Mawlana Muhammad Ishaq ( Bengali: মুহম্মদ ইসহাক; 1883 – 18 November 1938) was a Bengali Islamic scholar, Sufi, author and philanthropist.

Early life and education

Ishaq was born in 1883 CE to a Bengali Muslim family in Feni, Noakhali District, Bengal Presidency. ^[1] He received his primary religious education from the local religious institution. Then he got admitted into an 'alim course in Comilla. ^[1] Later, he travelled to Makkah where he got admitted into the Madrasah as-Sawlatiyah. ^[1] He studied Islamic studies and Arabic for eleven years in that institution, under Shaykhu'd-Dal'ail Abdul Haqq Muhajir Makki who treated him like his adopted son. ^[1] Later, he was appointed as a teacher of that madrasa. He got khilafat from his teacher and returned to his own country. ^[1]

Career

After returning to Bengal, Ishaq also involved in sufistic practices. It is said that he had karamat. ^[1] People began to approach him for spiritual guidance. He travelled to Comilla, Noakhali, Barisal, Hatiya and Sandwip. ^[1] In these places many people became his murids. Later, he renewed his bay'at at the hands of Abdur Rab Jaunpuri who was the grandson of Karamat Ali Jaunpuri. ^[1] After that he began to be influenced by Taiyunis.

In 1936, Ishaq established the Ishaqiya Orphanage in Daganbhuiyan, Feni. ^[2] He donated all of his immovable properties for this orphanage. ^[1] Ishaq also gave financial help to establish mosques, eidgahs and madrasas.

Ishaq wrote an Urdu book titled Ta'lim-e-Haqqani Wa Fuyud-e-Ishaqi. ^[1] In that book he described about Sufi problems, zikr and mediation. He kept himself away from active politics but supported the independence movement of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. ^[1]

Death

Ishaq died on 18 November 1938. ^[1]

References