November 24, 2009
[…] ‘Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) would say, ‘‘there are many teachers [of the Islamic sciences] in this era, however, there is only one personality who is a faqih. He is Mawlana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri.’’
Malfuzat-e-Faqih al-Ummat: p. 177, Vol 3 (Karachi: Dar al-Huda, September 2005 ed.) by Mufti Muhammad Faruq Mirathi.
November 17, 2009
Mawlana ‘Ashiq Ilahi Mirathi (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) writes:
‘‘Mawlana ‘Abd al-Majid Hazarwi would relate, ‘‘When I began studying hadith under the tutelage of Sayyid Nadhir Husayn Dehlawi[1], I would feel anxiety in my heart and would often see dreams in which I was surrounded by roaming piglets. Seeing these dreams I became completely disheartened and went straight to the company of Mawlana Fadl-e-Rahman[2] (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) in Ganj Muradabad. I explained to him what I was studying and the nature of my dreams. Mawlana asked me, ‘‘Where do you study?’’ I replied, ‘‘In Delhi, with Mawlana Nadhir Husayn.’’ He suggested, ‘‘Go to Mawlana Rashid Ahmad in Gangoh. That is where the bastion of hadith is.’’ Thereafter, he continued to praise Imam Rabbani (Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (may Allah sanctify his secret)), and said, ‘‘Go there, relay my salam to him and inform him that you have been sent by Fadl-e-Rahman.’’ Thus, Mawlana ‘Abd al-Majid arrived in Gangoh. When he went to Mawlana [Rashid Ahmad Gangohi], he was sitting on a stool for ablution, brushing his teeth with a miswak. He smiled upon seeing Mawlana ‘Abd al-Majid. The latter greeted him with salam and relayed Mawlana Fadl-e-Rahman’s salam and message. He informed him, ‘‘Mawlana praised you greatly and I am now here having been sent by him.’’ Upon hearing this, Mawlana said with complete humility, ‘‘He praises others since he himself is worthy of praise, otherwise I know what I really am.’’
Mawlana ‘Abd al-Majid relates, ‘‘Finally, I commenced [the study of] hadith and benefited from Mawlana [Rashid Ahmad Gangohi], and from that very day my distress began decreasing and my happiness continued to increase daily.’’ ’’
Tadhkirat al-Rashid, Vol. 2, p. 320-321 (Lahore: Idara Islamiat, Jumada ‘l-Thaniyah 1406 AH / March 1986 CE edition) by Mawlana ‘Ashiq Ilahi Mirathi.
[1] A renowned Ahl al-Hadith scholar of the sub-continent
[2] For details about Mawlana please see footnote no. 4 of the following entry: Imam Hakim al-Ummah Thanwi (1863–1943 CE): The link between the Juniors and Seniors
November 8, 2009
Mawlana Zafar Ahmad Thanawi[1] relates,
‘‘When, in 1328 AH, Hadrat (Mawlana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri) travelled for Hajj and arrived at al-Masjid al-Haram for the Tawaf-e-Qudum (the circumambulation of arrival), I was sitting near Mawlana Muhibb al-Din (a senior khalifah of Haji [Imdad Allah]). At the time, Mawlana Muhibb al-Din was reciting salawat from a book, when suddenly he turned towards me and asked, ‘‘who has just entered the Haram, that it has become filled with light?’’ I remained silent. After a little while, having completed his circumambulation, Hadrat walked towards the Gate of Safa to perform sa‘i and came to Mawlana Muhibb al-Din as this was his sitting place. Mawlana stood up and, while laughing, remarked, ‘‘I was wondering who had arrived in the Haram today.’’ He then shook his hands (musafahah) and embraced him (mu‘anaqah). Hadrat left to perform his sa‘i. Mawlana Muhibb al-Din sat down in his place and remarked, ‘‘Zafar! Mawlana Khalil Ahmad is radiance embodied. There is nothing but light in him.’’ He then said, ‘‘I did not see Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, and I was told that he was Qutb al-Irshad. However, I have realised by seeing his successors that he really was Qutb al-Irshad, having trained such proficient (kamil) people.
Ma‘arif-e-Shaykh al-Hadith, (Karachi: Zam Zam Publishers, June 2007 ed.), p.78-79, compiled by Hafiz Muhammad Akbar Shah Bukhari
[1] ‘Allamah Zafar Ahmad ‘Uthmani – most well-known for his masterpiece in the Hanafi madh-hab, I‘la’ al-Sunan, one of the greatest works authored in recent centuries – had ijazah in tasawwuf from Mawlana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri and is also among his senior students, having studied hadith under his tutelage at Mazahir-e-‘Ulum in Saharanpur.
