Hazrat Imam Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqi: Founder of Jamia Nizamia and Pioneer of Islamic Reform in Deccan

By Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam 12 July 2025 Hazrat Imam Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqi was among the most respected Sunni-Hanafi scholars of Hyderabad Deccan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Main Points: 1. Memorized Quran under blind Hafiz Hazrat Amjad Ali at the age of 11 2. Took bay‘ah with Hazrat Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki 3. Founded Jamia Nizamia and Asafia Library 4. Taught two Nizams of Hyderabad State 5. Authored 30+ books in Arabic, Urdu, Persian ---- Introduction In the vast history of Islamic reformers in India, Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi stands out for his unique blend of intellectual rigor, political integrity, and spiritual humility. At a time when colonial influence was weakening Muslim institutions, he rose as a silent yet powerful presence, defending Sunni-Hanafi creed, promoting traditional scholarship, and reviving Sufi ethics. Through his foundations like Jamia Nizamia and Asafia Library, and his administrative guidance to the Asaf Jahi dynasty, he ensured that the Deccan region became a stronghold of Islamic learning and piety. His literary legacy and educational models remain benchmarks for Sunni institutions across India and beyond. Early Life and Family Background Hazrat Imam Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqi was born on 4 Rabi’ al-Thani 1265 AH, corresponding to 1848 CE, in Kandhar, a small town in the present-day Nanded district of Maharashtra, then part of Hyderabad Deccan. His family was of noble Farooqi lineage, tracing descent from Khalifa Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab. His father, Hazrat Shaykh Ghulam Sharfuddin, also known as Shujauddin Mir Adl, was known for his piety and uprightness. His mother was Anwarunnisa Begum, a deeply religious woman who supported her son’s spiritual and intellectual aspirations. As a child, Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi showed extraordinary memory and discipline. He memorized the entire Qur’an under the guidance of Hazrat Hafiz Amjad Ali, a blind scholar from his hometown. This foundational training in Tajweed and Hifz marked the beginning of his deep relationship with the Qur’an. Spiritual Development: Teachers, Bay‘ah and Inner Discipline Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi began his higher Islamic studies in Hyderabad under several leading scholars of his time. Among his early teachers were Hazrat Maulana Abdul Halim, Hazrat Maulana Ghulam Rasool, and Hazrat Maulana Abdul Khaliq, under whom he studied Arabic grammar, Hanafi jurisprudence (Fiqh), Tafsir, logic, and Mantiq. These foundational years built his command over both rational and traditional sciences and prepared him for advanced religious responsibilities. In 1294 AH, During hajj he met Hazrat Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, a widely respected Chishti–Qadiri Sufi saint who had migrated to Makkah after the events of 1857. Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi took Bay’ah at his hands in Medina Munawwarah and received Khilafat in multiple Sufi Silsilas, including the Chishti, Qadiri, and Naqshbandi orders. On returning to Hyderabad, he lived a life marked by spiritual restraint, silence, and discipline. His Tasawwuf avoided public display and spectacle. Instead, his focus remained on sincerity and inner correction. After Maghrib Namaz, he would quietly gather a few selected scholars and advanced students for private sessions, in which he taught from Hazrat Ibn Arabi’s Futuhat al-Makkiyya. These gatherings were not open to the general public and were held only with those capable of engaging such advanced metaphysical texts with proper grounding. Teaching and Administrative Contributions Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi was first appointed a minor clerk in the Hyderabad state bureaucracy. However, his deep sense of morality made him resign when he was instructed to record a loan involving Riba (interest). This principled resignation earned him immense respect. In 1295 AH, he was appointed the personal tutor to the 6th Nizam of Hyderabad, Hazrat Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. Later, after returning from his third Hajj in 1305 AH, he became the spiritual and academic guide of the 7th Nizam, Hazrat Mir Osman Ali Khan, who deeply revered him. In 1332 AH, he was appointed Sadr-us-Sudoor, the highest religious office in the Hyderabad state. In this role, he was entrusted with the supervision of all Qadis, Muftis, and Madrasas in the princely state. He