An ode to Molana Mushtaq Ahmad Khan Sahib Seeri (R.a)
Life is transient. Whosoever is born eventually dies. Most people after their death fade into oblivion; however, some are remembered time and again for their contribution to the nation, society, or religion. Molana Mushtaq Ahmad Khan Sahb is one among never-to-be-forgotten personages who live through their contribution.
Molana Mushtaq Ahmad Khan Sahb was born in the humble and religious Khan dynasty of Seer Hamdan (Anantnag Jammu and Kashmir) on 19th April 1952. His father Ghulam-ud-Din Khan was also a Sufi, a cleric, and a Quran tutor. His mother was a homemaker known for piousness. Khan Sahb received basic education from his father and joined the Government School Seer Hamdan for contemporary education. However, the father’s influence was noticeable in Molana since childhood. He used to participate in naat- competitions and religious seminars and even had a unique habit of cleaning the Jamia Masjid every Friday. According to elders of the locality, he would open the Friday proceedings through his naat-recital. Khan Sahb cleared Matric from Government High School Salia Aishmuqam. And based on his efficiency, was appointed as a teacher in the local seminary — Darsgah I Hamdania. He became a key member of the seminary in a short span of time and went to greater lengths for the progress of the seminary. With the assistance of other conscious and cultured personalities, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan established Hanfia Islamic Library in the seminary for the students and common masses besides reforming its education system. Along with teaching pupils, reading and researching became his passion. His quest for knowledge increased over time and went to the famous Sunni scholar and head priest of south Kashmir Fakhr-ul-Waizeen Qazi Ghulam Muhammad (R.a) for proper guidance. In the meantime, he came in association with Mufasir’I Quran Allama Syed Qasim Shah Bhukari (R.a) (President of JK Anjuman Tableegul Islam) who inspired him to continue his studies. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan Sahb then qualified Molvi-Fazil from Deoband and after that completed graduation from Kashmir University remarkably. Bukhari influenced Mushtaq Ahmed Khan so deeply that he preferred to affiliate Darsgah-i-Hanfia with Bukhari’s Hanfia Arabic College Noor Bhag Srinagar. Allama Bukhari recognized the abilities of Mushtaq Sahb and nominated him as Zonal Secretary Muslim Youth Front (ATI’s youth wing). This encouraged him to work diligently — both in gaining knowledge and imparting education. He cemented his place among credible and eloquent orators of that time and left no stone unturned to upgrade the education system of Darsgahi Hamdania. His hard work paid off and Darsgah-i-Hamdania took the form of Hanfia Islamic Educational Institute, which exists as Hanfia High School Seer Hamdan and has a three-decade-old history of producing the best students. Molana was enrolled in the main organization Anjuman Tableegul Islam and was assigned a leading role. Allama Bukhari allowed him to start his career as a religious orator. With the increase in organizational responsibilities, Khan sahib left the teaching, took the charge of School as General Secretary, and supervised it until the last. Undoubtedly Seer Hamdan’s conscious people, particularly friends, and family members supported Khan Sahb in operating and maintaining the school, but his central role makes him the Founder of the Institute. As there was no emolument, neither for supervising School nor for leading the organization, thus to make ends meet Mushtaq Sahb secured a job in the Cooperative department.
It is important to note that even before meeting Allama Qazi Sahb and Allama Bukhari Sahb, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan started a Spiritual Journey. After meeting many pious men, he found comfort in the feet of Hazrat Ali Bab (R.a) of Kandiwara (Anantnag). His pious company revolutionized Mushtaq Ahmad Khan in all aspects. After qualifying many spiritual tests, Hazrat Ali Bab ultimately bestowed him with the title of ‘Molana’. This title was a hint at the future of Mushtaq Ahmad Khan that he is Molana to-be. And it is a well-known fact that the scholarship of Khan Sahb was primarily an outcome of this ‘Faizaan-Nazar’ — grace of ascetic attention.
Under the mentorship of Allama Syed Qasim Shah Bukhari and Allama Qazi Ghulam Muhammad and the spiritual guidance of Ali Bab, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan achieved what was unimaginable for him. He became ‘Molana’ in the real sense and rose to prominence for his scholarship, eloquence, and unique art of blending Rumi’s masnawi, Iqbaliyat, and Kashmiri Sufi poetry with the Quran and Hadees. He began to attract people from the nook and corner of the valley. Not only Sunnis but also people from every Islamic school of thought would listen to him. Although he represented Ahle-Sunnat and preached according to the beliefs of Ahle-Sunnat, he was successful in getting applause from all other sects. He became so engaged in religious activities that he had to resign from his job and devoted his whole time to preaching Islam. In 2004, unknown gunmen attacked Molana to hinder his movement and silence him. He received few bullets but survived miraculously. While lying in a hospital bed, he told his students, followers, and organizational associates, ‘now we will move forward with more power and with more passion. Following that valley saw Molana Mushtaq Ahmad Khan emerging as the most prominent and powerful voice of Ahle-Sunnat. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan laid a network of religious seminaries and English Medium schools across the valley. The main motive was to educate children, enlighten them, and empower them. Establishing these institutes was based on a vision to provide youth a choice of becoming religious experts/scholars or of acquiring contemporary education — because he believed both are essential to society. In these Institutes, high-quality religious and modern scientific education is imparted (at low cost in English Medium schools and free in religious seminaries) even today. One among the great works of Molana Mushtaq Ahmad Khan is the establishment of “Darul-Uloom’’ for girls — namely Darul-Uloom Khadijat-al Kubra Lil Banaat at Shopian. He is the first Sunni Scholar of Kashmir to have taken such a courageous initiative of illuminating girls with advanced religious education. Hundreds of girls have so far learned there and presently hundreds are learning.
In 2005, Molana Mushtaq Ahmad Khan reached out to ‘Ahmadis of district Kulgam’ and in his first effort achieved the milestone of reverting most of them to Islam. After this historical event, he came to be known as Khateeb-i-Millat.
Love of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the characteristic feature of Molana Mushtaq Ahmad Khan. Whosoever met him admitted and realized that his love for Prophet Muhammad was deep-rooted. In 2006, he gave voice to this love through his anthology — ‘Aatash Kudah Ishq’. It contains naatia-poetry and is without any exaggeration one of the best compilations of present times. That is why at every place in the valley, in every mosque, and every religious congregation, his naats are being recited, appreciated, and admired. Even in the holy places of Mecca and Madina, Kashmiri Muslims like to express their love through Molana Mushtaq Ahmad Khan’s poetry.
On 19 February 2019, he left for his heavenly abode after a prolonged illness. His funeral procession was the biggest in the history of Seer Hamdan, which certified his credibility as an illustrious Scholar, leader, educationist, and poet of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Writer:- Zeeshan Rasool Khan, a student, and columnist hails from Seer Hamdan and can be mailed @ mohdzeeshan605@gmail.com
