Faiz Ahmad Owaisi

Mufti Muhammad Faiz Ahmad Owaisi (1932–2010) was a Pakistani Sunni Islamic scholar, Quran commentator, hadith scholar, author, translator, Sufi, poet and teacher. He founded Jamia Owaisia Razvia in Bahawalpur and authored numerous works on Quranic exegesis, hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, theology and devotional literature.

Early life

Mufti Muhammad Faiz Ahmad Owaisi was born in 1932 (1351 AH) in the village of Hamidabad, Khanpur Tehsil, Rahim Yar Khan District, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan). His father was Noor Ahmad Owaisi.

Family

According to biographical accounts published by his followers, Owaisi belonged to the Lad community, which traditionally claims descent from Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. His family was originally settled in Sindh before later migrating to the Rahim Yar Khan region.

Teaching career

After completing his studies, Owaisi returned to his native village of Hamidabad, where he established Madrasah Manba al-Fuyuz. The institution provided instruction in the traditional Islamic sciences and educated students from the surrounding region. The seminary offered instruction in Quran memorisation, the Dars Nizami curriculum, advanced hadith studies and Islamic legal studies, ifta. According to the institution, many scholars graduated from the seminary, which later developed a network of affiliated branches.

Owaisi authored numerous works on Quranic exegesis, hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, theology and religious literature. A selection of his published works includes: The Grace of the Benefactor: Commentary on Quranic Verses, Fadl al-Mannan fi Tafsir Ayat al-Qur'an (فضل المنان فی تفسیر آیات القرآن), Arabic, 10 volumes The Grace of the Quran: Commentary on the Quran, Tafsir Faiz al-Qur'an (تفسیر فیض القرآن), Urdu, 10 volumes Owaisi's Quranic Commentary: Tafsir Owaisi (تفسیر اویسی), 15 volumes The Blessings of the Prophet Regarding the Occasions of Revelation: Faiz al-Rasul fi Asbab al-Nuzul (فیض الرسول فی اسباب النزول), 10 volumes The Proof Regarding Chapters and the Quran, Al-Burhan fi al-Suwar wa al-Qur'an (البرہان فی السور والقرآن)

Hadith studies and commentaries

The Flowing Blessing: Commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Fayd al-Jari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari (الفیض الجاری شرح صحیح بخاری), 10 volumes Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Sharh Sahih Muslim (ترجمہ و حاشیہ مسلم شریف), 10 volumes Commentary on Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Sharh Jami' al-Tirmidhi (ترجمہ و حاشیہ ترمذی شریف), 5 volumes Commentary on Sunan al-Darimi, Sharh Sunan al-Darimi (شرح دارمی), 8 volumes Commentary on Sunan al-Daraqutni, Sharh Sunan al-Daraqutni (شرح دار قطنی), 10 volumes Sunni Hadiths in the Razavi Legal Opinions, Al-Ahadith al-Sunniyyah fi al-Fatawa al-Razawiyyah (الاحادیث السنیہ فی الفتاویٰ الرضویہ), 5 volumes Fabricated Hadiths, Ahadith Mawdu'ah (احادیث موضوعہ), 5 volumes Abrogating and Abrogated Narrations in Hadith, Al-Nasikh wa al-Mansukh fi al-Ahadith (الناسخ والمنسوخ فی الاحادیث)

Islamic law and theology

Owaisi Legal Opinions, Fatawa Owaisia (فتاویٰ اویسیہ), 10 volumes The Decision on Eight Issues, Faisla Hasht Mas'ala (فیصلہ ہشت مسئلہ), 10 volumes The Radiant Lights: Commentary on Mishkat al-Masabih, Al-Lama'at Sharh Mishkat al-Masabih (اللمعات شرح مشکوٰۃ), 5 volumes Commentary on al-Jami, Ni'am al-Hami Sharh al-Hami (نعم الحامی شرح جامی), 10 volumes The Two-Nation Theory and the Scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah, Do Qaumi Nazriya aur Ulama-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat (دو قومی نظریہ اور علمائے اہلسنت) The Difference Between Intrinsic and Bestowed Qualities, Zati wa Ata'i ka Farq (ذاتی و عطائی کا فرق)

Sufi and devotional literature

Commentary on Gardens of Blessings, Sharh Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish (شرح حدائقِ بخشش), 25 volumes Commentary on the Masnavi of Mawlana Rumi, Sharh Masnavi Mawlana Rumi (شرح مثنوی مولانا روم), 25 volumes Owaisi Sermons, Mawa'iz Owaisia (مواعظِ اویسیہ), 10 volumes Owaisi's Begging Bowl / Collection of Writings, Kashkol Owaisi (کشکول اویسی), 10 volumes Owaisi Treatises, Rasa'il Owaisia (رسائل اویسیہ), 5 volumes Secrets and Devotion, Raz-o-Niaz (راز و نیاز), 5 volumes Owaisi Notebook, Bayaz Owaisi (بیاض اویسی), 5 volumes The Owaisi Chronicle, Owaisi Nama (اویسی نامہ), 5 volumes Biography of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, Sawanih Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (سوانح خواجہ غریب نواز) The Pre-eternal Wine, Alasti Sharab (الستی شراب)

Other works

Practical Issues, Karamad Masa'il (کارآمد مسائل) Islamic Curriculum for Women, Khawatin ka Islami Nisab (خواتین کا اسلامی نصاب), 5 volumes Pearls of Knowledge, Ilm ke Moti (علم کے موتی) Reflections on Faiz Millat, Tasurat Bara-e-Faiz Millat (تاثرات برائے فیضِ ملت) Identifying Fatimi and Non-Fatimi Sayyids, Fatimi wa Ghair Fatimi Sayyid ki Pehchan (فاطمی و غیر فاطمی سید کی پہچان) History of the Construction of the Ka'bah, Tarikh-e-Tamir-e-Ka'bah (تاریخ تعمیر کعبہ) Causes of Salvation of the Deceased, Mayyit ki Nijat ke Asbab (میت کی نجات کے اسباب) Benefits of Carrots, Gajar ke Fawa'id (گاجر کے فوائد) The Virtues of Betel Leaf, Pan ki Shan (پان کی شان) Educational institutions

Besides Jamia Owaisia Razvia in Bahawalpur, several seminaries associated with Owaisi's family and students continue to operate in different parts of Pakistan. The Bahawalpur seminary provides religious education to both local and residential students.