A Biographical Sketch of Allamah Nur Uddin Ahmad Gohorpuri (R.) | Dr. Sofe Ahmed

Two words that is Muhaddis and Nur Uddin Ahmad Gohorpuri seem to have been inseparable part of each other in the last century in Bangladesh particularly in Sylhet region. When anyone utters the word muhaddis the few names will appear in his mind will comprise the name of Nur Uddin Ahmad Gohorpur (R.). 

A Biographical Sketch of Allamah Nur Uddin Ahmad Gohorpuri (R.) | Dr. Sofe Ahmed

The study of history of teaching hadith in Bangladesh can't be imagined and justified without the study of Noor Uddin Ahmad Ghogorpuri who has been one of the leading, prominent and legendary scholar in the field because of his services of teaching hadith to thousands of Ulamas (muslim scholars) for nearly 60 years.

Nur Uddin Ahmad has been mostly known among the Ulamas of Bangladesh for his wise interpretation and lectures on Hadith and organizing the Kawmi madrasahs in Bangladesh. He had been playing the role of guardians of Ulamas, madrasahs, Islamic organizations and Muslim community in Bangladesh for last decades of 20th century.

Yet, The services of Gohorpur for which People of Bangladesh remain ever indebted to him include spreading the light of knowledge of Hadith, the expansion of Islamic education, motivating people towards Islam, spirituality and social welfare etc.

Nevertheless, this popular scholar of the Indian subcontinent was born in Gohorpur village of Balaganj upazila of Sylhet District. Oral History of Gohorpuri says that the ancestors of Gohorpuri (R.) migrated from Afganistan to Bangladesh through India. His great grandfather Munshi Rajab Uddin migrated from India. Father of Nur Uddin Ahmed (R.) Maulvi Zahur Uddin was a famous religious personality of the locality and his mother Churtunnesa Farubi was also the daughter of an aristocratic family of the area.

However, Ghohorpuri (R.) was born on 24th July 1924 AD. Parents gave him an excellent name i.c. Nur Uddin meaning light of religion which was later proved by glorious religious services of Gohorpuri in his life which enlightened the life of the Ummah. By the way, the baby Nur Uddin grew up in a completely religious environment. At the age of four, he started reading Arabic with his mother. Later he started his formal education at Ichhamati (Alia) Madrasa, an institution near his village.

At one stage of life he also got admitted in Jalalpur Alia Madrasa in Sylhet. He lost his father at his early age. Then the orphan boy Nur Uddin Ahmed continued his studies under the supervision of his mother. Later

Hazrat Maulana Bashiruddin Shaikh e Bhagha (R.), a prominent scholar of Sylhet of that time and the Pir(spiritual Guru) of Ghohorpuri took responsibility of the orphan boy Nur Uddin. Hence Nur Uddin started his study at Bagha Madrasa in Golapganj, Sylhet. Here he completed kafia in congregation in that famous institution of then Bangladesh. In deed the foundation of the life of Ghohorpuri (R) was laid in the vicinity of Shaykh of Bagha (R.). The boy Nur Uddin also had great devotion to his shayekh. He devoted himself completely to the services of the shayekh. While studying at Bagha Madrasa, Ghohorpuri miraculously memorized the Qur'an within only six months.

Later Hazrat Gohorpuri (R.) went to world reknowned islamic institution Darul Uloom Deoband where he received his higher education.

His Pir Shayekh of Bagha (R.) directly handed over him to Shayekhul Islam Hazrat Maulana Hossain Ahmad Madani(R.). Hence the brilliant pupil Ghohorpuri's life received a ample and tremendous opportunity to build up his career in the field and Islamic studies in general. He was fortunate to study under the special supervision of prominent scholar of hadith shayekh Madani(R.)

He stood first class first with record marks among hundreds of students of Hadith Jamaat at Darul Uloom Deoband. After completing Daura e hadith in 1950, he spent one more year to acquire deep knowledge of Hadith, Fiqh and Tafsir under the special supervision of Madani. At the same time he also devoted himslef for the services of Ustaz madani and received spiritual initiation from his honour.

However, after completing higher studies from Darul Uloom Deoband Nur Uddin Ahmad Ghohorpuri started his professional life in 1952 as the Head Muhaddis or Shaykhul Hadith of Pangashia Alia Madrasa, the oldest religious educational institution in Patuakhali of Barisal region. Here the extraordinary achievement of Ghohorpuri was that he was appointed as a shaykhul hadith immediately after his graduation which is usually quite rare and unimaginable career and position in the field. He. however, taught Hadith for approximately two with great skills and fame. The fame of his lectures on hadith soon spread to different parts of greater Barisal and many learners of the region joined him at Pangashia.

From Pangashiya, Ghohorpuri moved to Ashraful Ulum Balia Madrasa of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. He served there for about three and half years. Along with teaching, he became involved in different works of da'wah in Mymensingh region.

Later In 1956, Nur Uddin Ahmad came back to his home district Sylhet and established a madrasa in his own village Gohorpur named 'Jamia Islamia Hossainiya'. The Jamia became shortly reknowned as one of the best institutions of not only Sylhet but whole Bangladesh for studying hadith under the umbrella of vast knowledge of Gohorpuri in the field.

