History of the Academy, From Abdul Hameed Sahab to the Founders of QASRA

The Quran and Sunnah Research Academy (QASRA) is built on a legacy of sincerity, truthfulness, and devotion to authentic Islamic learning. Its roots go back to our respected elder Hazrat Abdul Hameed Sahab, whose life reflected humility, clarity of thought, and a pure commitment to the Quran, the Prophet’s authentic Sunnah, and the noble traditions of the Ahl-e-Bait. His simple, honest, and non-political approach to religion inspired generations of students, families, and seekers of knowledge.

The values he lived by continued within the family, where his teachings and writings were carefully preserved. With time, this inner tradition developed into a deep desire to organize Islamic knowledge in a more structured, research-oriented, and academically reliable form.

As the world changed and misinformation about Islam grew, Syed Ali Hamza Chishty and Syed Badrudduja Chishty recognized the need for an institution that could document, safeguard, and present Islamic teachings with academic honesty and spiritual depth. They saw how sectarian narratives and shallow interpretations often overshadowed the real message of the Quran and Sunnah, and felt responsible to respond through evidence-based scholarship.

With this vision, the Quran and Sunnah Research Academy (QASRA) was established as a research-focused institution rather than a conventional religious centre. Its purpose is to revive meaningful reading, critical reasoning, and a return to verified sources. The Academy focuses on:

• Quran-centered education

• Authentic Hadith, including important narrations through the Ahl-e-Bait

• Islamic history and manuscript research

• Comparative religion and modern intellectual challenges

• Publication of honest and well-supported works

• A non-political, non-sectarian approach to Islamic knowledge

The founders imagine QASRA as a bridge between the wisdom of the elders and the intellectual needs of today’s generation.
Ali Hamza Chishty contributes passion for writing, research, history, and constructive reform, while Badrudduja Chishty brings organizational discipline, clarity, and community-focused leadership. Together, they shaped this inherited tradition into a registered Section 8 institution committed to public benefit and open, authentic scholarship.

Today, QASRA stands as a center for truthful, accessible, and evidence-based Islamic learning. It continues to uphold the same sincerity and honesty that inspired its earliest foundation and aims to guide people through the Quran and authentic Sunnah, free from political influence, paid fatwas, or sectarian barriers.

Although QASRA has been officially registered only recently, its work began long before any legal documents were drafted. For many years, it existed quietly in the form of a khanqah, a place where people came not only to pray or seek blessings, but also to learn, reflect, ask questions, and grow spiritually. This khanqah was far more than a traditional space. It gradually transformed into a lively intellectual environment where people from different backgrounds found moral clarity, direction, and a sense of purpose.

Over time, this khanqah accomplished several significant missions that shaped its identity and influence.

1. Motivating Muslims Towards Modern Knowledge

One of the earliest and most impactful contributions of the khanqah was its effort to motivate Muslims to approach modern education with confidence rather than doubt. It gently challenged the misconception that modern sciences or contemporary subjects stand in opposition to religion. Instead, it encouraged young minds to explore physics, mathematics, medicine, literature, technology, and philosophy with curiosity and courage. People were reminded that the Quran repeatedly invites humanity to think, reflect, observe nature, question assumptions, and understand the world through both the heart and the intellect.

The khanqah taught that acquiring knowledge is not just a career choice but a form of worship, a way of strengthening one’s identity, and a means of serving society. Whether it was scientific discovery, humanities, or critical thinking, every discipline was presented as a doorway to understanding the Creator’s signs. Students were encouraged to read widely, analyse deeply, and never shy away from asking difficult questions. Parents were guided to support their children’s education, especially in fields once considered inaccessible or “Western.”

The message that echoed through the khanqah was simple and transformative: Islam has never feared knowledge. True knowledge broadens the heart and sharpens wisdom. It is ignorance that weakens communities, limits opportunities, and creates unnecessary fear. Through this approach, the khanqah helped build a generation that sees no conflict between faith and learning, but rather a beautiful partnership between the two.

2. Supporting Democracy and the Indian Constitution

The khanqah consistently taught that Indian Muslims must not only respect the Constitution of India but truly understand it, engage with it, and uphold it as a moral and civic responsibility. It reminded the community that a nation’s constitution is not merely a legal document. It is a living promise of dignity, freedom, and protection for every citizen, regardless of faith or background. The khanqah emphasized that the rights enshrined in the Constitution—such as freedom of belief, equal opportunity, and protection under the law—are deeply compatible with the values Islam has always upheld.

