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Allama Shibli--A Great Visionary

Prof. Farida Khanam

Published On: 15/3/2015 A.D. - 24/5/1436 H. Visited: 13242 times

It is a great honour for me to participate in an international seminar of such historic importance as this one.
Shibli Nomani was born in 1857, and died in 1914. His life spanned the second half of the 19^th century and the first quarter of the 20^th century -- a most important period in modern human history.
It has been rightly said that Shah Waliullah was the Mujaddid of his time. But, judging by Shibli Nomani’s achievements -- particularly since he successfully continued the mission that was initiated by Shah Waliullah -- it may also be rightly said that Shibli Nomani was Shah Waliullah plus.
I am fortunate in having been born in Azamgarh, Allama Shibli’s hometown, since by that time the intellectual environment there already bore the stamp of his scholarship. Moreover, the seniormost member of our family, my uncle, Iqbal Ahmad Suhail, a practising lawyer with a master’s degree in Persian, was Allama Shibli’s student, and one of his great admirers. He compiled the life of Allama Shibli, but for some reason, failed to complete it. Although incomplete, this biography was published in the monthly Al-Islah.
Allama Shibli was truly a creative thinker. He was born in a traditional family, where the whole atmosphere was very conventional. But he was able in his thinking to rise above his environment. A great scholar, he was an authority on Islamic history. His standards of scholarship were so high that when he wanted to write a book on Umar Faruq, he naturally wanted to consult the authentic source on the subject. At that time very few books were available in India. For example, he felt it necessary to consult Al-Bidayah wan Nihaya but this book was available only in manuscript form and was available only in Istanbul. So he travelled by sea to Istanbul and after consulting this book he compiled his masterpiece, Umar Faruq.
Shibli, in himself an institution, inspired many great men of his times. When he was at AMU, he started Dars-e-Quran, and Muhammad Ali was one of those who regularly attended it. It was this Dars which changed Mr. Mohd Ali into Maulana Mohd Ali. Then he inspired a great mind like Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, who successfully continued his mission and completed his unfinished work, Seeratun Nabi.
Darul Musannifin is a unique yadgar, or legacy, left by Allama Shibli. In the first quarter of the 20^th century, the concept of Darul Musannifin was a revolutionary one. His disciples worked hard in developing this institution and it is now highly regarded internationally.
Shibli was a true genius, whose interests covered many subjects. One of his dreams was to train a lady who was well versed in English to work among the Muslim women of the modern age. For this he selected Atiya Fayzee. But, for some reason, Atiya Fayzee failed to fulfil his dream. I may say that this aspect of Shibli’s mission inspired me. Although I was born in a remote village where there were no educational facilities, I was able, after a long and hard struggle, to complete my education.
Subsequently, I wrote a number of books on Islamic subjects. Now I am working among Muslim women, both in the university as well as outside of it. It is my aim to bring about an Islamic awakening in Muslim women, especially those who have received their education in modern institutions.
Allama Shibli was not just a scholar. He was also a revolutionary leader, who played the role of trend setter. He influenced almost the whole of his own generation. At the time of his birth in the 19^th century the colonial powers had already successfully established their empire. The whole Muslim world, directly or indirectly, was under their sway. But Allama Shibli gave new hope to the Muslims of that time, who lived in a state of uncertainty. He reminded them of their great history and by means of this historical reminder, his aim was to inculcate in them a new spirit, so that they might once again reshape their destiny.
Shibli was a person whose dynamism was of the first order Although his lifespan was a relatively short one -- he died at the age of 57 -- his work was so enormous that he may rightly be called the ‘Man of the Age’. It is said that once Maulana Munazir Ahsan Gilani visited Darul Musannifin. He was so impressed that he said, “Europe mein jo kaam Academy karti hai, India mein wo kaam ek admi karta hai.” To say this of Allama Shibli was certainly no exaggeration. His well-known work, Al-Farooq, was the only book of its kind in the whole of Muslim literary history. He inspired the well known British orientalist, Prof. T.W. Arnold to such a degree that the latter learnt Arabic and, after directly consulting original sources, wrote his famous book, The Preaching of Islam, a work which is considered to be an authority on the subject.
When he was in Aligarh, he inspired Mohd. Ali to such a degree that Mr. Mohd Ali changed into Maulana Mohd Ali. He inspired Syed Sulaiman Nadvi who, having already opted for a career in college and university teaching, came to Darul Musannifin and thereafter dedicated his whole life to it. One important aspect of Shibli was the many-sidedness of his personality. He endeavoured to give a new orientation to AMU and successfully shaped the Darul Uloom Nadwa. He actively participated in establishing the Madrasatul Islah. He also established the Shibli National School, which has now become a fully-fledged degree college. He inspired Maulana Azad to such an extent that he emerged as a champion in Indian politics. He likewise inspired Maulana Hamiduddin Farahi, who was able to establish a new school of thought on the tafsir of the Quran. This is to cite only a few such instances.
He was not just an academician, but also a man of concern in the true sense of the word. One example of his dedication is that he donated the large tract of land on which Darul Musannifin and the Shibli College were established.
The annals of history show that in the same period, there were reformers in Europe, who were able to play a great role in the shaping of their nations. But although Allama Shibli was highly competent and a great achiever in his field, his mission, in terms of its end results, could never reach the desired heights.
The basic reason is that where European reformers, thanks to the advent of the printing press and the spread of scientific education, were supported by a mentally prepared society, Shibli did not have the benefit of such an intellectually receptive milieu.
However, Shibli was fortunate in having found a successor like Syed Suleiman Nadvi, who ably continued Shibli’s mission for a considerable period of time. But, again, the outcome of Nadvi’s efforts did not measure up to the aspirations of his goal. Why this was so is one of the more puzzling questions of modern history. However, if you compare the great degree of success of the European reformers of that period with the lesser attainments of Allama Shibli, the answer becomes apparent. For example, if the Fabian Society of Britain successfully accomplished its objectives, this was due not just to its creative approach but to the pre-existing attitudes of an educated society. The difference in their respective levels of accomplishment, hinging upon the difference in their respective environments, gives us a great lesson for future planning. Strong social support for such reform movements is a sine qua non. It is so essential that even the great Prophets found it indispensable.
But now there is a silver lining. Now Darul Musannifin has been fortunate in finding a number of very able scholars who are elevating it to great heights. I pray God that they receive full social support, so that, insha Allah, they may realize the dream which gave momentum to all of Allama Shibli’s endeavours.

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