ISLAM
Three Bangladeshi Scholars Appointed at Madinah Islamic University
Three Bangladeshi scholars have recently been appointed as part-time lecturers at the prestigious Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia. Within a span of one week, they began teaching in different departments of the institution. The appointees are Maulana Sharif Ahmad Al Madani, Maulana Ershadur Rahman, and Maulana Moshahid Dewan.
Sharif Al Madani, the latest to join, confirmed the news on Saturday (13 September). He will serve in the Department of Hadith and is set to begin classes from 14 September. Meanwhile, Ershadur Rahman has already started teaching at the Arabic Language Institute, and Moshahid Dewan has taken up his role in the Shariah Department.
All three scholars have pursued advanced studies at the university. Hailing from Habiganj, Sharif Al Madani has been in Madinah since 2012. He completed his undergraduate, master’s, and MPhil degrees there and is now pursuing his PhD. For over a decade, he has also been teaching and training at the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi Academy.
Ershadur Rahman, from Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, graduated in Arabic language and completed his MPhil before starting his PhD. His MPhil thesis, “The Influence of Arabic on the Bangla Language”, gained recognition as the first academic study on Bangla at the university.
Moshahid Dewan, originally from Narayanganj, moved to Saudi Arabia in 2016 on a government scholarship. He completed his studies in Arabic linguistics and is now in the final stage of his MPhil research. Earlier in Bangladesh, he ranked in the top 10 of the national merit list in Dawra-e-Hadith examinations.
Their appointments are seen as a notable milestone for Bangladeshi scholars, marking a significant presence in one of the world’s most respected Islamic educational institutions.
A rural healthcare practitioner has been arrested in Faridpur’s Saltha upazila for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Allah and insulting religion, police said. Sheikh Akhtar Hossain, 55, was detained on Sunday morning around 10am from the Bauskhali area of Ballovdi Union.
According to police, Hossain posted a video on Facebook last Friday in which he referred to a statement by Baul singer Abul Sarkar and cited lyrics from Baul songs. In the video he reportedly described Allah as a “thief, fraudster and killer” and labelled the current government as a “Taliban government.” The video quickly spread online, triggering outrage among local Islamic scholars.
Following complaints from residents, police arrested him and took him into custody. Officer-in-Charge of Saltha Police Station Md Ataur Rahman confirmed that a case has been filed against Hossain on charges of religious defamation. He has been sent to the Faridpur court, and further legal procedures are ongoing.
At least 42 Indian nationals, including nine children, were killed in a deadly road accident near Madinah in Saudi Arabia while returning from performing Umrah. Among the victims were 18 members of a single family spanning three generations, according to a report by NDTV. The crash occurred around 1:30am on Sunday when their bus collided with a diesel tanker on the Makkah–Madinah route, causing the vehicle to burst into flames.
The accident took place in the Muharrass area, approximately 30 kilometres from Madinah. Most passengers were asleep at the time of the collision. All the victims were residents of India’s Telangana state.
Mohammed Asif, a relative of the deceased, told NDTV that the 18 family members—Nasiruddin (70), Akhtar Begum (62), their son Salauddin (42), daughters Amina (44), Rizwana (38), Shabana (40) and their children—had travelled to Saudi Arabia eight days earlier. They had completed Umrah and were returning to Madinah. The family was scheduled to fly back to India on Saturday.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed deep condolences over the tragedy. In a statement, his office said that officials have been instructed to identify the victims, coordinate with India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy, and arrange immediate assistance if required. Local authorities in Saudi Arabia have begun investigating the cause of the accident.
Saudi Arabia’s King and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has called on citizens to perform Salat al-Istisqa (the prayer for rain) across the Kingdom.
According to a statement issued by the Royal Court on Monday (10 November), the prayer will be held on Thursday, 22 Jumada al-Awwal 1447 Hijri, as per the Umm al-Qura calendar, in accordance with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The statement urged citizens to repent, seek forgiveness, and return to Allah. It also encouraged acts of charity, remembrance of God, regular prayers, and kindness toward others to attain divine mercy.
The Royal Court further emphasized that every able Muslim should join the prayer with humility and patience, seeking Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The statement concluded with a supplication asking Allah to show mercy to the people and the land, to accept their prayers, and to send rain as a source of goodness and compassion.