Naseer Ijtehadi
Syed Naseer Hussain (Allama Syed Naseer-ul-Hussain Ijtehadi) (b. 1931 - d. February 3, 1990) was the eldest son of Hakeem Syed Aqa bin Syed Ahmed Allama Hindi bin Syed Mohammad Ibrahim Shams Ullema bin Ayatollah Syed Mohammad Taqi bin Syed-ul-Ulma Syed Hussain Eleen bin Mujtahid-e-Awal-fil-Hind Shariyat-e-Madar-ul-Aqa Syed Dildar Ali Nasirabadi "Ghufran Maab".
Early life
He started his religious studies from Nazmia College in Lucknow, India. He also went to Allahabad University for Islamic studies and passed numerous courses from Lahore Board of Education. He had the Ijizat (certificates) from Ayatollah Uzma Syed Kazim and Ayatollah Syed Abul Qasim. Later he passed all the qualification of Mujtahid and was called Ijtehadi (A Mujtahid is an Islamic scholar, competent independently to interpret divine law in practical situations using Ijtihad, or independent thought. In some, but not all, Islamic traditions, a Mujtahid can specialise in a branch of Sharia - economic or family law for example. The qualifications for a mujtahid were set out by Abu’l Husayn al-Basri (died 467 AH / 1083 CE ) in “al Mu’tamad fi Usul al-Fiqh” and accepted by later Sunni scholars, including al-Ghazali.)
In Pakistan
From his college days in Nazmia he used to participate in all speeches and debates and had won numerous prizes and awards. After he shifted to Lahore, Pakistan he started to recite more and more Majalis, and pretty soon became very popular among intellectuals of all sects of Islam. Beside Urdu, he was also fluent in Arabic and Persian and used Ashar (poetry) and quotes from Arabic and Persian books too. He was very fond of Allama Iqbal and Ghalib and would use their verses pretty frequently. He also had a photographic memory and would quote book's name, author name, page number, and paragraph of the book, so people could refer the books.
In 1971 he moved to Karachi and started reciting his Majalis at Markazi Imam Bargah at Liaqat-a-baad. People would come in as early as three hours to find space in the Imam Bargah and the rest would stand outside the Imam Bargah, sit in their parked car, and stand on the footpath, to listen to their beloved Alim on a loud speakers. Every Ashra (first 10 days of Muhharram) people used to pour in from all over, and pack roads with cars and people for about a quarter of a mile (from the Imam Bargah to Al Azam Square).
Majils recitation at PTV
In 1977, he started reciting Sham-e-Ghariban Majalis on Pakistan Television (PTV- back then it was the only TV channel) and did that from 1976 to 1989:
- Ghazwat-a- Sariya -1977
- Maqsad-e-Risalat-1977
- Ali Izm -1978
- Aql aur Malokeet -1979
- Qanoon-E-Elahi-1980
- Nazam-e-Mustafa-1981
- Dua – 1982
- Quran – 1983
- Islam – 1984
- Raza-e-Elahi-1985
- Eman -1986
- Al-Ilm-1987
- Nabuwat-1988
- Aqeeda -1989
According to numerous intellectuals that every time they listen to these Majalis, they seem fresh, related to current affairs and they always discover something new. It seems like he had the blessings from Imams when he was preparing for these Majalis as they are timeless. After his Ali-Izm speech the famous Nara (slogan) started “Nagar, Nagar, Gali, Gali, Ali, Ali,Ali, Ali…”. Since he recited Sham-e-Ghariban for 13 years on Pakistan Television, he was also known as Zakir-e-Sham-e-Ghariban.
Death
On February 3, 1990, Allama Syed Naseer Hussain Ijtehadi died of a massive heart attack at the age 59. He left a wife, 3 daughters, and 2 sons.
Due to his ilm (knowledge) and control over Am-aur-Khas (mass), people in high position in Government respected him, but were afraid of his control over so many Muslims. Though they could not do much during his life, however after his death they deleted almost all of his Majalis from Pakistan Televisions(or they are hiding it), his books in library of Islamabad were stolen, and his book Nahaj-ul-Fashat was published under some other name. Thus a wealth of knowledge and research was wasted and a big loss for not only for the people of Pakistan, but Muslims all over the world.
Before his death he was able to complete a mosque, Imam Zain-ul-Abdeen mosque in Karachi, Pakistan. He was buried in the border of the mosque. He was also working on Tafseer of Quran and had only finished first two Paras (Chapters). Also, he was working on Serat-e-Muhammad. After his death he was given Sitar-e-Imtiaz by Government of Pakistan.