Hakimul Ummat Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi RH.
Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi (R.A)
Early Life and Childhood
Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Khandalwi was born in
Khandala in 1303 Hijri. His birth name was Ikhtar Ilyas. His father Maulana Muhammad Ismaeel Sahib died in 1315 Hijri. He had two brothers, Maulana Muhammad Yahya Sahib 15 years younger and 12 years older Hazrat Shaykh-ul-Hadeeth Sahib. His Mother Bibi Safiyyah memorised entire Qur’an after marriage. She knew the Quran so well and prayed it so much that in Ramadan she would pray one Quran and 10 paras every day. In this way she would pray 40 Qurans every Ramadan. Maulana Yahya was his older brother who took care of him after the death of their father. Shaikhul hadees was his nephew not his brother.
Education
He spent the first part of his childhood in Khandala and after that he was in the service of his father in
Nizamuddin –
Delhi. He memorised the entire Qur’an at a very young age. Maulana Muhammad Ilyas gained his early knowledge from Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Ibrahim. After that was in the service of Hazrat Gangohi. At this time he was only 10 or 11 years old. Hazrat Gangohi died in Zul – Hijjah 1323. At this time Maulana Muhammad Ilyas was 20 years old. From this it can be seen that he was in the service of Gangohi for approximately 10 years.
When he used to learn any Kitaab(book), he would do Mutalla in such a way that when the lesson was being taught it would be as if he had already done it before. Sometimes because his Mutalla was good, the teacher would tell him to teach the class. In this way he was a student as well as a teacher.
In 1326 Hijri Maulana Muhammad Ilyas learnt Bukhari and Tirmidhi from Hazrat Shaykh – ul- Hind Maulana Muhammad – ul – Hasan Sahib. It took him only 4 months to do this. Then he taught in Mazahir – Uloom (for 8 years)
Maulana Yahya was his older brother who took care of him after the death of their father. Shaikhul hadees was his nephew not his brother
AKABIREEN-E-UMMAT
MAULANA SAEED AHMAD KHAN SAB..(R A)..
MAULANA YUNUS PALANPUR
Hazrat Maulana Saad Sahab (D.B)
MAULANA TAREEQ JAMEEL SAB
Mufti Jainul Abedin R.H
Mufti Jainul Abedin R.H
Maulana Abdur Rahman Sb.
Haji Muhammad Abdulwahhab Sab
Biography
He was born in
Delhi. After graduation, he worked as sessions judge in pre-partition
India[1]. He left his job to devote his time and attention to the work of Tableegh.
He is the disciple of Hazrat Maulana sheikh Abdulqadir Raipuri Rehmatullah a'laihe. He has also worked for
Majlis-e-Ah'rãr-e-Islam in his youth.
Golden Voice of Tableeghi Jamaat (RA)
Maulana Umar Palunpuri
The well-known ‘golden voice of da’wah work’, Moulana
Muhammad Umâr Palanpuri (RA) passed away on Wednesday, 21 May 1997 at 1.30pm in
Nizamuddin, Delhi.
The previous day he had gone with other elders of the Markaz, for an Ijtima in Agra, a five-hour journey
by car. He fell ill en-route and returned to Delhi where he was immediately admitted to
hospital. He was discharged on Wednesday morning feeling much better. Later
during the day he had a heart attack and passed away. Moulana (RA) was orphaned
at an early age and was left solely to the care of his pious mother. He showed
signs of a brilliant mind front a young age. This prompted his uncle to help
him pursue a secular education. The Moulana’s mother however had other plans.
She wanted her son to devote his energies to acquiring the knowledge of Dîn.
That is what happened. The Moulana (RA) studied at Darul Ulûm Deoband, from
where he graduated with marks which impressed even his teachers.For the purpose
of tazkia [purification of the soul], he approached Shaikhul Hadîth Moulana
Zakariyya Kandalvi (RA) who in time granted the Moulana khilafat. He visited
the UK
several times. On each occasion he accompanied the late Amîr of the Tablighi
Jamaat, Moulana Inamul Hasan (RA). His last visit was in 1994 when he attended
the international gathering in Dewsbury. On this visit he related the following
story. As a young man his mother would ask him to read to her. On one such
occasion, overjoyed, she prayed, "May you see the day when you are
speaking and thousands of people are listening, as opposed to now, when your
mother is your sole listener." Tears welled in his eyes when Moulana (RA)
narrated this incident. The mother's prayer, as the world witnessed, was
answered to the letter. Moulana (RA) was sixty-five years old. He had memorized
the Qur’ân during his old age - a remarkable achievement. Hundreds of thousands
of people have benefited immensely from his discourses and pious company. He
was erudite and a devoted saint of Allâh, yet his humility cast a veil over his
impressive ‘god-fearing’ qualities. His demise brings to three the number of
great personalities the world of Tabligh has lost in the last two years -
others being, Moulana Izhaar (RA) and Hazratjee Moulana Inamul Hasan (RA). May
Allâh grant them Jannah and replace them with noble personalities. Amîn.
Third Ameer of Tableeghi
Jamaat (RA)
Hazratjee Maulana Inaamul Hasan
When Allah Ta'aala favors some one He makes unseen
arrangements for all the necessary things. The learned say that there are two
things which play an important role in making a person's personality. One of
the two things is one's family because the family traditions and virtues are
transmitted from one generation to another. This is the probable reason why the
prophets were born in the noblest of families only. Imaam Bukhari has quoted a
narration in which the Caesar of the Roman empire said (He knew it from the
ancient divine scriptures) that prophets were always born in the in the noblest
families of their communities .The second thing that builds an important role
in building a person's character is the child's environment, surroundings, the
birth place and its growth as these become part of the person's whole life and
personality. Hadrat Maulana Inaamul Hasan (RA) was given both of these to a
high degree. Allah Ta'aala selected a noble and high Siddiqui family which was
blessed with the virtues of religious knowledge, piety, sincerity, Taqwa etc.
from their great ancestor Hadrat Abu-Bakr (RA) whose legacy came down from one
generation to another. Several great personalities were born with special
characteristics and virtues which cannot be easily understood by the people of
our times. Hadrat Maulana Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi (Ali Mian) (RA) says about
this family that not only males but also the females of this family were models
of piety. They remained busy in divine worship, zikr, Tasbeeh, and Tilaawat day
and night as a daily pattern of their lives. The ladies busied themselves in
non-obligatory (Nawaafil) prayers individually and prayed their Taraweeh Salat
behind the male members of the family. During the month of Ramadhaan there used
to be a wonderful home atmosphere. The recital of the holy Quraan used to be
continuous day and night time during the whole month. The ladies had so much
enthusiasm that tilaawat was their great pleasure. Their Salaat was such that
they remained completely unaware of happenings in their houses. (Hadrat Maulana
Ilyas and his Dini Dawat). Hadrat Qazi Ziyaa'uddin Sanami (RA) a contemporary
of Hadrat Khwaaja Nizaamuddin Awliya (RA) was Hadratji's ancestor. Maulana
Hakim Muhammad Ashraf Jhanjhanawi (RA) was also one of his ancestors. He was
famous for miracles (Karaamat), Ilm, fadl Taqwa and Ma’arifat. Ulama of his
days acknowledged his kamal and fadl. A great aalim (Islamic scholar) Allama
Abdul Hakim Sialkoti (RA) said that he did not believe in Qudusi persons but I
came to know that such persons do exist in this world after having discussion
with him in a meeting. On getting an unknown sign Maulana Hakim Muhammad Ashraf
went out in search of a murshid (a spiritual Sage- teacher), met such a Buzrug
of the Qadiriyyah order of Tasawwuf. He was greatly impressed with what he saw
and heard. He took the Bait (an oath of allegiance) and became engrossed in
wird, wazaa'if, zikr, azkaar and mujaahida (various activities of divine
remembrance and meditation). After two years his murshid asked him to go to
another Buzrug. After some time he was sent to yet another who informed him
that he (Maulana Hakim Muhammad Ashraf) had reached the final stage (of
Tasawwuf) so he was told to go back to his native place and advised that if he
wished to declare his spiritual status he should take bait and give guidance to
the people, but if he wished to conceal it from the people he should remain
busy in teaching. He replied that he preferred to devote himself to the service
of the Ilme- Shariah (knowledge of the Islamic Jurisprudence). So the Buzrug
made Du'aa that the zaaheri (the publicly known) Ilm (knowledge) of Islamic
Shariah would remain in his family. After getting the khilaafat (spiritual
authority) he returned to his native place and busied himself in obtaining and
transmitting the knowledge (Ilme-deen) of the Shariah. Maulana Muhammad Ashraf
(RA) had two sons, Maulana Muhammad Shareef (RA) and Abdul Muqtadir (RA) . The
former followed the footsteps of his father in Ilm, Fadl, ma'aarif. Mulana
Ihtisaamul Hasan Kandhalwi writes in his kitaab
"Halat-e-Mashaa'ikh-e-khandalah", Hadrat Maulana Ashraf was told by
his Pir-murshid that Ilm of Shariah would remain in his children till the day
of judgement (Qiyaamah). This was evident first of all in Maulana Muhammad
Shareef (RA). Since then this bashaarat has remained in his progeny of eleven
generations till this day. Insha'allah this Ilme-shariah will remain in in
every generation of his family till the last day. Maulana Hakim Muhammad
Shareef (RA) had two sons. One son Maulana Muhammad Faiz (RA) lived in
Jhanjhana Some great scholars like Maulana Isma'eel Khandalwi (RA), Maulana
Muhammad Yahya Kandalwi (RA) and his sons Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad
Zakaria (RA), his brother the pioneer (Baani) of Tabligh Maulana Muhammad
Ilyaas (RA) and his son Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Kandalwi (RA) were born in his
family. The second son of Maulana Hakim Muhammad Shareef (RA) was Maulana Hakim
Abdul Qadir (RA) who lived in Kandhala. Many great religious scholars were born
in this family e.g. Mufti Ilaahi Bakhsh Kandhawi (RA), his nephew Maulana Mufti
Muzaffar Husain Kandalwi (RA) and others. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) is also
from the same family. Jhanjhana and Kandalwi family branches get together in
Maulana Muhammad Shareef (RA). Maulana Mufti Elahi Bakhsh (RA) was very famous
in his family. He was one of the very great disciples of Shah Abdul Aziz
Dehelvi (RA). He was a famous author, Mufti of his age. His "takmilo"
on the mathnawi of Maulana Rumi (RA) is well known, his son Maulana Abul Hasan
(RA) was also a great Aalim, (Islamic scholar) as well as a famous physician
(Hakim). He had a high position in the matter of piety (taqwa). His son Noorul
Hasan (RA) was also a great alim. Sir Sayyed Ahmed Khan, the founder of the Aligarh College was his student. His son Zahurul
Hasan (RA) and his son Hakim Riyazul Hasan (RA) were great scholars and
physicians. Maulana Hakim Raziyul Hasan (RA) studied the Hadith from Maulana
Rashid Ahmed Gangohi (RA). His son Maulana Ikramul Hasan (RA) was the maternal
nephew of Maulana Ilyaas (RA). Ikraamul Hasan (RA) got religious education, and
then he obtained B.A. and L.L.B. degrees from the Aligarh University.
