{{Short description|Bengali Sufi scholar}} {{Distinguish|Jamir Uddin Nanupuri}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = Shaykh al-Mashaykh | name = Zamiruddin Ahmad | native_name = জমিরুদ্দিন আহমদ | native_name_lang = bn | image = | caption = | birth_date = 1878 | birth_place = [[Fatikchhari Upazila|Fatikchhari]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1940|7|6|1878|df=yes}} | alma_mater = [[Darul Uloom Deoband]] | known_for = [[Sufism]] | children = 14 | father = Nur Uddin | module = {{Infobox religious biography | embed = yes | religion = Islam | denomination = [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] | school = [[Hanafi school|Hanafi]] | movement = [[Deobandi movement|Deobandi]] |main_interests = [[Sufism]] |disciple_of = [[Rashid Ahmad Gangohi]] |teacher = {{Unbulleted list|[[Mahmud Hasan Deobandi]]|[[Aziz-ul-Rahman Usmani]]}} |disciples = [[Azizul Haque (scholar, born 1903)|Azizul Haque]], [[Muhammad Yunus (scholar)|Muhammad Yunus]], [[Muhammad Faizullah]], [[Shah Ahmad Hasan]], [[Shah Abdul Wahhab (scholar, born 1894)|Shah Abdul Wahhab]], [[Saeed Ahmad Sandwipi]] }} }} '''Zamiruddin Ahmad''' (1878 – 6 July 1940) was a Sufi scholar active in the early 20th century in the [[Bengal|Bengal region]], now part of Bangladesh, and was a successor to [[Rashid Ahmad Gangohi]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.boibazar.com/book/sufisadok-o-olama-mashayekh |title=Sufi Saints and Islamic Scholars of the Indian Subcontinent |publisher=Mina Book House |year=2017 |isbn=978-984-91154-6-5 |editor-last=Ansari |editor-first=Azizul Haque |location=[[Bangla Bazar]] |pages=92 |language=bn |archive-date=11 June 2025 |access-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611193605/https://www.boibazar.com/book/sufisadok-o-olama-mashayekh |url-status=dead }}</ref> He served as the founding patron of [[Darul Uloom Hathazari]] for over three decades, and [[Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya]] was established under his direction. His successors include [[Azizul Haque (scholar, born 1903)|Azizul Haque]] and [[Muhammad Yunus (scholar)|Muhammad Yunus]].
== Early life == Zamiruddin Ahmad was born in 1878 in Shoabil village of [[Fatikchhari Upazila|Fatikchhari]] in the [[Chittagong District|Chittagong region]] (present-day Bangladesh).<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=24–28 |language=bn}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Babunagari |first=Junaid |author-link=Junaid Babunagari |url=https://www.boibazar.com/book/kotipoy-ujjol-nokkhotro |title=Some bright stars from Darul Uloom Hathazari |publisher=Bukhari Academy |year=2003 |edition=1st |location=Hathazari, Chittagong |pages=8 |language=bn |access-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402195745/https://www.boibazar.com/book/kotipoy-ujjol-nokkhotro |archive-date=2 April 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> He experienced early hardship following the death of his father, Nur Uddin, which resulted in financial difficulties for his family.<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=62–63 |language=bn}}</ref> Seeking employment, he moved to [[Yangon|Rangoon]] (now Yangon, Myanmar), where he worked in a factory. During this time, he engaged in informal religious learning under a Punjabi imam and developed a particular interest in the text ''Rahe Najat''.<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 |publisher=Al-Kawsar Publication |year=2009 |edition=2nd |location=Dhaka |pages=177 |language=bn}}</ref> This growing focus on Islamic scholarship led him to leave his job and pursue formal religious education in India.