Harun Babunagari

Harun Babunagari (Bengali: হারুন বাবুনগরী; 1902–1986; often referred to as Buzurgo Saheb) was a Bangladeshi Deobandi Islamic scholar, Sufi and an exegete of the Quran. He was the founder and first Principal of Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar, one of the oldest Qawmi Madrasa in Bangladesh.^[1]

Harun Babunagari was born in 1902, to a Bengali Muslim family in the village of Babunagar in Fatikchhari, Chittagong District. His father Sufi Azizur Rahman was the founder of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam in Hathazari, and traced his ancestry to Caliph Abu Bakr. Babunagari had three other siblings, most notably Amin, a former head of the Hadith studies department at Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar.^[2]

He completed his primary education at a primary school in Babunagar. He studied various subjects there, including Saadi Shirazi's Gulistan - the most influential Persian prose in history. His father, Sufi Azizur Rahman, used to also teach him the Quran at home. After completing his primary studies, Babunagari joined Al-Jamia al-Arabia Nasirul Islam in Nazirhat Bazar, which was founded by his father, who also taught there. He studied there up until Kafiya.^[3]

In Muharram 1341 AH (August/September 1922), Babunagari enrolled at Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam in Hathazari, which was also founded by his father. Due to family circumstances, he only studied up until Dawra-e-Hadith (Masters) and only learning up until Jamat-e-Ula Mishkat Sharif. He later completed studying Sihah Sittah with his elder brother, Amin.^[4]

Following the death of his father Sufi Azizur Rahman in 1922, Babunagari decided to fulfill his dreams. At the age of only 22, he established Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar in 1924. He served as the madrasa's principal up until his death in 1986.^[5]

He also served as a murid to Zamiruddin Ahmad for 18 years. After the latter's death, he turned to Azizul Haq. During a gathering at the Hathazari eidgah, Haque stood up during Babunagari's speech and declared that he has given him permission of the four tariqa.^[3]

Babunagari married Umme Salma and had five children. His eldest child, Muhibbullah Babunagari, succeeded his roles after his death. His daughter, Fatimah Khatun, was the mother of Junaid Babunagari.^[6]

He died on 18 August, 1986 at the Chittagong Medicare Clinic. His janaza was performed the next day, led by his son Muhibbullah Babunagari. He was subsequently buried at the Maqbara-e-Haruni in the southern part of his madrasa in Babunagar.^[6]

• List of Deobandis