He then for some time had law practice in the Kerana court. After giving up the
lawyer's profession, he remained in the service of Shaikhul Hadith Maulana
Muhammad Zakaria (RA) whose companionship and the service of Madressah Mazaahir
Uloom became the aim of his life. Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) loved him very
much. He rendered a great deal of help in nursing Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA)
in his last illness. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) was his son. Hadrat In'aamul
Hasan (RA) was born in the town of Kandhla.,
Dist Muzaffar Nagar, U.P., India
on the 18th Jammadul Oola 1336 A.H. i.e. 20th February, 1918 C.E. Famous Hafez
Mangtu taught him Hifzul Quraan. He learnt Persian up to Boston of Sheikh Saadi
(RA) from his maternal grandfather Abdul Hamid (RA) and received Arabic based
education from Mizan-Munshaeb to ShahreJami from Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas
(RA) at Nizaamuddin Kaashiful Uloom. When Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas went for Haj
in 1451 A.H., he and Maulana Yusuf (RA) were given admission in Madressa
Mazaahirul Uloom Saharanpur. He learnt Hidaya from Maulana Zakaria (RA) and
Mebzi from Maulana Jameel Ahmed Thanvi. When Maulana Ilyaas returned from Haj,
In'aamul Hasan went back to Basti Hadrat Nizaamuddin where he studied Mishkaat
from Maulana Ilyaas (RA) and Jalaalain from Ihtisaamul Hasan Kandhalwi (RA). He
and Maulana Yusuf (RA) were companions of studies. He was admitted again in
Mazzahir Uloom, Saharanpur where Maulana Abdul Latif taught him Bukhari Sharif,
Maulana A. Rahmaan Kamilpuri taught him Tirmidhi Sharif, Maulana Manzoor Ahmed
(RA) taught him Muslim Sharif and Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA) taught him Abu Dawood
(Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood are the famous Hadith literature). His
companion in Hadith studies was Maulana Muhammad Yusuf (RA). It is narrated
that both of them had made an arrangement to study at night by turn. One would
study till mid-night, prepare tea for the other and wake him up and then go to
bed. Then the other would study till Fajr prayer and wake the one whowas still
sleeping. Both of them took turns every other day (life story of Hadrat Maulana
Yusuf (RA). Page 170- 171)Before he could complete his studies due to Maulana
Yusuf's (RA) illness he had to leave Mazaahir Uloom and return to Basti Hazrat
Nizaamuddeen. He studied Ibn Majah, Nasa'ee, Tahawi and Mustadrake Haakim
(compilations of Hadith) from Maulana Ilyaas (RA) and thus completed his
religious education. As his paternal grandfather Maulana Al-Haj Hakim Raziyul
Hasan (RA) wished Hadrat In'aamul Hasan (RA) was engaged for marriage with the
second daughter of Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA). During his boyhood, Maulana
Yusuf (RA) was engaged with marriage to the eldest daughter of Hadrat Shaikhul
Hadith (RA). On the 3rd Muharram, 1354 Hegira the annual Jalsa (gathering) of
the Mazaahirul Uloom was held. At that time of the Jalsa Maulana Ilyaas (RA)
expressed his wish to Shaikhul Hadith (RA) that it would be better if the
Nikaah ceremony of both Yusuf and In'aamul hasan should be performed in the
Jalsa though there was no preparation for it. The Shaikhul Hadith (RA) readily
accepted it. When he was leaving for the jalsa he then informed his wife about
it. She said politely that if she had been informed of it she would have got a
pair of clothes ready for their daughters. Hearing this he remarked that if he
had known that their daughters were naked (in dire need of clothes), he would
have been informed earlier. (Our present day Muslim society should follow our
elders as the leaders of the community and learn a lesson from this incident).
Hadrat Shaikhul Islam Maulana Sayyed Hussain Ahmed Madani (RA) performed the
Nikaah ceremony which was attended by the religious elders of the day. Maulana
In'aamul Hasan (RA) went together with Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) for
his first Haj-pilgrimage to Mecca
in 1356 hegira. Maulana Yusuf (RA) and Maulana Ihtisaamul Hasan were with them.
They made the Haj journey from Karachi
by steamer. During this journey they did the Tabligh. The Arabs praised their
effort and promised them help. During this journey he received several good
tidings (Bashaarat) about the tabligh mission. Then he returned home. For a
long period Maulana In'aamul Hasan remained ill. He lived in his native place
kandhla during this illness. During this period, he was engaged in meditation (
mujahidha), also in the path of Suluk(sufism). Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas
(RA) died on the 21st Rajab 1363A.H. on 23rd July, 1944 C.E. It was a Thursday
morning. Two days before his death he named six persons from among his special
people as his khalifas. Hadrat Maulana In'aamul Hasan was among these six
people. After the death of Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA), the religious elders
held consultation with Maulana Shah Abdul Qadir Raipuri (RA), maulana
Fakhruddin (RA) and Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA) and decided
that Maulana Yusuf (RA) should be the successor of Hadrat Maulana Muhammad
Ilyaas (RA) as the Amir (leader) of the Tabligh Jamaat. Hadrat Maulana In'aamul
Hasan (RA) heartily welcomed the decision and became such a helper and advisor
of Maulana Yusuf (RA) that he was called the right hand of Maulana Yusuf (RA).
He was the brain of the Tabilgh jamaat. He continued it till the last moment of
the life of Maulana Yusuf (RA)with complete support and he played the main role
in the various activities of of the Tablighi centre (markaz) of Nizaamuddin.
Besides he discharged the responsibilities of Mohtamim (Administrator) of
madressah Kaashiful Uloom even during the time of Maulana Yusuf (RA) and he did
the teachings as well. He taught various branches of Islamic Knowledge, for
several years he taught Bukhari Sharif. He was well versed in the Ilme-Hadith
(knowledge of the traditions of Nabi sw. Hadrat Shaikhul Hadith included some
of his narrations in the marginal notes of his kitaab "Lami'uddarri".
Since boyhood Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) had a reserved nature. He was quiet.
