Syed Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari

Syed Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari (September 23, 1892 - August 21, 1961) was a notable religious and political figure of Subcontinent.

Birth and education

Born in Patna, India, he got his early religious education in Gujrat and learnt the Quran by heart from his father Hafiz Syed Ziauddin at the age of 10 years. Astonishingly, he had never been the regular student of any big madrasah, and nor he got education from any renowned teacher. Instead, he completed all the books of Dars-e-Nizami "(classical syllabus of ulama)" part-by-part and as a part-time student from different teachers, as and when the circumstances permitted him to do so. This was because he got into practical life in a very tender age and used to work as labourer in order to earn living for him and his children. Even in the jail he remained alert in respect of receiving education and he studied the Sahih Bukhari when he was imprisoned on account of an anti-government religious speech. In spite of this fact he stood atop in the list of best reciters of the Quran of his time, and found a unique and respectable position among the best ulama of his age.

Religious and political career

He started his religious and political career in 1916. Right from here started that part of his life whose title has been `rail and jail'. He led the movement in the days of British rule in India against Ahmadi(qadiani)s. He served several terms in jail for this cause. Due to his main role in this movement the important religious figures had chosen him to be the Ameer-e-Shariat in 1930. He was also the founding father of Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam.

Oratory and poetry

He is specially known for his oratory, and was one of the most admired muslim orator of his time in sub-continent. He was also a poet and most of his poetry was in Persian language.

He was the disciple of Syed Mehr Ali Shah Golravi.