Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi

2.1. Birth and Background

Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi was born in 1796 or 1797 in Khairabad, Sitapur, into a distinguished Indian Muslim family. His family was Farooqui. His father, Imam Fazl-e-Iman, held the esteemed position of Sadr al-Sadur, serving as the chief advisor to the Mughals on religious matters.

2.2. Education and Early Career

Khairabadi displayed exceptional intellectual prowess from a young age, becoming a teacher by the age of 13. In 1828, he was appointed to the influential position of mufti within the Department of Qaza, a significant legal and religious role. Beyond his deep knowledge of Islamic studies and theology, he was also a notable literary figure, particularly adept in Urdu, Arabic, and Persian literature. Over 400 couplets in Arabic are attributed to him, showcasing his poetic talent. He famously edited the first diwan of the renowned poet Mirza Ghalib at Ghalib's request. Following the Hanafi school of thought and being a theologian of the Maturidi school, Khairabadi was considered an Imam (master) of logic, philosophy, and literature, earning him the title of "Allamah". He was also venerated as a great Sufi. Scholars regarded him as the final authority on issuing fatwas or religious rulings. He possessed remarkable presence of mind and intelligence, with many anecdotes about his sharp repartee with Mirza Ghalib and other contemporary intellectuals. He and his son, Abdul Haq Khairabadi, jointly established the Madrasa Khairabad in northern India, which became a significant educational institution for many scholars.

3.1. Theology and Jurisprudence

Khairabadi was a leading scholar of Hanafi jurisprudence and a proponent of Maturidi theology. His profound knowledge and erudition led him to be regarded as a master of logic, philosophy, and literature. His status as a final authority on religious rulings, or fatwas, underscored his esteemed position within the Islamic scholarly community of his time.

3.2. Refutation of Shah Ismail Dehlvi

A significant aspect of Khairabadi's academic career was his theological engagement with Shah Ismail Dehlvi. Khairabadi penned *Tahqeeq al-Fatwa Fi Abtal al-Taghwa* (Verification of the Fatwa in Refuting Transgression) specifically to refute Dehlvi's work, *Taqwiyat al-Iman* (Strengthening of Faith). This refutation centered on key theological points, particularly the doctrine of Imkan al-Kidhb.

3.3. Fatwas against Wahhabism

Throughout his career, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi wrote several Masnavis and issued fatwas directly opposing Wahhabism and related beliefs. In 1825, he issued religious edicts against Shah Ismail Dehlvi for his doctrine of Imkan al-Kidhb, which posited God's alleged ability to lie. This doctrine claims that because God is omnipotent, God is capable of lying. Ismail Dehlvi is considered an intellectual ancestor of the Deobandi movement, and the founder of Darul Uloom Deoband, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, later accepted this doctrine, asserting God's ability to lie. Gangohi also supported the doctrine of Imkan al-Nazir, which suggests that God has the ability to create additional prophets after Muhammad or prophets equal to Muhammad. Allama Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi vehemently refuted these theories. He maintained that, according to the Qur'an and Hadith, Muhammad is the final prophet, and there can be no other prophet or messenger after him. He argued that to believe there could be another Muhammad would imply that Allah acted contrary to what He stated in the Qur'an, which would necessitate Allah lying. Khairabadi emphasized that lying is a flaw, and it is impossible for Allah to possess any flaw.

4.1. Opposition to British Colonial Rule

Khairabadi was a staunch opponent of British colonialism and actively campaigned against its presence in India. He utilized his intellectual and religious standing to foster resistance. Prior to the outbreak of the 1857 rebellion, he held several private meetings with the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, maintaining these discussions until May 1857. These meetings underscored his strategic involvement in the early stages of the anti-British movement.

