User:Axiom292/M. Zakariya draft

Muḥammad Zakarīyā ibn Muḥammad Yaḥyá Ṣiddīqī Kāndhlawī Sahāranpūrī Muhājir Madanī (محمد زكريا بن محمد يحيى الصديقي الكاندهلوي السهارنفوري الهندي المهاجر المدني, Muḥammad Zakarīyā ibn Muḥammad Yaḥyá aṣ-Ṣiddīqī al-Kāndahlawī as-Sahāranfūrī al-Hindī al-Muhājir al-Madanī; 2 February 1898 – 24 May 1982) was a Sunni Hanafi Islamic scholar of the Deobandi school of Islamic thought in India, particularly known as a scholar of hadith and an influential ideologue of Tablighi Jamaat, the missionary and reform movement founded by his uncle, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas. The writings of Zakariya constitute much of the group's basic reading material in the form of Faza'il-i A`mal. Originally composed in Urdu but translated into several languages, Faza'il-i A`mal contains several of his treatises on the virtues of different subjects, includingFaza'il-i Qur'an (Virtues of the Qur'an),Faza'il-i Ramazan (Virtues of Ramadan), and Faza'il-i Namaz (Virtues of Salah). Also notable among his works, which number over one hundred, are Awjaz al-Masalik, an Arabic commentary in six volumes on Imam Malik's Muwatta, and Khasa'il-i Nabawi, an Urdu translation and commentary on Imam at-Tirmidhi's Shama'il.

Zakariya was born at Kandhla in 1898, the son of Maulana Muhammad Yahya. He spent ten years in Gangoh, where he attended his father's madrasah. In 1910, he moved to Saharanpur to study at Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur, a madrasah closely affiliated with Darul Uloom Deoband, the birthplace of the Deobandi Islamic revivalist movement in India. He learned hadith from his father and from Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri. After graduating in 1915, he secured a position as a teacher at the school.

Zakariya was also a prominent Sufi shaykh of the Sabiri-Imdadi branch of the Chishti order. He was a khalifah (spiritual successor) of Maulana Saharanpuri, who initiated him in the Sufi path in 1915 and gave him permission to intitiate others in the four major tariqas (Chishtiyah, Naqshbandiyah,Suhrawardiyah, and Qadiriyah) in 1925.

He taught at Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur from 1916 to 1969, becoming well-known by the title "Shaykh al-Hadith", a title given to him by his shaykh, Maulana Saharanpuri, for his extensive knowledge in the field of hadith. After he stopped teaching due to developing cataracts, he focused on the spiritual training of his numerous disciples. In 1973, he permanently migrated to Medina, Saudi Arabia, where he died in 1982.

From his thousands of international students and disciples, include his beloved student and disciple and khalifah (spiritual successor): The esteemed Shaykh al-Hadith Maulana Yusuf Motala who is a teacher of Hadith to many ulama and a spiritual guide to thousands worldwide.

Background and birth
He was Muhammad Zakariya ibn Muhammad Yahya ibn Muhammad Ismail. The nisbat Kandhlawi (کاندھلوی / الكاندهلوي, al-Kandahlawi) refers to the town of Kandhla where he was born, Saharanpuri (سہارنپوری&lrm; / السهارنفوري, as-Saharanfuri) refers to Saharanpur, where he spent much of his life, and Madani (مدنی&lrm; / المدني, al-Madani) refers to the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia, where he later settled. Muhajir means "migrant", hence Muhajir Madani (al-Muhajir al-Madani) indicates his migration to Medina. Other nisbats more common in Arabic sources are al-Hindi ("of India"), al-Hanafi (indicating his adherence to the Hanafi madhhab), al-Bakri, and as-Siddiqi—the last two indicating his descent from Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, a senior companion (sahabi) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the first Caliph.

Zakariya's grandfather Maulana Muhammad Ismail (d. 1898) was originally from Jhanjhana. After the death of his first wife he shifted to Kandhla when he married into the family of Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh Kandhlawi (1748–1831), who shared the same ancestry. The family of Siddiqi Shaikhs of Kandhla and Jhanjhana were well known for their piety and religious knowledge. Ilahi Bakhsh was a student and disciple of Shah Abdul Aziz Dihlawi and Sayyid Ahmad Shahid. His nephew, Maulana Muzaffar Husain, was a pupil of Shah Ishaq Dihlawi and Shah Muhammad Yaqub. Ismail married the granddaughter of Muzaffar Husain. Maulana Ismail already had one son, Maulana Muhammad, from his first wife. From his second wife he had two sons: Maulana Muhammad Yahya and Maulana Muhammad Ilyas.