Within its walls, people learned that justice is a universal obligation, that accountability is a virtue, and that representation is a form of trust. These principles exist both in the democratic framework of India and in the ethical teachings of Islam. Instead of viewing democracy with suspicion, the khanqah encouraged the community to see it as a platform through which their voices could be heard, their identity preserved, and their rights protected.

The teachings made people realize that participating in democracy is not an act of abandoning religion, but an extension of Islamic duty. Fairness, consultation, and responsible leadership were presented as shared ideals between the Constitution and the faith they practiced. Through this perspective, the khanqah helped Indian Muslims see democracy not as a challenge, but as an opportunity—a space where they could live with pride, contribute with integrity, and safeguard their future with confidence.

3. Shaping a Distinct Indian-Muslim Identity

Another major contribution of the khanqah was its effort to nurture a confident and deeply rooted Indian-Muslim identity. It guided the community to see themselves not as outsiders in their own homeland, but as an integral part of India’s long civilizational journey. This identity drew strength from the inclusive spirit of Sanatan culture, the harmony of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, and the centuries-old tradition of respecting diverse beliefs and ways of life.

The khanqah taught that Islam’s arrival in India did not erase the country’s earlier cultural layers; instead, it blended with them, creating a rich and graceful synthesis. The community was encouraged to appreciate the depth of Indian philosophies, the poetry of its languages, the simplicity of its villages, the rhythm of its festivals, and the wisdom preserved in its ancient texts. It reminded Muslims that their heritage is not limited to mosques and dargahs, but also includes the broader spiritual soil of India on which countless saints, poets, philosophers, and seekers have walked.

By embracing this shared heritage, Muslims found themselves more connected to the land and its people. They began to see dharma, adab, insaniyat, and compassion as universal values that transcend religious boundaries. This understanding fostered a sense of belonging, dignity, and cultural pride. It encouraged the younger generation to speak with confidence about their identity—an identity that is proudly Muslim, proudly Indian, and enriched by the beauty of coexistence.

Through this approach, the khanqah helped shape individuals who were not only spiritually aware but also socially responsible. It strengthened their ability to contribute meaningfully to Indian society, to build bridges where divisions existed, and to become guardians of harmony in a nation built on diversity.

4. Learning From India’s Great Philosophers

The khanqah encouraged people to explore the vast intellectual treasures of India with an open and appreciative mind. It reminded visitors that the land they lived on had produced some of the world’s finest thinkers, saints, philosophers, and seekers of truth. Their teachings were not merely historical curiosities, but living sources of wisdom that could guide human beings toward a more thoughtful, ethical, and balanced life.

In its gatherings, the khanqah often highlighted the profound insights of Ashtavakra, whose teachings on inner freedom and detachment reminded people that the true self is beyond physical limitations. It spoke of Mahavir, whose strict principles of non-violence and self-discipline reflected the beauty of moral restraint and compassion. It drew attention to the gentle and transformative message of Buddha, whose entire path was built upon kindness, awareness, and liberation from suffering. And it admired Krishna’s philosophy of duty, which taught that integrity, courage, and righteous action must never depend on worldly outcomes.

Through these examples, the khanqah showed that universal virtues—such as truthfulness, humility, compassion, justice, and self-discipline—can coexist effortlessly with the moral teachings of the Quran. It emphasized that wisdom is not confined to any one tradition. Whenever a person encounters honesty, courage, or goodness, they are simply seeing reflections of the same truth that Islam upholds.

This perspective allowed people to appreciate the deep harmony between India’s ancient philosophies and the message of the Quran. It replaced suspicion with respect, fear with understanding, and isolation with connection. The khanqah taught that truth does not compete with truth. It recognizes itself wherever it appears, whether in a verse of the Quran, a saying of the Prophet, a sutra of Buddha, or a teaching attributed to Krishna.

In this way, the khanqah helped its community develop a broader spiritual vision—one rooted in Islam yet enriched by the timeless wisdom of India. It cultivated minds that were strong in faith and open in heart, capable of seeing unity where others saw difference, and capable of learning from every source of light without compromising their own identity.

5. Advancing Women Empowerment

Long before the phrase “women empowerment” became a common slogan, the khanqah had already developed a clear and powerful understanding of what it meant to uplift women. It consistently taught that women hold an essential place in the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of society. Their right to seek knowledge, to think independently, and to participate as thinkers, contributors, and leaders was never treated as secondary. It was seen as a natural expression of their dignity and purpose.

