Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi
Maulana Ashraf Ali thanvi was an Indian scholar and Sufi who wrote 345 books on different Islamic issues as well as he supported the cause of Pakistan before the partition of India.
Maulana Ashraf Ali was raised up by his father as he lost his mother when he was 5 years old. His father brought him well, gave him a good education, and taught him good manners and discipline. After his graduation, he started to teach religious sciences in Faiz e Aam Madrassa. In a short period, his teachings attracted a large number of students and his research papers and writings became well known in the Islamic institutions of India. Then he visited various cities and villages to deliver lectures in the hope to reform the people, shortly his printed lectures became available too in order to catalyze this cause. Ashraf Ali thanvi's will to reform people was so firm that not only did he deliver lectures but also he supported Muslim League. He sent a group of his students and scholars to give religious guidance and advice to the leadership of the Muslim League as well as he maintained a strong relationship with them, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Among the Deobandi scholars, Thanvi, M. Shafi, and Shabbir Ahmed Usmani fully supported the Muslim League and the creation of Pakistan while other higher members of Deoband and even its leader, Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madani, opposed the idea of partition of India on the ground that Hindus and Muslims should come together to get rid of British colonialism. In the clarification of his point of view, he presented the pristine model of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), when he made an alliance with the Jews of Madia to launch an attack on their Makkan enemies. Madani advised the Indian Muslims to join Congress on the ground of Indian nationalism.
Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi challenged this point of view and argued that joining Congress instead of Muslim League is not against Islamic principles but for Muslims to join any political organization, it is imperative that the supremacy of Islam must be guaranteed. He further argued that when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) made an alliance with Jews, Muslims were the leaders while Jews were in the position of followers. Contrary, in Congress majority of the leaders, were Hindus and they only represented the rights of Hindus. Shortly, some prominent Muslims from other parts of India also join Thanwi for the campaign for Muslim Leagues, including Maulana Zafar Ali Khan of Punjab and Khawaja Hasan Nizami of Dehli. Later on, when the attitude of Deobandi management became more and more pro-Congress, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi resigned from Deoband over this issue.
The support and struggle of Maulana Ashraf Ali thanwi and the other Deobandi scholars were greatly appreciated by the Muslim League leadership. As an honor and tribute to their support, when Pakistan came into being, its first flag was hoisted by Shabir Ahmed Usmani in West Pakistan in the presence of Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan. In East Pakistan, the flag was hoisted by Zafar Ahmed Usmani in the presence of Khawaja Nazimuddin.
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