Muhammad Yahya Kandhlawi was a student and disciple of Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. Born in 1287 AH (1870/1871), he received his early education from Maulana Ismail and later studied hadith under Gangohi and Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri. He would routinely recite the entire Qur'an daily. After completing study of hadith with Maulana Gangohi, Yahya stayed with him in Gangoh. After a few years his younger brother Ilyas was sent to Gangoh to study under Yahya. Their father Maulana Ismail died twenty days after the birth of Zakariya, who would be Yahya's only son.

Muhammad Zakariya was born at 11 pm on Thursday, 11 Ramadan 1315 AH (Wednesday, 2 February 1898) in the town of Kandhla, North-Western Provinces, British India (in present-day Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh, India). He was named Muhammad Musa and Muhammad Zakariya, and it was the second name that gained prominence. When he was two, he and his mother moved to Gangoh, where his father lived with Rashid Ahmad Gangohi.

Early education in Gangoh
In 1318 AH (1900), at the age of two, Zakariya moved to Gangoh, where his father lived with Maulana Gangohi. His education began with Hakim Abdur Rahman of Muzaffarnagar, a pious doctor, with whom he studied Qaidah Baghdadi, a common primer for learning Arabic script. He then began hifz (memorization of the Qur'an) with his father, who required students to revise their daily lesson 100 times. After hifz, books studied included Bahishti Zewar, Hamasah, the first volume of Hidayah, and other books in Urdu and Persian. The introductory books of Persian were taught by his uncle, Muhammad Ilyas, while the books of Arabic grammar (sarf and nahw) were taught by his father.

In Gangoh, Zakariya saw much of his father's shaykh, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, with whom he had an affectionate relationship. Gangohi died on 8 Jumada ath-Thani 1323 AH (11 August 1905), when Zakariya was seven.

Start of studies at Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur
In Rajab 1328 AH (July 1910), at the age of 12, Muhammad Zakariya traveled with his father to Saharanpur to attend Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur, where his father had moved to teach hadith at the request of Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri. Zakariya began studying texts on Arabic grammar, morphology, literature, and logic. Texts studied with his father included Sarf-i Mir, Panj Ganj, Fusul-i Akbari, Kafiyah, Qasidah Burdah, Qasidah Banat Su`ad, as well the 30th juz' of the Qur'an and a collection of 40 hadith. His teachers in the rational sciences were Maulana `Abd al-Wahid Sanbhali and Maulana `Abd al-Latif, the nazim (director) of the madrasah.

Dawrah of hadith
The year 1333 AH (1914/1915) was Zakariya's final year of studies, known in the Dars-i Nizami curriculum as dawrah of hadith, and involving intensive study of hadith. Zakariya was strictly observant in never missing a lesson and always studying with wudu (ablution). He studied the six major hadith collections under his father, with the exception of Sunan ibn Majah, which he studied with Maulana Thabit `Ali. When his father was teaching him, Zakariya was treated differently than the other students. For example, he writes that when studying the hadith collection Mishkat al-Masabih, he was not allowed to refer to Mazhar-i Haq, its Urdu translation and commentary. Another rule in his studies was that he had to state whether or not a hadith was consistent with Hanafi fiqh, and, if not, support the position taken by the Hanafi school. Zakariya completed his studies and graduated in 1333 (1915).

In 1333 AH (1915), Zakariya gave bay'ah (oath of allegiance to a Sufi shaykh) at the hand of Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri before the latter left for Hijaz.

On 10 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1334 (September 1916), when Zakariya was 18, his father passed away.

Maulana Saharanpuri returned to India at about the same time. In 1334 (1916) he requested Zakariya to study Sahih al-Bukhari and Jami` at-Tirmidhi a second time with him. He then selected Zakariya to assist him in writing Badhl al-Majhud, a commentary on Sunan Abi Dawud.

