‘Allamah Imam Sarfraz Khan Safdar And The ‘Ulama At Darul ‘Ulum Karachi

[Nu'ayman ibn Amr]

http://zakariyya.wordpress.com/2008/...-ulum-karachi/

‘Allamah Imam Sarfraz Khan Safdar, a graduate of Darul ‘Ulum Deoband, is a renowned researcher, scholar, prolific writer, lecturer in hadith and tafsir, and a leading master in tasawwuf.

Having studied under the likes of Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Sayyid Husayn Ahmad Madani, Shaykh al-Adab wa ‘l-Fiqh Mawlana I’zaz Ali, ‘Allamah Ibrahim Balyawi and Mufti Muhammad Shafi', the respected Mawlana, who is in his late 90s and based in the town of Gujranwala (Punjab Province, Pakistan), is renowned for penning many extremely well-researched books on numerous topics.

Mawlana Badrul Islam, a graduate of Darul ‘Ulum Karachi, recently wrote a private email about the Mawlana’s writings, which we feel compelled to share with our readers. The second paragraph is particularly insightful and throws much light on the way the ‘ulama at Darul ‘Ulum Karachi revere this pillar of knowledge, preserver of sacred knowledge and guardian of the blessed sunnah.

Mawlana Badrul Islam wrote:

“Without any exaggeration, he is an imam of the sciences of Islam. ‘Ulama who have read any of his tens of extraordinary works would know what an ocean [of knowledge] he is. All of his works are geared towards the more serious research scholar. Many years ago, whilst living in Bangladesh, I had his book Maqam-e-Abi Hanifah brought for me from Pakistan. Thinking it would be ‘just another biography’ of Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) I did not look at it for months. When I finally got round to reading it, subhanallah! It was a biography like no other. His book Rah-e-Sunnat (The Path of Sunnah) is another incredible book. I recommend two books to friends who wish to understand the concepts of sunnah and bid’ah: Imam Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi al-Andalusi’s al-I’tisam in Arabic and Rah-e-Sunnat in Urdu. In brief, all his books are brilliant and highly beneficial.

“I recall during our Mishkat year at Darul ‘Ulum Karachi, ‘Allamah Sarfaraz Khan Safdar saheb paid an unannounced visit. All classes were immediately suspended and all the students and teachers gathered in the mosque. Hadhrat was requested to give a dars (lesson) on Sahih al-Bukhari. Instead of a student reading the text in front of the shaykh (as is the norm), Shaykhuna ‘Allamah Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani saheb became a student and very politely and humbly asked if he could read the text! I could see some of our teachers of hadith almost fighting for Hadhrat’s feet as he sat there delivering the dars.

‘’As for the annual Daura-e-Tafsir of the shaykh, he used to teach the entire Qur’an to ‘ulama every year during the long Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr holidays. This used to be a strictly ‘ulama-oriented study of the Holy Qur’an. If a non-‘alim were to listen to the recordings, they would mean very little to him. This annual course used to be attended by ‘ulama from several countries including India (Deoband) and Bangladesh. It, sadly, stopped when the shaykh was so old and ill that he could no longer continue.”

[Saad]

JazakAllah.

Mufti M. Taqi Usmani has mentioned in his preface of Al-Kalam al-Mufeed , that he possess all the books of Shaykh Sarfraz and his books have been very beneficial to me while giving dars.

When Mufti Muhammed Shafi [r.h] saw his book Maqam-e-Abi Hanifa he said that I was planing on writing a book about Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa [r.h] and answer objections againt the great Imam, but this book has sufficed the need and without any mubalga, I think I wouldn't have been able to write such a detailed book.

Mufti Zar Wali Khan mentioned in one of his dars that Rah-e-Sunnat is one of its kind. I haven't seen anything like this before.

When he visited Darul Uloom Deoband, Allamah Syed Anzar Shah Kashmiri introduced him to scholars there by saying he is امام الموحدين.

