The British first landed in India (Bengal region) in the early part of the seventeenth century under the banner and shade of the East India Company . They set up some bases on coastal towns with permission from the Mughal Emperor Jahangir to establish trade ties. This was followed by establishement of an army leading to total control of India by the mid-nineteenth century. Muslims especially under the leadership of Syed Ahmad Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed tried to restore Islamic Khilafah but were martyred in Baala Kot near Mansehrah in 1831 fighting the Sikhs who ruled the entire province of Punjab under Ranjeet Singh. Then in 1857, muslims united again under Haji Imdaadullah Muhaajir Makki as the Amir , Molana Qasim Nanotvi as the general and Molana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi as the Qadhi. They started their jihad from Thana Bhawan and after a few initial victories against British troops suffered a decisive defeat at Shaamli. Warrants were issued for the capture of all three and anybody who might have been associated with this struggle. Muslim historians refer to this as the struggle of 1857 for independence while western historians refer to it as rebellion of 1857. Haji Imdaadullah r.h decided to escape and migrate to Makkah. Molana Qasim Nanotvi and Molana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi also wanted to join their Sheikh but he told them to stay back in India saying , Allah was going to take special work from them which will secure and ensure a safe and better future for muslims of India. Haji sahb managed to escape to Makkah , Molana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi was initially arrested , he was going to be killed but was subsequently released by the British authorities who wanted to be seen to promote better relations. Molana Qasim sahib was able to avoid being captured and managed to escape to Hajj in 1860. He then returned and on the 15th Muharram 1866, after many discussions with his friends and colleagues established a madrassah in Deoband starting with one student, Mahmood Hasan(Part 2) And one teacher Mullah Mahmood under a pomegranat e tree in the forecourt of Chatta wali masjid. Their vision was to secure the iman, deen of the future generations and lead them to independence one day with the help of Allah. That noble student later went on to become Shaikhul Hind, whose students were the likes of , Molana Ashraf Ali Thanvi , Molana Hussain Ahmad Madni, Mufti Kifayatullah , Molana Shabbir Ahmad Usmaani, Molana Anwar Shah Kashmiri , Molana Ilyas Kandhelvi and many others who in turn were inspirations for many thousands. Shaikhul Hind r.h passed away in 1920 , but his students carried on the vision and dream of the founders of Darul uloom. They were the soul of the struggle which eventually led to the independence of India, formation of Pakistan and the British leaving the subcontinent. Today hundreds of millions of people are enjoying the fruits of that blessed tree planted on the 15th Muharram 1866 in the forecourt of Chatta wali Masjid in Deoband. The Darul Ulooms and Madressahs around the world we see today are the children of this great institute.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 09:29:20 +0000
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