Akhtar Raza Khan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigationJump to search Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan AkhtarRazaKhan(Image).jpg Grand Mufti of India In office 1982–2018 Preceded by Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri Succeeded by Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Title Tajushshariah Other names Azhari Miya, Janashin-E-Sarkaar Mufti-E-Aazam, Mufti E Azam, Shaikh Ul Islam, Qazi Ul Quzzat Fil Hind, Tajushshariah Personal Born Muhammad Ismail Raza 23 November 1943 Bareilly, United Provinces, British India Died 20 July 2018 (aged 74) (7 Zul-Qaida 1439) Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India Resting place Bareilly Sharif Dargah Religion Islam Nationality Indian Children 6, including Asjad Raza Khan Era Contemporary Jurisprudence Hanafi Movement Barelvi Alma mater Manzar-e-Islam (Bareilly), Islamia Inter College, Bareilly, Al-Azhar University 1963 -1966 [1] Known for Spiritual Mythology Other names Azhari Miya, Janashin-E-Sarkaar Mufti-E-Aazam, Mufti E Azam, Shaikh Ul Islam, Qazi Ul Quzzat Fil Hind, Tajushshariah Relatives Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi (great-grandfather) Grand Mufti styles Religious style Mufti Azam-e-Hind, and Mufti al-Diyar al-Hindiyyah and Shaykh al-Islām in Arabic Alternative style Hadrat, Sheikh and Sahib-ul-Ma'ali Founder of Jamiatur Raza Muslim leader Influenced by Awards “Fakhre Azhar” (Pride of Azhar)[1] Literary works Book list Website taajushshariah.com Muhammed Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari (23 November 1943 – 20 July 2018), also known as Tajushshari'ah[2] or Azhari Miya[3][4] was an Indian Barelvi Muslim scholar, cleric and mufti.[5] He was a great grandson of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi who was considered to be a Mujaddid by his followers and founder of the Barelvi movement.[6] He was considered by Barelvi Muslims in India to function as the Grand Mufti of India.[7] He had been ranked 22nd on the list of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world (2014–15 edition), compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.[8] He had tens of millions of followers globally.[9]


Contents 1 Early life 2 After retirement 3 Publications 3.1 Rulings (Fatwas) 3.2 Poetry 3.3 Books 4 Family tree 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Early life He was born on 23 November 1943 in Bareilly, British India.[10] a descendant (great-grandson) of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi who was considered to be a Mujaddid by his followers and founder of the Barelvi movement.[6]

He went to school at the Manzar-e-Islam madrassa of the Dargah Aala Hazrat,[9] and then at Islamia Inter College, Bareilly.[9] He studied at Al-Azhar University in Egypt from 1963–66,[10] where he won the "Fakhre Azhar" (pride of Azhar) award.[9]

In 1967 he became a teacher at the Manzar-e-Islam madrassa in Bareilly, where he had been a student as a child.[10]

On 3 November 1968, he married Hasnain Raza Barelvi's daughter in Bareilly. They had one son, Asjad, and five daughters.[11][unreliable source?]

After retirement He formally retired from teaching in 1980,[10] but continued to issue fatwa,[10] and holding seminars for students at Dar al-Ifta.[10]

In 2000 he founded the Centre of Islamic Studies Jamiatur Raza based in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.[8][12][13]

He was considered by his followers as the Grand Mufti of India.[7] He had been ranked 22nd on the list of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world (2014–15 edition), compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.[14][8][15][16][17] He had tens of millions of followers globally.[9]

He died following a long illness on 20 July 2018, aged 74. His funeral was attended by millions of people.[9][18][19][20][21] His funeral occurred on 22 July 2018 at Islamia Inter College, Bareilly. The prayer was led by his son and successor Asjad Raza Khan.[22]

After his death Mohammad Salim Noori, spokesperson of the Dargah Aala Hazrat, said Azhari was "the lone cleric in India to get a title of 'Tajushari'" and "one of the few prominent persons across the world to be allowed to visit the inside [of the] Kaaba in Mecca".[9]

Publications Rulings (Fatwas) His Urdu-language fatwa collection was known as Majmu'ah Fatawa. His English collection is named Azharul Fatawa.[23] One of his fatwas was his edict on the interest given to a Muslim by a non-Muslim:

When there is a dealing between a Muslim and a Muslim or a Muslim and a Zimmi Kaffir (a non-Muslim living in the s afety of an Islamic state), the taking more money than loaned is considered as interest and such a dealing will be unlawful. However, if this condition does not exist, this excess money will not be considered as interest and will be legitimate for a Muslim as it is unanimous that there is no interest applicable when there is dealing between a Muslim and a Harbi Kaafir (a non-Muslim who is not living in the safety of an Islamic State).[23]

Poetry His composition of Na`at was entitled Safina e Bakhshish, written in three languages.[24]

Books He was the author of "more than 50 books on Islamic theology and thought in Urdu and Arabic", including:[9]

Hijrat-e-Rasool Aasaar-e-Qiyamat Al-Haq-ul-Mubeen (Arabic and Urdu) Safeenah-e-Bakhshish (Na'at collection) Fatawa Taj-us-Shari'ah [25] Family tree Raza Ali Khan first marriage second marriage (daughter) i khan Naqi Ali Khan Mustajab beghum bibie jan Ahmed Raza Khan Hassan Raza Khan Hamid Raza Khan Mustafa Raza Khan Ibraheem Raza Khan Akhtar Raza Khan Asjad Raza Khan