Allama Fadle Haq Khairabadi (R.A.

) , the
Hero of 1857 War of Independence against
The British . Author -- Maulana Muhammad
A K Azad

One hundred and fifty years of the revolt of 1857 completed in 2007. The
whole country remembered this War of Independence and paid glowing
tributes to its valiant and daring warriors. I dedicate the book of mine
“Zakir Naik’s Lie & Deception on Yazeed The Villain” to Allama Fadle
Haq Khairabadi (R.A.), the great hero of First War of Independence
and all the Muslim Muzaheeds and Ulemas who took part in this War
of Independence against the British.

Indian historians belonging to majority community wiped out contribution

of Muslims especially of Ulama from the 1857’s first war of independence
.But Alhamdulillah, confessions by the English Government, western
historians and thousands of preserved documents in libraries demonstrate
that the initiator and connivers of this revolt were no other than Muslims,
especially Ulama. As a result of this offence, the English Government
paralyzed them politically, socially, educationally and economically in such
a way that till date they can’t stand at par with majority. Britishers’s
Cordiality with Hindus and discriminatory attitude towards Muslims led to
the partition of India. After the revolt of 1857, General Russell wrote a
letter to London newspaper “The Times” In which he writes:“The
antagonism we share with the devotees of Mohammad is more severe
than the enmity we have with the devotees of Shiva and Vishnu.
Muslims are more dangerous for our regime. It will prove a pious deed
if we get successful in erasing Hadith and places of worship of
followers of Mohammad from the face of the world”. On 10th May,
2007, ‘The Times of India’ openly confessed about the revolt of 1857
that:“The main targets of the suppression were the Muslim Ulama,
weavers and peasants, since the British blamed them for being the
mastermind behind the revolt”.

Allama Yaseen Akhtar MIsbahi writes : “During the revolt of

1857, the Ulama as a religious duty, issued the fatwa of jihad against the
English; practically participated in the war; encouraged the Mujahideen and
led the revolutionary insurgents. The most prominent among them was
Maulana Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi who in compliance with the order of his
Peer-o-Murshid (Spiritual mentor) was leading a campaign against the
English.The names of other leading Ulama who played a pivotal roles in the
revolt of 1857 are as follows: Mufti Sadruddin Azurda, Allama Fazle Haq
Khairabadi, Maulana Faiz Ahmad Badayuni, Maulana Kifayat Ali Kafi
Moradabadi, Maulana wahhajjuddin Moradabadi, Mufti Inayat Ahmad
Kakorvi, Moulana Rahmatullah Kairanvi, Maulana Dr. Wazir Khan
Akkarabadi, and Maulana Imam Baksh Sahbai Dehlavi. According to
books dealing with the revolt, around fifteen thousand Ulama were
martyred during the War of Independence in 1857.
The above mentioned Ulama were ideologically and practically inspired, in
one way or the other, by the following Ulama who were their predecessors
also.Hazrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlavi (d.1176/1762) (2) Hazrat
Mirza Mazhar Jaan-i-Jaanan Mujaddidi Dehlavi (d.1195/1781) (3) Hazrat
shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlavi (d.1239/1824) (4) Hazrat Qazi
Sana’ullah Panipati (d.1225/1810) (5) Hazrat shah Rafiuddin Muhaddith
Dehlwi (d.1233/1818) (6) Hazrat Mufti Iwaz Barelwi (d.1236/1821) (7)
Hazrat Mufti Sharfuddin Rampur (d.1268/1852) [ Ref : Some Prominent
Ulema of 1857 Revolt By Allama Yaseen Akhtar MIsbahi, Founder
Darul Qalam Delhi)]
Fatwa of Jihad against BritishBy Allama Fazl-e-Haq
Khairabadi ( R.A.):With his writings Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi roused
a sense of patriotism among the Indian masses particularly Muslims
and inspired them to fight against the colonial rule to achieve
independence. Maulana Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi said:
“The English prepared a scheme to Christianize all the Indian inhabitants.
It was their belief that the Indians would not be able to find any helper and
cooperator, and therefore save submit and obey, they would not have the
nerve to defy them. The English had thoroughly realized that the ruler’s
variance from the ruled on the basis of religion would be a great stumbling
block in the way of domination and possession. Hence they began to
indulge in all sorts of wiles and chicanery with complete diligence and
assiduity, in their willful attempt to obliterate religion and the sense of
nationhood. To teach small children and the ignorant and to inculcate their
language and religion, they established schools in towns and villages and
made an all out effort to wipe out the old sciences and academic
attainments.” [^darululoom-deoband via Wikipedia]

