{{Short description|Bangladeshi Islamic scholar}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Unreliable sources|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = '''{{Colour|royalblue|Khatib-e-Azam}}''' | name = Siddique Ahmad | native_name = ছিদ্দিক আহমদ | native_name_lang = bn | image = Siddique Ahmad.jpg | birth_date = 1903 | birth_place = [[Chakaria Upazila|Chakaria]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1987|5|19|1903|df=yes}} | alma_mater = {{Unbulleted list|[[Darul Uloom Deoband]]|[[Mazahir Uloom]]|[[Darul Uloom Hathazari]]}} | known_for = [[Politics]] | children = 12 | father = Sheikh Muhammad Ojihullah Minaji | mother = Zubaida Khatun | module = {{Infobox religious biography | embed = yes | religion = Islam | denomination = [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] | school = [[Hanafi school|Hanafi]] | movement = [[Deobandi movement|Deobandi]] | main_interests = [[Politics]] | disciple_of = {{Unbulleted list|[[Ashraf Ali Thanwi]]|[[Hussain Ahmad Madani]]|[[Muhammad Faizullah]]|[[Asghar Hussain Deobandi]]}} | teacher = {{Unbulleted list|[[Saeed Ahmad Sandwipi]]|[[Shah Abdul Wahhab (born 1894)|Shah Abdul Wahhab]]|[[Izaz Ali Amrohi]]|[[Ibrahim Balyawi]]|[[Muhammad Shafi]]|[[Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi]]|[[Zakariyya Kandhlawi]]}} | students = [[Muhammad Yunus (scholar)|Muhammad Yunus]], [[Yahya Alampuri]] }} }} '''Siddique Ahmad''' (1903 – 19 May 1987) was a 20th-century Bangladeshi Islamic scholar and politician, widely known as '''Khatib-e-Azam''' for his oratory skills. He was elected to the [[Provincial Assembly of East Pakistan]] in 1954 and later held key positions in the [[Nizam-e-Islam Party]], serving as Secretary-General and Vice President. In the late 1960s, when the party merged with the [[Pakistan Democratic Party]], he opposed the merger and revived the original organization under the name [[Markazi Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Nizam-i-Islam]], once again serving as Secretary-General and contesting the [[1970 Pakistani general election|1970 general elections]]. He did not support the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]], and after the country's independence, he was imprisoned for 22 months and faced a ban on Islamist political activity. Following the lifting of the ban, he resumed his political activities as the founding chairman of the [[Islamic Democratic League]] and later reestablished his own party as the [[Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party]], serving as its president. He also held the position of [[Sheikh al-Hadith]] at [[Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya]] and was Secretary-General of [[Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh]].
== Early background == Siddique Ahmad was born in 1903 in the village of Baraitali, located in the [[Chakaria Upazila]] of [[Cox's Bazar District|Cox’s Bazar district]], Bangladesh.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Ahmadullah |first1=Hafez |author-link1=Hafez Ahmadullah |title=Mashayekh-e Chatgam |last2=Qadir |first2=Ridwanul |publisher=Ahmod Prokashon |year=2018 |isbn=978-984-92106-4-1 |location=[[Bangla Bazar]] |pages=55 |language=bn}}</ref> His father’s name was Sheikh Muhammad Ojihullah Minaji, and his mother was Zubaida Khatun.<ref name=":Mphil2">{{Cite thesis |last=Uddin |first=Md. Nesar |title=Khatib-e-Azam Maulana Siddique Ahmad (R.) and His Revolutionary Thought |degree=MPhil |publisher=[[University of Dhaka]] |url=https://archive.org/details/Khatib-e-AzamM.Phil.Thesis |language=bn |page=14 |year=2008 |location=Bangladesh}}</ref> He initially received Quranic and primary Bengali education from his family teacher, Naderuzzaman.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ashraf |first=Jobair Ahmad |url= |title=Smoronio Monishi |publisher=Cetana Publications |year=2021 |isbn=978-984-34-8904-3 |location=[[Bangla Bazar]] |pages=40 |language=bn}}</ref> Afterwards, he enrolled at the local Baraitali Primary School, where he studied up to class four. He completed his fifth and sixth grades at home under a private tutor and at Chakaria High School, respectively. Later, he was admitted to Satkania Ideal High School for class seven.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=14}} During this period, under the leadership of [[Mohammad Ali Jauhar]] and [[Mahatma Gandhi]], the [[Khilafat Movement|Khilafat]] and [[Non-cooperation movement (1919–1922)|Non-Cooperation movements]] began. Ahmad left school to join these movements as a volunteer.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Qasmi |first=Mazharul Islam Osman |title=Student life of 100 famous Ulama-Mashaykhs |publisher=Bud Comprint and Publications |year=2015 |edition=3rd |location=[[Bangla Bazar]] |pages=159 |language=bn}} {{Listed Invalid ISBN|98483916605}}</ref> After the Khilafat movement ended, he enrolled at Chakaria Shaharbil Senior Madrasa, where he completed the study of introductory Arabic grammar books within one year. He then joined [[Darul Uloom Hathazari]]. He also privately studied the book ''Maibuzi'' under [[Muhammad Faizullah]].{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=15}}
