terror in February 2008 calling terror attacks on innocents, against the tenets of Islam.
Maulana Marghoobur Rahman remained rector of Darul Uloom for 30 years, the second longest period after Qari Mohammad Tayyib. In all, he served Darul Uloom for 35 years. His strength lay in his patience, perseverance and commitment. He avoided controversies and tried to amend the fractured relationships that had earlier bruised the very notion behind the establishment of Darul Uloom, which is seen not only as a great institute of Islamic discipleins, but also as a Renaissance of Indian Muslims following the 1857 freedom struggle in India.
Maulana Marghoob managed to keep Darul Uloom free from political factionalism of any sort. Darul Uloom grew in strength and number of students, the administration ran smooth and the academic atmosphere became conducive for learning.
Ulama, intellectuals, politicians and prominent persons from diverse walks of life expressed their sorrow over the demise of Maulana Marghoob. The services rendered for thirty years as rector of Darul Uloom can never be forgotten, K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha said. Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and president of All India Talimi Wa Milli Foundation expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Maualan Marghoobur Rahman and called it a huge loss to the nation and to Deoband fraternity.
Former general secretary of Samajwadi Party and head of Lok Manch, Amar Singh described him as a man of great piety, grace and humility. His demise is a great loss to the nation. Maulana Marghoobur Rahman was seen with trust not only by Muslims but also by non-Muslims, Singh said. Maulana Mohammad Ajaz Urfi, president of All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Haq called his rectoral tenure the Golden Period.
Maulana Marghoobur Rahman witnessed the formation of a breakaway faction from the Darul Uloom in 1982, but was able to stabilise the institution. Darul Uloom (Waqf) Deoband, the parallel faction that was set up after the ouster of Qari Muhammad Tayyib, declared a day off as a mark of respect. In more recent times, when one of the largest Muslim organisation, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, got divided between two groups, he was able to keep the balance between both sides and mediate at crucial moments.
Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the sad demise of renowned religious scholar. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister conveyed his sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul.
Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (A) termed his death as an irreparable loss and said that his role in the renaissance of Darul Uloom is highly valuable. Najeeb Jung, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) said Maulana Marghoob’s death is an irreparable loss. He took over the charge of Darul Uloom at a very critical moment. Masjid Rahseed, which is a masterpiece of Islamic art, was constructed in his period.
Darul Uloom made considerable progress in contemporary education. I find madrasa students very promising, the VC said, adding that if little attention is paid to them they can compete other students.
During a condolence meeting held at JMI, Prof. Shafiq Ahmad Khan Nadwi, former Head, Department of Arabic, JMI shared his personal experience with the participants which he had of the Maulana during a journey with him that Maulana Marghoob was a true successor of the old generation of ulama in piety. He was very balanced.
President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (M) and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Maulana Mahmood Madani termed his death a personal loss and a great milli loss too. The void left with his demise, would be hard to fill, Madani said. Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri, Emir, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind called his death a huge loss to Ummah. Delhi MLA Asif Mohammad Khan extended his sympathies to the family of Maulana Marghoob and said that he was very closely associated with various organisations and had devoted his life to the service of the nation, Muslims and Islam.
Darul Uloom’s deputy director, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, who worked with Maulana Marghoobur Rahman for long, hailed his sernior’s services. Darul Uloom witnessed huge success during his tenure, Madrasi said. Speaking about his selfless service to the seminary, he said that Maulana Marghoob would himself pay the rent and electricity bill of the room in which he lived.
Akhilesh Yadav, Member of Parliament and son Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, visited Darul Uloom on 14 November to pay tributes to Maulana Marghoobur Rahman. Yadav termed his death as a great loss to Darul Uloom. He also mentioned that the late Maulana had very good terms with his father who used to call him to seek his blessings.
Dr Manzoor Alam, General Secretary of All India Milli Council said that heading Darul Uloom for thirty years is a memorable work. He mentioned the circumstances in which he took over the charge of Darul Uloom. It was his unique quality to divert the unfavourable circumstances to academics. The construction work and the global recognition that Deoband got during his period was the result of his administrative capabilities and farsightedness.
Maulana Salim Qasmi, rector Darul Uloom Waqf, Deoband, Syed Shahabuddin, former IFS officer and president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Maulana Asgar Ali Imam Mehdi of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Maulana Habibur Rahman Thani Ludhianwi, Shahi Imam of Punjab, Darul Uloom Deoband Old Boys Association (Delhi) and various other organisations and prominent figure held prayer meetings and paid rich tributes to Maulana Marghoobur Rahman. Member of Parliament and president of AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front), - earlier Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) - Maulana Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi convened a special condolence meeting at his Parliamentary residence in New Delhi.
