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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 6

Publication Date: December 25, 2022

DOI:10.14738/aivp.106.13558. Huq, F., Islam, A., & Khatun, K. A. (2022). Da’wah Strategies of Shaikh Azizur Rahman Nesarabadi to Establish Unity in Diversity in

Bangladesh: A Global Viewpoint. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 444-457.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Da’wah Strategies of Shaikh Azizur Rahman Nesarabadi to

Establish Unity in Diversity in Bangladesh: A Global Viewpoint

Fayzul Huq

Post Doctorate Fellow, Department of History & Civilization

International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Arshad Islam

Associate Professor, Department of History & Civilization

International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kazi Afifa Khatun

PhD. Candidate, Department of Education

International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

This research demonstrates the daʽwah strategies of Shaikh Azizur Rahman

Nesarabadi which he adopted to bring a unity in diversity in the multifaceted

Muslim society of Bangladesh. Shaikh Nesarabadi was an Islamic scholar, social

reformer, dāʽī, politician, and spiritual leader of Bangladesh. Throughout his entire

life, he dedicated himself to establish the unity among Muslim political and non- political parties and different national daʽwah movements. For this reason, he

established an Islamic party called Jamiyat Hizbullah, whose motto was al-Ittihad

Ma al-Ikhtilaf (unity within diversity). The research has explored his major steps

taken to bring all Muslims, especially the Islamic parties under one umbrella of

Islam. This study examines his daʽwah strategies, concepts, and his role in the

society and politics of Bangladesh by textual analysis of primary and secondary

data. The findings of this research concern intellectual strategy, journalism and

editing, and the founding of educational institutions. These include the

establishment of Jamiyat Hizbullah, Hizbullah Jamiyatul Muslihin, Hizbullah Anti- corruption Committee, Council for an Ideal Society, Imad Fund, Herbal Treatment

Committee, building a Self-reliant Nation, Moderation Movement of Ramadan, and

the Cottage Industry Movement, which continue his legacies and contributions to

bring unity in diversity.

Keywords: Strategies, Unity, Diversity, Shaikh Nesarabadi, Movements

INTRODUCTION

The 160 million people of Bangladesh are divided in different social, political, and religious

groups, each of which tends to adhere to its party’s creed, ideology, and activities (Shahidul,

2014). Some Islamic thinkers and scholars of the nation deeply felt and realized the significance

of unity among Muslims, one of whom was Shaikh Azizur Rahman Nesarabadi, who thought

that Muslims could not be brought under one umbrella of Islam unless they accept the formula

of “unity in diversity” (al-Ittihad ma al-Ikhtilaf). Each party may have some unique

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Huq, F., Islam, A., & Khatun, K. A. (2022). Da’wah Strategies of Shaikh Azizur Rahman Nesarabadi to Establish Unity in Diversity in Bangladesh: A

Global Viewpoint. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 444-457.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13558

characteristics, behaviours, and reactions which never contradict with tauhid (the Oneness of

Allah), but it is not necessary that every group of Muslim communities must think, believe, act

and react like a single man.

Furthermore, even if it were possible, it is not necessary for all Muslims to be homogenous.

Nevertheless, practical and universally beneficial unity among all Muslims can be created if the

formula of unity in diversity is adopted by leaders and thinkers of Muslim nations. Building the

unity in such way among Muslims in Bangladesh and around the world, Shaikh Azizur Rahman

Nesearabadi adopted some strategies during his life time and tried best to bring the unity in the

country. In this age of technological revolution, globalization, and multiculturalism, those

strategies should be studied and desperately need to be implemented to bring the expected

unity among Muslims at home and abroad. His strategies are explored and described below.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Very few researches have explored Shaikh Nesarabadi’s thoughts, ideas, contributions, and

methods of daʽwah to bring unity among Muslims at home and abroad. Fayzul Huq and Arshad

Islam wrote “A Critical Analysis of Unity Movement in Bangladesh: Shaikh Nesarabadi’s ‘Unity

in Diversity’,” in which they noted the role of the Shaikh in promulgating the ethos of the motto:

“Unity in Diversity” which he used to establish unity among Muslims. They mentioned that the

Sheikh viewed it as the only platform to address the current disunity, and described

Nesarabadi’s thought and theory on unity in terms of three elements: moderation and mutual

respect, focus on common interest, and the tawhidic paradigm. At the end they claim these three

components can lead the way to fulfil the command of Allah (swt) to unite the Ummah and lead

in the world as champion of justice.

