Maulana deen Muhammad Wafai
Encyclopedia
Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai (1894–1950) was a scholar, academic, writer and poet. In terms of political activism he was heavily involved in the Khilafat movement
Khilafat Movement
The Khilafat movement was a pan-Islamic, political campaign launched by Muslims in British India to influence the British government and to protect the Ottoman Empire during the aftermath of World War I...

.

Childhood

Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai was born on AD 14 April 1894 corresponding to 27th Ramzan 1311 AH in a small village “Khathee”, also known as “Nabiabad” in district Shikarpur
Shikarpur District
Shikarpur district is a district in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The city of Shikarpur is the capital. It is spread over an area of 2,512 km2, according to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 880,438 of which 23.51% were urban....

 in Sindh. His father’s name was Khalifo Hakeem Gul Muhammad Bhatti. He was a scholar and poet in his time. Maulana Deen Muhammad belonged to the bhatti tribe. He learnt from his father in the beginning and when he was only 9 years old, his father died. After the death of his father, he learnt
Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...

 from Molvi Mian Muhammad Alim.

Then he went to Garhi Yaseen to Maulana Muhammad Qasim to learn Arabic, further he went to Maulana Khadim Hussain in Osta Bhalaydinabad. To learn more Arabic he went to Maulana Ghulam Umar in Sono Jatoi
Sono Jatoi
Sono Jatoi is a town in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is located at 27°28'40N 68°14'50E and has an altitude of 45 metres....

 in district Larkana
Larkana
Larkana or Larkano is the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is located within Larkana District.The old name of larkano is chandka which was changed in 1901. In August 2000 Larkana celebrated its hundred years of existence...

. From 1907 to 1911, he learnt Arabic completely and read all the course books on logic, Arabic and Persian. He was very intelligent and hardworking.

Character

Maulana Wafai led a simple life. He never wished for luxuries of life. He would propagate equality within the various classes of society. Maulana Sahib spent all his life learning and teaching. He used to spend most of his leisure time reading books. Many people who were interested in seeking knowledge would spend their time in his company. He was a quiet person and did not like to talk much, but when he was to explain something, he would give many examples from life, quotations from other writers and his observations.
He was never shy to ask questions from people who were experts in their fields. He used to like and respect scholars and writers and was acquainted with most of them. He kept in touch with scholars, researchers and writers all over the Muslim world.

Family

Married twice and had three sons.
Maulana deen Muhammed Wafai's father's name was Hakim Gul Mohammad Bhatti who was the son of Hakim Mir Maulvi Mir Muhammad Bhatti son of Hakim Saleh Muhammad Bhatti. His brothers were Khaleefa Mir Muhammad and Shafi Muhammad who died at an early age.Fatima was his only sister Maulana Sahib had 3 sons Ali Nawaz Wafai, Shafi Muhammad Wafai and Muzaffar Hussain Wafai and two daughters zaib-un-nisa and subhan khatoon. Zaib-un-nisa died at an early age.
His son Ali Nawaz Wafai continued his literary work. Ali Nawaz Wafai had 5 sons; Asif Wafai, Aijaz Wafai, Saleem Wafai, Sunain Wafai & Amir Wafai and one daughter Qurratulain

He is buried in “Wari Jo Tarr” in Sukkur
Sukkur
Sukkur, or Sakharu , formerly Aror and Bakar, is the third largest city of Sindh province, situated on the west bank of Indus River in Pakistan in Sukkur District. However, the word Sakharu in Sindhi means "superior", which the spelling of the city's name in Sindhi suggests is the origin of the...

.

Career

Maulana Sahib was a multifaceted person; two of his prominent aspects of life were journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...

 and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...

.

He started his carrier as journalist in 1916, when he was in Ranipur
Ranipur, Pakistan
Ranipur Riyasat, Sind This city was probably established before the Kalhora reign of Sindh . It become famous first time in British occupation when a anti khilafat movement was operated from Ranipur city by the Pir's of the city to protect the interest of British Rajj/ occupation in Sindh and...

. There under the supervision of Hakim Muhammad Sadiq Ranipuri, he started a monthly Sahifa Qadria which was published for short period of time.

After two years he started living in a Madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...

 in Thallah near Dokri
Dokri
Dokri is a town in Larkana District, Sindh province of Pakistan and is the capital town of the Dokri Taluka. The town is located at 27° 22' 29" N 68° 05' 50" E and has an elevation of 39 metres. Mohenjodaro is situated 7 km away in East-South of the Dokri town. The town has been the scene of...

, while living there he met great scholars and he continued studying. During this time, he read basic books on Arabic, Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...

 and Religion.

He started a literary magazine from Thallah named “Alkashif”. The magazine started in April 1918, and was supported by Anjuman-e-Islam, Larkana
Larkana
Larkana or Larkano is the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is located within Larkana District.The old name of larkano is chandka which was changed in 1901. In August 2000 Larkana celebrated its hundred years of existence...

. Many articles on history, fiqa Islamic law
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....

 and health were published in the magazine along with literature. The magazine also had a question answer column, Maulana sahib used to reply to the questions himself. This magazine was first of its kind in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

 and was published for a long time.

