Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani (1897–1976) was a distinguished Islamic scholar, jurist, and author, widely respected in both pre- and post-partition South Asia. Born in Deoband, India, he studied at the prestigious Darul Uloom Deoband under eminent scholars such as Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri and Hakim al-Ummah Ashraf Ali Thanwi. A gifted student, he became one of the youngest teachers at Deoband and eventually served as the Grand Mufti, issuing over 26,000 fatwas during his tenure.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Mufti Shafi migrated to Pakistan, sacrificing his position and personal comfort for the sake of Islamic work in the newly formed Muslim state. In Karachi, he founded Darul Uloom Karachi, which grew into one of the largest andMufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani (1897–1976) was a distinguished Islamic scholar, jurist, and author, widely respected in both pre- and post-partition South Asia. Born in Deoband, India, he studied at the prestigious Darul Uloom Deoband under eminent scholars such as Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri and Hakim al-Ummah Ashraf Ali Thanwi. A gifted student, he became one of the youngest teachers at Deoband and eventually served as the Grand Mufti, issuing over 26,000 fatwas during his tenure.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Mufti Shafi migrated to Pakistan, sacrificing his position and personal comfort for the sake of Islamic work in the newly formed Muslim state. In Karachi, he founded Darul Uloom Karachi, which grew into one of the largest and most respected Islamic seminaries in the world. He was also a key figure in Pakistan’s early constitutional development, contributing significantly to the Objectives Resolution of 1949, a foundational document affirming the Islamic identity of the state.
Mufti Shafi’s most celebrated literary contribution is Ma’ariful Qur’an, an eight-volume Urdu tafsir (exegesis) of the Qur’an, which combines classical interpretation with contemporary relevance. His writings cover a wide range of subjects including hadith, fiqh (Islamic law), and tasawwuf (spirituality), reflecting his deep scholarship and balanced approach.
He passed away in 1976 in Karachi. His legacy continues through his students and children, most notably Mufti Taqi Usmani, who is himself a globally respected Islamic scholar....more
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