Md. Shahidul Haque wrote “Unity in Diversity in Bangladesh: The Contribution of Sheikh Azizur

Rahman Nesarabadi,” in which he said that among many intellectuals who tried to unite the

nation, one of the most influential was Shaikh Nesarabadi, who called for public unity

conferences and invited leaders of different groups to be united with some common goals and

aspirations. Many political and religious leaders responded to him and agreed based on his

theory. Another research done by Fayzul Huq, Arshad Islam, and Kazi Afifa Khatun entitled “The

Strategies and Practices of Sheikh Azizur Rahman Nesarabadi in the Pursuit of Unity in

Diversity and Harmony: The Global Viewpoint,” which described a brief biography of Shaikh

Nesarabadi, his contributions to Shariah and Sufi education, and their effects on his vision. The

study then emphasized his thoughts on four steps of religious harmony analysing the current

social realities in Bangladesh and in the Islamic world.

None of the existing studies have described and analysed the daʽwah strategies of Shaikh

Nesarabadi, which are very crucial to bring forth and discuss to benefit from in practice.

According to the current demands of global geo-politics, religious disunity, economic crisis and

moral degradation, the daʽwah strategies of Shaikh Nesarabadi should be brought to light and

benefit Muslims of Bangladesh and global Muslim Ummah.

Gaining Spiritual and Metaphysical Training

As mentioned earlier, Shaikh Nesarabadi came to his former institution not as a student but as

a teacher. At this time, he came in touch with the great Islamic thinker, mystic, spiritual leader,

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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 6, December-2022

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

and social reformer of an undivided Bengal, Hazrat Maulana Nesaruddin Ahmed, and the Pir

Shahab Sarsina. He was a Khalifa of Hazrat Maulana Abu Bakr Siddiqui, Pir of Furfura in West

Bengal (Sharif Taibur Rahman, 249). Soon Qayed became a favourite to Pir Nesaruddin Ahmed.

Shaikh Nesarabadi learned spiritual and metaphysical training from Pir Nesarabadi, and

inculcated four Sunni Sufi traditions, (Chistiya, Naqshbandiyah, Mujaddidiyah, and

Muhammadiyah), and later Qadriyah from his Shaikh Nesaruddin. Maulana Nesaruddin gave

khilafatto Shaikh Nesarabadi, who was a dedicated spiritual leader of the highest order, striving

to perform each and every doctrine and daily amal of his master’s teaching until his death. Jami

also describes that Shaikh Nesarabadi served Sarsina Tariqa until his death as a prominent

khalifa (representative) of Pir Nesaruddin Ahmad.

Contribution of Shaikh Nesarabadi

The contribution of Shaikh Nesarabadi and his activities serve as the groundwork for studying

his discourse on unity in diversity. As a reformer and Islamic intellectual, he contributed

significantly to various sectors such as social harmony, moral development, spiritual

development, education, political, intellectual, and social unity in Muslim society, and the

Islamization of the state. He did this through three dimensions he categorised as: Islah Nafs

(purification of heart), Islah Qawm (purification of community), and Islah Hukumat

(purification of state) (Rafikullah, 51). In order to make our discussion evident his

contributions in these areas are analysed one-by-one.

Intellectual Strategy

Shaikh Nesarabadi’s intellectual enterprises can be looked into by his own writing and his

support and establishment of numerous institutions. He contributed a lot in the field of religious

knowledge, and was a prolific writer of more than 30 books and countless articles. Some of his

works are true masterpieces in the study of Taṣawwuf (sufism). Rafikullah states that

Nesarabadi’s writings are mostly research-based or educative books (Ibid, 67). This reflects

that he did not write to sell, but rather to serve the Muslims, as he himself described:

“When I write my book, I do not think about whether it will sell in the market or

attract people or not, rather I am concerned about how much my work will benefit

Muslims and educate them.” (Ibid)

The main aim of his writing was to teach the Muslim community the rulings of Islam. His

intellectual contribution was more focused on serving Islam, loving people, and reconstructing

Islamic society. In particular, the Shaikh authored some books for purification of the heart,

community, and state. His prime concern was Muslim unity, as expounded in the following

chapter. He wrote on many contemporary issues, including Islam and politics, democracy and

autocracy, morality and ethics, Islam and spirituality, Islamic life and non-Islamic life, Iman,

Tawhid, establishing deen, struggle for Islam (jihad), Quranic explanations, selective hadiths

and their implications for Muslim life, methods of Islamic calling, and the importance of Islamic

educations and so on. Generally, his writing style was simple and easy to comprehend,

persuasively inspiring commoners to understand the message of Islam and inculcate it in their

daily lives. He collected the lectures and speeches of his Shaikh Nesaruddin Ahmed and

compiled them for the benefit of commoners and scholars as well.