After First World War the social and political conditions of sub-continent were deterred. Britishers cunningly made local people fight with each other. Maulana sahib in those unstable conditions left Thallah and started his political career and started working with Maulana Taj Mehmood Amroti , joining Khilafat Movement
Khilafat Movement
The Khilafat movement was a pan-Islamic, political campaign launched by Muslims in British India to influence the British government and to protect the Ottoman Empire during the aftermath of World War I...

. In 1920, in Larkana, “All India Khilafat Conference” was called, in which along with others Maulana AbulKalam Azad, Maulana AbdulBari and Maulana Shaukat Ali
Maulana Shaukat Ali
Maulana Shaukat Ali was an Indian Muslim nationalist and leader of the Khilafat movement. He was the brother of Maulana Mohammad Ali.-Early life:...

 participated.

On that occasion, Maulana Wafai, under the supervision of Maulana Taj Mehmood Amroti published “Izhar-ul-Karamat,” which was distributed in that conference too.

He started a newspaper, Alwaheed in Karachi in March 1920, to support the Khilafat Movement
Khilafat Movement
The Khilafat movement was a pan-Islamic, political campaign launched by Muslims in British India to influence the British government and to protect the Ottoman Empire during the aftermath of World War I...

 and to inform its supporters. Maulana Sahab was appointed as subeditor of the newspaper and Qazi AbdulRehman was appointed as the editor. This newspaper played an important role in the awakening of Muslims of Sindh.

After seven months, the British government shut down the newspaper and sent the editor Qazi AbdulRehman to jail for one year.

Maulana Sahab returned to Thallah and continued his studies. “Alwaheed” was issued again, according to Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were reforms introduced by the British Government in India to introduce self-governing institutions gradually to India. The reforms take their name from Edwin Samuel Montagu, the Secretary of State for India during the latter parts of World War I and Lord Chelmsford,...

. Maulana Sahab was the editor of the newspaper this time.

Despite being busy with the newspaper Maulana Sahab regularly published a magazine named, Tauheed. He started this magazine in 1923, this magazine went out of print in 1927 and again started circulating in 1932 and was published by Ali Nawaz Wafai , Maulana’s youngest son, after his death.

This magazine was a collection of historical and literary essays and articles. The magazine was considered as a prestigious publication of literature and the religion. This magazine played a vital role in the political awakening of people of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

.

Apart from Maulana Sahab, “Tauheed” was edited by Shaikh Abdul Majeed Sindhi.

Under the supervision of Peer Jeeal Shah Shaheed, also known as, Hizbullah Shah Rashdi, he published a newspaper Alhizb. This was a respectable newspaper of Sindhi language. This newspaper was published for seven months only, and then was shut down for some reasons.

In 1943, Maulana Sahab resigned from the newspaper Alwaheed, due to the creation of a control board over it and started working for another newspaper called Azaad.

As soon as Maulana Wafai joined the newspaper it reached its heights and was considered as a reliable and important newspaper. This was the only newspaper in Sindhi language, which published literary material along with the news of national concern.

For endorsement and encouragement of Sindhi literature, on the suggestion of Central Advisory Committee, a bi-monthly magazine Mehran
Mehran
Mehran is derived from the term "Mehr", or Mithra, a pre-Islamic ancient Persian deity.Mehran may refer to:People* Mehran, a male name in Persian, female counterparts are Mehrdokht, Mehrandokht and Mehraneh...

 was published in January 1946. Its editor was Allama Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota
Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota
Shams-ul-Ulama Dr. Umar Bin Mohammad Daudpota was a Researcher, Historian, Linguist and dutiful Scholar of great Indus Valley, internationally acclaimed scholar as he served the field of literature. Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota was born in 1897 and died in 1958.-Life History:Daudpota was born on...

. Included in the editorial board were Usman Ali Ansari, Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai, Deewan Lalchand Amardino Chugtani, and Dr. Haromal Sada Rangani. This magazine was started in January ’48 and was shut down in ’49 and was started again by Sindhi Adabi Board
Sindhi Adabi Board
Sindhi Adabi Board is a government sponsored institution in Pakistan for the promotion of Sindhi literature. It was established in 1955 in Jamshoro, Sindh. It is under the Education Department of the Government of Sindh.-Activities:...

 in ’55 and it is still published.
Apart from above mentioned newspapers and magazines Maulana Sahab wrote for numerous other magazines and newspapers. His writings are still worth reading and have not lost their relevance even today.

Maulana Sahab apart from being a journalist was a renowned writer. History, politics, religion and Sufism were his favorite topics.

He was an expert on history, so much that other scholars started calling him “moving encyclopedia of Sindh” and “imam of Sindhi history.”

Sindhi History was one of his strengths. He remembered the works and biographies of prominent personalities, scholars and saints. He also had knowledge about the historical monuments of Sindh and would tell about different incidents and happenings in the right order.

“Greatness of Sindh” (Azmat-e-Sindh) was a favorite topic with Maulana. He had an interest in ancient ruins of Sindh and was considered as an expert in Sindhi language
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...

