Hasnain Baqai

Hasnain Baqai
شاہ سید حسنین بقائ
Hasnain Baqai, March 2016
Religion	Islam
School	Sufi
Lineage	Syed
Other names	Shah Saheb
Personal
Nationality	Indian
Born	Safipur
Senior posting
Title	Khatibul Hind
Religious career
Initiation	Khanqah Aliyah Baqaiyah
Profession	Islamic scholar
Present post	Nayeb Sajjada Nasheen
Website	www.hasnainbaqai.blogspot.com

Hasnain Baqai (Urdu: شاہ سید حسنین بقائی‎), also known as Shah Saheb, is an Islamic scholar and reformer.^[1] He is the patron and parts of various social, academic and other developmental activities of Sufi Sunni Muslims in India.^{[2] [3][4]} He is the President of the All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB U.P), which is a Sufi movement in India.^[5][6][7] One source describes him as having an inclusive and broadminded interpretation of Islam.^[8]

Family Background

Baqai comes from a family of Sufis known as "Khandaan-e-Baqaiyah". He traces his lineage from Syed Baqaullah Shah, the founder of Silsila Baqaiyah. His ancestors came from Iran. He is the son of Maqdoom e Millat Shah Syed Waliullah Baqai.^[9][10]

Positions and activities

He has held the following positions:

• Executive Member of the All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board^[11]
• Shia-Sunni Ekta Adhiveshan, a sectarian unity movement in Lucknow.^[12][13]
• Nayeb Sajjada Nasheen Khanqah Baqaiyah Safipur Sharif ^{[14] [15]}
• Founder of the Sufi organisation "Sangh Ekta Dal"^[16]

Opinions

Divorce

Baqai addressing the media

Baqai disagrees with the notion of a "triple talaq" divorce. He believes that saying "talaq" three consecutive times in public does not amount to divorce. He said in an interview: "in the Shariat, uttering 'talaq' thrice at one go does not amount to divorce, and some maulanas are kicking up controversy to keep their domination in the community." He supported the central government's rendition of an opinion against the legality of 'triple talaq' divorce for Muslim women, during the proceedings of the Supreme Court. ^{[17] [18] [19]}

Execution of Nimr al-Nimr & Faris Zarani

Baqai addressing a crowd in Lucknow

In an interview condemning the execution of Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, Baqai said: "One Shia and [one] Sunni cleric were hanged just because they were raising voices for minorities’ rights and against the sheltering of terrorism by Saudi Arabia."^[22][23]

References

External links

• Hasnain Baqai on Facebook