His book Izalat al-Raib fi Aqida ilm-e-Ghayb is also worth reading. He also wrote Taskeen al-Sudoor, about Aqida Hayat al-Nabi, Barzakh, Tawassul etc. This book was written at the special request/order of Muhaddith Allamah Yusuf Binori [r.h], Mufti Rasheed Ahmed Ludhanvi [r.h] and Mufti Muhammed Shafi r.h]. During those days it was a hot topic so it was felt by the scholars that a book should be written that will settle this issue. He is also master in the field of Isma wa Rijaal. According to ghayr Muqallideens he is the "most dangerous" Deobandi scholar alive.

Over all Shaykh has authored about 50 books.

Shaykh is the khalifa-e-Mujaaz of Shaykh al-Quran Mawlana Hussain Ali [r.h]. Mawlana Hussain Ali was the student of Imam Rashid Ahmed Gangohi[r.h]. Among others, all three of his sons are bayat to him, Mawlana Zahid al-Rashidi [Secretary-General Pakistan Shari`at Council] being one of them.

Shaykh has taught Tasfir and Hadith for 50+ years. Every year he would give Tafseer of whole Quran in 40 days [20 days of Shaban and 20 days of Ramadan]. Scholars from as far as India and Bangladesh would attend this.

Here you can listen one Dora-e-Tafsir that was given in early 90s.
http://ahnaf.com/downloads-cat43.html

[Sunni Muslim]

Mashallah! May Allah give him good health. Amin.

[Ali al-Hanafi]

khanbaba,

Can you upload as many of Hazrat's (damat barakatuhum) books as possible please? I want to read all of them! Have you done Maqam-e-Abu Hanifah and Taskeen al-Sudoor yet?

[Saad]

khanbaba,

Can you upload as many of Hazrat's (damat barakatuhum) books as possible please? I want to read all of them! Have you done Maqam-e-Abu Hanifah and Taskeen al-Sudoor yet?

The above mentioned books are quite lenghty and it's not an easy task to scan them. I will see what I can do, but it will take time.

Madania Bookstore carries about 34 books of Shaykh.

So far what is available online:

Minhaj al-Wadih

Ibarat-e-Akabir

Umdat-ul-Asaas

Guldasta-e-Tauheed

Dil ka Suroor

Sirf Aik Islam

Maslik al-Mansoor

Mullah Ali Qari wa Masla Hazir Nazir

Maududiat

Tauzeeh al-Maram fi Nuzool al-Masih

Khatam-e-Nabuwwat

[Ali al-Hanafi]

[SunniWaqas]

The above mentioned books are quite lenghty and it's not an easy task to scan them. I will see what I can do, but it will take time.

Madania Bookstore carries about 34 books of Shaykh.

So far what is available online:

Rah-e-Sunnat

Ibarat-e-Akabir

Umdat-ul-Asaas

Guldasta-e-Tauheed

Dil ka Suroor

Sirf Aik Islam

Maslik al-Mansoor

Mullah Ali Qari wa Masla Hazir Nazir

Maududiat

Tauzeeh al-Maram fi Nuzool al-Masih

Khatam-e-Nabuwwat

Khanbaba,

I just wanted to say JazakAllah Khair for your efforts on this forum (over 3000 posts in just over a year!!). MashaAllah, I have found you to be a person chock-full of knowledge on various issues not to mention the dozens of books that you have read.

Not surprising to see that you have become a moderator in such a short span of time Alhamdulillah. May Allah reward you with the best of both this world and the hereafter and may He use you to spread his Deen in this continent. Oh and if you are still not married, may He bless you with a pious wife!!

BTW, are you taking the Shariah Program as you initially planned?

Wassalam

[True Life]

Witnessing only one of these special moments mentioned by Maulana Badrul Islam is worth it already to sacrifice almost 15 years of your life!

[Saad]

Khanbaba,

BTW, are you taking the Shariah Program as you initially planned?

Wassalam

Ameen to all the duas.

Unfortunately, due to my busy schedule with uni and work, I was unable to take classes at Shariah Program. InshAllah, I plan to next year.

[Saad]

Few more books are available to download.

Irshad ul-Shia - Discussion of Shia aqaid and Islamic ruling on Shias.

Hidayat al-Mirtaab - View of Ahl-e-Sunnah towards Mujizaat and Karamaat and refutation of those who take Karamaat and Mujizaat as proof to call upon Awliya for help.

Chahl Masala Hadhrat Beralwiya