Anwar Shah Shopiani

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This article is about the Salafi preacher and poet. For the Hanafi Islamic scholar, see Anwar Shah Kashmiri.

Anwar Shah Shopiani
Personal life
BornMohammad Anwar Shah
c. 1849 (1849)
Shopian, Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu, India
Diedc. 1939 (aged 88–89)
Shopian, Kashmir
Cause of deathNatural
Resting place33°42′45″N 74°49′37″E / 33.71250°N 74.82694°E / 33.71250; 74.82694
NationalityKashmiri
Home townShopian
PartnerMolvi Syed Hussain Shah
ChildrenAbdul Qayoom Shopiani, Molvi Mohammad Bashir Shopiani (grandsons)[1][2]
Main interest(s)Hadith, poetry, Islamic preaching
EducationLocal Madrasa-based Islamic education
Known forPropagation of Islam
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationSalafi
Founder ofAhl-i Hadith movement
PhilosophyQuran and Sunnah
SchoolSalafism
LineageRasool Shah
CreedAthari
Senior posting
TeacherAbdul Mannan Wazirabadi
Influenced by
Influenced
  • Entirety of the Salafi Movement in Kashmir.

Anwar Shah Shopiani (born Mohammad Anwar Shah; c. 1849 – c. 1939), commonly known as Mawlawi Anwar Shah Shopiani, was a Kashmiri Islamic preacher, scholar, poet, and the founder of Ahl-i Hadith movement in the Jammu and Kashmir.[3][4] He also established the first Ahl al-Hadith mosque at Zaldagar, Srinagar in 1897, where he served as imam.[5][6]

He wrote Islamic poetry in Persian and Kashmiri language, including Taleem Sunnat and Basharatul Mumineen; his later works include Dewan Anwar and Guldasta Anwari, a Kashmiri poetic collection.[7]

Biography

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He was born in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. He received his basic islamic education outside the state and is believed to have studied under Hafiz Abdul Manan Wazirabadi, a prominent Muslim scholar of the period.[7]

After completing his education, he returned to the Kashmir Valley and traveled across several regions, including Kishtwar and Turtuk, Nubra, and Ladakh, to propagate a puritan form of Islam.[citation needed]

Criticism and controversy

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Anwar's teachings, particularly his criticism of shrine veneration and clerical authority, drew opposition from religious leaders. He criticized clerics, reportedly stating that "mullas are misleading people." He was reportedly involved in several legal cases and was charged under the blasphemy law for allegedly insulting revered shrines and Sunni practices, though later released. He was also imprisoned at different times on accusations of inciting sectarian discord.[3]

First period (1857–1890)

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During the reign of Maharaja Ranbir Singh (1857–1885), the Wahhabi movement began to influence Kashmir. According to Walter Roper Lawrence in The Valley of Kashmir, the Maharaja closely monitored reformist groups and often imprisoned their activists.[citation needed]

Around this time, Anwar traveled to undivided Punjab for further studies, where he met Islamic scholars from Bengal, including Molana Yaqoub of Dinajpur (now in Bangladesh), an admirer of Shah Ismail Shaheed Dehlvi. This period marked a turning point in his intellectual development. After returning to Kashmir, he preached a puritanical interpretation of Islam and opposed practices such as shrine veneration, which he referred to as "asthana wa qabar parasti" ("worship of shrines and graves"). His views provoked opposition, and there were reportedly several unsuccessful attempts on his life.[7]

The Kashmiri literary figure Akhtar Mohiuddin later described him in Indian Literature (Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi):

Molvi Anwar Shah of Shopian belonged to the Wahhabi sect of Muslims. His poetry was devoted to religious themes and his creed. While he versified hadith and Islamic codes of conduct, he denounced grave worship and superstition. He urged people to fear none but Allah and wrote satires against outdated customs, often targeting clerics whom he accused of preaching superstition instead of true religion.

Second period (1890–1939)

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By the early 20th century, Anwar had gained support for his movement, and in 1912 the first Ahl-i Hadith mosque in Kashmir was built at Zaldagar, Srinagar. He later visited Qadian in Punjab, where he met Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, and opposed his prophetic claims. After returning to Kashmir, he actively campaigned against the Ahmadis, who were commonly referred to by opponents as "Qadianis."[7]

The Kashmiri political leader Molana Mohammad Sayeed Masudi later wrote of him:

Had Molana Anwar not been active in Kashmir, the southern part of the valley would have professed the Qadiyani faith. It was his spirit and endeavour which blocked the activities of the Qadiyanis.