Allama fazale haq khairabadi depicted the British conspiracy of

Making Westernisation of the Muslims in these words :
“They (English Government) knew well that the differences between ruling
authorities and masses on religious grounds will prove a stumbling block in their
way of conquering and overpowering and will witness outbreak of revolution
among the sultanate. So, they attempted malicious ways to eradicate religion,
they opened Madarsas in villages and remote areas to promulgate Christianity
and to educate children and leave no stone unturned in closing down of
Madarsas and schools and eliminating learning and knowledge of preceding
age”.He further says that:“Apart from these approaches there were some
objectives hidden deep inside their hearts, for example to stop Muslims from
circumcision, to put an end to purdah of Muslim ladies, they mean to bring all
the religious practices and customs to an end”. [ The First war of independence and its
key connivers By:Khushtar Noorani]

Allama Yaseen Akhtar MIsbahi writes : “Allama Fazle Haq

Khairadabadi (1212/1791-1278/1861) was the son of Allama Fazle Imam
Farooqi Khairadabadi (d.1244/1829), the Sadrus Sudoor of Delhi. Allama
Fazle Haq received his education in Islamic Sciences from Shah Abdul
Qadir (d. 1230/1815) and Shah Abdul Aziz, the Muhaddith of Delhi
(1239/1824) and in rational sciences from his father. At the age of 13, he
completed his education and engaged himself in teaching. Then, he took
up service with the government in 1815.
When, at the invitation of Faiz Mohammed Khan, the Nawab of Jhajjar
(Punjab), he was leaving Delhi for Jhajjar, Bahadur Shah Zafar, expressing
his deep sorrow and grief, gave him a Doshaalah (an embroidered Shawl/
a double folded shawl) and, with tearful eyes, saw him off. He also said. “
Since you are ready to leave, I have no choice but approve of your
departure. But, Allah Knows well that it is extremely difficult for me to utter
the word ‘Good-Bye’.” (Yaad Gaar-e-Ghalib, Dehli)
After his stay at Jhajjar, he was employed at Alwar, Tonk and Rampur.
Then he went to Lucknow and became the Sadrus Sudoor and Mohtamim-
i-Huzoor-i-Tehsil (official in charge of a tehsil). He was also a Sar-rishtadar
(magistrate) in Delhi also. He held a post at Saharanpur too. He wrote
some very important books. He also produced disciples who latter on
became well known scholars of their age.
There was a fast friendship among Mufti Sadruddin Azurda Dehlavi, Allama
Fazle Haq Khairadabadi, and Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. It was Allama’s
advice and selection that helped Ghalib arrange his ‘Diwan-i-Ghalib’.
According to Mohammed Husain Azad, this is the very version which the
readers hold dear these days. (Aab-i-Hayat, Delhi) the houses of Allama
Fazle Haq Khairabadi and Mufti Sadruddin Azurda were the meeting places
of the Ulama, Poets, and literary figures.
When the revolt broke out in 1857, he came from Alwar to Delhi several
times and met Bahadur Shah Zafar. This continued since May. Then, when
General Bakht Khan, along with his fourteen thousand soldiers, came for
Bareilly to Delhi, according to Munshi Zaka’ullah of Delhi, Allama delivered
a speech in front of the Ulama in the Jamia Masjid after the Friday prayer.
He put fourth an istifta (query seeking legal advice on a point of religious
importance) before the Ulama the fatwa (legal advice/ opinion ) was signed
by Mufti Sadruddin Azurda, Maulvi Abdul Qadir, Qazi Faizullah Dehlavi,
Maulana Faiz Ahmed Badayuni, Dr. Maulvi Wazir Khan Akbarabadi, Syed
Mubaraksha Rampuri as soon as these fatwa was published disturbance
and tumult intensified throughout the country. Some ninety thousand
soldiers gathered in delhi. (Zak’ullah, Taarikh-i-‘Urooj-i-Saltanat-i-
Englishiah, Delhi)
When the English regained their control over Delhi, Allama Fazle Haq left
Delhi and went to Awadh. A case was filed against him in 1859. He was
tried to in a court for rebellion and was sentenced to imprisonment in Kaala
Paani (Andaman Nicobar). He himself defended his case and declared in
the court that it was he who had issued the fatwa of jihad and stuck to his
stand. Maulana Abdul Haq (1244/1828-1316/1898), the son of Allama
Fazle Haq, was the principal of Madrasa Alia in Calcutta. W.W. Hunter
writes about him: He (Abdul Haq) is the son of the rebel Alim whom the
government has sentenced to imprisonment in the Kaala Paani
(Andaman Nicobar) and whose library was confiscated and brought to
Calcutta. (W.W. Hunter, Hamare Hindustani Mussalamaan,[Urdu]
p.203, Delhi)

