Kufr Fatwa From Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanvi

Fatwa of Kufr upon Mawlana Shibli Nomani by Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanvee

Mawlana Abdul Majid Daryabadi was a student and Khalifah of Mawlana Ahsraf Ali thanvee. He wrote a famous book” Hakimul Ummah”. In this book he mentions one letter which he received from Mawlana Amin Ahmed Islahi, who was incharge of ‘madarsatul Islah’, a madarsa in Azamgarh ( a town in India). This madarsa was started and managed by Mawlana Shibli Nomani and Mawlana Hamiduddeen farahi.

Here is the translation of the letter sent by Mawlana Amin Ahmed Islahi to Mawlana Abdul Majid Daryabadi.

Translation
“The Fatwa of Mawlana ( Ashraf ali ) Thanvee has been published that Mawlana Shibli nomani and Mawlana Hamiduddeen farahi are kafir and since madarsatul Islah is run and managed by these two ,hence madarsatul Islah is a madarsa of Kufr and Zindika. All those scholars who will promote this madarsa and participate in the functions of this madarsa they all will be out of deen. ( Mulhid and baydeen)”

( Hakimul Ummat, page 475).

After receiving this letter, Mawlana Abdul Majid Daryabadi wrote a letter to his teacher and guide Mawlana Ashraf ali thanvee , that how can these two scholars (shibli nomani and Hamiduddeen farahi) be kafir when they are so punctual in Tahjjud salah,their zuhud and taqwa( piety) is so well known?

This is the reply Mawlana Ashraf Ali thanvee . This reply has also been quoted by Mawlana Abdul Majid Daryabadi in his book” Hakimul Ummah”.

Translation
“ All these are deeds . Aqidah is different from all these things. It is possible that bad deeds can be present with good aqidah (belief) and good deeds can be present with bad aqidah”

( Hakimul Ummat ,page 476)

The Urdu wording says
“ yeh sab amaal wa ahwaal hai. Aqaeed unsay judagana cheez hai. Sehat aqaaed ke saath fasaade amaal wa ahwaal aur fasade aqaeed ke saath sehate amaal wa ahwaal jama ho sakta hai”.

This is something for the deobandis to think and ponder. Was Mawlana Ashraf ali thanvee correct in issuing this fatwa of kufr against Mawlana Shibli and Mawlana Hamiduddeen? And his argument that ‘deeds does not matter , it is the aqidah which matters”.

If his argument was correct , then please decide what is the ruling on those people who have this aqidah of not calling kufr as kufr?

The analysis of this fatwa and similar rulings with regard to corrupt aqidah is upon people to think and decide.