Hojatoleslam Seyyed Wasi Mohammad Faizabadi was among the most distinguished Shia scholars of India, a figure who devoted his blessed life to the education and training of seminary students, the administration of academic centers, the propagation of the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), the authorship of valuable works, and selfless service to the faithful. Armed with profound knowledge, powerful oratory, a spirit of sacrifice and rare humility, this pious scholar became one of the enduring figures of India's Islamic seminaries, etching his name permanently into the scientific and religious history of the subcontinent.
Hojatoleslam Seyyed Wasi Mohammad was born in the year 1910 in the city of Faizabad. His father was named Mawlawi Seyyed Ali.
Academic Journey and Scholarly Training
Seyyed Wasi Mohammad completed his primary education at the Wasiqa Arabic College in Faizabad. He then joined his elder brother, Hojatoleslam Seyyed Najm al-Hasan, in Badaun, where his brother enrolled him at the Seyyed al-Madaris school in the city of Amroha. At that time, Hojatoleslam Seyyed Mohammad Amrohawi was among the most prominent teachers of that institution.
Upon returning from Amroha, he re-entered the Wasiqa Arabic College and successfully passed the examinations of the Allahabad Education Department. He then traveled to Lucknow, where he pursued studies at the Sultan al-Madaris school.
After receiving the "Sadr al-Afazil" degree, this distinguished scholar journeyed to Iraq. There he benefited from the tutelage of great masters including Ayatollah Zia al-Din Iraqi, Ayatollah Abd al-Hussein Rashti, Ayatollah Seyyed Abu al-Hasan Isfahani and Ayatollah Seyyed Abdullah Shirazi. Having received scholarly authorizations from these luminaries, he returned to his homeland.
Decades of Service in Teaching and Administration
For many years, he served as Friday prayer leader and congregational imam in the city of Badaun. He subsequently spent several years serving as congregational imam in Ghazipur. Hojatoleslam Zafar al-Hasan invited him to teach at the Javadiyya Arabic College in Benares, and for a number of months took over the administration of the Nasiriyya Arabic College in Jaunpur himself. Upon Zafar al-Hasan's return to Benares, Seyyed Wasi Mohammad was appointed principal of the Nasiriyya College.
Hojatoleslam Saadat Hussein Khan had served for years as principal of the Wasiqa school in Faizabad. When he relocated from Faizabad to Lucknow, Seyyed Wasi Mohammad was appointed in his place as principal of the Wasiqa Arabic College in the year 1955.
Seyyed Wasi Mohammad remained engaged in teaching, preaching and religious affairs in his birthplace. During those years, he reconstructed the "Kamarakh" shrine and built a magnificent zarih dedicated to Hazrat Abbas (peace be upon him). 1977, he retired from the Wasiqa College. Hojatoleslam Ibn Hasan Nonahravi then invited him to serve as vice-principal of the al-Wa'izin school in Lucknow. Following the passing of Allamah Nonahravi in 1980, Seyyed Wasi Mohammad was appointed principal of the school, a position he retained until the end of his blessed life.
A Legacy of Authorship and Intellectual Contribution
Throughout his life, he rendered immense services to religious schools and trained thousands of students. Alongside these responsibilities, he also left behind valuable scholarly works. Among his notable books are al-Razi' al-Zami and Zia al-Ghadir. A distinguishing feature of both these works is that they have been utilized by great scholars. Numerous other writings of his also remain, which have yet to be published. Among his remarkable academic achievements was his translation of the dotless sermon of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), into a dotless format — a feat that astounded all.
Numerous articles of his were published in al-Jawad magazine under pen names including "Allamah Falaki," "Asi Faizabadi," "Zia al-Millat," "Zia al-Ulama" and "Zia Hosseini."
A Polymath of Piety, Poetry and Virtue
This erudite Indian cleric was, in addition to his scholarly pursuits, a gifted poet — and employed this talent exclusively in praise of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). Beyond knowledge, Seyyed Wasi Mohammad was peerless in forbearance, generosity, self-sacrifice and oratory. His addresses were profoundly learned, precise and deep. He was a man of piety, wisdom, intellect, refined taste and quick wit — as though all these lofty qualities had been gathered together in his being.
Regarding his humility, it is recounted that at an annual gathering, one of the organizers had invited him to deliver a speech while another organizer had invited a different speaker. As Seyyed Wasi Mohammad was delivering his address from the pulpit, the second speaker entered the assembly and declared loudly that he had been invited to speak at the event. Upon hearing this, Seyyed Wasi Mohammad immediately descended from the pulpit and said to the speaker, "Please, you go ahead and speak." The speaker mounted the pulpit and delivered his address while Seyyed Wasi Mohammad remained seated at the foot of the pulpit throughout the entire gathering, offering no objection whatsoever — this despite the fact that the speaker was of considerably lower standing in terms of experience and knowledge.
Concerning his self-sacrifice, it is reported that he personally covered the accommodation and food expenses of students from his own income. Public donations to the Wasiqa College were meager, with only a small sum being paid by the government and the "Bahu Begum" endowment for student accommodation, which was inadequate. During that period, he sold his family's jewelry and gold to pay off the school's debts. He continuously assisted students, believers and the needy, extending help in such a manner that others would remain unaware of his acts of charity.
Passing and Funeral
Ultimately, this great and godly scholar departed this mortal world on Saturday, June 14, 1986, in the city of Benares. His body was transported from Benares to Faizabad, and following the funeral prayer, he was laid to rest amid the grief and tears of thousands of his admirers and devotees.
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