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jahangir |first=Salahuddin |url=https://www.rokomari.com/book/143778/banglar-borennyo-alem-1 |title=Renowned Ulama of Bengal |publisher=Maktabaatul Azhar |year=2017 |volume=1 |location=Dhaka |pages=106 |language=bn}}</ref> Aiming to join the spiritual circle of [[Rashid Ahmad Gangohi]], Ahmad sought to pledge allegiance ([[bay'ah]]) to him; however, Gangohi advised him to first undertake structured Islamic studies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Hasan |first=Shah Ahmad |author-link=Shah Ahmad Hasan |title=Mashayekh-e Chatgam |date=2016 |publisher=Ahmod Prokashon |isbn=978-984-92106-4-1 |editor-last=Ahmadullah |editor-first=Hafez |editor-link=Hafez Ahmadullah |edition=3rd |location=[[Patiya Upazila|Patiya]] |pages=143 |language=bn}}</ref> Ahmad then enrolled at [[Darul Uloom Deoband]], where he studied under [[Mahmud Hasan Deobandi]] and received additional instruction in Islamic jurisprudence from [[Aziz-ul-Rahman Usmani]].{{Sfn|Islambadi|1996|p=523}}{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=144}} After completing his studies, he further developed his knowledge of Islamic law under Gangohi and, in 1906, received both spiritual succession (khilafat) and scholarly authorization (ijazah).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islambadi |first=Abdur Rahim |url=https://archive.org/details/JamiruddinAhmadIslamicEncyclopedia |title=Encyclopedia of Islam |publisher=[[Islamic Foundation Bangladesh]] |isbn=9840601458 |volume=21 |location=Dhaka |publication-date=1996 |pages=523 |language=bn |chapter=Zamiruddin Ahmad}}</ref>
== Later years == After returning to Bengal, Ahmad began teaching at Jamiaul Uloom in Fatikchhari. When discussions arose about establishing a madrasa in Hathazari, community leaders were advised by [[Ashraf Ali Thanwi]] to consult him.{{Sfn|Islambadi|1996|p=524}} Following the foundation of the [[Darul Uloom Hathazari]], Ahmad served as its chief patron for 35 years.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Uddin |first=Jasim |url=https://archive.org/details/DUHhistory |title=History of Darul Uloom Hathazari |date=2002 |publisher=Bhukari Academy |location=Hathazari |pages=70 |language=bn}}</ref> In addition to his administrative duties, he taught ''[[Mishkat al-Masabih]]'' and ''[[Al-Hidayah]]'' and provided spiritual guidance to his students.<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=187 |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> Among his disciples were [[Muhammad Faizullah]], [[Shah Ahmad Hasan]], [[Shah Abdul Wahhab (scholar, born 1894)|Shah Abdul Wahhab]], and [[Saeed Ahmad Sandwipi]].<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=213 |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>
In later years, Ahmad stepped back from formal administrative responsibilities to focus on spiritual teaching and outreach, traveling across Bengal, Assam, and Burma.{{Sfn|Islambadi|1996|p=524}} He appointed successors such as [[Azizul Haque (scholar, born 1903)|Azizul Haque]] and [[Muhammad Yunus (scholar)|Muhammad Yunus]], with Azizul Haque later establishing [[Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya]] in 1938 under his direction.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=150}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hasnabadi |first=Muhammad Zakaria |url=https://www.rokomari.com/book/277438/mashayeke-babunagor |title=Mashayekh-e-Babunagar |publisher=Ittihad Publication |year=2023 |location=[[Bangla Bazar]] |pages=58 |language=bn}}</ref> Ahmad was married seven times and had fourteen children.{{Sfn|Hasan|2016|p=151}} He died on 6 July 1940 and was buried near Nur Mosque, near to the Darul Uloom Hathazari.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahman |first=Nurur |url=https://www.rokomari.com/book/167251/tajkeratul-awliya-6 |title=Tazkeratul Auliya |publisher=Emdadia Library |year=2010 |volume=6 |location=Dhaka |pages=116 |language=bn}}</ref> ''Tazkira-e-Zamir'' by Faiz Ahmad Islamabadi is the primary source of his biographical information.<ref name=":1" />
== See also == * [[List of Deobandis]]
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Hanafi scholars}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Deobandis]] [[Category:Hanafis]] [[Category:1878 births]] [[Category:1938 deaths]] [[Category:People from Fatikchhari Upazila]] [[Category:Bangladeshi Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam]] [[Category:20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam]] [[Category:Darul Uloom Deoband alumni]] [[Category:Students of Mahmud Hasan Deobandi]]