National Shariah Council

Background

In 1994, while serving as Assistant Professor at the Shari‘ah Academy of the International Islamic University, Islamabad, Dr. Amin conceived the idea of creating a private scholarly council of Islamic scholars from different schools of thought, aimed at developing consensus positions on socio-political issues and fostering inter-sectarian harmony. Inspired partly by the model of Imam Abū Ḥanīfah’s scholarly gatherings, he shared the idea with the late Dr. Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi (then Director General of the Shari‘ah Academy), who welcomed it. A few preliminary meetings were held in Islamabad, but circumstances required Dr. Amin to move to Lahore.

There, he took charge of the English and Arabic departments at Dār al-Islām, an institution run by his friend Abdul Malik Mujāhid of Riyadh, before later joining the Department of the Encyclopaedia of Islam at Punjab University as Senior Editor.

When the issue of interest (ribā) reached the Supreme Court’s Shariah Appellate Bench, presided over by Justice Khalil ur Rahman, the Court sought scholarly input. In response, Dr. Amin mobilized professors and researchers from Islamic Studies departments across the University to prepare collective submissions. These were formally presented to the Court through Majlis Fikr-o-Nazar.

Subsequently, Dr. Amin, under the same forum, engaged scholars from various schools of thought to review the madrasah curriculum, resulting in consensus-based recommendations and eventually a proposed new curriculum. These details are preserved in his book Hamārā Dīnī Niẓām-i-Ta‘līm (“Our Religious System of Education”).

In 2007, further efforts culminated in the establishment of the Millī Majlis Shari‘ī (“National Shari‘ah Council”), inaugurated at Jāmi‘ah Naeemiā, Lahore, with scholars from across the spectrum of religious schools. Its leadership over the years has included eminent figures such as the late Dr. Sarfaraz Naeemi, Mufti Muhammad Khan Qadri, and currently Mawlānā Zahid al-Rashīdī, with Dr. Amin serving as its Secretary-General.

 

Since its founding, the Majlis has issued hundreds of scholarly collective statements on diverse issues, promoted inter-sectarian harmony, and created a forum where scholars deliberate, pray, and share meals together. Although lacking funds, offices and staff, its intellectual impact is not very significant.

National Shariah Council
Introduction of the National Shariah Council
Background of Establishment
In August 2000, during a workshop of religious scholars from Islamic seminaries organized by Tehreek-e-Islah-e-Taleem at a school in Gulberg, several important issues came to light. It was felt that there should be an educational and non-political council in which scholars from all schools of thought could participate, and where contemporary issues faced by Muslim society could be discussed collectively.

Among the modern challenges faced by Muslims are information technology, media, Western influences, and new social trends. A shared stance was required to strengthen unity of the Ummah and reinforce Islam. To give practical shape to this idea, a founding meeting was held in August 2000 at Jamia Naeemia, Lahore, where it was decided to form an academic, intellectual, religious, preaching, and reformative committee under the name Majlis-e-Ulama wa Mashayikh.
Founding Members of the Council
  • Maulana Dr. Muhammad Nawaz Naeemi (Shaheed)
  • Maulana Hafiz Fazlur Rahim
  • Maulana Zahid-ur-Rashdi (Gujranwala)
  • Maulana Hafiz Abdul Rahman Madani
  • Maulana Abdul Malik
  • Maulana Mufti Muhammad Khan Qadri
  • Maulana Taj Muhammad Siddiq Hazrawi
  • Maulana Abdul Raouf Farooqi
  • Maulana Irshad-ul-Haq Athari (Faisalabad)
  • Maulana Hafiz Salah-ud-Din Yusuf
  • Professor Muhammad Rafiq Chaudhry
  • Professor Dr. Muhammad Amin
Expansion of the Council
With the passage of time, more scholars continued to join the Council, including Maulana Mufti Abdul Ghafoor, Maulana Ahmad Ali Qasuri, Maulana Hafiz Abdul Qayyum Razvi, Maulana Muhammad Khalil-ur-Rahman Qadri, Maulana Qari Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoob, Maulana Qari Muhammad Ahmad Mian Qasmi, Hafiz Saeed, Dr. Anwar Sajjad, Maulana Dr. Farid Ahmad Paracha, and Maulana Dr. Abdul Rashid Qadri (Jamia Ashrafia).

The process of expansion is ongoing, with efforts to include eminent scholars from across Pakistan to collectively achieve the Council’s objectives.
Office Establishment and Reorganization
  • Maulana Mufti Muhammad Khan Qadri — President
  • Maulana Zahid-ur-Rashdi — Senior Vice President
  • Maulana Hafiz Abdul Ghaffar Rupdi — Vice President
  • Maulana Abdul Malik — Vice President
  • Maulana Dr. Muhammad Hussain Akbar — Vice President
  • Dr. Muhammad Amin — Secretary General
  • Maulana Khalil-ur-Rahman Qadri — Deputy Secretary General
  • Maulana Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoob — Secretary General
  • Maulana Raghib Hussain Naeemi — Finance Secretary
Some Scholarly Works of the Council
  1. Permissibility of images and television for legitimate Shariah purposes (June 2008)
  2. Reform of religious seminaries’ systems and curricula
  3. Strategy to curb obscenity and promote modesty in Pakistani society
  4. Unanimous stance on national sovereignty
  5. Guiding principles for Shariah interpretation and enforcement in Pakistan
Objectives of the Council
  1. To strive for unity among scholars
  2. To promote harmony among different schools of thought
  3. To present a united stance on contemporary issues
  4. To guide the public on scholarly and intellectual matters
  5. To launch joint preaching and reform programs in electronic and print media