He avoided unnecessary talk. He remained busy with his own work. He would not
see anyone unless it was necessary. He disliked meeting people and their
companionship passing time in talk. He strictly observed his routine. He talked
briefly and to the point. When necessary he replied to questions very
effectively. He was fair skinned. He was active. He had a very active mind. He
could understand intricacies very well. He dressed himself in fine and clean
clothes. His food was limited as necessary. He could spare enough time for
reading because he observed limit in meeting the people and perfect
punctuality. He was fond of reading. He passed most of his leisure in studying
books. He had an unique collection of books on various branches of knowledge in
his own library. When Hadrat (RA) was writing Hayaatus-Sahaba and Amanil-Ahbar,
he thought deeply about problems that would arise and search for information in
the books. Even then if he could not get the necessary information he used to
send Maulana Abdullah Taariq (RA) to get the necessary information from Maulana
In'aamul Hasan (RA). Maulana Abdullah Taariq (RA) says that it mostly happened
that Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) would open a book and point out the required
information exactly in its place or his active mind would give the right
information for the solution to the problem. Quickly he would rise up, pick up
the book from the cupboard and hand it over saying, “Go and show it to Maulana
Yusuf (RA). One of his special Khaadim's (servants) gives the information that
Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) studied the whole volume of "Fatwa
Alamgiri" from the beginning to the end completely twice. From this we can
get an insight into his enthusiasm and untiring efforts for the search of
knowledge. Several of the Mufties of these days don’t have this honor. He has
written several explanatory notes of research in the manuscript of
"Tarajimul Abwab" of the Bukhari Sharif. This shows his scholarship
and versatility of the traditions of the holy Prophet (SAW). The second Amir of
the Tablighi Jamaat Maulana Yusuf (RA) died on Friday 29th Zilqaad, 1384 Hegira
i.e. 2nd April 1965 C.E. in Lahore,
Pakistan. An
important problem arose, who could be the successor? It was not only important
but also delicate. It was not an easy matter. There was a great need of a
person who had a great attachment for the Tablighi mission with mind and heart;
and who had remained in the company of the late Amir in the markaz as well as
in the journey. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) was the most likely choice because
he was the companion of Maulana Yusuf (RA) from their young days and he was
also his right-hand. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) was a great religious scholar
of repute. He had a fine personality. He was trustworthy of Maulana Muhammad
Ilyaas (RA). He was the brain of the Tablighi Daawat. Maulana Yusuf (RA) relied
on his advice, consultation, co-operation and affection trustfully. Hadrat
Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA) held consultations with others
and thenappointed Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) as the Amir of the Tablighi
jamaat as the successor of Maulana Yusuf (RA), Moulana Fakhrul Hasan (RA), an
Ustaadh of the Darul Uloom and made the declaration in the assembly of
thousands of people. Almost all the previous activists of the Tablighi Jamaat were
ter some time resent. All of them expressed their satisfaction and relief and
promised their trust and co-operation. Since that day till the last breath
Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) for a period of 31 years discharged his
responsibility as the Amir with foresight and courage. Under his leadership the
great mission of Tabligh spread far and wide in all parts of the world. Until
the time he became the Amir-e Tablighi Jamaat he had no great linking with
oratory (takrir, Bayaan, speech). But when becoming the Amir he made good
progress in the art of oratory. He talked briefly but with firmness and to the
point. After some years of experience he began to deliver lengthy speeches. We
should know that Dawah and Tabligh are not the names of Takrir. It is more than
Takrir. He paid much more attention to other activities of the Jamaat than
Takrir making. Yet if there was a big gathering (Ijtima) he would give brief
but factual guidance and the Ijtima would come to an end with his Du'aa. He had
a reservednature. This enabled him to achieve important activities, i.e. if
someone asked about a matter, whose reply would create fitna he used to observe
silence. As a result the opportunity of fitna never materialized. Mischief was
thus buried in the bud. Hadrat Umar Ibne-Khattaab (RA), the second Khalifa once
remarked ' observe silence and destroy baatil ( falsehood)". He was an
expert in the art of observing silence. As he disliked unnecessary contact,
people did not try to get his companionship. It saved his and their time. They
devoted their time to some useful activities instead. At the markaz and on
journeys it made no difference in people's coming and going here and there, it
reduced the waste of their time. Clearly it was advantageous. He believed in
the division of labor. He allocated activities. He sentpeople to the
responsible man selected for a particular work. He did not interfere in the
activities of others. He remained bed-ridden for the last few years
continuously. So the special visits were reduced to minimum. Important
activities were allocated to others who were made responsible so such visits
were not necessary yet he made long journeys to attend large Ijtima's. he
supervised every activity himself and remained in close contact with all the
matters of the markaz, the country and foreign lands. He kept a careful watch.
He could solve the difficulties silently but pretty well. His physical built up
did not become heavy till the last so he could move about cheerfully. At ten'o
clock at night on the 9th June, 1995 he was taken to hospital in a wheelchair
by car. Everything possible was done for his medical treatment.at last he
breated his last at the age of seventy years at 1.25 p.m. on Saturday the 10th
Muharram, 1416 Hijara, 10th June, 1995 C.E. Innaalillaah… He left behind in
this world a son named Maulana Zubairul hasan and a daughter. The sad news of
his death spread around the world like lightning. The namaaz-e-janaza was to be
held at sixin the evening. There was a huge gathering in the Basti nizamuddin
by that time. There was no more space for more people so all the roads leading
to the basti hadrat Nizaamuddin were closed to the traffic. His funeral was
attended by more than half a million people, but everyone observed perfect
discipline and order. After the Magrib namaaz he was laid to rest beside Hadrat
Maulana Yusuf . hadratji received the direct training and upbringing from
Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) and he took part in tabligh from the beginning of
the Tablighi mission till his last in all the activities. Such a wonderful
personality has left us; and the golden age of tabligh has come to an end. We
make Du'aa to Allah to shield him from every type of fitna and evil Aameen
Second Ameer of Tableeghi
Jamaat (RA)
Hazratjee Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Kandhlavi;
Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kandhlawi was born on 25 Jumada I,
1335 H, corresponding to 20 March 1917 at Kandahla in India. His
family was well-known for its Islamic scholarship and total devotion. His
father, Sheikh Muhammad Ilyas Al-Kandhlawi (d. 1943), played an important role
in the reform movement led by two scholars, Ahmad ibn Irfan and Muhammad
Ismaeel, both of whom were to be martyrs. The reform movement aimed to remove
all deviation from people’s beliefs and return them to the pure Islamic faith.
Several scholars in his family studied under Sheikh Abd Al-Azeez ibn Ahmad ibn
Abd Al-Raheem Al-Dahlawi, a highly reputable scholar of Hadith. Indeed the
family produced a long line of famous scholars who were devoted to the study of
Hadith and Fiqh, as well as other Islamic studies.
Paternal lineage: Maulana
Muhammad Yusuf son of Maulana Muhammad Ilyas son of Maulana Muhammad Ismail son
of Shaikh Ghulam Hussein son of Hakim Karim Baksh son of Hakeem Ghulam
Mohi-uddin son of Maulana Muhammad Sajid son of Maulana Muhammad Faiz son of
Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Sharif son of Maulana Hakim Muhammad Ashraf son of
Shaikh Jamal Muhammad Shah son of Shaikh Noor Muhammad son of Shaikh Baha-uddin
Shah son of Maulana Shaikh Muhammad son of Shaikh Muhammad Fazil son of Shaikh
Qutb Shah. Maternal lineage: His mother
daughter of Maulvi Rauful Hasan son of Maulana Zia-ul-Hasan son of Maulana
Noorul Hasan son of Maulana Abul Hasan son of Mufti Ilahi Baksh son of Maulana
Shaikhul Islam son of Hakim Qutbuddin son of Hakim Abdul Qadir son of Maulana
Hakeem Muhammad Sharif son of Maulana Hakim Muhammad Ashraf son of Shaikh Jamal
Muhammad Shah son of Shaikh Noor Muhammad son of Shaikh Baha-uddin Shah son of
Maulana Shaikh Muhammad son of Shaikh Muhammad Fazil son of Shaikh Qutb Shah
The paternal and maternal families of Maulana Yusuf Saheb come together in
Hakeem Muhammad Sharif. Then the family traces their lineage back to Ameerul
Mumineen Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radhi Allahu Anhu). These two families were
residing in the villages of Kandhala and Jinhjana. They were famous for their
religiousness, knowledge and piety. Childhood &
Early Education: Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Saheb was born in such an
environment in which the attainment of piety was the purpose of one and all.
The whole family was ingrained with spirituality and nearness to Allah. It was
a family of Scholars, Huffaz, and Soofia. Memorizing the Quran had been the
common practice of all men and women of this noble family. The women of the
house used to keep themselves busy in the recitation of the Quran, optional
prayer, studying of religious books and rememberance of Allah. Inside the
family, there were numerous renowned scholars. Scholars such as Maulana
Muhammad Saheb, Maulana Muhammad Yahya, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas, Maulana
Muhammad Ihtishamul Hasan, Maulana Muhammad Zakariyyah were all members of this
outstanding family in which Maulana Yusuf Saheb was nurtured in.
As a young boy, Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kandhlawi showed very
early promise. Indeed, he completed the memorization of the Qur’an when he was
only 10 years of age. He then completed his primary education and studied
Hadith, starting with the six main authentic collections, under his father. He
then undertook a more specialized study of Hadith under the distinguished
scholars of Mazahir Al-Uloom, a specialized school which placed particular emphasis
on the study of Hadith, and trained its students in the art of Islamic
advocacy. During his attendance at this school he particularly benefited from
studying under his cousin, Sheikh Muhammad Zakariya Al-Kandhlawi, one of the
top scholars of Hadith in the Muslim world in the twentieth century. He
graduated from this school at the age of 20, in 1355 H. “The lap of the mother
is the child’s first madrassa (school).” This saying is very true, training of
the children at home forms the foundation of their beliefs, character and
personality. The training and education Maulana Yusuf Saheb had at home was
similar to that of the training the Muslim women in the time of Hazrat Muhammad
(SAW) used to give to their children. Each women of that household was ready to
give her son for the work of Rasulullah (SAW). The stories of the companions of
Rasulullah (SAW) had replaced the fairy tales in those homes. The lesson of the
heroic freedom movement of Maulana Syed Ahmed Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed
had become so common in those homes, that when Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi
wrote the detailed biography of Hazrat Syed Ahmed Shaheed, Maulana Ilyas Saheb
did not find anything new in that biography. Maulana Yusuf Saheb memorized the
Quran at the age of ten from Hafiz Imam Khan Mewati. It was a blessing and a
bounty of Allah on Maulana Yusuf Saheb that right from the very beginning the
elders of that time had great concern and interest in him. Maulana Syed Ahmed
Saheb Faizabadi, the elder brother of Hazrat Maulana Syed Hussein Ahmed Madni,
sent an honorary degree to Maulana Yusuf Saheb commemorating his memorization
of the Quran. Hazrat Maulana Khaleel Ahmed Saheb Saharanpuri, who is the
Khalifah of Hazrat Maulana Rashid Ahmed Gangohi and the Sheikh of Hazrat
Maulana Ilyas Saheb and Maulana Zakariyya Saheb had great affection for the
young Maulana Yusuf Saheb. Although, Maulana Yusuf Saheb was about ten years at
the time of Hazrat Saharanpuri’s death, they had still shared tremendous love.
