Muhammad Tahir Panjpiri (Urdu: محمد طاہر پنج پیری; 10 February 1916 – 31 March 1987) was an Islamic scholar in Pakistan during the mid-20th century who was recognized by followers as Shaykh al-Quran for his expertise in Quranic studies.[1] He played a fundamental role in shaping the ideology of Panjpiris, a faction within the Deobandi movement known for their strong influence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as their presence in Afghanistan's Nooristan and Badakhshan provinces. Panjpiri studied under Hussain Ali, the founder of Jamiat Ashaatut Tawhid-wa-Sunnath, and subsequently established Darul Quran Madrasa in his hometown of Panjpir, situated in Sawabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He succeeded Hussain Ali as the leader of Jamiat Ashaatut Tawhid-wa-Sunnath, which resulted in the organization's followers being referred to as "Panjpiris" in the region.[2]
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Panjpiri was born on 10 February 1916 in the village of Panjpir, located in Swabi District, into a middle-class Pashtun family belonging to the Yousafzai tribe.[3] He was the eldest of his two brothers and one sister. His father, Ghulam Nabi, was an average-level Zamindar in the village. At the age of five, he enrolled in a primary school in his village. In 1927, he moved to Kohat to continue his studies for several months.[4]
He then traveled to Mak'had in Attock District, where he studied various subjects such as logic, philosophy, and dogmatic philosophy for approximately one year. Subsequently, he went to WanBhechran village in Mianwali District to study the Quran under Hussain Ali. Here, he also delved into the teachings of Kutub al-Sitta, Masnavi, Tuhfat-e-Ibrahimia by Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, as well as mysticism and logic. In 1933, he briefly studied Hadith under Naseeruddin Ghorghashvi before returning to Hussain Ali, who further educated him on Hidaya, Maktobat-e-Rabbani, the Masnavi, and a few other books. In 1934, he enrolled at Darul Uloom Deoband, where he studied various Islamic literature under Izaz Ali Amrohi. In 1935, at the age of twenty-two, he passed his Islamic Literature Examination at Deoband. In 1936, he attended Mazhanil Uloom in Mianwali, where he taught the Quran and Sunnah despite adverse circumstances for approximately two years.[4]
During this time, he visited every mosque in the city and appealed to the people to listen to his teachings on the Quran.[4] In 1938, he embarked on a journey to Mecca to perform Hajj and study the Quran under Ubaidullah Sindhi. After completing his Hajj, he studied the works of Shah Ismail Dehlvi, Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlavi, Sheikh Abdul Qadir, and Rafiuddin. He then proceeded to Medina, where Umar-bin-Hamdan instructed him in Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the six authentic books of the Prophet's Traditions. His teacher, Ubaidullah Sindhi, initially hesitated to allow him to return to Pakistan, as he held reservations about the Pathan people. Eventually, Tahir Panjpiri returned to his village, Panjpir, and organized a three-day Dars-e-Quran program, in which Hussain Ali delivered sermons and offered prayers for his success.[5]
Panjpiri died on March 31, 1987, in his locality, where he was buried. His son, Muhammad Tayyab Tahiri, led the funeral prayers. Muhammad Tayyab Tahir succeeded him as his academic successor and was elected as the central Amir of Jamiat Isha'at Al-Tawheed wa Al-Sunnah. Major Muhammad Aamir, another son of Panjpiri, has held prominent positions in Inter-Services Intelligence and IB.[4]
Muhammad Nawaz completed a PhD thesis on Tahir Panjpiri's contributions to Quranic studies in Urdu at the University of Peshawar in 2020.[3]