The khanqah encouraged women to read, ask questions, and explore different fields of learning. It inspired them to see themselves as active participants in shaping the world around them. Mothers were encouraged to become guides for the next generation, not through pressure, but through their own confidence and wisdom. Young girls were reminded that their dreams have value, their abilities matter, and their voices deserve space in the home, in the community, and in academic circles.

The khanqah also invited the community to move beyond old stereotypes and narrow cultural boundaries. It taught that intelligence, leadership, and creativity belong to every human being. A woman could excel as a scholar, a poet, a historian, a reformer, a teacher, or a spiritual guide. Islamic history is filled with examples of such remarkable women, and the khanqah used these examples to inspire the present generation.

Its message was simple but deeply transformative. When a woman is empowered, an entire generation grows stronger with her. An educated woman passes confidence to her children. A respected woman brings stability to her home. A thinking woman brings clarity to her community. When she rises, the entire society rises with her.

Through this vision, the khanqah nurtured an atmosphere where women were not only respected but truly recognized as pillars of knowledge, carriers of compassion, and essential forces for a brighter and more enlightened future.

The New Era: QASRA as a Registered Institution

With the formal establishment of QASRA as a registered academy, the long and sincere khanqahi mission that once operated quietly entered a completely new stage of development. What had grown informally through the warmth of personal guidance and spiritual gatherings has now taken the shape of a structured, documented, accountable, and academically recognized institution. QASRA now stands with a clear identity, a well defined purpose, and a commitment to producing meaningful work that will last beyond generations.

The transformation is not simply administrative. It is the natural evolution of a movement that began in living rooms, courtyards, chai discussions, and spiritual circles, and has now matured into a full academic platform. The same khanqah that once welcomed people for moral support and personal questions now operates on a wider and more organized scale. It has become a research academy where the Quran, Hadith, history, and contemporary issues are studied with depth and honesty. It functions as a publishing house that produces responsible and well researched literature. It serves as a learning hub where seekers of knowledge can grow in a disciplined and authentic environment. It preserves records and memories as a historical archive. Most importantly, it has become a sincere voice that speaks truth with dignity in a world filled with confusion, noise, and misinformation.

Despite all these changes, the heart of the institution remains exactly the same. The soul of QASRA has not shifted even an inch from its foundations. It still carries the fragrance of the early khanqah, the quiet wisdom of Hazrat Abdul Hameed Sahab, and the reflective clarity brought forward by Syed Ali Hamza Chishty and Syed Badrudduja Chishty. It continues to blend spiritual warmth with academic discipline, and combines traditional values with modern understanding.

QASRA does not see tradition and modernity as rivals. It sees them as two strengths that enrich each other. It respects the past but does not fear the future. It holds onto heritage but does not reject reform. It stands as a bridge between generations, allowing older wisdom to guide new thinking and newer challenges to refine older perspectives.

At the core of QASRA lie a few simple but powerful values. Sincerity in intention. Truth in research. Responsibility in action. These values define the academy far more than any building, certificate, or public recognition. They are the same values that guided the khanqah for decades, and they continue to guide QASRA today as it steps into a larger role with confidence and purpose.

QASRA is no longer just a place. It has become an ongoing journey shaped by knowledge, honesty, and faith. It hopes to inspire, to guide, and to carry forward a legacy that is both timeless and urgently needed in the world we live in.

The same old khanqah has now taken shape in several meaningful forms, each representing a new dimension of its mission and purpose.

A research academy.
QASRA now works as a dedicated centre for studying the Quran, Hadith, Islamic history, manuscripts, and contemporary issues. It approaches knowledge with evidence, clarity, and academic honesty, encouraging thoughtful research rather than blind acceptance.

A publishing house.
The academy has grown into a platform that produces truthful and well documented literature. Through books, articles, and research papers, it aims to preserve authentic knowledge and make it accessible to the public in a clean, responsible, and respectful manner.

A learning hub.
QASRA has become a place where people come to learn, reflect, and grow. Students, seekers, and curious minds find an environment where their questions are welcomed and their learning is guided through sincerity, patience, and genuine understanding.

A historical archive.
The academy now preserves documents, memories, manuscripts, and cultural history so that future generations can understand their roots with clarity. It safeguards the intellectual and spiritual heritage that once lived quietly in the khanqah.