These where our Elders: Anecdotes from the lives of the Akabirin

[afriki_haqq]

These where our Elders: Anecdotes from the lives of the Akabirin

This thread will be dedicated to our elders, the Akabirin; who have left for us an example to learn from, follow and spread. These where the Akabirin who for their whole lives sacrificed for the deen; who where pillars of knowledge and upholders of the Sunnah. They gave their lives on the battlefield and on the gallows. Today, we reminisce from their lives and yearn to be able to follow in their path while acknowledging that we are not even worth the dust on their shoes.

Mawlana Shabbir Ahmad Saloojee, the principal of Dar al-'Ulum Zakariyya, mentions the importance of linking ourselves with the Akabirin. He quotes Mawlana Abd al-Qadir Raipuri ():

"Once Mawlana Abd al-Qadir Raipūri () stated: " Some ignorant people complain that: "why do you always speak of the Akabirin?" He replied: "what can I do? I found the lives of our Akabirin, every single one of them to be in conformity with the Sunnah and teachings of our beloved Nabi ()."


Biographies of our 'Ulama
Pearls of our Elders

This is a small effort to highlight the status of our Akabirin and to honour their rank.

[afriki_haqq]

The opinion of the author of Al-Qamus regarding Imam Abu Hanifah رحمة الله عليه

Someone once wrote a letter to the author of Al-Qamus stating, “You wrote a book against Imam Abu Hanifah.” In reply, he said, “This is incorrect. If you have a copy of it, tear it up and burn it. I did not write anything against Imam Abu Hanifah رحمة الله عليه .” Thereafter, he wrote a separate book on the virtues and merits of Imam Abu Hanifah رحمة الله عليه . He also stated, therein, the beliefs and opinions he entertained regarding Imam Abu Hanifah.

(Malfuzat Faqih al-Ummah, 2:262, Madrasah Taleemuddeen: 2012)

[afriki_haqq]

The clothing of Sayyid Ahmad Shaheed رحمة الله عليه

Hadhrat Sayyid Ahmad Shahid رحمة الله عليه used to wear a new pair of clothing every day. It was not that his clothes were washed daily by a dhobi (washer man), rather he wore a brand new set of clothing every day. There was a wealthy nawab who sewed 360 sets of clothes yearly and had them sent to him. He requested Sayyid Sahib رحمة الله عليه to wear a new set everyday and give the previous day’s clothes over to some poor person. In this way, the poor will also be able to benefit from him. Hence, Sayyid Sahib رحمة الله عليه would donate 360 sets of clothes to the poor every year.

(Malfuzat Faqih al-Ummah, 2:315, Madrasah Taleemuddeen: 2012)

[afriki_haqq]

Hadhrat Saharanpuri’s رحمة الله عليه dialogue with the Qadhi of Saudi Arabia regarding the word – سيدنا Sayyiduna

When Hadhrat Mawlana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri رحمة الله عليه went to Hijaz on his final journey, the Saudis had just elected a new government. Some of Hadhrat’s friends and attendants suggested that Hadhrat should go and meet the new king. Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه replied, “I am a student of Deen. I sit on a straw mat. How can I go to meet the king?” They insisted saying that the king was extremely desirous of meeting him. Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه replied, “Subhan Allah, he is desirous to meet me but I must go to him. If he comes to meet me, no one will stop him.” Thus, Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه did not go to meet him.

One day, some of his friends brought along a car and said to him, “Come let’s go and take a breath of fresh air.” Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه acceded to their request. They came to an orchard and in the orchard was the king as well as the Chief Qadhi (judge). They met them and introduced themselves. During that time, the discussion was going around in Makkah and Madinah that if anyone used the word Sayyiduna out of respect for anyone, he would become a kafir. The police would label such people as mushriks.

Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه questioned the king and the Qadhi regarding the usage of the word Sayyiduna. The Qadhi replied that the usage of this word was not established anywhere. Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه then said, “It is established in the hadith: أنا سيد ولد آدم ولا فخر – I am the Sayyid (leader) of all the children of Adam عليه السلام and I say this without any pride. Here Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم‎ used the word Sayyid for himself.” Upon hearing this, the Qadhi mentioned, “It has not been established to recite the Durud using the words Sayyidina Muhammad.” Immediately, Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه answered him saying, “In which hadith does the word Ta`ala appear that you attach it to Allah and say Allah Ta`ala? Where did Allah Ta`ala say that you have to add on this word of respect to My name?”