Born in 1914 in a respectable learned family of Bijnor, he received early education at Madrasa Rahimia and then went to Darul Uloom Deoband in 1929 to get further education and studied there under the guidance of Shaikhul Islam Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani (1879-1957) and other great ulama of that period. He also got Ifta degree and was himself a good Aalim and a Mufti. But instead of adopting teaching he preferred the administrative work.
In 1962 Maulana Margoobur Rahman was appointed Member of Majlis-e-Shura (The Consultative Body) of Darul Uloom Deoband. His father Maulana Mashitullah Bijnori was also a member of Majlis-e-Shura. In 1981 when the then rector Qari Muhammad Tayyib needed an assistant, all eyes fell on Maulana Marghoob. Following the tumultuous phase of 1982, he became the full-fledged rector of the seminary and held the post till his demise.
It is pertinent to mention here that Darul Uloom Deoband has lost three great personalities in 2010. Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Naseer Ahmad Khan (b. 1918) died in February, while working rector Maulana Ghulam Rasool Khamosh (b. 1940) passed away in October and now Maulana Marghoobur Rahman is no more. The passing away of these three great scholars and teachers within a year is a major loss for the seminary.
Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani of Benaras has been temporarily appointed rector of Darul Uloom to serve till 10 January 2010. By then the Consultative Body will decide who the next successor of Maulana Marghoob would be. The onus lies with the Consultative Body, the highest Executive Body of Darul Uloom to find a right person to head the renowned religious seminary of Asia. In the eyes of many, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, the deputy rector of Darul Uloom, is the most suitable person to succeed the late Maulana Marghoobur Rahman.
Amidst rumours and conspiracy theories, it would be too early to say if there would arise no problem in getting a deserving person the rectoral throne of Darul Uloom to manage the affairs of one of Asia’s oldest religious institutions which has a glorious past and has produced some of the finest scholars of Islamic disciplines.
(The writer is a freelance journalist and postgraduate student at the Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia. He was also educated at Darul Uloom Deoband. He can be reached at manzarkhalil@gmail.com)
He took over the rectorship following the unfortunate turn of events that led to the ouster of Qari Muhammad Tayyib (1897-1983) in 1982. The conditions could have worsened further but Maulana Marghoobur Rahman’s farsightedness and sincerity towards the institution made things only better. His tenure saw the landmark fatwa against terror in February 2008 calling terror attacks on innocents, against the tenets of Islam.
Maulana Marghoobur Rahman remained rector of Darul Uloom for 30 years, the second longest period after Qari Mohammad Tayyib. In all, he served Darul Uloom for 35 years. His strength lay in his patience, perseverance and commitment. He avoided controversies and tried to amend the fractured relationships that had earlier bruised the very notion behind the establishment of Darul Uloom, which is seen not only as a great institute of Islamic discipleins, but also as a Renaissance of Indian Muslims following the 1857 freedom struggle in India.
Maulana Marghoob managed to keep Darul Uloom free from political factionalism of any sort. Darul Uloom grew in strength and number of students, the administration ran smooth and the academic atmosphere became conducive for learning.
Ulama, intellectuals, politicians and prominent persons from diverse walks of life expressed their sorrow over the demise of Maulana Marghoob. The services rendered for thirty years as rector of Darul Uloom can never be forgotten, K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha said. Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and president of All India Talimi Wa Milli Foundation expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Maualan Marghoobur Rahman and called it a huge loss to the nation and to Deoband fraternity.
Former general secretary of Samajwadi Party and head of Lok Manch, Amar Singh described him as a man of great piety, grace and humility. His demise is a great loss to the nation. Maulana Marghoobur Rahman was seen with trust not only by Muslims but also by non-Muslims, Singh said. Maulana Mohammad Ajaz Urfi, president of All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Haq called his rectoral tenure the Golden Period.
Maulana Marghoobur Rahman witnessed the formation of a breakaway faction from the Darul Uloom in 1982, but was able to stabilise the institution. Darul Uloom (Waqf) Deoband, the parallel faction that was set up after the ouster of Qari Muhammad Tayyib, declared a day off as a mark of respect. In more recent times, when one of the largest Muslim organisation, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, got divided between two groups, he was able to keep the balance between both sides and mediate at crucial moments.
Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the sad demise of renowned religious scholar. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister conveyed his sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul.
Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (A) termed his death as an irreparable loss and said that his role in the renaissance of Darul Uloom is highly valuable. Najeeb Jung, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) said Maulana Marghoob’s death is an irreparable loss. He took over the charge of Darul Uloom at a very critical moment. Masjid Rahseed, which is a masterpiece of Islamic art, was constructed in his period.
Darul Uloom made considerable progress in contemporary education. I find madrasa students very promising, the VC said, adding that if little attention is paid to them they can compete other students.
During a condolence meeting held at JMI, Prof. Shafiq Ahmad Khan Nadwi, former Head, Department of Arabic, JMI shared his personal experience with the participants which he had of the Maulana during a journey with him that Maulana Marghoob was a true successor of the old generation of ulama in piety. He was very balanced.
President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (M) and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Maulana Mahmood Madani termed his death a personal loss and a great milli loss too. The void left with his demise, would be hard to fill, Madani said. Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri, Emir, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind called his death a huge loss to Ummah. Delhi MLA Asif Mohammad Khan extended his sympathies to the family of Maulana Marghoob and said that he was very closely associated with various organisations and had devoted his life to the service of the nation, Muslims and Islam.
Darul Uloom’s deputy director, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, who worked with Maulana Marghoobur Rahman for long, hailed his sernior’s services. Darul Uloom witnessed huge success during his tenure, Madrasi said. Speaking about his selfless service to the seminary, he said that Maulana Marghoob would himself pay the rent and electricity bill of the room in which he lived.
Akhilesh Yadav, Member of Parliament and son Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, visited Darul Uloom on 14 November to pay tributes to Maulana Marghoobur Rahman. Yadav termed his death as a great loss to Darul Uloom. He also mentioned that the late Maulana had very good terms with his father who used to call him to seek his blessings.
Dr Manzoor Alam, General Secretary of All India Milli Council said that heading Darul Uloom for thirty years is a memorable work. He mentioned the circumstances in which he took over the charge of Darul Uloom. It was his unique quality to divert the unfavourable circumstances to academics. The construction work and the global recognition that Deoband got during his period was the result of his administrative capabilities and farsightedness.
Maulana Salim Qasmi, rector Darul Uloom Waqf, Deoband, Syed Shahabuddin, former IFS officer and president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Maulana Asgar Ali Imam Mehdi of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Maulana Habibur Rahman Thani Ludhianwi, Shahi Imam of Punjab, Darul Uloom Deoband Old Boys Association (Delhi) and various other organisations and prominent figure held prayer meetings and paid rich tributes to Maulana Marghoobur Rahman. Member of Parliament and president of AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front), - earlier Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) - Maulana Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi convened a special condolence meeting at his Parliamentary residence in New Delhi.
Born in 1914 in a respectable learned family of Bijnor, he received early education at Madrasa Rahimia and then went to Darul Uloom Deoband in 1929 to get further education and studied there under the guidance of Shaikhul Islam Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani (1879-1957) and other great ulama of that period. He also got Ifta degree and was himself a good Aalim and a Mufti. But instead of adopting teaching he preferred the administrative work.
In 1962 Maulana Margoobur Rahman was appointed Member of Majlis-e-Shura (The Consultative Body) of Darul Uloom Deoband. His father Maulana Mashitullah Bijnori was also a member of Majlis-e-Shura. In 1981 when the then rector Qari Muhammad Tayyib needed an assistant, all eyes fell on Maulana Marghoob. Following the tumultuous phase of 1982, he became the full-fledged rector of the seminary and held the post till his demise.
It is pertinent to mention here that Darul Uloom Deoband has lost three great personalities in 2010. Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Naseer Ahmad Khan (b. 1918) died in February, while working rector Maulana Ghulam Rasool Khamosh (b. 1940) passed away in October and now Maulana Marghoobur Rahman is no more. The passing away of these three great scholars and teachers within a year is a major loss for the seminary.
Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani of Benaras has been temporarily appointed rector of Darul Uloom to serve till 10 January 2010. By then the Consultative Body will decide who the next successor of Maulana Marghoob would be. The onus lies with the Consultative Body, the highest Executive Body of Darul Uloom to find a right person to head the renowned religious seminary of Asia. In the eyes of many, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, the deputy rector of Darul Uloom, is the most suitable person to succeed the late Maulana Marghoobur Rahman.
Amidst rumours and conspiracy theories, it would be too early to say if there would arise no problem in getting a deserving person the rectoral throne of Darul Uloom to manage the affairs of one of Asia’s oldest religious institutions which has a glorious past and has produced some of the finest scholars of Islamic disciplines.
(The writer is a freelance journalist and postgraduate student at the Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia. He was also educated at Darul Uloom Deoband. He can be reached at manzarkhalil@gmail.com)
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