, literature and grammar.

When Maulana Sahab started his research, the facilities for people who wanted to do research were inadequate. Britishers had taken many books with them, many more were taken by Nadir Shah when he attacked Hindustan. Rests were kept in the storerooms of wealthy families and there was no access to them. Even though, Maulana continued his research work. He was the first Sindhi Scholar, who felt the lack of history, literature and research in Sindh and started working in this direction.

Pir Ali Muhammad Rashdee wrote about Maulana Sahab that “Maulana Sahab thought that the nations that do not have their own history and aren't aware of their past, aren't capable of anything great. He not only loved knowledge himself but made others love it too.”

In 1940, when “Central Sindhi Advisory Committee”, formed by Sindh Government, formed a committee of editors for “Complete Sindhi Dictionary”, it selected Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai along with others.

After the creation of Pakistan, in January 1949, Sindh government formed a committee to write and edit Sindhi course books, Maulana was a member of that committee.

Maulana was the founding member of “Sindhi Sudhaar Society” (Society for improvement of Sindhi) that worked towards the betterment and expansion of Sindhi language.

Maulana Sahab, along with prose wrote poems too, and used Wafai as his pen name (takhalus). His first poem was published in 1913 with the name 'Imdad-e-Yateema' (Help of Orphans)

He wrote many books few of them are:
Shah Je Risalay Jo Mutaleo (Study of the book of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai)
Lutf-ul-Latif (Study of poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai)
Tazkara-e-Mushaeer-Sindh (Life Histories and work of great people lived in Sindh)
Yaad-e-Janan (a book on Jaan Muhammad Khan Junejo
Junejo
Junejo is the name of a Samma Sindhi Rajput tribe in Sindh and in some parts of India mostly in Rajasthan. Among the Sindhi Hindu community Juneja is a common surname and many Juneja people originally from Sindh migrated to India during the independence in 1947. Junejo are also known as Jam in...

, also known as “Raees-ul-Muhajireen”)

He wrote many more books and translated books in Sindhi from Arabic and Persian.

Politically, he was very active and took part in many movements. He worked closely with Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi and Maulana Taj Mehmood Amroti . Maulana Sahab worked as a secretary for 'Bait-ul-Hikmat', an organization formed by Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi
Ubaidullah Sindhi
Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi was a noted pan-Islamic leader a political activist of the Indian independence movement...

 to teach the philosophy of Shah Wali Ullah.

While working for 'Alwaheed' in 1920, Maulana went to jail and was given the death sentence which was overturned later but he didn’t give up and continued the editorship of 'Alwaheed', and also worked for the promotion of Jameeat-ul-Ulema Sindh.

Maulana sahib attended the conferences of 'Khilafat Movement' and Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...

, all over India and worked to spread true teachings of Islam to newly converted Muslims.

He never took money or favors from anyone. He ran the newspaper 'Alwaheed' and the magazine Tauheed with the help of the members of the board.

Living a life of simplicity , he never tried to acquire the luxuries of life for himself or his family.
His life was a true example of a hard worker and a revolutionary; being sent to jail many times, he never gave up.

The great son of Sindh and the great scholar died on Tuesday 10 April 1950 in Sukkur
Sukkur
Sukkur, or Sakharu , formerly Aror and Bakar, is the third largest city of Sindh province, situated on the west bank of Indus River in Pakistan in Sukkur District. However, the word Sakharu in Sindhi means "superior", which the spelling of the city's name in Sindhi suggests is the origin of the...

.
He is buried in “Wari Jo Tarr” in Sukkur
Sukkur
Sukkur, or Sakharu , formerly Aror and Bakar, is the third largest city of Sindh province, situated on the west bank of Indus River in Pakistan in Sukkur District. However, the word Sakharu in Sindhi means "superior", which the spelling of the city's name in Sindhi suggests is the origin of the...

.

Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai road in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

, Sukkur
Sukkur
Sukkur, or Sakharu , formerly Aror and Bakar, is the third largest city of Sindh province, situated on the west bank of Indus River in Pakistan in Sukkur District. However, the word Sakharu in Sindhi means "superior", which the spelling of the city's name in Sindhi suggests is the origin of the...

, and Jamshoro
Jamshoro
Jamshoro is a city in Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan. It is located on the right bank of Indus River, approximately 18 kilometres north-west of the city of Hyderabad and 150 kilometres north-east from the provincial capital Karachi....

 has been named after him.

See also

  • Abdullah Haroon
  • Sindhi literature
    Sindhi literature
    Sindhi literature is very rich and is generally considered to be among the world's oldest. Its writers have contributed extensively in various forms of literature both in poetry and prose.- Sufi literature and poetry :...

  • Sindhi language media in Pakistan
    Sindhi language media in Pakistan
    Sindh Sindhi: , the second largest province in Pakistan, is a province of many distinctions. It is the most urbanized province with 43% of people living in urban areas, and is the province with the highest literacy rate.-Sindhi as a language:...

  • Bhatti
  • Sindh
    Sindh
    Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

  • Bhittai

External links

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