Maulana Yusuf Saheb would call Hazrat Saharanpuri as “abba” (father in Urdu).
Once, Maulana Yusuf Saheb rejected eating the bread cooked by the servant of
Hazrat Saharanpuri and insisted on eating bread baked by Hazrat Saharanpuri
himself. Hazrat Saharanpuri then went in the kitchen and cooked the bread with
his own hands and fed Maulana Yusuf with his own hands as well. Dedication to Tableegh & Arabs:
It was his father, Sheikh Muhammad Ilyas Al-Kandhlawi, who
established an organization dedicated to Islamic advocacy. Its members devote a
good portion of their time to travel and educating Muslim people in their
faith, trying also to explain Islam to others. This organization is well known
as Tableegh, or Jama’at Al-Tableegh, with members in many countries of the
world. An important aspect of this organization is that it does not concern
itself with politics in any way. It is dedicated to Islamic propagation and
advocacy. Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kandhlawi began his scholarly career in
teaching and writing. However, after consulting several scholars and figures of
the Tableegh, his father entrusted to him the leadership of Tableegh as he
sensed his approaching death. Al-Kandhlawi dedicated himself to this task which
practically filled every day of his life. He traveled all over the Indian Subcontinent
giving lectures and speeches and holding circles advocating a return to the
pure faith of Islam, which should be implemented in people’s life. Al-Kandhlawi
believed that the Arabs must always take the leading role in Islamic advocacy,
because they were the people chosen by God for this task as He revealed His
final message in their language. Hence he was keen to spread his efforts and
the Tableegh work to Arab countries. He also realized that the best centers to
spread this work were Makkah and Madinah, regularly visited by pilgrims from
all over the Muslim world. Therefore, he gave particular attention to educating
Indian and Pakistani pilgrims, speaking to them at the ports of Bombay and Karachi,
before embarking on their journey. He would teach them the proper way of
performing their pilgrimage rituals, and educate them in the need for Islamic
advocacy. Thus, he was able to form groups of advocates from the pilgrims.
These groups undertook the task of speaking to other pilgrims in the Grand Mosques
in Makkah and Madinah. This generated interest among pilgrims of other
countries who approached al-Kandhlawi to send groups to their areas. He
responded to their requests and the Tableegh work began to take roots in
several Arab countries. Al-Kandhlawi traveled a great deal to promote the
Tableegh work of Islamic advocacy. He made numerous trips to Pakistan where
he held heavily attended functions, which contributed to the Tableegh
organization taking strong roots in that country. His first pilgrimage was in
the company of his father, before he took over the Tableegh. In his second
pilgrimage, undertaken in 1374 H, 1954, in the company of Sheikh Hussain Ahmad
Madani, a famous Hadith scholar, he met many Saudi scholars and discussed with
them the issues and problems of Islamic advocacy and propagation. He made his
final pilgrimage one year before his death, in 1383, where he held an endless
series of meetings with scholars from all over the Muslim world, and was keen
to meet as many Saudi scholars as possible. Scholarly
Work:
Despite his total dedication to the Tableegh work, which
took much of his time, Al-Kandhlawi was able to write and his writings reflect
his broad knowledge, particularly in Hadith and in the history of the Prophet
and his companions. Two books feature more prominently among his writings. The
first is Amani Al-Ahbar Fi Sharh Ma’ani Al-Athar, which is an annotation of a
major work by Imam Ahmad Al-Tahawi, a famous Egyptian scholar who lived much
earlier. The book is in four large volumes. However, his book Hayat Al-Sahabah,
which may be translated as The Prophet’s Companions’ Way of Life, has earned
wide acclaim and become essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand
the Islamic way of life or to explain Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims. In this
book, Al-Kandhlawi collects reports mentioned in books of Hadith, history and
biographies about the Prophet himself and his companions. It highlights the
aspects related to Islamic propagation and advocacy. It thus reflects life at
the time of the Prophet’s companions, and shows their manners, feelings and
thoughts in different situations. The book was published in Arabic in three
volumes many times by different publishers. It has more recently been
published, with annotation, in four large volumes, with two introductions by
two highly reputable scholars, Syed Abu Al-Hasan Ali Nadwi, and Sheikh Abd
Al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah. Passing Away:
In 1965, Al-Kandhlawi made a long trip to Pakistan, where
he traveled throughout the country, giving a long series of lectures and
speeches, and holding a continuous series of meetings, with people from all
strata of Pakistani society. Although he was not feeling well at the start of
his trip, he continued with his heavy schedule, paying little attention to his
deteriorating condition. On the final day of his trip, he was scheduled to give
a major speech in Lahore,
and although he was too ill to give such a speech, he felt that he could not
let people down. But the speech took its toll of his health. On finishing it,
he was immediately taken to hospital, but he died on his way there, at the age
of 48. His body was airlifted at night to Delhi,
where his funeral was attended by tens of thousands of mourners. May God shower
His mercy on him.
Hazratjee
Maulana Ilyas; First Ameer of Tableeghi Jamaat (RA)
Early Days
On the outskirts of Delhi,
near the tomb of Khwaja Nizamuddin, there lived, some seventy years ago, a
godly person in the house on top of the red gate of the historical building
called Chaunsath Khamba. His name was Maulana Mohammad Ismail.
Maulana Mohammad Ismail
The. ancestral home of Maulana Mohammad Ismail was in
Jhanjhana in the district of Muzaffarnagar. But when, after the death of his
(Ismail) first wife, he married again in the family of Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh
Kandhlawi, who belonged to the same ancestry as him, he visited Kandhla
frequently and it became a second home to him.
The family of Siddiqui Sheikhs of Jhanjhana and Kandhla had
been known, for generations, for piety and learning, and was held in high
esteem in the neighborhood. The lines of descent of Maulana Mohammad Ismail and
Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh Become one, six generations upwards. with Molvi Mohammad
Sharif. The lineage runs as follows: Maulana Mohammad Ismail, son of Ghulam
Husain, son, of Hakim Karim Bakhsh, son of Hakim Ghulam Mohiuddin, son of Molvi
Mohammad Sajid, son of Mofti Mohammed Faiz, son of Molvi Mohammad Sharif, son
of Molvi Mohammad Ashraf, son of Sheikh Jamal Mohammad Shah, son of Sheikh
Baban Shah, son of Sheikh Bahauddin Shah, son of Molvi Mohammad Sheikh, son of
Sheikh Mohammad Fazil, son of Es Sheikh Qutub Shah.
Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh
Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh was among the most outstanding pupils of
Shah Abdul Aziz. Besides being a distinguished teacher, author and legist, he
was, also a Unani physician of a high order, and possessed a thorough knowledge
of both the rational and traditional sciences. He had a great command over
Arabic, Persian and Urdu poetry as well, as is borne out by his commentary of
Banat Su'ad in which he has translated every line of Hazrat K'ab into Arabic,
Persian and Urdu verse. He left behind about 40 books in Arabic and Persian of
which Shiyamul Habib and Mathnaawi Maulana Rum Ka Takmial are more famous.
Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh had taken ba'it at the hand of Shah
Abdul Aziz. A glowing proof of his sincerity and selflessness was that though
he was a renowned spiritual mentor himself, on the death of Shah Abdul Aziz, he
felt no hesitation in taking ba'it at the hand of the latter's young deputy,
Syed Ahmad Shaheed, who was about 28 years his junior in age, and in seeking
guidance from him. Mufti Sahib was born in 1748, and died in 1831, at the age
of 83 years. All his sons and grandsons were men of learning and position.
Scholarship and religiousness have been the characteristics of this family
Molvi Abul Hasan's Mathnawi, Gulzar-i-Ibrahim, which forms a part of his
well-known work, Bahr-i- Haqiqat, is a poem of rare spiritual feeling. Till
recently, it was very popular. His son,
Molvi Nurul Hasan, and all the four grandsons, Molvi Ziaul
Hasan, Molvi Akbar, Molvi Sulaiman and Hakim Molvi Ibrahim, attained to fame as
worthy representatives of their celebrated ancestors.
Maulana Muzaffar Husain
Mufti Saheb's nephew, Maulana Muzaffar Husain, who was a
most favorite pupil of Shah Is'haq and a deputy of Shah Mohammad Yaqub, and
had, also, been favored with the company of Syed Ahmad Shaheed, was a very
pious and godly person. He never touched anything that was of doubtful purity
in the eyes of the Shariat. Incidents of his humility and prayer and fullness
are still fresh in the memory of the people of the neighboring areas and serve
as a reminder to the glorious days of the earliest decades of Islam.
The maternal grand-daughter of Maulana Muzaffar Husain was
married to Maulana Mohammad Ismail. It was his second marriage which was
solemnized on October 3 1868. Maulana Mohammad Ismail was the tutor of the
children of Mirza Ilahi Bakhsh, who was related to Bahadur Shah Zafar the last
of the Mughal Emperors. He lived, as we have seen. in the house on top of the
red gate of Chaunsath Khamba. Close to it, was a small mosque with a tin shed
in front which used to serve as the parlor of Mirza Ilahi Bakhsh, and, owing to
it, it was called Bangle Wali Masjid.
The Maulana was spending his days in obscurity and even
Mirza Ilahi Bakhsh had no idea of his high station till he had a personal
experience of how the Maualna prayers were granted by God. Worship, Zikr
(repeating the Names, praise and Attributes of the Lord), attending to the
needs of the travelers and teaching the Quran giving instruction in the Faith
were his sole occupation in life. He used to take down the load from the heads
of the thirsty laborers who passed the way place it on the ground, draw water
from the well and give it to them to drink, and, then, offer two Rak'ats of
Salaat, expressing gratitude to the Lord that He had given him the opportunity
to serve His bondsmen, though he did not deserve it. He had attained the state
of Ihsan.
