Monday, March 29, 2010

FURFURA SHARIF


Furfura Sharif (also known as Furfura, Phurphura) (Bengali: ফুরফুরা শরীফ) is a village in Jangipara community development block of Srirampore subdivision in Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a holy place for Muslims.



The most important place within Furfura Sharif is the Mazaar Sharif (Tomb) of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique(Rh) and his five sons, popularly known as the 'Panch Huzur Keblah'. Thousands of people from all over India come to visit their tombs every year.

Hazrat Abu Bakr was born in 1846 in Furfura-Sharif. He was a Social and Religious reformer, so he was also known as 'Mujaddid-e-Zaman'. He founded many charitable institutes, orphanages and free health center. He was also a great educationist who realized that it is through education he can free the society of all evils and so he founded several madrasas, schools and learning centers. In Furfura Sharif he established Madrasa, along with free boarding facilities for the underprivileged students. He encouraged female education by establishing a School for girls in Furfura Sharif named "Siddiqua High School". His contributions were recognized by several historians and literati. A journal, “The Muslim Digest”, published from Durban in South Africa, acknowledges him as an “illustrious, religious leader- fearless, God intoxicated and selfless as a preacher, he would never attack other religions.... and endeared himself to people from other communities and castes”. He was a great patriot and was involved in the freedom struggle of India

He was the founder of the "Order Of Furfura Sharif" or "Silsila-e-Furfura Sharif". He belonged to the Ahle-Sunnat-Wal-Jamaat school of thoughts. He was also the founder of the religious congregation, which is still observed on the 21st 22nd and 23rd of Falgun Bengali month (Aprox 5th, 6th & 7th of March) every year by his grandsons. He did not prefer calling this congregation a "Urs" but rather prefer it being called "Isale-Sawab"



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