In 1926, Ahmad went to study at [[Mazahir Uloom]] in India and received the Dawra-e-Hadith degree. In 1929, he pursued higher studies at [[Darul Uloom Deoband]], India, focusing on theology, ancient astronomy, philosophy, law, and logic.{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=56}} At Hathazari, his teachers included [[Saeed Ahmad Sandwipi]], Muhammad Faizullah, and [[Shah Abdul Wahhab (scholar, born 1894)|Shah Abdul Wahhab]]. At Deoband, he studied under [[Izaz Ali Amrohi]], [[Ibrahim Balyawi]], [[Muhammad Shafi]], and [[Muhammad Tayyib Qasmi]]. At Mazahir Uloom, his teacher was [[Zakariyya Kandhlawi]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Azami |first=Noor Muhammad |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/363777920/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8-pdf |title=Theoretical Framework and Historical Development of Hadith |publisher=Emdadia Library |year=2008 |location=Bangladesh |pages=256 |language=bn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326114008/https://www.scribd.com/document/363777920/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8-pdf |archive-date=26 March 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Qadir |first=Masudul |url=https://archive.org/download/Patiyar10monishi/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%20%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%B6%20%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%80%20-%20%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2%20%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0.pdf |title=Patiya's Ten Legends |date=2006 |publisher=Al Manar Library |location=Andarkilla |pages=92 |language=bn}}</ref> Ahmad first received spiritual instruction and Khilafat (spiritual succession) from Muhammad Faizullah.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hossain |first=A F M Khalid |author-link=A F M Khalid Hossain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pTpFAQAAIAAJ |title=Khatib-e-Azam Maulana Siddique Ahmad: The source of an era of revolution |date=1989 |publisher=Cintadhara Prakasana |location=Bangladesh |pages=13 |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Amirul |url=https://www.rokomari.com/book/110213/sonar-bangla-hirar-khoni-45-auliar-jiboni |title=Golden Bengal, a Mine of Diamonds: Lives of 45 Sufi Saints |publisher=Kohinoor Library |year=2012 |location=[[Bangla Bazar]] |pages=129 |language=bn |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231173740/https://www.rokomari.com/book/110213/sonar-bangla-hirar-khoni-45-auliar-jiboni |archive-date=31 December 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> He also received Khilafat from [[Asghar Hussain Deobandi]] and Ahmadur Rahman of Satkania. During his studies at Mazahir Uloom, he frequently visited [[Ashraf Ali Thanwi]] and remained under his guidance for 40 days after completing Dawra-e-Hadith, during which he pledged allegiance (Bai’at) to him.{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=61}} == Teaching career == After completing his formal education, Ahmad spent 44 years in teaching.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=20}} Upon returning from Deoband, he began his teaching career in 1931–32 with a one-year tenure at Anwarul Uloom Madrasa in Shaharbil, Chakaria, located in the Cox’s Bazar district.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jahangir |first=Salahuddin |url=https://www.boibazar.com/book/banglar-borennyo-alem---2 |title=Renowned Ulama of Bengal |publisher=Maktabaatul Azhar |year=2017 |volume=2 |location=Dhaka |pages=19 |language=bn}}</ref> In 1932, he joined Darul Uloom Hathazari as a Hadith instructor, where he served for approximately 14 years until 1944, during which he also briefly held responsibilities in the Fatwa department.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=20}} Following the death of [[Habibullah Qurayshi]] in 1945, Ahmad resigned from Hathazari and rejoined Anwarul Uloom Madrasa in Shaharbil, where he taught for another three years until 1947. In 1948, he began teaching at Kakara Islamia Madrasa in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar, where he taught advanced classes for four years.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=20}} Later, in 1953, he established a madrasa named Faizul Uloom in his native village of Baraitali, named after his teacher [[Muhammad Faizullah]], and served as its principal for 12 years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Azad |first=Raihan |date=21 May 2015 |title=Remembering: Maulana Siddique Ahmad |url=https://old.dailynayadiganta.com/detail/news/24111 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108010540/https://old.dailynayadiganta.com/detail/news/24111 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |work=[[Daily Naya Diganta]]}}</ref> In 1966, at the invitation of [[Azizul Haque (scholar, born 1903)|Azizul Haque]], he joined [[Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya]] as head of the Translation and Composition Department. He later took on teaching responsibilities for advanced texts such as ''[[Sahih al-Bukhari]]'', ''[[Sunan Abi Dawud]]'', classical philosophy, and Islamic scholastic theology ([[Kalam|Ilm al-Kalam]]).{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=60}} Until the end of his life, he held the position of [[Sheikh al-Hadith]] at the institution.