Once, as he requested Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi to
teach him Sulook, the latter remarked, "You don't need it. You have
already attained the objective that is to be reached through this method. It is
like a person who has read the Quran saying that he should, also, read the
elementary text book of Arabic because he had not begun with it".
The Maulana was very fond of the recitation of the Quran An
old wish of his was that he went on grazing the goats and reciting the Quran.
He was very particular about some member of his family keeping vigil in the
night. His second son, Maulana Yahya, used to study till midnight, and, then
the Maulana himself got up and Maulana Yahya went to bed, and for the last part
of the night, he woke up his eldest son, Maulana Mohammad.
The Maulana never bore a grudge against anyone. His
detachment with the world was so complete that it had made him attached to
everybody. All the persons who came into contact with him were impressed by his
piety, sincerity and selflessness. Leaders of the different warring groups of Delhi held him in the
highest esteem, and put an equal trust in him, though they disliked each other
so much that none of them was willing to offer Salaat behind the other.
The link with Mewat, too, was established in his lifetime.
It is related that, once, he went out in the hope of finding a Muslim whom he
could bring to the mosque and offer Salaat with him On meeting some Muslim
laborers, he inquired from them where they were going.? "We are going in
search of work", they replied. "How much do you expect to earn?'
asked the Maulana. The laborers, thereupon, told him about the daily wages
they, generally, received. "If you get the same here," the Maulana
asked, "What is the use of going elsewhere " The laborers agreed and
the Maulana took them to the mosque and began to teach the Salaat and the
Quran. He would pay them their wages every day and keep them engaged in their
lessons. In a few days, they developed the habit of offering up Salaat. Such
was the beginning of the Madrassa of Bangle Wali Masjid, and these laborers
were its first scholars. After it, about ten Mewati students always remained in
the Madrassa and their meals used to come from the house of Mirza Ilahi Bakhsh.
Death of Maulana Mohammad Ismail
Maulana Mohammad Ismail died on :26th February, 1898 in
Khajoor Wali Masjid at the Tiraha of Bahram in Delhi. The number of mourners, at his
funeral, was so large that though long bamboo poles had been tied to the either
side of the bier to enable them to lend a shoulder to it, many people did not
get a chance during the entire route of three- and-a-half miles from Delhi to Nizamuddin.
Muslims belonging to various sects and schools of thought,
who never got together, joined the procession. The Maulana's second son,
Maulana Mohammad Yahya, narrates that my elder brother, Maulana Mohammad, was a
very soft-hearted person and had a most obliging nature. Fearing that he might
invite someone to lead the funeral service behind whom people of another sect
or group refused to offer the prayer, and, thus an unpleasant situation arose,
I stepped forward and said that I would lead the service. Everyone then,
offered the prayers peacefully and there was no dissent or commotion.
Owing to the vast concourse of men, the funeral service had
to be held a number of times and the burial was delayed. During it, a venerable
person and another man known for his spirituality had a vision that Maulana
Mohammad Ismail was saying, "Send me off soon. I am feeling ashamed The
Holy Prophet is waiting for me
The Maulana had three sons: Maulana Mohammad from the first
wife, and Maulana Mohammad Yahya and Maulana Mohammad Ilyas from the second,
who was the maternal granddaughter of Maulana Muzaffar Husain The Maulana had
married her after the death of his first wife.
Maulana Mohammed Ilyas
Maulana Mohammed Ilyas was born in 1885 His childhood was
spent in maternal grandfather's home in Kandhla, and with his father at Nizamuddin.
In those days, the Kandhla family was the cradle of godliness and piety so much
so that reports of the high religiosity nightly devotions and Zikr and Tilawat
of its members, both male and female, would seem imaginary and fictitious to
the faint-hearted men of our time
The ladies used to recite the Quran themselves in the Nafl
prayers as well listen to its Tarawih and other Nafl prayers. standing behind
the male relatives The month of Ramadan, in particular, was the springtime for
the Quran. It was read for long hours, almost in every home The limit of
absorption was that, sometimes, the ladies forgot to pay attention to purdah
and would not become aware of the coming of outsiders in the house at a time of
urgent need.
The Quran with its translation and commentary in Urdu, and
Mazaahir-i-Haq Mashariq ul Anwaar and His-i-Haseen formed the limit of the
education of the ladies. Deeds and accomplishments of the families of Syed
Ahmad Shaheed and Shah Abdul Aziz were the most popular themes of conversation,
and facts regarding these illustrious men of God were on everybody's lips.
Instead of the stories of kings and fairies, ladies of the household related
these to the children.
Ammi Bi Maulana Ilyas's maternal grandmother
The Maulana's maternal grandmother, Amtus Salam, who was
the daughter of Maulana Muzaffar Husain and was known in the family as Ammi Bi,
was a very pious lady. About her Salaat, the Maulana, once observed "I saw
her likeness of Ammi Bi's Salaat of Maulana Gangohi"
During the last phase of her life, Ammi Bi's state was that
she never asked for food and ate only when someone placed before her. It was a
large family and there was always so much to do. If the thought of having her
meal! did not occur to her in the midst of domestic chores, she simply went
hungry. Once, someone said to her, "You are so old and weak. How do you
manage to without food ?" "I draw sustenance from my Tasbihat
(remembrance of Allah) was her repy"
Bi Safia, Maulana Ilyas's mother
The mother of Maulana Mohammad Ilyas, Bi Safia, had learnt
the Quran by heart and attained great distinction in it. It was a regular
practice with her to recite the whole of the Quran and additional ten Juze
(part) every day during Ramadan. She, thus, completed forty recitals of the
Quran in that month and was so fluent in it that her household duties did not
suffer on account of it. See, generally, kept herself engaged in some work
while doing the recitation. Apart from the month of Ramadan, her daily routine
of worship included: DURUD Sharif, 5,000 times; Ism-i-Zaat Allah, 5,000 times;
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, 1,000 times, Yaa Mughnee-u 1,100 times, La
illaaha illallaah, 1,200 times Yaa-Haiyyu, Ya Qaiyum 200 times, Hasbiallaah wa
ni'mul Vakil, 500 times; Subhan Allah, 200 times; Alhamdu lillaah, 200 times;
La ilaaha illallaah, 200 times; Allah O-Akbar, 200 times; Istighfar, 500 times;
Ofwwizu amree illallaah, 100 times; Hasbunallaah wa ni'mul Vakil, 1000 times;
Rabb-i in-ni maghloobun fantasir, 1,000 times: Rabb-i-inni masanni-az-zurru wa
anla ar-hamur rahimeen, 100 times; Laa ilaaha enta subhanaka in-ni kunzu
minaz-zalimeen, 100 times. In addition, she recited a Manzil (1/7) of the Quran
everyday.
Like all other children in the family, the Maulana Ilyas
began his education in the maktab, and, according to the family tradition,
learnt the Quran by heart. The learning of the Quran was so common in the
family. that in the one-and-a-half row of worshippers in the family mosque,
there was not a single non Hafiz except the Muezzin. Maulana Mohammad Ilyas was
Ammi Bi's favorite child. She used to say; to him. "Ilyas, I feel the
aroma of the holy Companions in you. " Sometimes, placing her hand on his
back, she would say, "How is it that I see figures resembling the holy
Companions moving along with you?
From his childhood, there was present in Maulana Mohammad
Ilyas a touch of the religious ardour and fervent feeling of the blessed
Companions which had led Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan to remark that
"when I see Mohammad Ilyas, I am reminded of the holy Companions.
Eagerness and enthusiasm for Faith were ingrained in his nature. Even in his
early days, he, sometimes, did things which were much above the common level of
the children. Riazul Islam Kandhlawi, a class fellow of his in .he Maktab, says
that "when we were reading in the Maktab, he, Maulana Mohammad Ilyas,
once, came with a stick and said, "Comes Riazul Islam, let us do Jihaad
against those who do not offer up Salaat
Stay at Gangoh
In 1893, his elder brother, Mohammad Yahya, went to live at
Gangoh with Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi. Maulana Mohammad Ilyas used to live
with his father at Nizamuddin, and, sometimes, with his maternal grand-father's
family at Kandhla. At Nizamuddin, his education was being neglected owing to
the over- fondness of his father and his own excessive occupation with prayers.
Maulana Yahya, thus, requested his father that as the education of Mohammad
Ilyas was suffering, he might be allowed to take him to Gangoh. The father
agreed - and Maulana Mohammad Ilyas came to Gangoh in 1896 or early 1897 where
Mohammad Yahya began to teach him regularly.
Gangoh, in those days, was the seat of Sufi-saints and
savants, the benefit of whose company was constantly available to Maulana
Mohammad Ilyas. A greater part of his impression able age was spent there. When
he went to live at Gangoh, he was 10 or 11 years old, and at the time of
Maulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi death, in 1905, he was a young man of about 20.
Thus, he stayed with Maulana Gangohi for about 9 years.
Maulana Mohammad Yahya was an ideal teacher and benefactor.
He wanted his brother to derive the utmost advantage from the society of those
illustrious men. Maulana Mohammad Ilyas used to tell that when the Ulema who
had been the favorite pupils or disciples of Maulana Gangohi came to Gangoh,
his brother would, often, stop the lessons and say that his education, then,
lay in sitting with them and listening to their conversation.
