It is a well known fact that most prominent personalities of Muslim League which created Pakistan, were either graduates of Aligarh Muslim University or inspired by its role.
This University was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammaden Anglo-Oriental College in ALIGARH.
Little is known as to why Syed Ahmed chose Aligrah as the location of this college. I found today that Syed Ahmed mentioned the reason in one of his letters. This letter is part of the compilation ‘Maqalat e Sir Syed’.
When Syed decided to build this college then he found a lot of support for his mission by shia nobles and scholars. They helped Syed Ahmed with money as well. Some of those people were Hyderabad general Khalifa Muhammad Hasan, Prime Minister Patiala, Nawab Sahab Rampur, Sir Fatah Ali Qizilbash, Maharajah Sir Muhammad Ali Khan Mahmoodabad, Maulvi Syed Hasan Ali Bilgirami, Bahadur Hussein Baksh, Mir Turab Ali Agra, and Justice Syed Amir Ali.
But Syed Ahmed’s mission was opposed vehemently by certain section of scholars, especially those following Deoband madressah. This included names like Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (used to run Deoband madressah), Maulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi, Maulana Hali, Shibli Nomani, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Just like these days, they issued fatwas of KUFR against Syed Ahmed for planning to impart “non-Islamic” teachings to Muslims. He was called a kafir, an atheist, a Christian, Dajjal etc.
When Syed Ahmed found so much opposition to the mission he truly believed in, he decided to choose ALIGARH as the location of his planned college.
** REASON OF CHOOSING ALIGRAH IN SIR SYED’S OWN WORDS:**
معار٠قرآن - تشکيل٠پاکستان ميں شيعيان٠عليٴ کا کردار](تشکيلِ پاکستان ميں شيعيانِ عليٴ کا کردار)
Aligarh is close to communities of Bharatpur where saadat are living in large numbers, and have large influence. I have great expectations from them and their children that they will support and nurture my madressah by heart. This characteristic of Aligrah which I just described and which I consider most important, I can say with full confidence that it is not present in any district anywhere in north and west.
Thus it is for this reason that I have selected Aligrah as the location of my darululoom.
I conclude my report on the note that Aligarh is a beautiful name. There is a famous saying of our prophet that “ana madinatul ilm, wa Aliiun babhuha” (I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate). Thus this first Madrasatul Uloom which in reality will be the Gate of Knowledge, must be in ALIGARH.
- Syed Ahmed, CSI Secretary
Maqalat e Sir Syed. Volume 16, Page 764 to 771.
علي گڑھ۔۔ وجہ تسميہ يہ شہر آگرہ۔۔ بھرت پور کے علاقے کي سادات کي بستيوں کے قريب ہے جس کے رئيس شيعہ ہيں۔ مجھے ان تمام لوگوں سے اور ان کي اولادوں سے بھي زيادہ توقع ہے کہ يہ سب نہايت دل سے مدرسہ کے حامي اور سرپرست رہيں گے۔ يہ خاص صفت جو ميں نے علي گڑھ کي نسبت بيان کي اور جس کو سب سے اعليٰ اور مقدم سمجھتا ہوں، ميں نہايت مضبوطي اور تقويت سے کہہ سکتا ہوں کہ تمام اضلاع شمال اور مغرب ميں، کسي دوسري جگہ نہيں ہے۔ بس ان وجوہات سے ميں نے علي گڑھ کو دارالعلوم بنانے کے لئے عمدہ مقام تجويز کيا ہے۔ اب ميں اپني رپورٹ کو اس بات پر ختم کرتا ہوں کہ ’’علي گڑھ‘‘ ايک پيارا نام ہے۔ ہمارے پيغمبر رسول۰ کا يہ قول مشہور ہے کہ ’’انا مدينۃ العلم و علي بابھا‘‘۔۔ پس يہ پہلا ’’مدرسۃ العلوم‘‘ ہم مسلمانوں کا جو درحقيقت علم کا دروازہ ہوگا علي گڑھ ميں ہي ہونا چاہيے۔ (سيد احمد سي۔ ايس۔ آئي سيکٹري
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