Remembering Shah Abdul Hannan

Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq

June 3, 2021

Br. Shah Abdul Hannan, (former Deputy Governor, Bangladesh Bank; Commissioner, NRB; Chairman, Islami Bank Bangladesh and an Islamic thinker, mentor, Da'i, educator, and much much more) returned to our Benevolent Creator yesterday. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun (Indeed, we are for Allah and we will return to Him).

It is not uncommon when at the passing away we tend to say that such a person is irreplaceable and peerless. In case of Hannan bhai, this is most definitely true. In our contemporary time, especially in the context of Bangladesh, he was a rare breed.

Let me share a glimpse to my interaction with Hannan bhai. This particular experience relates to the period around 1980 when I was a student with the Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. Hannan bhai was a visionary and had the realization that certain movement was too constraining and regimented for intellectual growth and he was committed to see the younger generation have healthy and robust intellectual growth from Islamic perspective.

Joined by marhum A F M Yahia (former Secretary, Government of Bangladesh), Hannan bhai involved a number of us to start Social Research Bureau (SRB). At that time, Bangladesh Islamic Center (headed by Br. Nazir Ahmed) graciously hosted us for the activities of SRB. We used to hold a seminar every month based and focused on one paper written and presented by budding Muslim intellectuals exclusively for SRB. I was fortunate enough to be the first presenter at the inaugural seminar. After 7 or 8 such monthly seminars, I left for USA. Sadly, not too long after that, the seminar activities found to be unpalatable to the movement's environment and the host (Bangladesh Islamic Center) uninvited SRB to hold any further program at their premise.

After leaving for USA, I kept in touch with Hannan bhai closely and also with few others who were associated with such intellectual work. Hannan bhai gradually inspired a good number of young Muslims and Muslimahs, who wanted to be trained and mentored by him directly.

His intellectual bent of mind, his extremely courteous demeanor, his inspiring and affectionate personality, his persistence in what he believed to be the truth, his openmindedness toward difference of opinion, and his steadfast stance in life to be a model of integrity and modest living are all worth remembering and emulating., and having all these qualities in one single individual is what makes him a rare breed.

Appreciating him in contemporary time becomes much easier but all the more remarkable, when we learn that he held some of the most sensitive positions in the government. One such example is the National Bureau of Revenue. Those who are familiar with NBR in Bangladesh know well that how much financial corruption takes place in that institution and how easily government officials in that institution can easily become super-rich. Br. Hannan held multiple such positions during his life, but like a other-worldly person never enriched himself or family. Unlike his peers, he never even built a home for his family in the capital city where most government officials are provided public allocations of property and most of them have not just residential homes, but also investment properties. He consciously and deliberately avoided taking such privileges, even though legally entitled to. His taqwa (God-consciousness) was such that he even used to try hard not to take travel privileges given by the government, where often these travels were for the officials' enrichment. He set such a high example in this regard that it reminds of those special era of the companions of the Prophet (s). Everyone who has interacted with him have found his personality is like a magnet, which if not reached friendship at least neutralized most detractors.

He was the only one from Bangladesh who also reviewed my book Toward Our Reformation and enthusiastically endorsed with the following words: "This book written by Dr. Farooq is an excellent work on the main sources of Islamic Law, the Quran, Sunnah, ijma and qiyas. He has discussed many vexing questions pertaining to these sources, their definitions, use and interpretations. He has highlighted the stagnation and literalism in law in the past and the need for value orientation in the future development of Islamic Law. On many issues he has differed from early jurists but in each case he has extensively referred to reputable scholars of the past and present in his support and given his reasons. This book is a valuable addition to the literature on Jurisprudence (Usul) of Islamic law and everybody will benefit from reading this book even if one does not agree with some of his views."

I have always enjoyed his warmth and affection like, I am sure, many others have. We have not always agreed on everything, and in some cases we have differed on some important aspects, but what was inspiring is that he never shunned such differences and respected and valued our mutually respectful and affectionate relationship. I have met so many good people in my life, but in Bangladeshi context he was indeed a rare breed and almost peerless in terms of the rich combination of qualities he had. May Allah inspire us all from the examples he has set, may Allah embrace his soul in abounding mercy and forgiveness, may Allah accept all his good deeds and accord him a very special place in Jannah. Fi amanillah.