Usually, Maulana Gangohi did not take bait from children
and students. It was only when they had completed their education that he
allowed them to take the pledge. But owing to the exceptional merit of Maulana
Mohammad Ilyas, he, at his request, permitted him to do the bait at his hand.
Maulana Mohammad Ilyas had been born with a loving heart.
Such a strong attachment did he develop for Maulana Gangohi that he felt no
peace without him. He would, often, get up in the night, go and see the
Maulana's face, and return to his bed. Maulana Gangohi, too, had a great affection
for him. once, Maulana Mohammad Ilyas told his brother of severe headache after
which he could not bend his head even to the extent of performing the Sajdah on
a pillow for months. Maulana Gangohi son, Hakim Masud Ahmad, who was his
physician, had a peculiar method of treatment. In certain diseases, he forbade
the use of water for a long time which was :unbearable to most of the patients.
But with the strength of mind that was so characteristic of him, Maulana
Mohammad Ilyas abided strictly by the advice of his physician and abstained
from drinking water for full seven years, and, during the next five years, he
drank it only sparingly.
There was little hope that he would be to resume his
education after the discontinuation owing to illness. He was very keen to take
it up again, but his well-wishers would not allow. One day, as Maulana Mohammad
Yahya said to him what he would, in any case, do by studying, he retorted,
"What will I do by living?" Ultimately, he succeeded in resuming his
studies.
The death of Maulana Gangohi occurred in 1905. Maulana
Mohammed Ilyas who was at his bedside during the dying moments and reciting the
Sura of Ya-Sin, was so deeply affected by it that he used, often, to say,
"Two shocks have been most painful to me. One was of the death of my
father, and the other, of the death of Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi. " In
1908, Maulana Mohammad Ilyas went to Deoband where he studied Tirmizi and Sahih
Bukhari from Maulana Mahmood Hasan. The latter advised him to approach Maulana Khalil
Ahmad Saharanpuri for spiritual guidance and instruction, since his mentor,
Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi, was no more, and, thus, he completed the various
stages of Sulook under Maulana Saharanpuri's supervision.
Absorption in prayers
During his stay at Gangoh, after the death of Maulana
Gangohi, Maulana Mohammad Ilyas, generally, remained silent and spent most of
his time in meditation. Says Maulana Mohammad Zakaria, "We read elementary
Persian from him those days. His practice, then, was that he sat cross legged,
and in utter silence, on a coarse mat behind the tomb of Shah Abdul Quddus. We
presented ourselves for the lesson, opened the book, and placed it before him,
indicating with the finger where we were to begin from on that day. We would
read aloud and translate the Persian verses. When we made a mistake, he would
shut the book with a movement of the finger, and the lesson came to an end. It
meant that we were to go back, prepare the lesson thoroughly, and, then, come
again . . . ................. He used to offer Nafl prayers much and often at
that time. From Maghrib till a little before Isha, he devoted himself
exclusively to Nawafil. His age, then, was between 20 and 25 years.
Ardor and eagerness
Ardor and eagerness, without which no real success is
possible in any field, were deeply rooted in him. It was by sheer determination
and earnestness that he accomplished what he did in spite of persistent
ill-health. One day, during his last illness, Maulana Mohammad Ilyas related
that "once I was so ill and feeling so weak that I could not go down the
stairs. All of a sudden, I heard that Maulana Saharanpuri had come to Delhi and I was so excited that I left for Delhi immediately on foot
and forgot all about my illness and exhaustion. It was in the way that I
remembered I was sick.
Contact with other spiritual mentors
Regular contact with other spiritual mentors and disciples
of Maulana Gangohi was maintained during those days. About Shah Abdur Rahim
Raipuri and Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi he used to say that they abided in his
heart. They, too, had a great regard and affection for him owing to his
extraordinary qualities.
Spirit of Jehad
Together with Zikr, Saga (spiritual exercises and
exertions) Nawafil and Ibadaat, Maulana Mohammad Ilyas was, also, infused with
the spirit of Jehad. Throughout his life, he was never without it, and had, in
fact, taken the pledge of Jehad at the hand of Maulana Mahmood Hasan for that
very reason.
Estimation in the eyes of elders
From his early days, he was held in the highest esteem by
the elders of the family as well as the spiritual leaders of the day. Maulana
Mohammad Yahya was like a father to him, yet the former's attitude towards his
younger brother was like that of the sacred Prophet towards Hazrat Usman
Indifferent health prevented him from taking part in duties involving physical
labor. He concentrated wholly on his studies, and on Zikr, and other forms of
worship. Maulana Mohammad Yahya, on the contrary, was a very industrious
person. He owned a bookshop which he managed with great care. It was not only
his source of livelihood, but of his brothers as well. One day, the manager of
the shop said that Maulana Mohammad Ilyas did not take any interest in the
business which was not good for him, too, benefited from it. When Maulana
Mohammad Yahya heard of it, he was very angry and remarked that "a
Tradition has it that the sustenance that reaches you and the help you receive
from the Lord is due to the blessedness of the weaker ones among you. I believe
that I am receiving my sustenance owing to the good fortune of this child.
Nothing should be said to him in future. If there is anything to say, it should
be said to me.
Sometimes, Maulana Mohammad Ilyas was asked to lead the
service in the presence of renowned theologians and spiritual leaders. Once
Shah Abdur Rahim Raipuri, Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri and Maulana Ashraf
Ali Thanwi happened to be in Kandhla. When the time for Salaat came and Maulana
Mohammad Ilyas was asked to lead it, a senior member of the family, Molvi
Badrul Hasan, humorously remarked that "such a small engine has been
fastened to so many big carriages." "It depends on the power (not the
size of the engine", replied one of them.
Career with a teacher in Mazaahirul Uloom
In 1910, a large number of men, including most of the
senior teachers of the Madrassa of Mazaahirul Uloom, left for the Haj from Saharanpur. It
necessitated the recruitment of new teachers for the Madrassa, Maulana Mohammad
Ilyas being one of them. He was given the secondary books to teach. On the
return of the senior teachers from the Pilgrimage, all the new entrants were
relieved of their duties, but the services of Maulana Mohammad Ilyas were
retained.
At Mazaahirul Uloom, the Maulana had to teach some books
which he had not read himself as, in Maulana Mohammad Yahya's scheme of
instruction, it was not customary to complete the books, and Maulana Mohammad
Ilyas, further, had to miss some secondary books owing to ill-health. During
his teaching days, he tried hard to make up for the deficiency and prepared his
lectures carefully. For instance, for teaching Kinzul Daqa'iq, he studied
Bahr-ur-Ra'iq, Shaami and Hadaya, and consulted even Hisami's notes and
comments when he taught Nurul Anawaar.
Marriage
The Maulana married the daughter of his maternal uncle,
Maulana Rauful Hasans on Friday, October 17, 1912 was performed by Maulana
Mohammad, and Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri, Shah Abdur Rahim Raipuri an
Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi, all the three of them, attended the ceremony.
Maulana Thanwi's celebrated sermon, Fuwayid us Suhbat, which has subsequently
been published times without number, was delivered on that occasion.
First Haj
In 1915, Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri and Maulana
Mahmood Hasan, decided lo go on the Haj Pilgrimage. When Maulana Mohammad Ilyas
came to know of it, he was strongly seized with the desire to perform the Haj.
He felt that it would become dark and gloomy in India
with their departure and he would not be able to live in Saharanpur any more. But there was the
question of permission. As his sister, the wife of Molvi Ikrarnul Hasan, saw
his distress, she offered her ornaments to meet the expenses of the Pilgrimage.
Contrary to expectations, the Maulana's mother gave her consent. after which
Maulana Mohammad Yahya, also, agreed. The Maulana, then, wrote to Maulana
Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri asking for his permission, and explained that as far
as she wherewithal for the journey was concerned, three courses were open to
him. He could take his sister's ornaments or borrow the amount or accept the
offers of money made by certain relatives. Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri
preferred the third course. Maulana Mohammad Ilyas was fortunate enough to
travel by the same boat as Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri. He sailed in
August, 1914 , and returned in February, 1915, to resume the teaching at the
Madrassa.
Death of Maulana Mohammad Yahya
The death of Maulana Mohammad Yahya, on Wednesday, the 9th
of August, 1915, was an extremely sad and frustrating event for the Maulana. In
addition to being a most affectionate brother, he was, also, his teacher and
benefactor. He could not get over the shock till the end of his days. He used
to get lost in thought and a peculiar kind of abstraction took possession of
him when he talked about his brother.
Stay at Nizamuddin
Two years after the death of Maulana Mohammad Yahya, the
eldest brother of Maulana Mohamad Ilyas, Maulana Mohammad, also, passed away.
He was a man of angelic disposition and an embodiment of affection, piety and
humility. He loved solitude and cared little for worldly comforts. He lived in
Bangle Wali Masjid, at Nizamuddin, in the place of his late father. There was a
Madrassa in the mosque which had been founded by Maulana Mohammad Ismail. Only
primary education was imparted in it, and, among its pupils were mostly the
children from Mewat. It had no regular source of income and reliance was placed
solely upon God for meeting its needs.
Many people of Delhi
and Mewat were devoted to Maulana Mohammad and had benefited from his guidance.
His face had the radiance of spirituality. He, often, gave the sermon, but in
an informal, conversational way. He remained seated during it, and, generally,
read out the Traditions on good morals and Zuhd, ( Islamic asceticism ) and
explained their meaning in a simple language.
