Shah Ahmad Noorani Siddiqi

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Qaid-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani Siddiqi (October 1, 1926 – December 11, 2003), also known as Noorani Mian, was an Islamic scholar of the Hanafi Barelvi school of thought, son of the legendary Sufi Saint Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi^{[citation needed]}, founder of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan and leading co-founder of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal. He was also Founder President of world wide mission World Islamic Mission[1]. Maulana Ahmad Shah Nooraini received his formal Islamic education at Madrasah Al Aljunied Al Islamiyah then at Victoria Street, Singapore. It was then a hub of Islamic education in the region. His father had just started the All Malaya Muslim Missionary Society which had branches in peninsula Malaya.This organisation is today known as Jamiyah Singapore. Maulana Ahmad Shah Nooraini also received his English education from a Jamiyah stalwart and official namely Mr. S.M.M.Maricar a disciple of Maulana Ahmad Shah Nooraini.

His political career started during the Pakistan election of 1971. At that time, Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi's Jamaat-e-Islami was in forefront as an Islamic party against the socialist Pakistan Peoples Party headed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Other Islamic scholars, particularly from the Barelwi school of thought, differed with Jamaat-e-Islami on some issues, and thus formed Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan under the leadership of Noorani Mian. In the election the party won 7 seats, Bhutto won the elections for West Pakistan and after the breakup of East Pakistan, he became the prime minister of remaining Pakistan.

The newly-elected prime minister Bhutto showed him a lot of respect^{[citation needed]}. However Noorani Mian, along with other Islamic parties, clashed with him on many occasions^{[citation needed]}. First it was about declaring Qadiani as non-Muslims. Maulana asked the 100 questions in Urdu in Parliament under supervision of molana mufti mehmood (father of molana fazul-ur-rehman) which enabled it to declare the Qadianis as a non-Muslim minority.He gave the slogan "Tehreek Nizam Mustafa" to the election campaign. The protests against the election results resulted in martial law. While other Islamic parties joined the military lead government, Noorani Mian left to work for tehreek nizam mustafa and joined Pakistan Peoples Party in its resistance.

The newly-elected prime minister Bhutto showed him a lot of respect^{[citation needed]}. However Noorani Mian, along with other Islamic parties, clashed with him on many occasions^{[citation needed]}.he joined a coalition known as Pakistan National Alliance in the 1977 elections. He gave the slogan "Tehreek Nizam Mustafa" to the election campaign. The protests against the election results resulted in martial law. While other Islamic parties joined the military lead government, Noorani Mian joined Pakistan Peoples Party in its resistance.

Noorani Mian was the member of the constitution committee and helped draft the constitution of Pakistan; the prime minister and president take an oath written by him.^{[citation needed]}

He was a true democrat and a nationalist at heart. He opposed Zia and Afghan Jihad for eleven years clearly citing the fall out of this war . His prophecy regarding the Afghan war and its consequences can be observed today in Pakistan.

When Karachi became the hub of ethnic MQM , he bravely fought against it and declared himself first a Muslim and than a Pakistani. He opposed the militancy of MQM and though his political power declined in urban Sind, he remained steadfast in his support of Pakistani nationalism. He was attacked at least four times by the MQM hooligans but it did not deter him from contesting against MQM. In 2002 , he became member of the Senate from Sind. He later on became the Leader of opposition in the Senate.

Before his death in 2003, Noorani Mian was able to convince all Islamic parties into forming a grand coalition called Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.He was one of the few politicians who remained incorruptible, brave and absolutely in love with the Prophet Muhammad. When he died as his Jamaat Islami friend testifies, Karachi never saw a larger number of people turning up for the funeral. He had by then espoused Muslim first before any affiliation for any mazhab thus demonstrating the belief in unity of Muslim mazhabs which his saintly father struggled for.

Noorani Mian was the person who wrote the constitution of Pakistan; the prime minister and president take an oath written by him.^{[citation needed]}

Before his death in 2003, Noorani Mian was able to convince all Islamic parties into forming a grand coalition called Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.

Noorani Mian leaves behind a wife and four children. Among siblings his sister Dr. Farida Ahmed has continued his mission along with his heir and son Mulana Anas Noorani who is the Chairman of World Islamic Mission and his spiritual successor.

External links

• Qaid-e-Ahl Sunna His Eminence Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani Siddiqui al-Qadiri RA