Saheb Qiblah Fultali | |
---|---|
আব্দুল লতিফ চৌধুরী | |
Born | Muhammad Abdul Latif Chowdhury 25 May 1913 |
Died | 16 January 2008 |
Nationality | Bangladeshi |
Other names | Saheb Qiblah Fultali, Raisul Qurra, Ustad Muhaddisin, Shamsul Ulama, Mujahidul Bulbul |
Alma mater | Fultali Alia Madrasah Badarpur Senior Madrashah Madrasha e Alia Rampur Matlaul Ulum Madrashah |
Years active | 1940–2008 |
Children | 7 sons |
Parent | Abdul Majid Chowdhury (father) |
Relatives | Abu Yusuf Shah Muhammad Ya'qub Badarpuri (father-in-law) |
Abdul Latif Chowdhury (Bengali: আব্দুল লতিফ চৌধুরী; 25 May 1913 – 16 January 2008), widely known as Saheb Qiblah Fultali, was a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar of theology, philosophy, murshid, spiritual esotericist, and spiritual leader.
Abdul Latif Chowdhury Saheb Qiblah Fultali was born in the village of Fultali, Zakiganj, Sylhet Division, Bengal Presidency (now Bangladesh), British India.[1][2]
Fultali was based upon the Jainpuri silsilah and a descendant of the renowned sage Shah Ala Baksh who is the descendant of Shah Kamal a famous companion of Shah Jalal. His family lineage is; Abdul Latif Chowdhury son of Abdul Majid Chowdhury son of Shah Muhammad Hiron son of Shah Muhammad Danish son of Shah Muhammad Sadeq son of Shah Muhammad Elahi Baksh son of Shah Muhammad Ala Baksh.[1][3]
Fultali received his basic education from his own family, he was taught by his cousin, Fatir Ali, while studying at primary school. He was then admitted to Fultali Alia Madrasah, where he studied qirat and tajweed. 1336 AH, Fultali enrolled in Rangauti Madrasah and studied there successfully finishing higher secondary education.[4]
1338 AH, he enrolled into Badarpur Senior Madrasah. For higher education he studied Fanunnat at Rampur Alia Madrasah in India and completed various Islamic sciences. He then enrolled into Matlaul Ulum Madrasah to specialise in Hadith. He studied there for a few years and obtained first class, first position in the final Hadith exam in 1355 AH. He also attained degrees in Tafsir and Fiqh.[4][5]
In 1355 AH, studied and obtained ijazah for Hadith after achieving outstanding results in the faculty of Hadith, he obtained first class honours. He also acquired masters in |Ilm-e-Tafsir and Ilm-e-Fiqh.[4]
In 1940, Fultali founded the Darul Qirat Majidiah Trust and institutionalized his effort to teach the perfect recitation of the Quran. Now there are more than a thousand branches of the trust throughout the world engaged in educating people in the field of Tajweed.[3][6]
From 1946 to 1950, Fultali taught at Badarpur Alia Madrasa. From 1951 to 1956, he taught at Gachbari muhaddisa madrassa, where he was later vice principal and then principal.[5]
In 1978, Fultali established Madrasah-e-Darul Qirat Majidiah UK, which has since vastly expanded (now known as Darul Hadis Latifiah) in London. He was a founder of numerous organisations related to religion, culture and education and a patron to a number of humanitarian and charitable organisations.[3][6][7]
On Thursday 16 January 2008 at 2:10 am, Fultali died in his home town of Sylhet due to natural causes. His janazah (Islamic funeral) took place the day after his death following Asr Salah (prayer) and reports estimate that between 2 and 2.5 million attended his janazah.[2][8][9][10]
An urs is held on the anniversary of Fultali's death every year at Brick Lane Mosque.[7]