Biography of Imam Ghazi Sher E Bangla Rahmatullah Alaih
Birth and Genealogy
Syed Muhammad Azizul Haque was born in 1906 (1323 Hijri) in a noble Syed family of Mekhal village under Hathazari Upazila of Chattogram district. His father's name is Syed Muhammad Abdul Hamid and mother's name is Syeda Maymuna Khatun. His grandfather's name is Syed Muhammad Hashmat Ullah. He was of Syed descent on both his parents' lines. He is a close relative of Kazi Ejabat Ullah Shah of Sultanpur Hajipara area of Raujan Upazila, Syed Aminul Haque Farhadabadi of Farhadabad area of Hathajari Upazila and Syed Hossainuzzaman of Laliarhat area.
Education life
During his childhood, Syed Muhammad Azizul Haque received his primary education from his father. Then he got admission in Hathajari Al Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Uloom Muinul Islam. Later, after passing the title, he went to India for higher education and got admission in the famous Fatehpur Aliya Madrasah in Delhi and gained mastery over various scriptures written in Arabic, Urdu and Persian languages. From the same madrasa he obtained a first class certificate in Hadith and Fiqh.
Introduction to the spread of religious education
After his return from India, Syed Muhammad Azizul Haque felt the great need for Sunni based educational institutions. For that purpose, he first established Emdadul Ulum Azizia Sunni Madrasah in his village Mekhal Fakirhat in 1932. He established this madrasa at the cost of his own money on his purchased land. Apart from this, his greatest contribution was in the establishment of Jamia Ahmadiyya Sunni Alia, one of Asia's religious educational institutions founded by Ahmad Shah. Hazrat Chirikoti (RA) established Madrasa on his personal advice. He even liked the land of this madrasa and arranged to buy it. Later he played a leading role in the establishment of various religious institutions for the financial benefit of intellectuals. Notable among them are Hathazari Aziziya Adudia Sunnia Madrasa, Raujan Fateh Nagar Adudia Madrasa, Rangunia Chandraghonasth Madrasa-e-Tayybia Adudia Sunnia and Laliarhat Hamidiya Hossainiya Madrasa.
Social and political life
Syed Muhammad Azizul Haque was the Chairman of the Mekhal Union and the President of the Food Committee for a long period of seventeen years from the time of the British period until the first Pak-India war after the partition of India and Pakistan. He was very just and patriotic. He won the Mekhal Union chairmanship election unanimously. Mufti Faizullah told his followers, "You will vote for Shere Bangla" even though there was a difference of opinion with him. When asked about asking them to vote despite their opposition, Mufti Faizullah replied that it is a different case. But at this time you will not find a faithful person who is just and righteous like him.
Shere Bangla Title Gained
It is said that Chittagong scholar Allama Abdul Hamid Fakhre Bangla (R.H.) along with Qadianis along with many scholars participated in the prayer at Andarqilla Shahi Jame Masjid in the early forties. He was given the title of Sher Bangla after defeating the Qadianis there. In addition, in 1957, when he went to Saudi Arabia to perform the holy Hajj, he accidentally had a debate with the Grand Mufti of the Saudi government, Syed Albi. The Saudi Grand Mufti was impressed by his knowledge and reasoning in the discussion meeting and awarded him the title of 'Shere Islam' aka 'Shere Bangla' in recognition of his infinite knowledge from the Saudi government. The Saudi King Ibn Saud himself received him as a special royal guest and honored him with a precious turban and wand as a gift.
Pledge of Allegiance and Caliphate
Syed Muhammad Azizul Haque took Bayat to Allama Ghazi Syed Abdul Hamid Bagdadi (R.A.) former khatib and reformer of Chittagong's traditional Andarkilla Shahi Jame Masjid. He received the Supreme Caliphate of Belayat from Shahsufi Syed Abdul Hamid Baghdadi (RA) and was anointed as Khalifae Azam or Chief Caliph.
Authored books
Notable books written by Syed Muhammad Azizul Haque include:
- Diwan-e Aziz; This book written in Urdu language was translated into Bengali by Muhammad Abdul Mannan.
- Yahud dalalat or document of prayer; The book was translated into Bengali by Syed Hasan Murad Qaderi.
- Majmu'ah-i Fatawa-i Aziziyah Sharif; The book was translated into Bengali by Muhammad Abdul Mannan.
Death
He died on 25 September 1969 (12th Rajab 1389 Hijri) at the age of 63. Allama Kazi Muhammad Nurul Islam Hashemi (1928-2020) presided unanimously at the funeral held at Hathajari College ground. After the funeral, he was buried in the heart of Hathazari. Every year on the 12th of Rajab Hathajari Durbar Sharif holds its holy annual Orsh. Various social and educational institutions have been established in his memory in different parts of the country, which are involved in religious, social and state development work.
