Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi

Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi (1797–1861) was one of the main figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He was a philosopher, a poet, a religious scholar, but is most remembered for his role as a freedom fighter. It was he who issued the fatwa in favour of Jihad against the English in 1857.

Life

Khairabadi had been a chief judge in Lucknow. After the First War of Independence failed, he was arrested on 30 January 1859 at Khairabad, was found guilty of "revolt" against the Government and sentenced for life to the prison at Kalapani (Cellular Jail) with confiscation of his property by the Judicial Commissioner, Awadh Court. He reached Andaman on 8 October 1859 aboard the Steam Frigate “Fire Queen”.

His son, Abdul-ul-Haq, somehow managed to obtain the release order of his father. He reached Port Blair on 13 February 1861, but was too late — Khairabadi had been hanged on February 12.^{[citation needed]}

Besides being a scholar of Islamic studies and theology, he was also a literary personage, especially Arabic and Persian literature. He edited the first diwan of Mirza Ghalib on his request. On account of his deep knowledge and erudition he was called Allamah and later was venerated as a great Sufi.^{[citation needed]}

Fatwa of Jihad against British

Khairabadi writes:

“

The English prepared a scheme to Christianize all the Indian inhabitants. It was their belief that the Indians would not be able to find any helper and cooperator, and therefore save submit and obey, they would not have the nerve to defy them. The English had thoroughly realized that the ruler’s variance from the ruled on the basis of religion would be a great stumbling block in the way of domination and possession. Hence they began to indulge in all sorts of wiles and chicanery with complete diligence and assiduity, in their willful attempt to obliterate religion and the sense of nationhood. To teach small children and the ignorant and to inculcate their language and religion, they established schools in towns and villages and made an all out effort to wipe out the old sciences and academic attainments.[1]

”

Criticism of Wahabi Ideology

Khairabadi was at the forefront of issuing fatwas against Wahabi or Salafis. He also argued against the idea of Non Finality of Prophethood. He wrote that, according to the Qur’an and Hadith, the prophet Muhammad is the final prophet, and there can be no other prophet or "messenger" after him. To believe that there can be another Muhammad would necessitate that Allah did something apart from what He has stated in the Qur’an, that is, that Allah has lied. Lying is a flaw and it is impossible for Allah to have a flaw.^[2]

Personal life

His grandson is Muztar Khairabadi, Jan Nisar Akhtar is his great-grandson, and Javed Akhtar and Salman Akhtar are his great-great-grandsons.

See also

• Islam in India
• Indian Freedom Movement

References

1. ^ darululoom-deoband
2. ^ Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi. Tahqeeq al-Fatwa fi Ibtal al-Taghwa. 

Further reading

• Bates, Crispin; Carter, Marina (2009). "Religion and Retribution in the Indian Rebellion of 1857". Leidschrif. Empire and Resistance. Religious beliefs versus the ruling power 24 (1): 51–68. 
• Malik, Jamal (2006). "Letters, prison sketches and autobiographical literature: The case of Fadl-e Haqq Khairabadi in the Andaman Penal Colony". Indian Economic Social History Review 43 (77). 

Persondata
Name	Khariabadi, Fazl-E-Haq
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1797
Place of birth
Date of death	1861
Place of death