By: RO Maung Shwe
In the heart of the world’s largest refugee settlement, where despair and displacement cloud daily life, one Rohingya scholar has quietly lit a flame of knowledge and hope.
Sheikh-ul Hadith Maulana Mohammad Hashim is not just a teacher of sacred texts—he is a survivor, a builder of institutions, and a symbol of unyielding resilience.
His life, scarred by persecution yet defined by dedication, reflects the quiet revolution of Rohingya intellectuals striving to preserve their faith and culture even in exile.
Born in northern Maungdaw of Arakan (Rakhine State, Myanmar), Maulana Hashim is the son of the late Abul Hossain, a middle-class farmer who supported his family through agriculture. At the age of seven, he was enrolled in a local madrasa to begin his religious education.
However, when his father fell severely ill, the young boy had to pause his studies and shoulder family responsibilities. As the only son, he worked tirelessly until his father recovered and encouraged him to resume his education.
At the age of 18, Maulana Hashim resumed religious studies at Ashroful Uloom Kuwangsi Baung Madrasa, continuing up to “Haftum” (Grade 5). To access better academic opportunities, he crossed into Bangladesh and enrolled at Rahmania Ukhiya Madrasa, where he completed “Ponjum” (Grades 5 to 7).
His quest for knowledge continued at Jamia Islamia Darush Sunnah in Nhila, where he studied through Grade 11, known as “Ula.”
However, during the final year of his Dawrah Hadith—the most advanced level in Islamic studies—the Myanmar authorities imposed a discriminatory policy refusing recognition of foreign certificates. This made it nearly impossible for Rohingya scholars to obtain formal teaching positions and led to the arrest of many returning students.
To avoid such persecution, he transferred to Jamia Islamia Tawhidia Madrasa in Mongnama, under the guidance of the renowned Sheikh-ul Hadith Muhaddith Soyedul Amin, a gold medalist from Jamia Islamia Ashrafia Lahore in Pakistan. Under his mentorship, Maulana Hashim completed Dawrah Hadith in 1998.
Though he received multiple teaching offers from prominent madrasas, his father’s deteriorating health led him to stay in his native village, where he served at the local madrasa for three years.
Later, at the request of Hafiz Hujjat, the principal of Madrasa Ad Tawhid Al Islamia in Kuwarbil, he taught Sanwiya (secondary-level) students for another three years. He then moved to Jamia Ashroful Uloom Kumirkhali, teaching advanced Islamic texts such as Sahih Muslim and Abu Dawood to Dawrah students.
Afterward, he served at Jamia Shamsul Uloom in Nakhura, instructing on Nasayi and Jalalain for two years.
In 2012, the Myanmar regime intensified its crackdown on Islamic education by shutting down all madrasas in Arakan. In response, Maulana Hashim and a group of scholars established a secret madrasa in his village named Madrasa Islamia Talimul Kitabi Osunnah.
Tragically, during the 2017 military-led genocide against the Rohingya, his village and madrasa were set ablaze. That same day, 91 villagers—including children and pregnant women in labor—were brutally killed and dumped into a mass grave.
Listed among religious scholars targeted for execution, Maulana Hashim was forced to flee with his family. He sought refuge in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Despite the trauma of displacement and loss, Maulana Hashim remained steadfast in his mission. On April 22, 2018, he founded Mahadu Talimul Kitabi Osunnah, an Arabic madrasa that began with 120 primary-level students.
He also briefly taught Bukhari at Jamia Darus Salam Madrasa in the camp. Today, his madrasa offers classes up to Grade 8 (Sanwiya) and runs a Quran memorization center (Hafiz Khana). He hopes, “If Allah keeps me in the camp longer and permits, I will establish it up to Dawrah Hadith level, Inshallah.”
Opportunities for advanced Islamic education were always scarce in Arakan. Financial limitations prevented him from studying in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, or India. Yet, his passion for learning never faded. He participated in over 30 public scholarly debates in Maungdaw, consistently ranking among the top.
In exile, he engages in online tafsir sessions, Arabic language competitions, and Hadith discussions to stay connected with the broader scholarly world.
Over the years, Maulana Hashim has shared stages with globally respected scholars, including Shah Alam Naiyebe Nazem (India), Allama Mushabbob Al Khatuwani (Saudi Arabia), and Mufti Abdurazzak bin Yousuf (Rajshahi).
He has also collaborated with esteemed scholars from Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, such as the late Sheikh-ul Ishaq of Jamia Islamia Patiya.
Today, Mahadu Talimul Kitabi Osunnah survives solely on community donations and an annual Jalsa (fundraising event). In recent years, the madrasa has faced severe financial struggles, unable to consistently pay teachers or feed students.
Yet Maulana Hashim refuses to give up. “Jazakallahu Khairan”—he says to all well-wishers—“May Allah reward you with goodness.”
Through every hardship, displacement, and crackdown, Sheikh-ul Hadith Maulana Mohammad Hashim remains a pillar of hope and spiritual guidance.
His life stands as a reminder that even in the most desolate circumstances, knowledge can flourish, and faith can prevail.
He embodies the unbroken spirit of a people determined not just to survive—but to preserve their identity, dignity, and dreams for generations to come.
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