Abdur Rahman Kashgari

Abdur Rahman Kashgari (15 September 1912 – 3 April 1971) was one of the leading scholars of the Arabic language and literature in the Indian subcontinent. Of Uyghur background, Kashgari migrated from East Turkestan to India at an early age, completing his studies in Lucknow where he became an accomplished Islamic scholar, linguist, poet and author. He then migrated to Bengal (present-day Bangladesh), where he eventually became the principal of Dhaka Alia Madrasa. Kashgari was also the first khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, holding this role until his death.

Early life and education Abdur Rahman was born in the village of Tashmiliq in Kashgar, East Turkestan (present-day Xinjiang, China). His father, Abdul Hadi Damolla, was a local Uyghur mullah popularly referred to as Beit-Akhunum. As a result of instability in their home region following the 1911 Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of China, his father, elder brother and two sisters were arrested by the new regime and the family property was taken away. His maternal uncle suggested to Abdur Rahman's mother that they join the Muslim refugee groups migrating to the subcontinent with the assistance of a guerrilla force. However, Abdur Rahman's mother hoped for her family to eventually be freed and so she remained in Kashgar though Abdur Rahman was keen on furthering his Islamic studies in India.

Abdur Rahman's initial education began under the local Islamic scholars in Kashgar. After leaving behind his family in Kashgar, eleven-year old Abdur Rahman joined the caravan towards India. They passed through Karakol and the Pamir Mountains, eventually reaching a place called Dukhan in Afghanistan. From there, they reached a place called Barik near Fayzabad, Badakhshan. From there, they reached Chitral via Zebak where they received assistance from Mehtar Amir ul-Mulk, and subsequently went to Dargai. After months of walking on foot, they finally went from Dargai to Amritsar via rail. The adviser there appeared in the services of Maulana Abdullah Minhas, in whose name the Mehtar of Chitral had kindly written a letter of recommendation. According to the Mehtar's instructions, he served Abdul Hai Hasani, principal of the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow, British India. Finding refuge in the Nadwatul Ulama orphanage in 1922, he became a student at the same institute up-to higher level, gaining a strong grounding in the Islamic sciences such as Hadith studies, tafsir, Arabic literature and other subjects under Abdul Hai Hasani. He graduated from Nadwatul Ulama in 1347 AH (1929 CE). He then went on to study at the University of Lucknow where he received a Fazil-e-Adab degree. Kashgari received a certificate in the seven qira'at from the Madrasa-e-Furqania.

Career After completing his studies, Kashgari became a teacher at his alma mater, the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama. Muhammad Fakhruddin (bn), Muhiuddin Khan, Nurul Islam Hashemi (bn), Syed Fazlur Rahman and Abu Mahfuz Al-Karim Masumi. In 1963, he was appointed as the first khatib of the newly built Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and he served in this position until the end of his life. Kashgari was also a member of the Anjuman Mufidul Islam organisation.

Works Kashgari has written many works pertaining to Arabic language and has also composed Islamic poetry in Arabic. Among his books are: Dīwān az-Zahrāt (Lucknow, 1935) Al-Ḥadīqah (Incorporated into the dakhil grade curriculum for Alia madrasahs by the Madrasah Education Board) Dīwān al-ʿIbrāt (unpublished poetry) Dīwān ash-Shadhrāt (unpublished poetry) Farhang-e-Kāshgarī (unpublished poetry)

Personal life Kashgarhi remained a bachelor for his entire life. He had pet kittens.

Death Kashgarhi died 3rd April 1971, in Dacca, East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). He was buried in Azimpur Graveyard. One of his students, Abu Mahfuz Al-Karim Masumi, wrote a lengthy obituary for the fortnightly Al-Raid in Lucknow.