4.2. 1857 Rebellion and Fatwa

On June 26, 1857, following the arrival of General Bakht Khan and his army of NaN Q 14000 troops in Delhi from Bareilly, Khairabadi delivered a pivotal Friday sermon. This sermon was attended by a large gathering of Muslim scholars. During this address, he issued a significant religious edict, or fatwa, which explicitly supported jihad against the colonial government. This fatwa was a powerful call to action and was endorsed by several prominent scholars, including Sadruddin Azurda, Abdul Qadir, Faizullah Dehalvi, Faiz Ahmed Badayuni, Wazir Khan, and Syed Mubarak Shah Rampuri. Through this edict, Khairabadi played a crucial role in inspiring the populace to participate in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The issuance of Khairabadi's fatwa prompted the British authorities to deploy a large army of approximately NaN Q 90000 soldiers around Delhi in an effort to protect their interests and suppress the spread of the declared jihad. One of the major underlying reasons for the outbreak of the war was the widespread fear among the Indian populace that the Christian British government intended to destroy their religions and forcibly convert Indians to Christianity.

4.3. Arrest, Trial, and Exile

Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi's activism led to his arrest by British authorities on January 30, 1859, in Khairabad, Sitapur, on charges of inciting violence. He was subsequently tried and found guilty of encouraging murder and participating in the rebellion. The British authorities considered him a figure of "extraordinary intelligence and acumen," deeming him "the most dangerous threat to the British presence in India," and thus determined he must be removed from the Indian mainland. He was accused of being a primary driving force behind the mutiny, persuading masses to revolt against the authority of the East India Company, campaigning and motivating people to join the mutiny by calling it a war of independence, and issuing fatwas and making provocative speeches that incited violence.

Despite the accusations, Khairabadi chose to represent himself during his trial. His defense was so compelling, utilizing arguments and a manner that convinced the presiding magistrate, who was on the verge of writing a judgment to exonerate him. However, Khairabadi, upholding his principles, confessed to having issued the fatwa, declaring that he "could not lie." Consequently, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Kalapani jail located in the Andaman Islands, and his property was confiscated by the judicial commissioner of the Awadh court. He arrived at the Andaman Islands on October 8, 1859, aboard the steam frigate Fire Queen, where he remained imprisoned until his death in 1861.

5.1. Major Works

Khairabadi's most notable work includes *Tahqeeq al-Fatwa Fi Abtal al-Taghwa* (Verification of the Fatwa in Refuting Transgression), which served as a direct refutation of Shah Ismail Dehlvi's *Taqwiyat al-Iman* (Strengthening of Faith). Another significant contribution is Risala al-Thawra al-Hindiyya (Treatise on the Indian Revolution), written in Arabic. This work provided an eyewitness account and analysis of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and is considered the first book ever to document the events of that uprising.

Other works authored by Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi include:

• al-Hidayah al-Sayyidiyya*
• al-Raudh al-Majud : Maslahi Wahdat al-Wujud Ki Buland Payah Takhliq*
• al-Ḥashiyya lil-Mawlawi Fazl e Haq Khairabadi ʻala Sharh al-Salam lil-Qadi Mubarak*

5.2. Literary Activities

Beyond his scholarly treatises, Khairabadi was a distinguished literary figure, proficient in Urdu, Arabic, and Persian literature. More than 400 couplets in Arabic are attributed to him, reflecting his poetic talent. He held a significant literary relationship with the celebrated poet Mirza Ghalib, editing Ghalib's first diwan at his request. Khairabadi was known for his sharp wit and engaging repartee with Ghalib and other prominent contemporary poets, writers, and intellectuals of his time.

6.1. Family Relations

Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi belonged to the Farooqui family. His father was Imam Fazl-e-Iman. His son, Abdul Haq Khairabadi, was also a prominent and respected scholar, earning the title of Shams al-Ulama (Sun of Scholars). Abdul Haq was recognized as a rational scholar and was a teacher to figures such as Majid Ali Jaunpuri. Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi's lineage continued through his grandson, Muztar Khairabadi, a renowned poet and lyricist, Jan Nisar Akhtar was his great-grandson. His notable descendants in contemporary times include Javed Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, and Zoya Akhtar, all prominent figures in Indian cinema and literature.

6.2. Titles and Reverence

On account of his profound knowledge and extensive erudition, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi was bestowed with the esteemed title of "Allamah" (a highly learned scholar). He was also venerated as a great Sufi and was widely referred to as the Imam (master) of logic, philosophy, and literature. His scholarly reputation was such that he was considered by his peers to be the ultimate authority on issuing fatwas or religious rulings.