Works

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  • Dewan-e-Anwar (A collection of poems in the form of anthology according to Arabic alphabetical order) published in 1935 in Lahore.
  • Taleem-e-Sunnat (The only versified book in Kashmiri language which provides you the way of life in the light of Hadith. This book became so popular that it runs in 13th edition of printing till now since 1943 AD).
  • Guldaste-Anwari (This book consists of Kashmiri and Persian poems related to the praises of God and Muhammed published first in 1928 at Mohammadi Steam Press Lahore.
  • Tafseer-e-Surah Yousuf (A versified translation of Chapter 12 of Holy Qur'an.
  • Basharatul Mumineen (A befitting poetic replica to a local poet of Shopian who criticized the Salafis in the form of satire) first published in 1937 or 1942.
  • Usool-e-Hadith (Versified account of Hadith. This book has been published for the first time in 1936.
  • Naseehat-un-Niswaan (Two parts) Marriage songs in the form of Wanvun published for the first time in 1938).
  • Salam-e-Anwar Mae Kalam-e-Anwar ( A collection of eulogies of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) first published in 1938.
  • Jang-e-Badr (A versified account of battle of Badr in Kashmiri Language published first in 1970)
  • Jang-e-Uhad (A versified account of battle of Uhad in Kashmiri Language published first in 1970)
  • Al Qawlul Maqbool fi Meraj-U-Rasool (A versified account of divine visit of Mohammad to heavens first published in 1942AD).
  • Sheikh San’an (An account of pious person Sheikh San’an still unpublished but original manuscript found and preserved)
  • Haleema bar wazne Karima (A Persian collection of poems in the style of Sheik Sadi's book Karima first composed in 1901AD).
  • Nehrul Irfan (A poetic collection in Persian in the praise of La-ilaaha-illAllah still unpublished).
  • Virdul Muwahideen (A book written in a style of Virdul Murudeen)

Further reading

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  • Yaseen, Suvaid (20 February 2023). "Poetry as history: Maulana Muhammad Anwar Shopiani and the Ahl-i Hadith movement in Kashmir". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 34 (1). Cambridge University Press (CUP): 53–77. doi:10.1017/s1356186322000608. ISSN 1356-1863.
  • Mohammad Nazir Fida (2022) Tazkerai Aslaf, GM sabir Publishers, New Delhi, pp 27–30
  • Faisal Barkat (2020) Hazrat Maulana Mohammad Anwar ShopianiRA: The Colossal Literary
  • Figure of Kashmiri Literature, Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE: A
  • Arts & Humanities; 20 (18); Version 1.
  • Mohammad Nazir Fida (1987) A Brief Account of Wahabi Movement in Jammu & Kashmir (Unpublished)
  • Walter R Lawrence (1894) Reprinted in 1992 by J K Offset Printers New Delhi.
  • Bashir Ahmad Khan (2007) The Ahl-i-Hadith: A Socio-Religious Reform Movement in Kashmir, Muslim World, Vol 90, 133-157
  • G M Shaad (2001) Molvi Mohammad Anwar Shopiani, Sahitya Academy New Delhi
  • Akhter Mohiuddin (1987) Indian Literarature, Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, p. 85
  • Monthly Sheeraza, (2014) Vol 51, No 6, p. 41. J & K Academy of Art Culture and Languages Srinagar/Jammu.
  • Abdul Ahad Azad (1967) Kashmiri Zuban aor shayeri, Editor: Mohammad Yousuf Taing, J & K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages Srinagar/Jammu.
  • Suhail Khaliq, The man with a Mission, In: Greater Kashmir, English Daily from Valley of Kashmir.

References

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  1. ^ "Maulana Bashir Shopiani passes away | Kashmir Reader". 22 April 2016. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Moulana Qayoom Shopiani passes away". greaterkashmir.com. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b "The man with a mission". greaterkashmir.com. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Islam and Sufism in Kashmir". milligazette.com. 23 January 2025. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Myth of radicalization in Kashmir". risingkashmir.com. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Smouldering Shopian". 14 March 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "The Enduring Legacy Of Moulana Anwar Shopiani: A Champion Of Tawheed In Kashmir". Kashmir Reader. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.