Khasa'il Nabawi

Khasa'il Nabawi (خصائل نبوی) is an Urdu translation and commentary on the Ash-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyya. It was authored by Zakariyya Kandhlawi, who compiled and offered explanations for the narrations found within this book. This work marks Zakariyya Kandhlawi's debut composition, published in 1926 when he was 29 years old. It explores diverse aspects of the Prophet's physical attributes, character, habits, clothing, and other details that present a depiction of his life and teachings.

Background
This commentary was undertaken at the insistence of Muhammad Usman Khan, with Zakariyya Kandhlawi ensuring that his visits to Delhi coincided with the publication of Badhl al-Majhud fi Hall Sunan Abi Dawud. The work commenced on the 24th of Jumada al-Thani, 1344 AH and reached completion on a Friday night. Abdul Rahman, the head of the Department of Education at Mazahir Uloom, provided supervision and reviewed the book. The first edition was published by Maktabah Yahyawiyyah in 1926, followed by a second revised edition in 1927, which addressed mistakes and incorporated additional content. Spanning 443 pages, this book has seen numerous editions published by various publishers in India, Pakistan, and other countries.

Methodology
In this compilation, the author devoted special attention to various matters, which encompassed works such as Jami' al-Wasa'il by Ali al-Qari in Muntakhab Manadi, Mawahib al-Anbiya by Ibrahim al-Bajuri, and Tahdhib al-Tahdhib by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. The majority of the topics were derived from the sayings of the predecessors, with care taken to avoid personal opinions. The translation has been tailored to ensure comprehension by the general public, rather than rigidly adhering to a literal translation. Furthermore, each point is accompanied by benefits and details, indicated by the word "Fee" (meaning "in") at the outset. Parentheses are utilized to offer supplementary information or clarification beyond the translation. In instances of apparent contradictions in the hadiths, concise solutions are provided. The author occasionally attributes differences in religious sects and occasionally criticizes Hanafi beliefs. Brief references to supporting evidence for conflicting opinions are included as necessary. When referring to specific battles or stories within the hadith, the corresponding narrative is provided within parentheses. Additionally, hidden connections between relevant hadiths and chapters are elucidated. Topics that were not extensively discussed due to brevity are cross-referenced to other books where more comprehensive information can be found. The objective of this book is to equally benefit scholars, students, and the wider public.

Reception
According to Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhary, a PhD scholar at the University of the Punjab, Zakariya's work is characterized by its concise and easily comprehensible language. Muhammad Inamullah, affiliated with Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, commented that it serves as a comprehensive summary of previous commentaries by renowned Hadith scholars. Riyaz Ahmad, a PhD scholar at Aligarh Muslim University, asserted that this book unquestionably merits a place in the homes of Muslims, serving as a reference in times of necessity.

English
The book has several English translations. One of its early translations was done by Muhammad Miyan Afridi and was published by Al-Ma'idah Islamic Trust in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its most recent translation was published in 2022 by Turath Publishing in the United Kingdom. This version was translated by Abdus Subhan ibn Amanulla and edited by Ahmed ibn Sheikh Mohammed, Ismaaeel Undre, and Yusuf Zanella.

Legacy
Mohamed Yahia Bilal Minar, a researcher at the Faculty of Sharia & Regulations at Taif University in Saudi Arabia, conducted an applied study that highlights Zakariyya Kandhlawi's exceptional scientific expertise in reconciling contradictory Hadiths found in this book. The study utilized the inductive method to thoroughly analyze the subject matter.