Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi

Allama Fazl-e-Haq
Allama Fazl-e-Haq
Born	1796; Khairabad, Awadh ; (Present day: Khairabad, Sitapur District, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died	August 20, 1861 (aged 64); Andaman Islands, British India ; (Present day: Andaman Islands, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India)
Occupation	poet

Fazl-e-Haq (1796 – 20 August 1861) was one of the main poets of the Indian Muslim Freedom fighters of 1857. He was a philosopher, an author, a poet, a religious scholar, but is most remembered for issuing a fatwa of armed fighting in favor of Jihad against the British empire in 1857.[1][2]

Life

Fazl-e-Haq was born into a family of Indian Muslims. (His birth year is given as 1796 by the Indian History Congress, but as 1797 by different sources.)[3] His father was sadr-ul-sadur, the chief advisor to the Mughals regarding religious matters. He became a teacher by age 13. In 1828, he was appointed to the position of Mufti in the Department of Qaza.[3]

Shortly after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 failed, he was covered by an amnesty and was arrested by the British authorities on 30 January 1859 at Khairabad for inciting violence.[4] He was tried and found guilty of encouraging murder and role in the 'Jihad'.[4] He had chosen to be his own counsel and defended himself. His arguments and the way he defended his case was so convincing that the presiding magistrate was writing a judgement to exonerate him, when he confessed to giving the fatwa, declaring that he could not lie. He was sentenced for life to the prison at Kalapani (Cellular Jail) on Andaman Island , and his property was confiscated by the Judicial Commissioner, Awadh Court. He reached Andaman on 8 October 1859 aboard the Steam Frigate "Fire Queen". He would remain imprisoned there until his death in 1861.

Besides being a scholar of Islamic studies and theology, he was also a literary persona, especially of Urdu, Arabic and Persian literature. More than 4,00 couplets in Arabic are attributed to him. He edited the first diwan of Mirza Ghalib on his request.

He had a phenomenal memory and memorized the Qur'an in a little over 4 months. He has also completed the curriculum in Arabic, Persian and religious studies by the age of thirteen.

On account of his deep knowledge and erudition he was called Allama and later was venerated as a great Sufi. He was also bestowed with the title Imam hikmat and Kalaam (The imam of logic, philosophy and literature). He was considered the final authority on issuing fatwas or religious rulings.[5]

He possessed a great presence of mind and was very witty. There are many stories about his repartee with Mirza Ghalib and other contemporary eminent poets, writers and intellectuals. He and his son Abdul al-Haq Khairabadi established Madrasa Khairabad in northern India, where many scholars got educated. He wrote Risala-e-Sauratul Hindia in Arabic language, and wrote an account of the Rebellion called As-Saurat al Hindiya.[6][3]

Fatawas against Deobandi theories

Khairabadi issued fatwas against the Wahabi-Deobandi doctrine of God's alleged ability to lie (Imkan-e-Kizb). Darul Uloom Deoband, founder Rashid Ahmad Gangohi stated that God has the ability to lie.[7] This doctrine is called Imkan-i Kizb.[8][7] According to this doctrine, because God is omnipotent, God is capable of lying.[8]Gangohi supported the doctrine that God has the ability to make additional prophets after Muhammad (Imkan-i Nazir) and other prophets equal to Muhammad.[8][7].

Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi refuted these theories and wrote that according to the Qur’an and Hadith, the prophet Muhammad is the final prophet, and there can be no other prophet or "messenger" after him. To believe that there can be another Muhammad would necessitate that Allah did something apart from what He has stated in the Qur’an, that is, that Allah has lied. Lying is a flaw and it is impossible for Allah to have a flaw.[1][2] This reflects his deep insight to the political, social and religious environment which was emerging with the growing influence of Englishmen and at last capture of Delhi by them.

Fatwa of Jihad

Khairabadi issued Fatawa of Jihad against Brtish government. He writes:

The English prepared a scheme to Christianize all the Indian inhabitants. It was their belief that the Indians would not be able to find any helper and cooperator, and therefore save submit and obey, they would not have the nerve to defy them. The English had thoroughly realized that the ruler’s variance from the ruled on the basis of religion would be a great stumbling block in the way of domination and possession. Hence they began to indulge in all sorts of wiles and chicanery with complete diligence and assiduity, in their willful attempt to obliterate religion and the sense of nationhood. To teach small children and the ignorant and to inculcate their language and religion, they established schools in towns and villages and made an all out effort to wipe out the old sciences and academic attainments.

[9]

Personal life

He was Farooqui. One of his sons, Abdul Haque, was also a leading and respected scholar and was given the title of Shamsul Ulema. His grandson is Muztar Khairabadi. Jan Nisar Akhtar is his great-grandson.

Death

Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi died on 20 August 1861 while being in exile at Andaman Islands.

References

Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi. Tahqeeq al-Fatwa fi Ibtal al-Taghwa.
Vivek Iyer (2012). Ghalib, Gandhi and the Gita. Polyglot Publications London. pp. 43–. ISBN 978-0-9550628-3-4.
HUSAIN, IQBAL (1987). "Fazle Haq of Khairabad—A Scholarly Rebel of 1857". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 48: 355–365. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44141709.
Anderson, C (2007) The Indian Uprising of 1857–8: prisons, prisoners, and 'Jihad', Anthem Press, London P17
Anil Sehgal (2001). Ali Sardar Jafri. Bharatiya Jnanpith. pp. 213–. ISBN 978-81-263-0671-8.
Syed Sharief Khundmiri (September 2013). MUQADDAMA-E-SIRAJUL ABSAR. Trafford Publishing. pp. 64–. ISBN 978-1-4669-8688-6.
Ingram, Brannon D., Suﬁs, Scholars and Scapegoats: Rashid Ahmad Gangohi(d. 1905) and the Deobandi Critique of Suﬁsm, Blackwell Publishing, p. 484
Ingram, Brannon D. (21 November 2018), Revival from Below: The Deoband Movement and Global Islam, University of California Press, pp. 7, 64, 100, 241, ISBN 9780520298002
Lion M. G. Agrawal (2008). Freedom fighters of India. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-81-8205-472-1.