also regulated religious publications and drafted fatwas and religious policies on behalf of the state. The Nizam conferred upon him the honorary title Fadilat Jung, a reflection of his unmatched moral and academic stature. Founding Jamia Nizamia and Literary Institutions In Dhul Hijjah 1292 AH (1875 CE), Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi gathered twelve leading scholars at the home of Hazrat Maulvi Muzaffaruddin in Hyderabad to establish an Islamic seminary that would preserve Sunni orthodoxy and Islamic sciences. The result was Jamia Nizamia, one of the first formally organized Sunni madrasas in South India. The Nizam soon took it under royal patronage, and it flourished as a model of Hanafi–Maturidi education. Recognizing the need for scholarly resources, he also helped establish the Kutub Khana-e-Asifiya, later known as the State Central Library, which housed one of India’s largest collections of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu manuscripts. He played a major role in establishing the Majlis Ishaat-ul-Uloom (1888), an organization that oversaw the printing and dissemination of classical Islamic books. In 1308 AH, he initiated the Dairatul Ma’arif al-Uthmaniyya, dedicated to editing and publishing rare Arabic texts. Through these institutions, he oversaw the publication of over 300 rare manuscripts, introduced logic and mathematics in religious education, and built one of the most disciplined madrasa environments in the region. Literary Contributions Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi was a prolific writer, with over thirty original works in Arabic, Urdu, and Persian. His writings reflect mastery over Fiqh, Aqidah, philosophy, Tasawwuf, social reform, and logic. His most prominent works include: Anwaar-e-Ahmadi – On the noble attributes and miracles of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Ifadat-ul-Ifham – A rational defence of Sunni beliefs Haqeeqat-ul-Fiqh (2 volumes) – A deep analysis of fiqh methodology Maqasid-ul-Islam (11 volumes) – A monumental defense of Islamic worldview and law Anwaar-ul-Haqq, Al-Kalam al-Marfoo‘, and Aql fi al-Falsafa – Addressing deviant philosophies and sects His writings continue to be used in madrasas across India, Pakistan, and the Gulf. Legacy: Family, Students, and Continuation Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi was married in 1289 AH to the daughter of Maulvi Haji Ameeruddin Sahab. She passed away in 1304 AH, on the 26th of Ramadhan, in Hyderabad. He had two sons, Abdul Jaleel and Abdul Quddus, both of whom died in early childhood. He also had four daughters, whose descendants continue to live in Hyderabad. Some members of his family have remained quietly associated with the institutional and spiritual legacy of Jamia Nizamia. His leading students included Hazrat Allama Abdullah Shah, Hazrat Maulana Abdul Razzaq, Hazrat Abul Wafa Afghani, Hazrat Mufti Raheemuddin, and Hazrat Dr. Muhammad Hamidullah, who became a world-renowned Islamic legal scholar. His spiritual Silsila, received from Hazrat Haji Imdadullah, continued in limited form through Khulafa in Hyderabad. Though he did not promote public Sufi circles, his Tasawwuf shaped the ethical tone of his institutions. Jamia Nizamia remains active as a Hanafi Sunni seminary, carrying forward his scholarly and spiritual legacy through education, fatwa, and research. Death and Urs Towards the end of his life, Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi developed a cancerous abscess, for which he underwent surgery, but his condition deteriorated. He passed away in 1336 AH (1918 CE) on the 29th of Jumada al-Awwal. His funeral prayer was held at Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad, attended by thousands. On orders of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, he was buried inside the premises of Jamia Nizamia, near the mosque he helped build. His annual urs is observed on 29 Jumada al-Awwal, marked by Qur’an recitations, dars-e-hadith, and remembrance gatherings at Jamia Nizamia. Conclusion Hazrat Anwarullah Farooqi’s legacy is that of a scholar who remained rooted in tradition while building for the future. Whether in his silent worship, principled resignations, or public reforms, he stood as a beacon of Sunni orthodoxy, administrative excellence, and Sufi humility. His life reminds us that institutions born of sincerity and ilm can survive centuries — and continue to illuminate countless hearts. ----- Adnan Faizi is a Peace and Harmony activist based in Delhi. He is an alumni of CCS University, Meerut. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/imam-anwarullah-jamia-nizamia-islamic-reform/d/136151 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism