Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani (1879-1957) who later earned the title of Shaikh-ul-Islam was born at Bangarmau (Uttar Pradesh). His father, Syed Habibullah, was a headmaster and Husain Ahmad was the third of his five sons.
Husain Ahmad’s father's desire to secure the best available education based on classic Islamic principles ensured that Husain Ahmad was sent to join the seminary at Deoband in 1891 at the young age of twelve. The curriculum at Deoband included not only Arabic grammar, and Arabic literature but also logic, philosophy, law, jurisprudence, prophetic traditions, Qur’an, and theology.
In the year 1898, Habibullah decided to migrate to Medina with his family. Thereafter, except for intermittent travels to India, Husain Ahmad spent the next few years of his life in Medina. In due course, Husain Ahmad was accorded the title of “Maulana”, a recognition that he was a scholar of Islam. It is said that he was known as “Maulana Hindi” in Medina and reciprocally in India he was addressed as “Madani”, to indicate his ties to Medina. Beginning in the 1920s, he was also called the “Shaikh-ul-Islam”.
While in Medina, Husain Ahmad came in contact with Sheikhul Hind, Mehmoodul Hasan, and became his close confidant. The two were arrested in Mecca in December 1916 and interned in Malta and arrival in Bombay in 1920 with his mentor marked a new era in the history of the freedom struggle. In the Khilafat Conference held at Allahabad in June 1920, Madani supported the idea of Non-Cooperation with the British. He understood the need for collective efforts of Muslims as well as Hindus for challenging British rule. His secular credentials were recognized by one and all. Husain Ahmad Madani also took an active part in the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932 and the Quit India Movement in 1942 and was imprisoned on many occasions.
Husain Ahmad Madani was elected President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind at its Jaunpur session in 1940, a post he held until his death in 1957. Later, he was also appointed as Dean of Studies and Head of the Department of Hadith at Darul Uloom, Deoband.
Source: Information Brochure of Commemorative Postage Stamp issued by Department of Posts.