Aga Syed Yusuf Al-Moosavi Al-Safavi

Syed Yousuf Al-Moosavi Al-Safavi (1904 – 29 August 1982) was a Kashmiri religious scholar and leader of Shia Muslims. He founded the Anjuman-e-Sharie organization. Early life Yousuf was born in Budgam in 1322 Hijri. He completed his education in Islamic law from Najaf in Iraq. He is a descendant of Mir Shamsuddin Araki, who came to Kashmir in the 13th century from the town of Arak in Markazi Province, Iran. After the death of his elder brother Aga Syed Ahmed Almosavi, he took over the responsibilities of the Aga family. He established an educational institution for Islamic learning called Madras-e Babul Ilem ("gateway of knowledge") in Budgam. Madars-e Babul Ilem is the Alma mater of many in the Kashmir literary field. It is the practice among Shias of Kashmir to go to their religious head (Mawlawi or Agas) for legal disputes instead of to government courts. Such Sharie Adalats ("religious courts") determine justice according to Islamic doctrine. During the period of Aga Yousef, Sharie Adalats became very popular. On a number of occasions the district court sent cases to Yousef's court. During the reign of Maharaja Gulab Singh, Pratab Singh, and Hari Singh, an article was included in the constitution of Kashmir which bestowed this Aga family with a unique honour. According to the article, if any one from the Aga family was required to give testimony in any case then he would not go to the court instead the court would come to his residence and record the testimony. No one from the Aga family should be summoned in the court. The law existed up to the period of Aga Syed Yousuf.