Haji Muhammad Abdul Wahhab (Urdu: حاجی راو محمد عبد الوہاب, Ḥājī Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Wahhāb (1 January 1923 – 18 November 2018[2]) was an Islamic preacher and the emir of Tablighi Jamaat in Pakistan.
Muhammad Abdul Wahhab حاجی محمد عبد الوہاب | |
|---|---|
| Amir of Tablighi Jamaat in Pakistan | |
| In office 1992 – 18 November 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Haseeb Nazar |
| Succeeded by | Maulana Nazar-ur-Rehman |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1 January 1923[1] |
| Died | 18 November 2018 (aged 95)[2] Lahore, Pakistan |
| Nationality | British Indian (until 1947) Pakistani (from 1947) |
| Main interest(s) | Dawah |
| Alma mater | Islamia College |
| Occupation | Islamic preacher |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Movement | Tablighi Jamaat |
| Muslim leader | |
Early life and education
editMuhammad Abdul Wahhab was born in Delhi, British India, in 1923 into a Rajput family originally from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.[3]
The family moved to Lahore following the 1947 partition, where he graduated from the Islamia College and became a government employee.[3]
After graduation he worked as a tehsildar in pre-partition India. In his youth he also worked for Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam,[4] and was influenced by Abdul Qadir Raipuri (1878–1962).[4] He was the president of Majlis-e-Ahrar Burewala.[citation needed]
Career
editTabligh Jamaat
editAbdul Wahhab joined the Tabligh Jamaat during the life of its founder, Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi. He arrived at Nizamuddin markaz on 1 January 1944. He got the sohbah of Maulana Ilyas for six months.[dubious – discuss][citation needed] He left his job to devote his time and effort to the Jamaat, and he was one of the first five people in Pakistan who offered their entire life for doing Tabligh work.[4] He was a direct companion of Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi, Yusuf Kandhlawi, and Inamul Hasan Kandhlawi.[citation needed]
Muhammad Shafi Quraishi (1903–1971) was the first regular amir of the Tablighi Jamaat in Pakistan; he was succeeded by Haji Muhammad Bashir (1919–1992). Abdul Wahhab succeeded Bashir as the third regular amir for Pakistan.[4] He was based at Raiwind Markaz, the movement's headquarters in the country, where he headed a shura (council). He was also a member of the movement's alami shura (world council) based in Nizamuddin, Delhi, India.[5]
He was also related with the Qadiriyah Sufi order through his mentor, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Raipuri.[6]
Negotiations with Pakistani Taliban
editIn October 2013 it was reported that the name of Haji Abdul Wahhab was suggested to head a Loya Jirga in preparation for peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.[7] In February 2014 it was reported that during consultations with a committee, TTP commanders of different factions recommended that the names of Haji Abdul Wahhab, Maulana Sami'ul Haq, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, and other leaders be added in the government peace committee.[8][9]
Reception
editAs of the 2014/2015 issue, he was ranked #10 in The Muslim 500, a list of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world, due to his leadership of the Tablighi Jamaat.[10]
Death and funeral
editHaji Abdul Wahab died on 18 November 2018 . He was buried in a graveyard adjacent to Tableeghi Markaz (Headquarter) at Raiwind the same day.[11][12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Amir Hajji Muhammad Abd Al Wahhab India". The Muslim 500. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Tableeghi Jamaat Ameer Haji Abdul Wahab passes away". thenews.pk. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ a b Shah, Syed Talha (23 November 2018). "Remembering Haji Abdul Wahhab". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hafiz Safwan Muhammad. An Introduction to the Personalities. In Muhammad Manzur Nu'mani (2001) [Urdu book first published 1949]. Words and Reflections of Maulana Muhammad Ilyas. Translated by Hafiz Safwan Muhammad from Malfuzat-i Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyas.
- ^ Asim, Mahmood (21 March 2014). "Demise of Tablighi Jamaat Ameer spread sadness among Muslims". TwoCircles.net.
- ^ Shah, Syed Talha (23 November 2018). "Remembering Haji Abdul Wahhab". Daily Times. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ Shabab, Rehmat Ullah (27 October 2013). "حکومت کا طالبان سے مذاکرات کی تیاری ، تجاویز کیلئے لویہ جرگہ بلانے کا فیصلہ، لویہ جرگہ کی صدارت کیلئے تبلیغی مبلغ حاجی عبدالوہاب کا نام تجویز". Urdu Point (in Urdu).
- ^ "Third session of Taliban committee: consultations among TTP factions underway". Dunya News. 1 February 2014.
- ^ Shabab, Rehmat Ullah (1 February 2014). "کالعدم تحریک طالبان کے تین رکنی مشاورتی کمیٹی کے اجلاسوں کا سلسلہ اج تیسرے روز بھی جاری رہا". BBC Urdu (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Amir Hajji Muhammad Abd Al Wahhab". The Muslim 500. Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. 27 May 2018.
- ^ "Tableeghi Jamaat Ameer Haji Abdul Wahab laid to rest in Raiwind". Geo News. 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Tableeghi Jamaat Ameer Haji Abdul Wahab laid to rest". The News. 18 November 2018.