Teaching career
After completing his academic studies, Muhammad Zakariya was appointed as a teacher in Mazahir Uloom on 1 Muharram 1335 AH (29 October 1916), mainly at the recommendation of Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri. At the age of 18, he was one of the youngest members of the staff. He was initially assigned to teach books on Arabic grammar, morphology, and literature, as well as some primary texts of Islamic jurisprudence. Some of these books were transferred to him from more senior teachers. Usulu'sh-Shashi was previously taught by his uncle, Muhammad Ilyas, and `Ilmu's-Sighah by Zafar Ahmad Usmani. Despite not having studied either of these books, he was able to lecture capably on the subjects. He quickly developed rapport with the students and satisfied the school's principal, who had held reservations about appointing someone at such a young age.

The initial books assigned to him were: Usulu'sh-Shashi (usul al-fiqh), `Ilmu's-Sighah (morphology), Mi'ata `Amil Manzum (syntax), Sharh Mi'ata `Amil (syntax), Khulasah Nahw Mir(syntax), Nafhatu'l-Yaman (literature), Munyatu'l-Musalli (fiqh of prayer), and Qala Aqulu (logic).

After a promotion, he taught Mirqatu'l-Mantiq (logic), Sharh Tahdhib (logic), Al-Kafiyah (Arabic grammar), Sharh Mullah Jami (Arabic grammar), Mukhtasar al-Quduri (fiqh), Nuru'l-Idah (fiqh), Usulu'sh-Shashi (usul al-fiqh), and Bahth fa`l, Bahth Ism.

In 1336 there was further promotion. Some of the books he was assigned were Maqamat (literature), Sab`ah Muallaqah (literature), Qutbi (logic), Mir Qutbi (logic), and Kanzu'd-Daqa'iq(fiqh)

During and after 1336, he also taught Hamasa (literature) and the first volume of Al-Hidayah (fiqh).

In 1338 he accompanied his shaykh, Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri, for Hajj. They returned in Muharram 1339. He then taught Nuru'l-Anwar for three years.

Beginning in 1341, he was given important books of hadith to teach. From Rajab 1341 (February/March 1923), the responsibility to teach three chapters of Sahih al-Bukhari was transferred to him. He was also responsible for teaching Mishkatu'l-Masabih from Shawwal 1341 (May/June 1923) to Sha'ban 1344 (February/March 1926).

In Shawwaal 1344 AH, he again accompanied Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri for Hajj. In 1345 AH, he traveled to Medina, where he taught Sunan Abu Dawud at Madaris al-`Ulum ash-Shar`iyah for a year. While in Medina, he commenced the writing of Awjaz ul Masalik ila Muwatta Imam Malik. He was twenty-nine at the time. It was also in Medina that Saharanpuri conferred upon Muhammad Zakariyakhilafah (spiritual succesorship), authorizing him in all four main tariqas (Chishtiya, Naqshbandiya, Qadiriya, and Suhrawardiya).

Upon returning to India on 18 Safar 1346 AH (17 August 1927), he resumed teaching at Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur and was given the responsibility to teach Sunan Abi Dawud and half of Sahih al-Bukhari. In that year he also taught Sunan an-Nasa'i and Muwatta Imam Muhammad.

For approximately the next 30 years he continued to teach Sunan Abi Dawud and half of Sahih al-Bukhari. During this period he also often taught Jami` at-Tirmidhi and Sahih Muslim.

After the death of the school's principle around 1375 AH, Muhammad Zakariya was given responsibility to teach the full Sahih al-Bukhari, and the responsibility to teach Sunan Abi Dawud was given to another teacher.

He continued to teach until 1388 AH, when he developed cataracts. In total, he taught half of Sahih al-Bukhari 25 times, the complete work 16 times, and Sunan Abi Dawud 30 times.

Death
Muhammad Zakariya fell in on Sunday 16th May 1982 in the blessed city of Medina, Saudi Arabia. His condition deteriorated a week later resulting in serious breathing problems on Monday 24th May 1982. His final words were "Allah, Allah." and he passed away at 5:40 pm, exactly an hour and a half before the day's sunset prayers (maghrib). The shaykh's body was prepared for burial through washing before the Sunset prayers and burial took place after the night prayer (Isha) on the same day.

The funeral prayers were led by the Imam of the Prophet's Mosque, Shaykh Abdullah al-Zahim, and the body was taken for burial in the nearby Jannatul Baqi graveyard. Muhammad Zakariya's wish was to be buried close to the Prophet's family members (ahl al-bayt) and as per his wish, his grave was dug just outside their enclosure.