September 25, 2009
In a letter addressed to Mawlana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri, Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi wrote (may Allah Shower them with His mercy):
‘‘I consider you my pride and the means of my salvation. I am nothing, however I am attached to good people.’’
Makatib-e-Rashidiah, p.68 (Lahore: Idara Islamiat, August 1996 / Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1417 ed.) compiled by Mawlana Mahmud Ashraf ‘Uthmani
July 28, 2009
Below is a letter in the handwriting of the Hijazi scholar Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Alawi al-Maliki (may Allah shower His mercy upon him), addressed to Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya (may Allah shower His mercy upon him). It was written after Shaykh al-Hadith had gifted the Shaykh a copy of Mawlana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri’s (may Allah anctify his secret) Badhl al-Majhud, commentary of Sunan Abi Dawud. This particular edition, published in 20 volumes, was the first of many al-Maktabah al-Imdadiyyah (Makkah) prints and included Shaykh al-Hadith’s beneficial ta’liqat (annotations). Shaykh al-Hadith gifted the work to various notable ‘ulama’ of al-Haramayn.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Alawi al-Maliki's letter to Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya
Translation:
In the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful,
Possessor of Excellence, the learned hadith scholar, remnant of the predecessors and splendour of the successors, the embodiment of blessings, Imam, caller to Allah, my master and my teacher: Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya, may Allah protect him …
Al-Salam ‘alaykum wa Rahmat Allah
I congratulate you on the arrival of the New Year. May Allah make it one of prosperity, blessings, happiness and favour. Amin.
I thank you for kindly sending to me a copy of the great, renowned and praiseworthy commentary, Badhl al-Majhud, which is crowned with your blessed annotations. May Allah protect, aid and assist you, and may He lengthen your life in His obedience and the excellence of His servitude, and may He enable us to benefit from you. May you always remain [in prosperity].
Your lover and humble servant,
Muhammad ibn ‘Alawi al-Maliki
Servant of the honourable students at the [Umm al-Qura] University and al-Masjid al-Haram
04/01/1394 (AH)
Image taken from: Fihrist Ta’lifat-e-Shaykh, Volume 1, p. 346 (Saharanpur: Maktabah Yadgar-e-Shaykh, Ramadhan 1417 AH / January 1997 CE ed. ) by Mawlana Sayyid Muhammad Shahid Saharanpuri.
June 23, 2009
Hadrat Ji Mawlana Muhammad Yusuf Kandhlawi, the 2nd Amir of the Tablighi Jama‘at wrote regarding Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Husayn Ahmad Madani (may Allah shower His Mercy upon them):
‘‘In the chain of the great luminaries of Islam, Hadrat Shaykh al-‘Arab wa ‘l-‘Ajam (Shaykh of the Arabs and non-Arabs), the great warrior of Islam, lover of immigration and Jihad, adherent to the sunnah, flag-bearer of the knowledge of Islam, leader of the ‘ulama, Muhaddith of the time, jurist of the era, most abstinent from the world and desirous of the hereafter, most enduring and generous, and the least formal Hadrat Mawlana Husayn Ahmad Madani (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) also occupies a place. Whatever can be written regarding Hadrat is only the little which we had in front of us and could see. The true treasures of man are what lie hidden within. These treasures are hidden in the bosoms of man and shall only be made apparent in the next world. Only Almighty Allah knows what pleasures had filled the heart of this great personality, due to which he was able to bear the severest of difficulties during every juncture of his life for the revival of the spirit of Iman. Spending the last moments of his life in cries and du‘as in front of Almighty Allah, Hadrat handed his soul over to his beloved Master.’’
Biography of Shaikhul Islam Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani (Jointly published by Madrasah Arabia Islamia (Azadville) and Zam Zam Publishers (Pakistan), Jumada ‘l-Ula 1428 / May 2007 ed.) p.35, translated by Mawlana Ridwan Kajee.
Note: Spellings of some words have been edited when reproducing this translation.
