A Great Scholar of Hadees Shaykh ‘Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dihlvi

The great Muhaddis, who propagated the knowledge of Hadees in the Indian subcontinent, Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dihlvi Qaadiri رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was born in 958 Hijri, corresponding to 1551 AD, in “Delhi”, India.

Acquisition of religious knowledge

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه acquired primary (religious) education from his father, Shaykh Sayfuddeen رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه completed studying Sharh Shamsiyyah and Sharh ‘Aqaaid at the age of twelve, thirteen, and difficult books, such as Mukhtasar and Mutawwal at the age of fifteen, sixteen. (Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, pp. 71)

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would remain engaged in acquiring religious knowledge day and night. His passion for acquiring knowledge was so much that he himself states: Since my childhood, I don’t know what playing, etc., is. What is meant by comfort, I don’t know. I am unaware what amusement means. (Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, pp. 72)

Chain of allegiance [Silsilah Bay’at]

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه firstly did spiritual allegiance [Bay’at] at the hands of his father, Shaykh Sayfuddeen Qaadiri. Upon the instructions of his father, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه went and attained blessings from Sayyid Musa Pak Shaheed Geelani Qaadiri (Madina-tul-Awliya Multan). Then he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه presented himself in the court of Shaykh ‘Abdul Wahhab Muttaqi Muhajir Makki رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه in Makkah Mukarramah and excelled in the fields of ‘Irshad and Sulook’. Furthermore, Shaykh [Shaykh ‘Abdul Wahhab Muttaqi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه] granted him permission of all four spiritual chains; Chishtiyyah, Qadiriyyah, Shaziliyyah and Madaniyyah. (Noor Noor Chehray, pp. 113 etc.)

Religious services

Shaykh Muhaqqiq رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه spent his entire life in protecting Islam and propagating its message. Most part of his 94 years’ life span was spent in writing and composing books and booklets. (Noor Noor Chehray, pp. 114, 116)

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه authored around 13 books and exegeses on the knowledge of Hadees and Usool-e-Hadees (principle of Hadees), out of which, the Arabic exegesis of Mishkat-ul-Masabih comprising 10 volumes titled Lam’aat-ut-Tanqeeh, and the Persian exegesis comprising 4 volumes titled Ashi‘a-tul-Lam’aat are matchless. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه authored Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat in around 6 years of hard work, from 1019 Hijri to 1025 Hijri. Along with Hadees and Usool-e-Hadees, his books also comprise the beliefs of Ahl-us-Sunnah. In the commentary of this part of blessed Hadees ‘فَعَلِمْتُ مَا فِي السَّمٰواتِ والاَرْضِ’ mentioned in Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه mentions the belief of Ahl-us-Sunnah in the following words: The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘I have known whatever is in the skies and whatever is in the earth.’ It refers to the fact that Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has acquired all the knowledge (Juzi and Kulli of each and everything) thoroughly and he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has encompassed all of them. At another place, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه says: Then through this, he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came to know about the reality of universe and everything that is in it. (Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, vol. 1, pp. 333)

Famous books

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has authored plenty of books. Out of those, few are as follows:

لَمعَاتُ التَّنْقِیْحْ فِیْ شَرحِ مِّشْکاۃِ الْمَصَابِیحْ [Lam’aat-ut-Tanqeeh fi Sharh Mishkat-il-Masabih]

اَشْعَۃُ اللَّمْعَات فِیْ شَرْحِ الْمِشْکاۃ [Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat fi Sharh-il-Mishkat]

جَذْبُ الْقُلُوْب اِلٰی دِیَارِ الْمَحْبُوْب [Jazb-ul-Quloob Ila Diyar-il-Mahboob]

زُبْدَۃُ الْآثارِ فِیْ اخْبَارِ قُطبِ الْاَخْیار [Zubda-tul-Aasaar fi Akhbari Qutb-il-Akhyar]

مِفْتَاحُ الْفُتُوْح لِفَتْحِ اَبْوَابِ النُّصُوْص [Miftah-ul-Futooh li Fathi Abwab-in-Nusoos]

شَرْحُ الشَّمْسِیۃ [Sharh-ush-Shamsiyyah]

مَدَارِجُ النُّبُوَّۃ [Madarij-un-Nubuwwah] etc.

Demise

Embodiment of knowledge and research, and the sun of guidance and wisdom, left this mortal world at the age of 94. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه passed away on 2^nd Rabi’-ul-Awwal 1052 Hijri in ‘Delhi’, India. His burial took place near ‘Hauz-e-Shamsi’ [fountain of Shamsi – near Baagh Mehdiyan, opposite Qil’ah Kehna, Hind] as per his will. (Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, pp. 93, 94)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy on him and forgive us without accountability for his sake!

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن   صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

The grand Mufti of Pakistan, an embodiment of knowledge and piety, ‘Allamah Maulana Mufti Muhammad Waqaruddin Qaadiri Razavi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was born on 14^th Safar-ul-Muzaffar 1333 AH, corresponding to 1^st January 1915, in Pilibhit (U.P., India). He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه acquired his elementary education in Pilibhit in ‘Madrasah Astaniyah Sheriyah’. Afterwards, he sought admission in ‘Dar-ul-‘Uloom Manzar-ul-Islam’ in Bareilly, where he studied under the mentorship of Sadr-us-Shari’ah, Badr-ut-Tareeqah Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and others. He acquired expertise in numerous sciences. In 1938, Sadr-us-Shari’ah Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه conducted his graduation ceremony (tied a graduation turban on his head) and issued his certificate of graduation.

Following this, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه served as a teacher in the renowned religious academic institute Manzar-ul-Islam Bareilly, where he taught for ten years. After the creation of Pakistan, he migrated to East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh) where he rendered religious services. In 1971, he arrived in West Pakistan where he was persuaded by Mufti Muhammad Zafar ‘Ali Nu’mani and Shaykh-ul-Hadees ‘Allamah ‘Abdul Mustafa Al-Azhari رَحِمَهُمَا الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی to teach at Dar-ul-‘Uloom Amjadiyyah (‘Aalamgeer Road Bab-ul-Madinah Karachi).

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه eventually took on the role of chief Mufti of Dar-ul-Ifta. His collection of religious verdicts is entitled ‘Waqar-ul-Fatawa’ (three volumes). Mufti-e-A’zam Pakistan, ‘Allamah Maulana Mufti Muhammad Waqaruddin Qaadiri Razavi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه also bestowed Khilafat of Silsilah ‘Aaliyyah Qadiriyyah Razawiyyah upon Shaykh-e-Tareeqat, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, ‘Allamah Maulana Abu Bilal Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qaadiri Razavi دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـه.

Demise

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه passed away from this world on Saturday 20 Rabi’-ul-Awwal 1413 AH corresponding to 19^th September 1993 at Fajr time. (Excerpts from Waqar-ul-Fatawa, volume one)

Sunniyaun kay dil mayn hay ‘izzat Waqaruddin ki

Aaj bhi mamnoon hay millat Waqaruddin ki

The hearts of Sunnis adore Waqaruddin

Even today this nation is indebted to Waqaruddin