The king was listening very attentively to the entire discussion. After the dialogue was over, he asked the Qadhi, “Is it prohibited in any of the ahadith to use the word Sayyiduna?” The Qadhi replied in the negative. The king then said to him, “Why is it then that you are being so hard on this issue?” In this manner, this entire issue had terminated. Thereafter Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه asked the king, “What is the proof to levy taxes against the Hujjaj? The Shari`ah has declared all forms of taxes as haraam.” The king replied, “This is not established from any source. However, the government also has to run in some way or the other.” Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه then spoke up, “As far as the running of the country is concerned, I do not have any knowledge of this. This is not my line of work. Those who are running the affairs of the country know best whether it is run on halaal or haraam. I only wanted to show you that to levy taxes on the people is a means of attaining the curse of Allah Ta`ala. There is no room for permissibility in this. Immediately, put a stop to this.”

(Malfuzat Faqih al-Ummah, 2:374-375)

Fatwa: Is it correct to add the word ‘Sayyidinā’ when reciting Durūd Sharīf?

[Taalibul Islam]

Assalamu alaykum,

Excellent thread Masha'Allah, I'll be following it avidly.

Thanks

[noorani link]

Masha Allah, this thread is like a cool drink of water on a hot day. Jazakallah Khairan for the one who initiated this thread.

[afriki_haqq]

The beard is state grass!

Once, Hadhrat Mawlana Ilyas al-Kandhelwi رحمة الله عليه went out in Tabligh to an area where he had to perform the nikah of a youngster who had shaved his beard. His aged father, who was present, was also in the habit of trimming his beard. Hadhrat رحمة الله عليه mentioned to the youngster that he should not shave his beard and also admonished the father for trimming his beard. Thereafter, he mentioned to both of them, “The beard is state grass. Whoever cuts it will be apprehended.” Both of them understood the lesson properly and there was probably no better way to make them understand it.

(Malfuzat Faqih al-Ummah, 2:446)

[afriki_haqq]

A Miracle of Mawlana Mazhar Nanautwi

When Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Mazhar al-Nanautwi رحمة الله عليه left the battlefield (of Shamli), the British army pursued him. He escaped and took refuge in a barn, somewhere in the jungle. There was no water available thus putting him in great difficulty. He found a broken earthenware pot and placed it under the gutter. Immediately it began to rain and the pot was filled with clean, fresh water. The next time he needed water, he did the same thing and again it rained. This miracle occurred on a number of occasions.

(Malfuzat Faqih al-Ummah, 2:500)

[afriki_haqq]

The Knowledge of Shaykh ʿAbd al-Laṭīf Nuʿmānī

Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Fadhl al-Rahman 'Azmi حفظه الله mentions:

"We used to study Tafsīr al-Bayḍāwī under Shaykh ʿAbd al-Laṭīf Nuʿmānī رحمة الله عليه. He never kept a book with him. We would bring one for him and indicate where the lesson was from and he would begin to explain the lesson in his informal style. I don’t know if he came prepared or not. Shaykh Manẓur Nuʿmānī and Muftī Ẓafīr al-Dīn are two of his many
students. He was a skilful and experienced debater and an energetic, brave man. His expertise extended to all fields and his talents were undeniable."

Further it is mentioned that once Shaykh al-Ḥadīth was reading 'Allamah Anwar Shāh Kashmīrī’s Nayl al-Farqadayn, when he came across a portion of text that he did not understand. He first approached a junior teacher and asked for an explanation, but he was unable to offer one. He then approached a more senior teacher and he too was unable to explain the text. Shaykh al-Ḥadīth then went to Shaykh ʿAbd al-Laṭīf Nuʿmānī رحمة الله عليه who, after just a brief glance, immediately explained it in a very confident manner.

(A Brief Biography of Shaykh al-Hadīth Fazlur Rahman Azmi, p. 78)

[junaid]

MashaAllah,

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