June 18, 2009
Mawlana Wali al-Din Nadwi writes regarding Imam ‘Allamah ‘Abd al-Hayy Lucknowi’s (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) relationship with some of his contemporaries:
‘‘The Imam held an extremely affectionate and warm relationship with many of his eminent contemporaries, from whom were Shaykh Nadhir Husayn Dehlawi and Shaykh Fadl-e-Rahman Ganj Muradabadi, who both profusely praised the Imam. The Imam also held an extremely close friendship with the founder of Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband, ‘Allamah Muhammad Qasim Nanautwi to whom the Imam would often send gifts.’’
Bid‘ah And The Salaf’s Worship (London: Al-Hamra Publications, 1st edition 1999) p. xvii, translated by Shaykh Zahir Mahmood
Note: Spellings of names have been edited when reproducing this paragraph.
May 15, 2009
Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) relates:
[…] The state of the Molwis (‘ulama’) is such that Shah Isma‘il Shahid would press the legs of the guests of Sayyid [Ahmad Shahid] at night (for their relief). If someone asked, ‘‘who are you?’’, he would reply, ‘‘I am the servant of Sayyid [Ahmad Shahid].’’ Hearing this, the guests would be silent. It became known after a very long time that Mawlana Isma‘il presses the legs [of the guests].
Ashraf al-Jawab (Karachi: Idarah Da‘wat-e-Islam, 1st edition) p.189
March 5, 2009
Mawlana Sayyid Mahbub Ridwi writes:
‘‘The humility of Muhaddith [Ahmad ‘Ali] Saharanpuri was such that he would honour his students as a student honours his teacher. Mawlana Sayyid Muhammad ‘Ali Mongeri relates that, ‘‘After teaching his lessons he (Mawlana Ahmad ‘Ali Saharanpuri) would lie down [to rest] at home. When I would visit him, he would sit up for me. One day, I enquired of him, ‘I am one of your junior students. Hundreds of scholars are your students. You are even senior to my father in age. In this old age you teach all day, then lie down to rest and when I present myself you sit up?’ He did not reply.’’
Sawanih ‘Ulama’-e-Deoband (Deoband: Nawaz publications) Vol. 1, p. 251, compiled by Dr. Nawaz Deobandi.
October 27, 2008
As-salamu ‘alaykum,
Some time ago, on this blog, I announced my intention to post examples of Imam al-‘Asr ‘Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri’s reverence for knowledge; his teachers and books of knowledge. Unfortunately, due to a combination of laziness and other obvious shortcomings, I was unable to do so.
Anyone who has studied the biography of ‘Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri will know of his reverence for his teachers, particularly for the teacher whom he succeeded, the mujahid Shaykh al-Hind Mawlana Mahmud Hasan Deobandi. The ‘Allamah was a person of great humility and modesty. Many examples of this are found in his various biographies. He did not cease to lower himself in front of his masha’ikh and teachers and from serving them even after he had gained worldwide fame for his academic achievements. Below is one such example which I hope will portray this enviable trait. I pray that it is of benefit.
Hadrat Mawlana Anwar La’ilpuri, a prominent student of Imam al-‘Asr ‘Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri, relates:
‘‘Hadrat [‘Allamah Anwar] Shah was the head teacher (sadar mudarris) of Dar al- ‘Ulum Deoband, the highest position in this educational institute. When Hadrat Shaykh al-Hind [Mawlana Mahmud Hasan] returned to Deoband after his imprisonment on the Island of Malta, I travelled there with my father in order to enrol at Dar al- ‘Ulum. I had not yet been able to see Hadrat [‘Allamah Anwar] Shah but the recognition of his academic greatness was dominant in my heart and mind after having heard of it from many of his students.
After reaching Deoband, my father led me to the residence of Shaykh al-Hind. It was the summer season and the Zuhr prayer had just ended. There was a crowd of people seated in Hadrat’s [Shaykh al-Hind] parlour, surrounding him from all directions. A person – whose illuminated face gave view to a combined state of light and innocence and academic (‘ilmi) grandeur and glory – was operating the fans which were hanging from the ceiling, whilst quietly urging people to move back so that Hadrat would not be caused discomfort. My father whispered in my ear, ‘‘the person operating the fans is Mawlana Anwar Shah, the head teacher of Dar al-’Ulum.’’ After hearing this my feet fell beneath me [in amazement] at how this blessed person – whose academic fame was echoing around the world, and who despite having his own students in this gathering – was busy in the service of his teacher with such devotion and reverence (ihtiram).’’
Naqsh-e-Dawam (Deoband: Bayt al-Hikmat, 2nd ed. April 1996, p.104) by Mawlana Anzar Shah Mas‘udi Kashmiri ibn ‘Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri.
