Saeed Ahmad Sandwipi

Saeed Ahmad Sandwipi was born in 1882 in Kalapania village, Sandwip, in present-day Bangladesh.{{Cite book |last=Hasan |first=Shah Ahmad |author-link=Shah Ahmad Hasan |title=Mashayekh-e Chatgam |date=2016 |publisher=Ahmod Prokashon |isbn=978-984-92106-4-1 |editor-last=Ahmadullah |editor-first=Hafez |editor-link=Hafez Ahmadullah |edition=3rd |location=Patiya |pages=158 |language=bn}} His father, Munshi Nur Bang, was a religious scholar, and the family traced its origins to migrants from Kabul, bearing the surname Akhund. Saeed Ahmad completed his early education in the Quran and basic Islamic studies under his father's guidance. During this time, a scholar from Sandwip named Waziullah Sandwipi, who was studying at Darul Uloom Deoband in India, visited the area and gave public lectures. Impressed by Waziullah's influence, Nur Bang sent Saeed Ahmad to Darul Uloom Deoband in 1893 to pursue further religious studies.

At Darul Uloom Deoband, Saeed Ahmad became a student of Mahmud Hasan Deobandi and completed the Dawra-e-Hadith curriculum in 1904.{{Cite book |last=Ahsan |first=Sayed |url=https://www.boibazar.com/book/bangladeshe-hadis-chorcha-utpotti-o-krombikash |title=Origin and development of Hadith practice in Bangladesh |publisher=Adorn Publications |year=2006 |isbn=9842000184 |location=Segunbagicha, Dhaka |pages=258 |language=bn |archive-date=3 June 2021 |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603183411/https://www.boibazar.com/book/bangladeshe-hadis-chorcha-utpotti-o-krombikash |url-status=live }} While studying, he initially pledged spiritual allegiance (bay'ah) to Rashid Ahmad Gangohi and, following Gangohi's death, renewed it with Mahmud Hasan Deobandi, from whom he also received khilafah (spiritual succession) and ijazah (authorization).{{Cite book |url=https://www.boibazar.com/book/sufisadok-o-olama-mashayekh |title=Sufi Saints and Islamic Scholars of the Indian Subcontinent |publisher=Mina Book House |year=2017 |isbn=978-984-91154-6-5 |editor-last=Ansari |editor-first=Azizul Haque |location=Bangla Bazar |pages=103 |language=bn}} Mahmud Hasan later instructed him to return to Bengal and continue his spiritual training under Zamiruddin Ahmad, a disciple of Rashid Ahmad Gangohi.{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Amirul |url=https://www.rokomari.com/book/110213/sonar-bangla-hirar-khoni-45-auliar-jiboni |title=Golden Bengal, a Mine of Diamonds: Lives of 45 Sufi Saints |publisher=Kohinoor Library |year=2012 |location=Bangla Bazar |pages=16 |language=bn |archive-date=31 December 2022 |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231173740/https://www.rokomari.com/book/110213/sonar-bangla-hirar-khoni-45-auliar-jiboni |url-status=live }} Saeed Ahmad returned to his homeland in 1905 to begin his religious and spiritual work.

File:Al-Jamiatul Islamia Qasemul Uloom Charia 08.jpg

After returning to Bengal in 1905, Saeed Ahmad engaged in religious reform, particularly opposing practices he considered bid'ah and shirk, while maintaining a spiritual association with Zamiruddin Ahmad.{{Cite book |last=Uddin |first=Jasim |url=https://archive.org/details/DUHhistory |title=History of Darul Uloom Hathazari |date=2002 |publisher=Bhukari Academy |location=Hathazari |pages=195 |language=bn}} On Zamiruddin's recommendation, he was appointed as a senior teacher at Darul Uloom Hathazari in the same year.{{Cite book |last=Rahman |first=Muhammad Habibur |url=https://aazeenofislam.com/2023/10/14/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE/ |title=We are their successors |publisher=Al-Kawsar Publication |year=2009 |edition=2nd |location=Mirpur–12, Dhaka |pages=192 |language=bn}} In 1908, following the introduction of the Dawra-e-Hadith program at the institution, he was appointed Sheikh al-Hadith.{{Cite book |last=Babunagari |first=Junaid |author-link=Junaid Babunagari |url=https://www.boibazar.com/book/kotipoy-ujjol-nokkhotro |title=Some bright stars from Darul Uloom Hathazari |publisher=Bukhari Academy |year=2003 |edition=1st |location=Hathazari, Chittagong |pages=14 |language=bn |archive-date=2 April 2022 |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402195745/https://www.boibazar.com/book/kotipoy-ujjol-nokkhotro |url-status=live }} At that time, structured instruction of the six canonical Hadith collections (Kutub al-Sittah) was uncommon in Bengal, and he was the first to teach them formally at the Dawra-e-Hadith level, receiving recognition as the first Sheikh al-Hadith in Hadith studies in the region.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=160}}{{Sfn|Nijampuri|2013|p=76}} His students at Darul Uloom Hathazari included Muhammad Faizullah and Shah Ahmad Hasan.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=161}} The authorities of Aliah madrasa in Kolkata later invited him to teach in their planned Dawra-e-Hadith program, but he declined due to its government affiliation.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=162}} He was also nominated to the Majlis-e-Shura (governing body) of Darul Uloom Deoband, representing Bengal and Assam.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=163}} During a visit to Deoband, he temporarily taught Sunan Abi Dawud and Tafsir Ibn Kathir in the absence of Asghar Hussain Deobandi;{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=164}} among his students there were Shabbir Ahmad Usmani and Ibrahim Balyawi.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=165}} In 1943, he resigned from Darul Uloom Hathazari and, in 1944, established Al-Jameatul-Islamia Qasemul Uloom Charia, where he continued teaching Hadith until his death.{{Cite book |last=Nijampuri |first=Ashraf Ali |url=https://www.kitabghor.com/products/details/a419d06ca22411ec84496ec427268214/the-handrede-bangla-mayer-kriti-sontan.html |title=The Hundred (100 Great Scholars from Bangladesh) |publisher=Salman Prokashoni |year=2013 |location=Hathazari, Chittagong |pages=77 |language=bn}} He had nearly 10,000 spiritual disciples and appointed seven individuals as successors, including Muhammad Faizullah.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=172}}

Saeed Ahmad fell ill during a visit to Rajshahi in northern Bengal and died in Sirajganj on 16 February 1956 while returning home.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=173}}{{Cite book |last=Azami |first=Noor Muhammad |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/363777920/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8-pdf |title=Theoretical Framework and Historical Development of Hadith |publisher=Emdadia Library |year=2008 |location=Bangladesh |pages=218 |language=bn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326114008/https://www.scribd.com/document/363777920/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8-pdf |archive-date=26 March 2022 |url-status=dead}} His funeral was held the following day near Charia madrasa, led by Azizul Haque, and he was buried adjacent to the institution.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=173}} He was married twice—first in Sandwip, a marriage that ended in separation, and later in Hathazari. He had nine sons and seven daughters from both marriages.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=174}}

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Category:1882 births

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Category:People from Sandwip Upazila

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Category:20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam

Category:Darul Uloom Deoband alumni

Category:Shaikhul Hadith of Darul Uloom Hathazari

Category:Students of Mahmud Hasan Deobandi

Category:Members of the Majlis-e-Shura of Darul Uloom Deoband