Darul Uloom Deoband Waqf Organises Annual Seminar Honouring Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri (RA)

Asif Iqbal | Noor Ul Hassan Andrabi

Srinagar: Darul Uloom Deoband Waqf on December 13 and 14 organised its annual scholarly seminar, dedicating this year’s deliberations to the life, works and enduring intellectual legacy of the world-renowned Islamic scholar Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Rehmatullahi Allahie.

The seminar marked a continuation of the institution’s academic initiative, which was launched with the programme held in honour of Maulana Mohammad Salim Qasmi (RA). Building on that tradition, the latest edition paid tribute to Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri, one of the most eminent personalities associated with Darul Uloom Deoband, whose scholarly stature and literary acumen are acknowledged by leading scholars across the world. Eminent authors and intellectuals from the Middle East and Gulf countries have, over the years, lauded his exceptional depth of knowledge and command over Islamic sciences.

Born in the remote Warnow village of the Lolab Valley in Kashmir, Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri began his academic journey in Hazara (present-day Pakistan) before arriving in Deoband, where he studied under the supervision of the then Shaikh-ul-Hind. He spent several years as a student at Darul Uloom Deoband and later served the institution as a distinguished teacher. For nearly two decades, he taught various Hadith books including Bukhari Sharif, while thousands of students also benefitted from his expertise in Fiqh, many of whom went on to serve in religious and academic capacities across different parts of the world.

Apart from being an outstanding teacher, Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri was also a prolific author, institution head and scholar of international repute. He authored hundreds of books, including around 14 works in Arabic, which continue to hold a revered place in Islamic literary circles.

The two-day seminar was held in four academic sessions and witnessed participation from eminent religious scholars from across the country, who presented research papers highlighting various aspects of Allama Kashmiri’s scholarly contributions and intellectual legacy. The organisers said that the papers presented during the seminar are expected to be compiled and published in the form of a volume.

Prominent scholars from Kashmir who participated in the seminar included Mufti Muzaffar Hussain Qasmi, Maulana Rehmatullah Mir Qasmi, Maulana Saeed Ahmad Qasmi, Maulana Mohammad Sultan, Mufti Umar Amin Illahi, Mufti Zahoor Ahmad Shah, and Maulana Mohammad Iqbal Andrabi. Several senior scholars from Jammu also participated in the two-day academic deliberations.

On the occasion, Darul Uloom Deoband passed a joint resolution announcing that such seminars would be organised once every two years, each dedicated to a mutually agreed upon eminent personality. It was also announced that the next seminar will be held in honour of Maulana Qasim Nanotvi (RA).