Sufism
In 1333 AH (1914 or 1915 CE), Muhammad Zakariya gave bay'ah at the hands of Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri, taking him as his spiritual guide.

During his second journey to Hijaz with Khalil Ahmad, his sheikh conferred upon him khilafah in all four silsilas.

Household
Muhammad Zakariya married twice. He first married the daughter of Shaikh Ra'uf ul Hasan in Kandhla. She bore him eight children: three sons and five daughters. She died on the 5th of Dhu l-Hijja, 1355 AH (16 FEB 1937). He then married his first cousin, the daughter of Muhammad Ilyas, in 1356 AH (1938 A.D.). She bore him three children: one son and two daughters.

Written works
Muhammad Zakariya authored works both in Arabic and Urdu. A number of them treat specialized subjects intended for scholars and the rest have been written for the general public.

His first written work was a three-volume commentary of Alfiyah Ibn Malik, which he wrote as a student when he was only thirteen.

His work, Fadha'il-e-Qur'an has been translated into eleven languages, Fadha'il-e-Ramadan into twelve languages, and Fadha'il-e-Salaah into fifteen languages.

According to Wali ad-Din Nadwi, Muhammad Zakariya wrote 4 books on tafsir and tajwid, 44 books on hadith and its related sciences, 6 books on fiqh and its related sciences, 24 historical and biographical books, 4 books on aqidah, 12 books on zuhd (abstinence) and riqaq (heart-softening accounts), 3 books on Arabic grammar and logic, and 6 books on modern-day groups and movements.

According to Muhammad Shahid Saharanpuri (Muhammad Zakariya's maternal grandson), his written works amount to 103, of which 42 have been published and 61 remain unpublished. He wrote 2 books on tafsir, 60 books on hadith, 4 books on fiqh and usul al-fiqh, 22 books on tarikh and sirah, 2 books on tajwid and qira'ah, 3 books on Arabic grammar, classical logic, and geometry, 3 books on suluk and ihsan, 4 books in defense of Islam, and 3 books on miscellaneous subjects.

Arabic works

 * Awjaz al-Masalik ila Muwatta' Malik (أوجز المسالك إلى موطأ مالك, Awjaz al-Masālik ilá Muwaṭṭa’ Mālik)
 * Lami` ad-Darari `ala Jami` al-Bukhari (لامع الدراري على جامع البخاري)
 * Al-Kawkab ad-Durri `ala Jami` at-Tirmidhi (الكوكب الدري على جامع الترمذي, al-Kawkab ad-Durrī ‘alá Jāmi‘ at-Tirmidhi)
 * Al-Abwab wa at-Tarajim li Sahih al-Bukhari (الابواب والتراجم لصحيح البخاري, al-Abwāb wa at-Tarājim li-Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
 * Juz' Hajjat al-Wida` wa `Umrat an-Nabi (جزء حجة الوداع وعمرات النبي, Juz' Ḥajjat al-Widā‘ wa ‘Umrāt an-Nabī)

Urdu works

 * Shama'il Tirmidhi ma` Urdu Sharh Khasa'il Nabawi
 * Faza'il-e-Qur'an
 * Faza'il-e-Ramadan
 * Faza'il-e-Tabligh
 * Faza'il-e-Namaz
 * Faza'il-e-Hajj
 * Faza'il-e-Sadaqat
 * Faza'il-e-Zikr
 * Faza'il-e-Durood-Sharif
 * Faza'il-e-Tijarat
 * Hikayat-e-Sahabah
 * Al-I`tidal fi Maratib ar-Rijal (الإعتدال في مراتب الرجال), also known as Islami Siyasat
 * Dari ka Wujub
 * Aap Beti
 * Shari`at wa Tariqat ka Talazum
 * Um al-Amrad
 * Fitna-e-Maududiat
 * Maut ki Yad
 * Tarikh Masha'ikh-e-Chisht
 * Ikhtilaf al-A'immah
 * Jama`at-e-Tabligh par I`tarazat ki Jawabat
 * Miswak
 * Nisbat-o-Ijazat
 * Sila' Rahmi
 * Akabir ka Suluk o Ihsan
 * Namaz ki Ahmiat
 * Ulama e Akhirat ki Pehchan
 * Akabir ka Ramadan