Our History

Ambehta peer zadgaan, a town very old and registered in the pages of history. It is situated in District Saharanpur of Uttar Pradesh in India. Ambehta was founded by Mirza Asadullah Beg in 774 Hijri and Shah Abul Maali Sahab came in the town in 1100 Hijri. Since then this town has became the centre of Islamic education and culture. This town has the privilege of giving birth to important persons of world fame like Hazrat Maulana Khaleel  Ahmad Sahab, Muhaddis Saharanpuri, Spritual guide of Janab Sheikh ul Hadeeth, Hazrat Maulana Mohd. Mian Sahab Ghazi, The freedom fighter. Most of the residents of this town served on high posts in India and abroad and are still serving for example Janab Abid Ullah Ansari Ghazi. This town has given birth to many glorious personalities. The leaders, orators, preachers, social reformers, politicians and gems from every field of life can be found in the history of this town.

But now a days this town is very  backward.  Since the partition of India in 1947 most of the educated and dynamic personalities have migrated to Pakistan and afterwards the financial and educational problem came in the way of progress of this town. In general, most of the Muslims of India are backward but Ambehta town has its own unique specialty. The Muslim population of this town is 60% but Muslims do not represent even 15% in educational as well as occupational sphere.

One such glorious personality was the Alhaj Shah Rasheed Ahmad Tanweer sahab.  He is remembered as the very popular chairman of the town.  His Chairmanship started in 1957 and ended with his life in 1968.

He is the most loved, praised and admired chairman in the history of this town and this love of people for him was not without any reason. He deserves and earned every drop of respect and love by his never to ending service to the town and its people, Hindus and Muslims alike. Alhaj Shah Rasheed Ahmad “Tanweer”  sahab was a man who has always placed others before himself. His service, love and care for the people and town are humungous.

He clothed the naked, fed the hungry and helped the needy, even if he himself has lesser resources for his family.

The man who was the owner of half of a town and the chairman lived the last years of his life in extreme poverty and debt. If his family gets the lunch, the dinner was not guaranteed. All this was just for one cause, the service to humanity.

When he died, he was indebted and his debt was paid by his five sons, namely Shah Khalid Rasheed, Shah Abid Rasheed, Shah Hamid Rasheed, Sah Shahid Rasheed and Shah Rashid Rasheed.

They all followed the glorious legacy left behind by their father. The qualities which they inherited in blood allowed them to lead a respectable and influential life.

Today even after almost  50 years, when the name of Alhaj Shah Rasheed Ahmad “Tanweer”  sahab is taken, the respect, glory and the grand aura surrounds the space. The tears fill the eye and the hearts get emotional when he is remembered.

One of the main concern of Alhaj Shah Rasheed Ahmad “Tanweer” sahab was the lack of education in Muslim.  And this concern got passed straight down to his fourth kid Shahid Rasheed.

Alhaj Shah Rasheed Ahmad “Tanweer” sahab always wanted to set up an institute for the Muslims where they can get religious as well as modern education, but due to his pre occupation other social issues, he never got the chance to build one.

This dream was made alive by his younger son,  Dr. Shahid Rasheed Sabri Founder of 'IQRA' Educational Society and all following Institutions .

Being a doctor by profession, Dr. Shahid Rasheed Sabri . started a small school where knowledge of religion as well as modern world was given.

In 1995 this school got affiliation till fifth class, till 8th In 1996 and high school in 1997.

In spite of his occupation and by busy schedule, Dr Shahid worked day and night for the common dream, investing his money, time and life.

It is the fruit of his labour that in 2000, he got the affiliation of the Inter College named H.M.B. lqra Inter College and also established study centre of Maulana Azad Urdu University Hydrabad and National Open Schooling “NIOS” .

That is not the end of the story. After Inter College he went pre Degree College and today T.G.T. degree college runs the classes for B.ed and other courses like B.A. etc. Dr. Shahid is still planning for the bigger and higher goals. Although the whole journey was covered by Dr. Shahid alone but there were few co passengers too who helped him up to some extent.

One such name is Dr. Abidullah Ghazi who is the director of lqra International Foundation. His contribution can not be forgotten.

The financial aid by him for the poor, needy, widows and orphans helped them and made their life a bit easier.

Education aids provided by him to the needy students helped them to complete their educational.

The other two most important personalities who helped in the mission of Dr. Shahid was Mr. Siraj Hussain IAS and Mr. Naved Masood IAS. With a mere phone call by Dr. Shahid so these two people were always ready to solve all the problems coming in the path of his dream of setting up an educational institution. Even today, when ever the name of these two personalities comes up the gratitude praise flows naturally from the heart of Dr. Shahid Sabri.

Another name whose support can never be forgotten is  Mr. Shahid Siddique editor Nayi Duniya, Delhi May ALLAH elevate their status in Jannah along with Dr. Shahid Rasheed Sabri. The personal life of Dr. Shahid Sabri is equally grand and laborious.

