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
Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the ...
from
Najaf
Najaf ( ar, ٱلنَّجَف) or An-Najaf al-Ashraf ( ar, ٱلنَّجَف ٱلْأَشْرَف), also known as Baniqia ( ar, بَانِيقِيَا), is a city in central Iraq about 160 km (100 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated popula ...
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
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (5 December 1905 – 8 September 1982) was an Indian politician who played a central role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir Abdullah was the founding leader of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (later rena ...
'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
A ḥosayniya or hussainiya (Arabic: حسينية ''husayniyya''), also known as an ashurkhana, imambargah, or imambara, is a congregation hall for Twelver Shia Muslim commemoration ceremonies, especially those associated with the Mourning of M ...
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
The University of Kashmir (U-K, UoK), informally known as Kashmir University (KU), is a collegiate public state university located on the western side of Dal Lake in the city of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, India which was established in 194 ...
. 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
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 ...
, "Muhammadi" followers of
Aga Syed Mohammad Fazlullah Moosavi. After the deaths of
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 ...
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]
See also
*
Ayatullah Aga Syed Mustafa Moosavi
*
Hujjat Ul Islam Aga Syed Mohammad Fazlullah
*
Shaheed Aga Syed Mehdi
*
Mohammad Abbas Ansari
Mohammad Abbas Ansari (Urdu: محمد عباس انصاری) (17 August 1936 – 25 October 2022) was a political leader and a well known Shia Muslim scholar, reformer, preacher and cleric from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. He was know ...
*
Ghulam Rasool Noori
*
Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari
Iftikhar Hussain Ansari (26 April 1942 – 30 September 2014), widely known among his followers as Moulvi Sahib, was a Kashmiri Shia cleric, politician, businessman and a proponent of the Grand Ashura Procession In Kashmir. He was a representat ...
*
Succession of Aga Family
*
Aga Syed Mohsin Al Mosvi
*
Tafazzul Husain Kashmiri
Tafazzul Husain Khan Kashmiri (1727–1801) (Urdu: علامہ تفضل حسین کشمیری), also known as Khan-e-Allama, was a Twelver Shia scholar, physicist, and philosopher. He produced an Arabic translation of Sir Isaac Newton's '' Princi ...
*
Destruction of Kashmiri Shias
History of Shi'ism in Kashmir is marked with conflict and strife, spanning over half a millennium. Incidents of sectarian violence occurred in Kashmir under the rule of Mirza Haider Dughlat, followed by the Mughals (1586–1752), the Afghans (175 ...
References
Notes
External links
Budgam District official websitecites 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