Kashif Hafeez Siddiqui
Veteran Pakistani politician and eminent Islamic scholar Mian Tufail Mohammad passed away on Friday 25th June 2009 at the age of 95. For fifteen years, during the period 1972-1987, Mian Tufail Mohammad served as the Ameer (Leader) of Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan. He was the second Ameer of the party, following the founder of the Jamaat, Abul Ala Maududi.
Mian Sahib was born in 1914 in Kapurthala district Jalandhar, East Punjab in a farmer’s family. He was the only brother of eight sisters. His parents wanted him to be an educated person and in 1935, at the age of 21, he received his B.A. (Hons) in Physics and Mathematics from Government College, Lahore, with distinction. Later, in 1937, he completed his law degree (LL.B.; specializing in witness and land laws) in 1937 from the University Law College, Lahore securing second position.
He started his career as a lawyer, working as junior to Justice Mohammad Sharif in 1938 in Julandhar, but moved to his native town Kapurthala after one year. He was the first Muslim lawyer from this princely state. In 1942 Mian Sahib got married, and he was father to 8 daughters and 4 sons; all now married and settled in Pakistan.
In the late 1940s he encountered the workss of Maulana Syed Abul Aala Maududi and, on the advice of Syed Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari, he met and became close to Maulana Maududi. When the Jamat-e-Islami was formed as a religious political party on August 26, 1941, Mian Tufail Muhammad was one of its 75 founding members.
He left the legal profession in 1942 and joined a business house of his relatives in Lahore. His zeal for the Jamaat-e-Islami movement soon made him rise in the ranks of the party and in the All India Convention (Ijtima) of the Jama’at e Islami, in March, 1944, he was appointed the first permanent Secretary General (Qayyam) of the party. He immediately abandoned his business and moved to Darussalam in Pathankot, East Punjab. From that moment on he was always in company of and a close confidant of Syed Maududi. Except for the periods when he was put in jail, he worked as Secretary General of the Jama’at till 1965. From January 1966 to 1972 he was Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami West Pakistan. In between, he also assumed the position of Ameer-e-Jama’at of Pakistan when the occasion so demanded, particularly when Maulana Maududi was ill or was in jail and or on leave.
When Maulana Maududi resigned as Ameer-e-Jama’at in October 1972, for health reasons, Mian Tufail Mohammad was elected as Ameer for five years. He was also elected for two more terms. In 1987 he declined further service in the office because of his long ailment. Consequently Qazi Hussain Ahmad was elected to the top position. Mian Sahib confined himself to research work and joined Idara e Ma’arif e Islamia (Islamic Research Academy) in Mansoora, Lahore.
On several occasions he was invited by world leaders such as Gamal Abdul Nasser (President of Egypt) to advise on political conflicts and mediate with Ikhwanul Muslamoon (Muslim brotherhood) as he was widely respected. He also led the first delegation of Muslim World Leaders to Tehran after the formation of the Islamic government there. At that time, Pakistan was the first country to recognize the new Iranian regime after the fall of Shah of Iran. Imam Khomeni presented him with a specially engraved marble Quran. This Quran was originally a special gift from the then President of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Yasser Arafat presented to Imam Khomeni.
Although Mian Tufail’s political responsibilities took time away from his literary activities, some of his works are widely hailed. The Urdu rendition of Kashaf-ul-Mahjub and Dawat-e-Islami and Its Demands’ (Urdu) co-authored with Maulana Maududi and Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi, are the prominent pieces. His articles and interviews to press are numerous and cover most scholarly and political topics.
The strong organizational structure of today’s Jamaat e Islami owes much to Mian Sahib. Some may disagree with his political ideology, especially his soft tilt as a strategy to achieve high goals towards Gen. Zia-ul-Haq military government. For this he was criticized both within and outside Jamaat circles. But his personal sincerity, dedication and piety were widely respected. As Secretary General and then Ameer of the Jamaat, he has reportedly given preference on character building over political activism. Even the opponents of his policies and party acknowledge their respect for his person.
May Allah rest Mian Tufail’s soul in peace.
Kashif Hafeez Siddiqui writes from the Daily Ummat and runs his own blogs in both Urdu and English.
ATP: Why did you have to put up such a stern looking picture of Mian Tufail (marhoom) in this post? Couldn’t you find a picture of him smiling? Or, are you trying to suggest that Maulanas always look angry? I am sure, this is a saazish on the part of ATP.
For all those who think Mian Tufail was an honest person;
Mian Tufail arranges false witness to hang Bhutto http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/Article.aspx?news ID=1100659861&Date=20090701&Issue=NP_LHE
Well said by Daktar that most of comments on ATP shows how divided and intolerant society we are, not ready to listen anyone at all.
Mian Tufail was a 95 years old man, who died now spent his whole life as a pious muslim, his literary contributions are undeniable. Instead of pulling legs, blaming,Mian Tufail, JI or other parties and who did what, Afghan war was jihad or error, who supported dictator who did not……com on guys move on. We all should pray for him that may he rest in peace.
The Red Army had no intention of invading Pakistan. Anyone who believes in “Russians wanted to dip their toes in warm waters of Indian Ocean” is a fool who falls for childish geopolitical conspiracies.
The monster that Zia and the mullahs created in 1980 is eating Pakistan alive today.
Okay Mian Tufail Marhoom supported Zia-ul-Haq so what? If you are breathing free air, thanks to Zia otherwise, Red Amry would have treated you the same as Afghanis. Go to Afghanistan ask the Mugahijees who fought against Soviet Army. When the state is under attack, a faithfull citizen would support the Government- Democratic, Dictorial, Autocratic, or Monarch.
Stop being blind hoper of Democracy in Pakistan. What you want (a Secular Democracy) will never happen. What we want (Islamic Democracy) can’t happen because of people like you and foriegn powers. But let me tell you this, when the time has come to unite Pakistanis against the threat to Pakistan, it has always been Islam. Ayub Khan requested Maulana Mawdudi to explain Jihad on Pakistan Radio to build a popular support and unity in order to win the war against India in 1963. In 1970s war, our leaders ignored Islam and waited for the US Navy, we lost. In 80 and 90s when Red Flag was taking over the world and all religions were at stake, even American Christians helped Muslim Mujahideen of Afghanistan and Pakistani Army so that we can defeat the rise of Atheistic cult.
You all should be ashamed of insulting such a man who lived his life for Pakistan. Learn some manners of talking about Political disagreement and understand what National Interest means!!!!!
Mian Tufail did not do anything wrong by supporting Zia-ul-Haq.