His graduation too was completed in hard ship. He used to travel kilometers by foot as there was no money for the transportation. Even library was too far that it takes few hours to reach and return from the library.

He used to were the altered old cloths from lama Masjid Delhi. By living in Masjid for the first year half field stomach and with little or no financial support he passed his college life.

When in 1972 he gave the exam of Antomy, in the same year, he wrote a book on that subject named "Anatomy Guide".

The book was so much liked by the students that they booked it advanced. Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the owner of Jamia Hamdard gave 500 Rs. to Dr. Shahid Sabri as a token of appreciation and reward.

Like this he got enough money needed for the printing of book and finally the was published and went famous amongst students and teachers alike.

The personal life of Dr. shahid Sabri is equally grand and laborious as him official life.

Dr. Shahid Sabri completed his education in hard ship and great difficulty.

As their were no source of income and the family was unable to support his education so Dr. Shahid took the responsibility on his shoulder and gathered the money for his tuition and gather herbs from the jungle and sell them.

His graduation to was completed in hard ship. He used to travel kilometers by foot as there was no money for the transportation. Even library was too far that it takes few hours to reach and return from the library. He also part time teach in a Madarsa in Qasadpura, Delhi on very little salary.

He used to wear the altered old cloths from Jamia Masjid, Rodgram, Delhi. By living in Masjid for the first year half field stomach and with little or no financial support he passed his college life.

When in 1972 he gave the exam of Anatomy, in the same year, he wrote a book on that subject named “Anatomy Guide”.

The book was so much liked by the students that they booked it advanced . Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the owner of Jamia Hamdard gave 500 Rs. to Dr. Shahid Sabri as a token of appreciation and reward.

Like this he got enough money neither  for the printing of book and finally this was published and went famous amongst students and teachers alike.

The man man who motivated Dr. Shahid Sabri to complte his education and encouraged him to get a graduation degree in medicine was Moulana Zafer Sahab “RH” Imam of masjid Rodgram, Delhi and teaches in Fateh purl madarsa. He was also an uncle to Dr. Shahid Sabri in relation.

Dr. Shahid Sabri stayed with him in his first year of graduation and he keeps motivating and encouraging him to study hard. Dr. Shahid Sabri still remembers him and his favors upon him and prays for his forgiveness and high status in Jannah.

This was the life story of Dr. Shahid Sabri in a nut shell.

Dr. Shahid Sabri is still confident and marching continuously forward to his higher goals but he has one regret and will always paint it out that not even a single man from the town helped him in his mission.

On the contrary they were always leg pulling and creating his work and creating obstacles in his way. But hats off to the determination of Dr. Shahid Sabri That neither did he got slowed down nor stopped his novel work. He kept moving forward and still is.

Even today, he is running three different institutions without any government aid or any private help.

1. TGT College of Education [Degree College]
2. Hazrat Meeran Bheek “IQRA” [Inter College]
3. Tanweer Memorial “IQRA” Public School [up to 8^th Class][In the memory of Haji Shah Rasheed Ahmed “Tanweer” ‘RH’
4. Madarsa “IQRA” Jamiatul Islamia [In the memory of Hazrat Syed Shah Abul Maali “RH”]

By seeing educational difficulties in this area Dr. Shahid Sabri focused his attention on education so that others don't have to go through these difficulties.

He often states that this world is a strange place, here people recognizes the dead and criticizes the one who is alive. He has written two more book " lbadat haqeeqat ke aaine main" and “Quran and Science”. Dr. Shahid sabri is still on a long tough journey and determined to achieve even higher success. He can surely be stated as "The man on a Mission"

Message of Mr. Naved Masood I.A.S.

I have had the pleasure of acquaintance of Dr. Shahid Rasheed Sabri for the last more than a decade when his educational mission was still in its stage of infancy. It has been a real delight to see the once embryonic institutions grow into vibrant entities attesting to the indomitable dynamism and the 'never say die' attitude of the founder. The manner in which Dr. Sabri dealt with the teething troubles and the many road-blocks which bedevil such enterprises in truly inspiring. I have no doubt that when the history of revival of education of Muslims in post independence India comes to be written, the saga of the Iqra and Hazrat Meeranji Bheek Institutions and the ardours of Shahid Sahib and his associates will surely find a place in it. That religious and linguistic minorities have distinctive educational needs is acknowledged in our Constitution which, through Article 30 (i) confers on such minorities the fundamental right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Despite this wholesome dispensation, there has been limited progress in the field particularly among Muslims in North India. There is no gainsaying the fact that the cause of educational advancement of Muslims in best served through educations of the right kind and qualities managed by the community itself with support of the state. The lqra group amply reflects that paradigm and all kudos are deserved by its promoters. I feel privileged to send my best wishes to the inStitutions and look forward to their continued progress and growing prosperity in the years to come. May these ventures set a shining example to be emulated by the community elsewhere. Ameen Summa Ameen

 (Naved Masood)I.A.S.

 C-7. MS Flats Mak Lane

 New Delhi-110001