Maulana Abdul Shahid Shervani of Aligarh, the biographer of Allama and

translator of his famous book ‘ Al-Sauratul Hindia’ (the Indian Mutiny)
writes, “ Maulana Abdul Haq Khairabadi had made his last will that he
should be informed in his grave when the English would leave the country.
Therefore, Syed Najmul Hasan Rizvi, along with a big crowd, visited the
grave in the Dargaah-i-Makhdoomiah, at Khairabad in Sitapur and read
the Fatiha after Milaad Shareef. (Muqadimmah (Introduction to)
Zubadatul Hikmah, p.12, Aligarh, 1949) Allamah Fazle Haq Passed
away in Andaman Nicobar (Kaala Paani) in 1861 and was buried over
there. [Some Prominent Ulema of 1857 Revolt By Allama Yaseen
Akhtar MIsbahi, Founder Darul Qalam Delhi)]

Madam Polonaskaya, An Honourable Member of Science Academy of

Soviet Union, shed light on the political activities of Allama Fazle Haq (
R.A.) and emphasized that Allama Khairabadi’s social and political goal
were to liberate India from the bondage of the imperialist British. ( Ref:
Fortnightly Soviet Desh, 10th July 1958). Renowned Journalist of Delhi Mr.
Chunilal wrote that “Moulvi Fazle Haq instigated the masses through his
speech.” ( Ref: Akhbare Delhi Page 273 File No. 127). Deobandi Scholars
Maulana Hussain Ahmrd Madni, Mustaqim Ahsan Hamidi, Golam Rasul
Meher , Golam Ahmed Mortuza, Maulana Mohiuddin Khan etc. also
discussed Allama Fazle Haq’s indomitable movement in their books
Naqshe Hayat, Bagiye Hindustan, 1857 Ke Muzahid etc.

Ismail Dehlawi, Raza Rammohan Roy, Syed Ahmed Brelvi

etc are freedom fighters ??? : Due to the conspiracy of the enemies of
Islam, the life and works of Fazl-e Haq Khairabadi gains no attention. What
an irony is that the agents of The British like Bankim Chandra Chaterrjee,
Raza Rammohan Roy, Ismail Dehlawi and Syed Ahmed Brelvi are sung as
Freedom Fighters, and Muzahids like Allama Fazl-e Haq ‘s ( R.A.) sacrifice
and contribution in the freedom movement are being suppressed by
!. Mawlana Manzoor Nomani al Deobandi writes about his Grand Shaykh
Shah Ismail Dehlawi that “ It is very famous that he did not proclaim
any Jihad against British, instead in his meeting at Calcutta or Patna
he gave his consent for supporting british government and this is
also well known that british government also supported him at many
instances” (AL FURQAN , SHAHEED NUMBER , 1355 AH , PAGE
78). Mirza Hairat Dehalvee al Deobandi confesse about his Imam Shah
Ismail Dehlawi in Hayate Tayyeba that “ In Calcutta , when Mawlana
Ismaeel was giving lecture about Jihad and about the atrocities of
Sikh then some one stood up from the gathering and asked “ why
don’t you give fatwa to do jihad against the britishers”. He replied” it
is not wajib ( compulsory) to do any jihad with them .( aap ne jawab
diya – un per jihad karna kisee tarah wajib nahee ). First of all we are
under their shelter and secondly they do not make any hinderance in
fulfilling our religious obligation. We all total freedom under this
government . In fact if there is any attack on this government then it is
FARD upon muslims to fight that enemy and save our BRITISH
GOvernemtn from any kind of hardship “ .( Hayat tayyeba ,page 29 ,
farooqi printing press , delhi). Shah Ismail Dehlawi also said : “ On what
basis can we do Jihad against British government and kill our shariah
law”? (mohammed jafar Thaneswari al Deobandi, Sawang Ahmedi , page
71)

I salute the gallant revolutionary Allama Fazl-e Haq Khairabadi (

R.A.) and all unsung and unwept Muzahids of 1857 War of Independence
and dedicate my book to them.