Once Maulana Mohammad developed a boil under an eye which
had to be opened seven times. The doctors insisted on administering the
anesthetic but he refused to take it and lay motionless throughout the
operation. The surgeon, afterwards, said, that he had not seen the like of it
in his life.
Maulana Mohammad spent most of his time in prayer and
meditation. During the 16 years before his death, he did not miss the Tahajjud(
before dawn prayer ) prayers even once, and breathed his last while performing
the Sajda in the Namaz of Witr.
Maulana Mohammad Ilyas had route to Delhi to look after his sick brother and was
staying with him in the Nawab Wali Masjid of Qassab Pura. It was there that
Maulana Mohammad died and the burial took place at Nizamuddin. Thousands of men
attended the funeral.
After the burial, people urged upon Maulana Muhammad Ilyas
to take up residence at Nizamuddin in order to fill the void caused by the
death of his father and brother. They, also, promised monthly donations for the
Madrassa to which the Maulana agreed subject to certain conditions which he
observed throughout his life.
Maulana Mohammad Ilyas had made it clear that he would come
to Nizamuddin and take charge of the Madrassa only if Maulana Khaiil Ahmad
Saharanpuri approved. Upon it, several persons offered to go to Saharanpur to obtain the
permission, but Maulana Mohammad Ilyas checked them saying that it was not the
way to do it. He would go himself, unaccompanied by anyone.
The Maulana, thus, went to Saharanpur and explained the whole thing to
Maulana Khalil Ahmad. The latter gave his approval, but added that, in the
first instance, only a year’s Ieave be taken from Mazaahirul Uloom and if the
stay at Nizamuddin proved useful and it was decided to settle down there
permanently, he could resign at any time.
But before Maulana. Muhammad Ilyas could move to
Nizamuddin, he was suddenly taken ill with pleurisy and went to Kandhla where
his condition worsened. One night his illness took such a grave turn that all
hope was lost. The pulse sank and the body became cold, but God had to take
some work from him. unexpectedly, he began to improve, and, in a few days, was
able to leave the bed.
On regaining health, Maulana came to Nizamuddin from
Kandhla. In those days, there was no habitation in that part of Nizamuddin,
and, adjoining the mosque, there was a thick growth of trees and underbrush.
Maulana Ihtishamul Hasan who, in his childhood, had come to live, for sometime,
with Maulana Mohammad Ilyas tells that “I used to go out and stand in the hope
of seeing ‘a human face. When anyone appeared, I felt so happy as if someone
had given me a precious gift.”
A small pucca (built of bricks) mosque, a shed, a living
apartment, a small settlement of the attendants of the tomb to the south of it,
and a few Mewati and non-Mewati students that as all that formed the world of
the mosque and the Madrassa.
The resources of the Madrassa were so meager that, some
times, they had to starve, but. the Maulana bore it all with a cheerful heart.
Occasionally, be would say plainly, that there was nothing to eat. Whoever
wanted to stay’ might stay and whoever wanted to go might go and make his
arrangement elsewhere. The moral and spiritual training the students were
receiving, however, was such that none of them. was willing to leave. Often,
they would live on wild fruits. The scholars themselves brought wood from the
forest to prepare the chappati (flat bread) which they ate with chutney
(pickle) The extreme poverty made no impression on the Maulana. What worried
him was the prospect of abundance and prosperity which, he was sure, was going
to open up, according to the practice of the Lord, after the phase of trial and
tribulation.
The outward appearance of the Madrassa held no interest for
the Maulana. He was supremely unconcerned with it. Once, during his absence,
some residential quarters were built for its staff through the efforts of Haji
Abdur Rahman, an old friend of his and an ex-student of the Madrassa, which
made the Maulana so angry that he did not speak to him for a long time. The
Maulana remarked that the real thing was education, and, referring to a certain
Madrassa, said that its building had become pucca, but the standard of
education had gone down.
Once a prominent merchant of Delhi begged the Maulana to supplicate to the
Lord for him in a very important matter, and presented him a purse. The Maulana
agreed to pray on his behalf, but declined to accept the’ money. Haji Abdur
Rahman, however, took it in view of the chronic financial difficulties of the
Madrassa, but the Maulana had no peace until he had it returned. He used to
impress upon Haji Abdur Rahrnan that the work of faith was not carried out with
motley, otherwise much wealth would have been granted to the holy Prophet
Worshipfulness
Maulana Mohamrnad Ilyas, exclusively, kept himself occupied
with prayers and other spiritual exertions in those days. He had inherited the
inclination for it from his ancestors which blossomed up during the stay at
Nizamuddin. He sought solitude and carried out vigorous exercises for the
purification of the soul. According to Haji Abdur Rahman, the Maulana remained
in seclusion for long hours at the gate of Arab Sara which was the favorite
place of worship of Hazrat Nizmuddin Aulia, and was situated to he north of
Humayun’s tomb. near the mausoleum of Abdur Rahim Khan Khana and the grave of
Syed Nur Mohammad Badaynni, the spiritual mentor of Mazhar jan-i-Janan.
Usually, his mid-day meal was sent there while the evening meal he took at
home, He offered the five daily prayers in congregation. Haji Abdur Rahman and
his fellow students used to go to the gate to form the congregation, and for
their lessons, they, sometimes, went there, and, some times, the Maulana
himself came to Chukkar Wali Masjid.
The Maulana performed the Wuzu (abulation) and offered two
Rak’ats of Namaz before commencing the lesson of the Traditions, and remarked
that the claim of the Traditions was even greater. He did not talk to anyone,
however important, while teaching the Traditions, nor ever complained if the
meal came late from Nizamuddin, nor found fault with food.
Interest in teaching
The Maulana took keen interest in his pupils and personally
taught all the subjects, elementary as well as advanced. Sometimes, he had as
many as eighty students directly under his instruction, and took the class of
Mustadrak_i_Haakim before Fajr.
The main emphasis in his method of teaching was on the
application of mind. He wanted the students to come thoroughly prepared. The
Maulana did not follow the general syllabus of the Madrassas in the selection
of books and many books that were but prescribed in the other Madrassas were
taught at Nizamuddin He thought of new ways to stimulate the students and
develop the faculties of imagination and understanding in them.
Beginnings of the movement of Religious Reform in Meewat
The area to the south of Delhi where the Meos have been
settled from the olden days is called Mewat, Presently, it includes the Gurgaon
district of the Punjab, the native states of Alwar and Bharatpur and the
district of Mathura of the United Provinces. Like all other regions, its
boundaries, too, have been changing from time to time and the dimensions of the
old Mewat must have been different from what they are now.
The English historians hold that the Meos do not come from
the Aryan stock, but are related to the non-Aryan races of ancient India. Their
history, thus, dates far back than that of the Rajput families of Aryan blood.
According to them, the Khanzadas (lowest order of Mughal nobility) of Mewat,
however, belong to the same ethnic group as the Rajputs, and, in the Persian
history books, wherever the word ‘Mewati’ occurs, it denotes the very
Khanzadas. We, further, learn from Ain-i-Akbari that the Jatau Rajputs came to
be known as Mewatis on embracing Islam.
In the annals of Firoz Shahi dynasty, Mewat is mentioned,
for the first time, in the memoirs of Shamsuddin Al-timash. The Mewatis had
become very troublesome during the early days of the Muslim
Kingdom of Delhi. Aided by the long range of thick
forests that extended up to Delhi,
they used to raid it frequently and had become such a terror that the gates of
the capital were shut at sunset. Still, they managed to enter the town in the
night in search of plunder. Ghayasuddin Balban, thereupon, dispatched a strong
military force against the Mewatis, killing a large number of them. Outposts
manned by the Afghan soldiers were set up in Delhi, the surrounding forests were cut down
and the land was brought under cultivation. Mewat, thereafter, remained in
oblivion for about a hundred years
After the long lull, the Mewati adventuress, again, became
active and started harassing the people of Delhi which forced the authorities to take
punitive action against them from time to time. The names of Bahadur Nahir and
his successors are, particularly, mentioned in the chronicles in this
connection. They succeeded in establishing the Kingdom
of Mewat which was, later, reduced to
a Jagir (a feudal estate) by the rulers of Delhi.
Another prominent Mewatis was Lakhan Pal who brought the
whole of Mewat and its outlying territory under his domination. He embraced
Islam during die reign of Firoz Shah.
Moral and religious condition
Owing to the negligence of the Muslims religious teachers,
the moral arid religious condition of the Mewatis had sunk so low that there
was little to distinguish between their beliefs and practices and wholesale
apostasy. Even non-Muslim historians have commented at length on their
estrangement with Islam, as the following extract from the Alwar Gazetteer of
1878, written by Major Powlett, will show:
“All the Meos are, now, Muslims, but only in name. Their
village deities are the same as those of the Hindu landlords, and they
celebrate several Hindu festivals. Holi is a season of special rejoicing among
the Mewatis and they observe it like their own festivals, such as, Moharrum,
‘Id and Shab-i-Barat. The same is the case with Janam Ashtami, Dussehra and
Diwali, The Meos engage the services of the Brahmins to fix the dates of
marriages. They have Hindu names, with the exception of the word ‘Ram’, and
their last name, often, is ‘Singh’, though not as frequently as ‘Khan’. Like Ahirs
and Gujars, the Mewatis, too, observe Amawas as a holiday on which they abstain
from work. When they build a well, they begin with the construction of a
parapet in the name of Beeriyi or Hanuman, but when it comes to pillage, they
do not show much reverence to the Hindu temples and other places of religious
significance. If, on such an occasion, their attention is drawn to the sanctity
of these establishments, they, unhesitatingly, says, ‘You are "Does"
and we are "Meos".’ Meos are, largely, ignorant of their faith, i.
e., Islam. Very few of them know the Kalima,’ and fewer still observe Namaz
regularly. About the hours and rules of namaz, their ignorance is complete.