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ahsan |first=Sayed |url=https://www.boibazar.com/book/bangladeshe-hadis-chorcha-utpotti-o-krombikash |title=Origin and development of Hadith practice in Bangladesh |publisher=Adorn Publications |year=2006 |isbn=9842000184 |location=Segunbagicha, Dhaka |pages=185 |language=bn |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603183411/https://www.boibazar.com/book/bangladeshe-hadis-chorcha-utpotti-o-krombikash |archive-date=3 June 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Alongside his teaching role at Patiya, he also served for nearly four years as Secretary-General of [[Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh]] and held the position of Chief Academic Director (Nazim-e-Ta’limat) of Patiya from 1395 to 1401 [[Hijri year|AH]].{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=60}} Among his students was [[Muhammad Yunus (scholar)|Muhammad Yunus]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hossain |first=AFM Khalid |author-link=A F M Khalid Hossain |title=Extinguished lamp |publisher=Akabir Studies and Publishing House |year=2022 |isbn=9789849591405 |location=Chittagong |pages=198 |language=bn |trans-title=}}</ref>
== Political life == [[File:Khatib-e-Azam Siddique Ahmad addressing a gathering of Islami Chhatra Samaj at Palton Maidan in 1970.jpg|thumb|Ahmad addressing a gathering of Islami Chhatra Samaj at [[Paltan|Palton Maidan]] in 1970]] Ahmad began his political involvement around 1940 as a worker of [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind]] under the leadership of [[Hussain Ahmad Madani]], marking the beginning of his active political career.{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=62}} After the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, he met Madani at a mosque on Canning Street in Kolkata, accompanied by [[Ashraf Ali Dharnondoli]], to discuss the future of Islamic activism in the changed political landscape.{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=62}} Madani advised them to continue the movement for establishing Islamic governance in Pakistan.{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=62}} In 1950, Ahmad attended a [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam]] conference held at [[Machihata Union|Machihata]] in Brahmanbaria as an observer.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=30}} He formally joined the organization in 1952 and participated as a councillor in a three-day East Pakistan Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam conference held in Hozrat Nagar, Kishoreganj, from March 11 to 13.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=30}} At this event, the organization announced its separation from the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]] and formed an independent identity through the establishment of its political wing, the [[Nizam-e-Islam Party]], which later joined the [[United Front (East Pakistan)|United Front]].{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=30}} In the 1954 elections, Ahmad was elected a member of the [[Provincial Assembly of East Pakistan]] from the Cox’s Bazar–Maheshkhali–Kutubdia constituency under the United Front nomination.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahman |first=Md. Monibur |url=https://www.rokomari.com/book/178151/banglar-alem-songsok-sodosho--1937-2018- |title=Bengali Alem Member of Parliament (1937–2018) |publisher=Ekattor Publication |year=2019 |isbn=9789848094372 |location=Dhaka |pages=115 |language=bn}}</ref> In 1955, the Nizam-e-Islam Party formed a new central committee, and Ahmad was elected General Secretary, a position he held until 1958.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=30}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=SM Aminul |url= |title=Hundreds of Bengali Ulama: A Biographical Compendium |publisher=BhoiGhor |year=2016 |editor-last=Islam |editor-first=Samar |edition=2nd |location=[[Bangla Bazar]] |pages=235 |language=bn}} {{Listed Invalid ISBN|9847016800481}}</ref>
Later, after [[Chaudhri Muhammad Ali]] joined the party, changes took place in the central leadership. From April 28 to 30, 1958, a party council session was held in Lahore, attended by 25 delegates from East Pakistan. The session took place at Advocate Nasim Ahsan’s residence in Gulberg, Lahore, where Muhammad Ali was elected President of the All Pakistan Nizam-e-Islam Party.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=31}} After the imposition of martial law later that year, Ahmad began working underground to reorganize the party.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=31}} In 1962, with a partial return to political activity, a council session was held on November 8 at Curzon Hall, Dhaka, where Muhammad Ali was elected Central President and Ahmad became Vice President.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=31}} In 1965, at another session at the District Board Hall in Dhaka, Ahmad was elected Provincial President while Ashraf Ali Dharnondoli became Provincial General Secretary.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=31}} In September 1969, Muhammad Ali and [[Farid Ahmad]] represented the Nizam-e-Islam Party at a roundtable conference in Lahore called by [[Ayub Khan]]. After [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] withdrew from the talks, right-wing leaders decided to form a unified party. Without the consent of the party councillors, Muhammad Ali, Farid Ahmad, and [[Syed Moslehuddin]] joined the [[Pakistan Democratic Party]] (PDP) and declared the Nizam-e-Islam Party dissolved. Siddique Ahmad and many others disagreed. A full council meeting was held on October 19–20, 1969, at Zahura Mansion in Dhaka, where it was decided not to dissolve the party. It was renamed “Markazi Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Nizam-e-Islam Party,” and Ahmad was elected Central Secretary General.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=32}}