In this way Gohorpuri became widely known as a renowned muhaddith throughout the country.

Nevertheless Gohorpuri had been teaching hadith for more than six decades. Some have also called him Hafizul Hadith. However, he himself recognized that he was not Hafizul Hadith according to "Usulul Hadith' discipline in the technical sense. He used to teach Hadith in different madrasas of the country. The opening lecture of the prominent and mostly honoured book of hadith 'Al jame As Sahih Lil Bukhari' was used to be conducted by Shaykhul Hadith Gohorpuri at different madrasas of Bangladesh.

In the noble mission of spreading the light of Islamic education in Bangladesh Gohorpuri did a lot. He has set up more than 15 religious institutions in different parts of the country particularly in Greater Sylhet and Mymensingh. He was the patron of many Islamic organizations. Besides, he used to donate generously to various religious institutions of Bangladesh. Among the ulamas of his country he was known as 'Danobir'- donor hero. Mass people were also greatly benefited from his donations. If anyone asked him for something, he would not send him back with empty hand.

Allama Gohorpuri (R.) being an ideal and experienced professor of hadith for more than sixty years have produced many scholars, muhaddis and teachers throughout Bangladesh who have been serving thousands of students for decades.

Dawah through vocal public lectures was one of the main tasks of Allama Ghohorpuri (R.). For many of the months and years of his life he used to travel for dawah at home and abroad. He visited many remote areas of Bangladesh for dawah where there was no good communication system to reach.

He visited the USA, the UK for many times with the dawah mission. Many people of home and aborad were inspired by his wise speech to practice Islam.

Gohorpuri acted as a great social reformer. He fought against ' shirk' bidat and superstition of the society. He was a strong voice against all anti-Islamic activities. He would strongly protest if he saw any injustice anywhere. In this case, he did not care about anyone. Everyone respected him for his outspokenness.

Gohorpuri (R) at the last decade of his life i.e. 1996 to 2005, was elected by all the members of Shura as the President of Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh (Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board- BQMEB). He played quite vital role in the development of this organization. During his tenure, BQMEB became a national institution. He worked voluntarily for the organization and did not receive any remuneration or honorarium from BQMEB rather he provided huge financial support to the organization.

Ghohorpuri (R.) was also politically conscious and actively participated in the Islamic political activities of the country. He contested to be elected from the Sylhet-6 seat from Jamiat e Ulama e Islam in the 1970 Pakistan National Assembly elections. His opponent was General Ataul Gani Usmani, the Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation War. In that election, he created a fierce competition. He could not win the election due to lack of only a small number of votes.

Allama Ghohorpuri (R.) dedicated his life for the benevolence of humanity, society, and Islam.

He also provided Ruqyah services to many. There are many stories of recovery of his patients through his complex treatment. He has also provided great deal of services for developing the spiritual life of the people of Bangladesh. He himself worked hard to develop his own spiritual life and was assigned the caliphate by Maulana Habibur Rahman Raipuri, the caliph of Hazrat Madani. He used to perform 'Itikaf in the Ghohorpur Madrasa Mosque every Ramadan. Hundreds of scholars, his students and followers used to spend time to get food for the soul by his valuable instructions. He used to take bayat on four 'Tariqah' at the same time prescribe 'tasbih' and other 'amal' to the disciples.

After receiving spiritual initiation from Gohorpuri, a number of scholars got the caliphate from his honour and played role to spread the light of Islam in general.

In personal life Ghohorpuri (R) was a very ordinary and simple person. He was an embodiment of in his predecessor 'Buzurgan'; Akabir and aslaf. He used to talked less, eat less and slept less.

Zikir of Allah used to stick to his lips. Specially in the later part of his life Ghohorpuri was mostly involved in prayers, jikir, recitation etc.

Keeping promises, transparency in transactions, respect for adults and affection for children, sense of responsibility, punctuality were the common characteristics of Gohorpuri (R).

There were many miracles in his life; The traveling far within short time was one of those miracles.

Gohorpuri (R.) was also a successful man in family life. He is survived by four wives, one son and four daughters. His son Maulana Muslehuddin Raju is now Principal of Zamia Hussainia, established by him.

He gave the necessary religious education to his daughters in his family-environment. Many of his grandsons have become qualified scholars and are now rendering religious services at madrasahs. Allama Ghohorpuri (R) was safe from lifelong diseases and suffering. However, at the last moment of his life he suffered from cancer for short time.

After suffering from this disease for few days Ghohorpuri at his 72 left this temporary world to meet his creator Allah on 28th April 2005, which was 16 Rabiul Awal 1428 AH Tuesday,

The following day of his death his 'Salatul Janaza' was held at the premises of the madrasa. His 'Salatul janaza' was unprecedented. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in that 'Salatul Zanaza' which was one of largest public gathering for 'Salatul Janaza' in the history of Sylhet and Bangladesh. He was buried in his family-graveyard in front of the mosque of his home.

May Allah forgive him and reward with Zannatul ferdawus and fill his grave with light and mercy. Amen.

Dr. Sofe Ahmed

Assistant Professor & Chairman Department of English

University of Global Village.