Syed Yousuf Al-Moosavi Al-Safavi (1904 – 29 August 1982) ( ur, آغا سید یوسف الموسوی الصفوی) was a

Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...

i religious scholar and leader of

Shia Muslims Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor (''khalīfa'') and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, most n ...

. He founded the influential Anjuman-e-Sharie organization.

Early life

Yousuf was born in

Budgam Budgam (), known as Badgom (; ) in Kashmiri language, Kashmiri, is a town in Budgam district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir, India. In the 2001 census, it was recorded as having a notified area ...

in 1322 Hijri. He completed his education in Islamic law from Najaf in Iraq. He is a descendant of Mir Shamsuddin Araki, who came to Kashmir in the 13th century from the town of Arak in Markazi Province, Iran. After the death of his elder brother Aga Syed Ahmed Almosavi, he took over the responsibilities of the Aga family. He established an educational institution for Islamic learning called ''Madras-e Babul Ilem'' ("gateway of knowledge") in Budgam. Madars-e Babul Ilem is the ''Alma mater'' of many in the Kashmir literary field. It is the practice among Shias of Kashmir to go to their religious head ( Mawlawi or Agas) for legal disputes instead of to government courts. Such ''Sharie Adalats'' ("religious courts") determine justice according to Islamic doctrine. During the period of Aga Yousef, ''Sharie Adalats'' became very popular. On a number of occasions the district court sent cases to Yousef's court. During the reign of Maharaja Gulab Singh, Pratab Singh, and Hari Singh, an article was included in the constitution of Kashmir which bestowed this Aga family with a unique honour. According to the article, if any one from the Aga family was required to give testimony in any case then he would not go to the court instead the court would come to his residence and record the testimony. No one from the Aga family should be summoned in the court. The law existed up to the period of Aga Syed Yousuf.

Career

Anjumane Sharie Shian

Aga Syed Yousef established Anjumane Sharie Shian in

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...

with both religious and political goals. Just as the government receives taxes from the general public, Anjuman Sharie Shian collects ''

khums In Islam, khums ( ar, خُمْس , literally 'one fifth') refers to the required religious obligation of any Muslims to pay 20% of their acquired wealth from certain sources toward specified causes. It is treated differently in Shia and Sun ...

'' and '' fitr'' as

alms Alms (, ) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in poverty. Providing alms is often considered an act of virtue or Charity (practice), charity. The act of providing alms is called almsgiving, and it is a widespread p ...

from the

Shia Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his S ...

population to spend on social, educational and economic improvement for the poorer segment of the community. When Sheikh Abdullah's government passed the

Land Reform Act Land reform is a form of agrarian reform involving the changing of laws, regulations, or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution, generally of agricultural ...

, Aga Syed Yousef said the bill was against the doctrine of Shiaism, which resulted in the government exempting Shias from the bill.

Other accomplishments

Yousuf undertook the construction of Imambara Budgam. He widened the Imambara Hassanabad, a smaller replica of the one in Budgam. Yousef also introduced the Shia ''nisab'' ("syllabus") at the University of Kashmir. He was the representative of Imam Khomeini

Personal life

Yousuf died on 29 August 1982. After his death, the district hospital of Budgam was named after him. Yousuf was buried in Budgam at the Aga Mehdi shrine. The shrine was constructed by Yousuf himself during his lifetime to honor Sarkar Aga Syed Mehdi, who was also Yousuf's grandfather. His son was Aga Syed Mohammad Fazlullah who died on 29 January 2018 in Budgam.

Succession

Aga Syed Yousuf died on 29 August 1982. He was the only patron and president of Anjumane Sharie Shian. Three renowned scholars of "Aga Family" claimed as his successor.

Aga Syed Mustafa Moosavi Mustafa Al-Moosavi Al-Safvi (2 February 1918 – 21 August 2002) widely known as Aga Sahab ( ur, آغا صاحب) was a Kashmiri Shia Muslim cleric, Islamic Jurist, Islamic scholar, philanthropist and former President of Anjuman-e-Sharie Shiyaa ...

, Aga Syed Mohammad Fazlullah Moosavi are considered three successors of Aga Syed Yousuf. Followers of Aga Syed Yousuf were divided into two factions: "Mustafai" followers of

, "Muhammadi" followers of Aga Syed Mohammad Fazlullah Moosavi. After the deaths of

and Aga Syed Mohammad Fazlullah Moosavi their factions are led by Aga Syed Hassan Budgami and Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi Moosavi respectively.تاریخ کشمیر مطبوعہ از راہ اسلام آرگنائزیشن

References

Notes

External links

Budgam District official website
cites 1955 extension of Imambara Budgam

cites 1982 death of Aga Syed Yusuf Al-Moosavi Al-Safavi * {{DEFAULTSORT:Yusuf Al-Moosavi Al-Safavi, Aga Syed 1904 births 1982 deaths Indian Shia clerics People from Jammu and Kashmir Kashmiri people Indian ayatollahs People from Budgam district