Photo of “Jame-a-Taleem-ul-Quran Shahpur" Shangla
The beautiful, green, scenic and charming valley of Shangla has given birth to many reknowned and great personalities in every period and in every walk of life, who became the source of enlighten remote valley.
In the 17th century, Shangla has given birth to a man of unforgettable fame, a poet of real, spiritual and religious qualities Hafiz-e-Alpuri. On the other hand, in 20th century it has given birth to a great personality like Maulana Muhammad Afzal Khan “Shaikh-ul-Quran” who was a great scholar and a friend of Allah (Waliullah).
Photo of Sheikhul Quran Maulana Muhammad Afzal Khan.
He was born to a famous and noble family at a beautiful village Olander in District Shangla in 1926AD. His father Dost Muhammad Khan “Khan of Kana” had been at high posts in Swat State. He belongs to the famous yousafzai tribe, Clan Jinki Khel and subclan Pattan Khel. His grand father Amir Khan was the Khan of Kana region. (Duke of the region). His grand father was an intimate friend of Wali-e-Swat and an officially recognized Khan of the area by the British government. His grand father Amir Khan “Khan of Kana” pla yed a vital role in the politics of Swat State which is mentioned in history books related to Swat State. Even the king of Swat Main Gul Abdul Wadood (Badshah Saheb) admitted in his book “Tareekh-e-Riyasat-i-Swat” written by Muhammad Khan Mirza that the conquest of Shangla and Kohistan was made possible due to the services of his grand father. Similarly, a famous English historian ''Aureil Austen''has mentioned the hospitability and influence of his grand father in the region in his bo ok “On Alexander’s Tracks to the Indus”.
He was born to a famous and noble family at a beautiful village Olander in District Shangla in 1926AD. His father Dost Muhammad Khan “Khan of Kana” had been at high posts in Swat State. He belongs to the famous yousafzai tribe, Clan Jinki Khel and subclan Pattan Khel. His grand father Amir Khan was the Khan of Kana region. (Duke of the region). His grand father was an intimate friend of Wali-e-Swat and an officially recognized Khan of the area by the British government. His grand father Amir Khan “Khan of Kana” pla yed a vital role in the politics of Swat State which is mentioned in history books related to Swat State. Even the king of Swat Main Gul Abdul Wadood (Badshah Saheb) admitted in his book “Tareekh-e-Riyasat-i-Swat” written by Muhammad Khan Mirza that the conquest of Shangla and Kohistan was made possible due to the services of his grand father. Similarly, a famous English historian ''Aureil Austen''has mentioned the hospitability and influence of his grand father in the region in his bo ok “On Alexander’s Tracks to the Indus”.
His father Dost Muhammad Khan of Kana has been selected many times as the member of Advisiory Council and also as a commanding officer in Swat State.
From his childhood, his tendency was towards religious education rather than worldly education. He was a punctual. Pious, religious and angel minded person. Allah had bestowed him with ability, goodness and his face was always enlightened with the light of Allah.
He taught the lesson of fulfillment of the rights of people and observing brotherhood besides the rights of Allah. He respected his teachers, elders and loved the younger ones. Simplicity and respectfulness were the main components of his life.
He was one of the nearest pupils of Sheikh-ul-Quran Maulana Ghulamullah Tahir of Panjpeer. He got his basic education from Darul-uloom Charbagh Swat and Madrassa Haqania Saidu Sharif Swat. After completion of his religious education, he founded a religious Madrassa in his native village Shahpur. This Madrassa is known as “Jame-a-Taleem-ul-Quran Shahpur. It imparts the knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah and is playing a vital role in the spread of religious education. Thousands of pupils are served here and after completion of their education they preach the Islamic teachings throughout the country.
He had a full command over the Holy Quran. He used to teach the Holy Quran in Shahpur every year for his pupils as well as for the common masses in a very simple fashion.
Besides his district, he also used to teach the Holy Quran in Karachi, Batkhela, in each and every corner of Pakistan and also in Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia. At the time when he started to teach and preach the religious education, District Shangla, Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Battagram and other areas were darkened with shadows of ignorance non Islamic cultures and disbeliefs. But he removed these wrong beliefs through his profound religious knowledge.
He performed Haj(Pilgrimage) once and Umrah ten times. He wrote six books during his life, which includes “Afzal-ul-Tarajim Be Lughat-ul-Aajam”, “Nasru-ul-Marjan, Min Mushkelat-ul-Quran”, “Al-Menhaj-ul-Wazeh”, “Tasheel-ul-Masnavi”, “Malfofozat-e-Afzalia” and “Tasheel-ul-Bukbare”.
Afzal-ul-Tarajim Belughat-ul-Ajam is written in pushto and is a concise and comprehensive translation and explanation of the Holy Quran.
Nasrul-Marjan Min Mushkelat-ul-Quran is written on important topics such difficult problems in the Quran. It also includes some poetry related to the topic and summary of the whole Quran in last of this book.
Al-Menhaj-ul-Wazeh is actually a modified pushto translation of Abu Bakar, Al-Jareisi’s book “Menha-ul- Muslim”.
Tasheel-ul-Masnavi is the summary of the famous book of Maulana Rome which includes selected events and poetry in simplified in Pashto.
Malfozat-e-Afzalia is a perfect book but only one part of this book is published while the other part is under process of publication now.
Tasheel-ul-Bukhari is a Pashto translation of Kitab-ul-Iman of Saheh Bukhari which is under the process of publication.
He passed away on 30th of january 2003 AD after long illness. His funeral prayer was offered by a famous religious scholar “Sheikh-ul-Hadees Muhammad Yar Badshah. After his death, his sons Sheikh-ul-Quran Maulana Muhammad Anwar, Qari Ubaidullah and his nephew Maulana Imdadullah followed him and kept on spreading the religious education.
His son-in-law Sheikhul Quran Maulana Abdur Rahim has written his Biography “Afzal-u-Sawaneh” which shows complete details of his life and his services for the religion, Islam.