This is the state of the Meos of Alwar. In the British territory of Gurgaon,
the position is a little better because of the Madrassas. In some parts of
Alwar, also, where the mosques have been built, the religious duties are
observed to some extent. A few of them know the Kalima and offer up namaz and
an attachment for the Madrassas, also, is found among them. As we have seen
earlier, the initial ceremonies of marriage are performed by the Brahmins, but
the real ceremony (of nikah) is performed by the Qazi. Men wear dhoti and
loin-cloth. The pajamas are not worn at all. Their dress, thus, is wholly
Hinduised. Even ornaments of gold are worn by men.”
At another place, Major Powlett writes:
“The Meos are half-Hindu by their habits. Mosques are
rarely to be seen in their villages. There are only eight mosques in the fifty
villages of the tehsil of Tijarah. Leaving aside the temples, the places of
worship of the Meos are very much similar to those of their Hindu neighbors.
These are known, for instance as Paanch Peera, Bhaisa and Chahand Chahand or
Khera Deo is consecrated to the service of Maha Davi where animals are offered
as a sacrifice. In Shah-i-Barat, the banner of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi is
worishipped in all Meo villages.”
Similarly, ii the Gazetteer of Gtrgaon (1910), it is stated
that ‘‘the Meos, still, are a very loose and careless type of Muslims. They
share most of tile customs of the neighboring community specially those which
possess an element of fun and merriment . Their basic rule seems to be to
observe the religious celebrations of both the communities and disregard the
religious duties of either. Lately, some religious teachers have appeared in
Mewat and a few Meos have started to keep the fasts of Ramzan and to build
mosques in their villages and observe namaz. Their women, too, have taken to
wearing Pyjamas instead of the Hindu Chagras. All these are the signs of
religious awakening.”
The Gazetteer of Bharatpur, again, says:
“The customs of Meos are a mixture of Hindu and Muslim
customs. They observe circumcision, perform nikah and bury their dead. They
make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Syed Salar Masud Giiazj at Bahraich, and
attach a great importance to the vow taken under his banner, and consider it a
religious duty to fulfill it. They, also, visit the other shrines of India, but do
not perform the Hajj. Among the Hindu festivals, they celebrate Holi antI
Diwali. They do not marry in the family or in their own branch or subdivision
of the clan, girls do not have a share in ancestral property, and they give
mixed Hindu and Muslim names to their children. They are, wholly, illiterate
and have a fair number of bards and minstrels among them whom they pay
liberally. Many quatrains on the themes of agriculture and rural life are
popular which they love to recite. Their speech is rough arid coarse, and the
manner of addressing both men and women is the same. Intoxicants are widely in
use. They are extremely weak of faith and highly superstitious, and believe in
omens and auguries. Both male and female dresses are Hinduised. In the olden
days, infanticide was prevalent, but now it has been given up. Highway robbery
and pillage had been’ their traditional profession, but they have been reformed
lately. They. however, are still notorious ifor cattle-ifting.’
Moral virtues
All the same, the Meos are distinguished for some excellent
moral qualities and their vices and weaknesses are in the nature of the evil
ways and practices that become a part of the moral and social pattern of brave
and adventurous races as a result of want of education, isolation from the
civilized world and indifference towards religion. These were rampant even
among the Arabs during the Age of Ignorance. Natural talents and capabilities
had taken a wrong turn owing to the perversity of the environment. Chivalry had
degenerated into banditry, manliness had found expression in mutual warfare
and bloodshed, sense of pride and self-respect, with no better purpose to
serve, had sought fulfillment in the defense of imaginary standards of honor
and renown, and high mindedness, for its display, had adopted the path of pomp
and flourish on petty occasions in the family or clan. In brief, God-given
gifts of mind and character were being put to unworthy use, otherwise there was
no dearth of virtue and merit among the Meos,
Rugged simplicity, hardihood and firmness of purpose were
the chief characteristics of the Mewatis in which they were far superior to the
urban Muslim population. It was on account of these qualities that in spite of
having drifted so far away from Islam, the floodtide of Apostasy could not
submerge the territory
of Mewat even in the
darkest period of its history.
For centuries the Maos had been living within the shell of
their ignorance keeping by themselves and isolated from the outside world. A
parallel can scarcely he found in the Indian history of a community so large
and living in such a close proximity to the central seat of power and yet
remaining so obscure and isolated. An advantage of it, however, was that the
energies of the Mewatis, on the whole, remained conserved, the soil remained
virgin while the deplorable habits and customs and superstitious belief and
practices were, so to speak, like the weeds and scrubs growing on an
uncultivated land. The Meos, in the 20th Century, were very much like the Arabs
in the Age of Perversion
Beginnings
As we have seen, contact with the Mewatis was established
during the lifetime of Maulana Mohammad lsmail. It was not a chance occurrence,
but an act of destiny that Maulana Mohammad Ismail came to live in Basti
Nizamuddin which was the gateway of Mewat, and much before the arrival of
Maulana Mohammad Ilyas, seeds of loyalty and devotion of his. family had been
sown on its soil.
When the followers of Maulana Mohammad Ismail and Maulana
Mohammad came to know that their true successor, the son of Maulana Mohammad
Ismail and the brother of Maulana Mohammad had come to live at Nizamuddin they,
again, started coming to it and requested Maulana Mohammad Ilyas for a visit so
that the old suppliants of his family had an opportunity to renew the ties of
fealty and spiritual allegiance.
Real remedy
Maulana Mohammad Ilyas felt that the only Way to the
religious reform and correction of the Mewatis was promotion of religious
knowledge and familiarization with the rules and principles of the Shariat.
Maulana Mohammad ismail, and, after him, Maulana Mohammad
had adopted the same method. They used to keep the Mewati children with them
and educate them in their Madrassa, and, then, send them back to Mewat to carry
on the work of reform and guidance, and what little religious awareness was
found there was owing to the efforts of these pioneers.
Maulana Mohammad Ilyas went a step ahead and decided to
establish Maktabs and Madrassas in Mewat itself so that the influence of Faith
could spread to a wider area and the pace of change was accelerated.
Stipulation
The Maulana knew what was, commonly, meant by inviting a
spirtua! mentor or his successor to their place by his disciples and admirers,
and he was not willing to go to Mewat only to fulfill the formalities of attending
the dinner given in his honor delivering a few sermons and giving good counsel.
He wanted to make sure before undertaking the trip, that some real advance
would be made, as a result of his visit, towards bringing the Meos closer to
Islam and improving their moral condition, arid, during those days, the setting
up of Maktabs and Madrassas in Mewat appeared to him to be the most effective
step in that direction. H had, thus, made it clear that he would accept the
invitation only on the condition that they promised to establish Maktabs in
their territory.
For the Mewatis, however, no undertaking could be harder to
give. They considered the establishment of Maktabs next to impossible for the
simple reason that no one would be sending his children to them, and, thus,
depriving himself of their contribution to the family income as daily
wage-earners. The enthusiasm of those who came to invite quickly subsided as
they heard of the stipulation. In desperation, however, a Mewati, finally, made
the promise, leaving the rest to God
Establishment of Maktabs
Maulana Mohammad Ilyas, accordingly, went to Mewat and
demanded the fulfillment of the promise. After great persuasion, the beginning
was made and the first Maktab was established.
The Maulana used to tell the Mawatis, “Give me the pupils,
I will provide the money.” The Meos who were, mainly, farmers, could not easily
reconcile themselves to the position that their children applied themselves to
reading and writing and stopped working in the fields or looking after the
cattle. It took a lot of tact and perseverance to bring them round to it.
Ten Maktabs were opened during that visit. Once the ice was
broken, the progress was easy. Sometimes, several Maktabs were opened in a day
till, within a few years, hundreds of such schools were functioning in Mewat.
The Maulana had not undertaken the service of Faith as a
“national cause”, the burden of providing the funds for which fell wholly upon
the nation or the community, but as a personal affair and felt no hesitation in
spending all he had on it. He believed that a person should perform a religious
task as his own and expend his time and money freely in its way.
Once a person presented a purse to him with the request
that he used it, exclusively, for his own needs. The Maulana replied, “If we do
not regard Allah’s work our own, how can we claim to be His bondmen ?“ With a
sigh, he added, “Alas! We are not the just appreciators of the sacred Prophet.
We do not know his true worth.”
This was the Maulana’s rule of life. First of all, he spent
from his own pocket on the religious endeavor he had launched in Mewat, and,
then, alone, would accept help from others.
Passing Away
Due to Maulana Mohammad Ilyas (RA)'s sincerity and hard
work the work of Tableegh began to spread and Jamaats started to visit all
parts of the sub-continent within his life time. Hazrat Maulana Syed Suleiman
Nadwi (RA) remarks, " Hazrat Maulana Mohammad Ilyas (RA) with his
simplicity and dedication to the correct principles of Dawat (invitation)
quietly turned the Mewatees into sincere and pious Muslims over a twenty five
years and made them the envy of even the Muslims belonging to traditional
religious families.
His hard word bore fruit in his life and he raised
thousands of dedicated Muslims who continued on the path of Dawat even after
his passing away.
Finally the humble, physically weak and thin Maulana passed
away in 1324 Hijra leaving behind not one or two but thousands to take up his
cause and continue on the path of reformation.