After the formation of the PDP, Ahmad played a key role in reviving the Nizam-e-Islam Party, ensuring it retained its independent existence.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=32}} He also served for a time as a union member in his native Baraitali. In the 1970 general elections, he contested for a seat in the National Assembly from Chittagong-14 (Satkania–Chakaria) as a candidate of the Nizam-e-Islam Party but was not elected.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=33}} After the [[independence of Bangladesh]], President [[Ziaur Rahman]] invited him to join the cabinet, but Ahmad declined, saying that with limited power he would merely be a puppet and would not be able to establish the law of [[Allah]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harun |first=Mizan |url=https://www.noor-book.com/%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D9%88%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%BA%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-pdf |title=Rijal sanau al-tarikh wa khadamu al-Islam wa al-ilm fi Bangladesh lil-Shamilah |publisher=Darul Bayan |year=2018 |location=Dhaka |pages=283 |language=ar |access-date=9 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312022416/https://www.noor-book.com/%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D9%88%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%BA%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-pdf |archive-date=12 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> He had similarly declined an invitation in 1971 to join Governor [[Malik ministry|Abdul Motaleb Malik’s cabinet]].{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=64}} In 1972, he was arrested from his home in Baraitali by local [[Mukti Bahini]] commander Salauddin Mahmud and was detained for 22 months without trial before being released due to lack of evidence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nijampuri |first=Ashraf Ali |url=https://www.kitabghor.com/products/details/a419d06ca22411ec84496ec427268214/the-handrede-bangla-mayer-kriti-sontan.html |title=The Hundred (100 Great Scholars from Bangladesh) |publisher=Salman Prokashoni |year=2013 |location=Hathazari, Chittagong |pages=174 |language=bn}}</ref>{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=67–68}} During his imprisonment, without access to any reference books, he wrote an eight-volume series titled ''Shan-e-Nubuwwat'', which discussed various aspects of the Prophet Muhammad’s life.{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=68}} After independence, when Islamic political activity was banned, he continued his religious outreach through sermons, [[Waz Mahfil|tafsir gatherings]], and Seerat-un-Nabi conferences.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=33}} Once the ban was lifted, he brought together eight Islamic parties—including Nizam-e-Islam, [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami|Jamaat-e-Islami]], PDP, and Khilafat-e-Rabbani—to form the [[Islamic Democratic League]] (IDL), and was elected its central chairman.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahman |first=Muhammad Habibur |url=https://aazeenofislam.com/2023/10/14/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE/ |title=We are their successors |work=Aazeen Of Islam |publisher=Al-Kawsar Publication |year=2009 |edition=2nd |location=Mirpur, Dhaka |pages=269 |language=bn}}</ref> After the IDL dissolved, he revived the Nizam-e-Islam Party in 1981 and remained its president and patron until his death.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=33}}
== Death == [[File:Siddiq Ahmad’s Grave.jpg|thumb|Gravesite of Siddique Ahmad]] In November 1983, Ahmad suffered a sudden stroke due to complications from [[diabetes]], which left him paralyzed.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=163}} After several years of illness, he died on 19 May 1987.{{Sfn|Uddin|2008|p=164}} His funeral prayer was held on 20 May at Shantir Bazar in Boraitoli, led by his second son, Sohaib Nomani. He was buried beside the southern side of the mosque at Fayzul Uloom Madrasa.{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=79}} Ahmad was married twice; his wives were Chemon Ara Begum and Arefa Begum. He had seven sons and five daughters.{{Sfn|Ahmadullah|Qadir|2018|p=80}}
== See also == * [[List of Deobandis]] == References == {{Reflist}} {{Hanafi scholars}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Deobandis]] [[Category:Hanafis]] [[Category:1905 births]] [[Category:1987 deaths]] [[Category:People from Chakaria Upazila]] [[Category:Bangladeshi Islamic religious leaders]] [[Category:Bangladeshi Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam]] [[Category:20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam]] [[Category:Darul Uloom Deoband alumni]] [[Category:Secretary-General of Anjuman-e-Ittihadul Madaris Bangladesh]] [[Category:Nizam-e-Islam Party politicians]] [[Category:Shaikhul Hadith of Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya]] [[Category:East Pakistan MLAs 1954–1958]]