Biography of Shaykh ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri (1303-1384H) (1894-1964)

Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri was born in 1894 in the district Kamipur of Amritsar. His father’s name was Mian Roshan Deen. Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri had six brothers: Molvi Ruknudin, Mian Raheem Bakhsh, Mian ‘Abdul Wahid, Hafiz Muhammad Husayn, Hafiz ‘AbdurRahman, and ‘AbdulQadir.

He read the Quran with Molvi ‘Abdullah in Qasur, and started to memorise it.

He then went to Lakh where he studied in Madrasah Muhammadiyah beginners books of Arabic grammar and syntax from Mawlana ‘AbdulQadir Al-Lakhwi, He then went to Mirath and studied one year in Madrasah An-Nu’maniyah books of Arabic grammar and syntax.

He then went to Madrasah Al-Ghaznawiyah in Amritsar, where he completed his memorisation of the Quran, and then learned other standard books from Molvi Ma’sum ‘Ali Al-Hazarwi, Molvi Muhiudin Al-Hanafi, Mawlana Sayid ‘Abdul ‘Awwal Al-Ghaznawi, Mawlana Sayid ‘Abdul Jabbar Al-Ghaznawi. Shaykh ‘Abdul Jabbar Al-Ghaznawi and his nephew Shaykh ‘Abdul Awwal Al-Ghaznawi were both students of Mian Nazeer Husayn Ad-Dehlawi.

He also learned in Madrasah An-Nu’maniyah in Amritsar Usul Al-Fiqh from Molvi AbdusSamad.

To complete his studies, he went to Dehli in 1910, and Mian Nazeer Husayn Ad-Dehlawi had died in 1902. There he studied from Hafiz ‘Abdullah Al-Ghazipuri and Mawlana Muhammad Ameen Al-Peshawri. Shaykh ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri studied 3 years in Dehli and his mentor and teacher ‘Abdul Jabbar Al-Ghaznawi died in 1913, which affected him a lot.

He went after to study in Rampur where he completed his studies in the Madrasah ‘Aliyah (of Nawab Sahib) in one year, and obtained degree of Dars Nizammi. There he studied from Molvi Fadl Al-Haqq Ar-Rampuri and Mawlana Muhammad Ishaq Al-Mantiqi, who was an expert of ilm Al-Kalam, Mantiq and Falsafah.

Then Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri sought Ijazah in Hadith from Shaykh Al-Punjab Mawlana Hafiz ‘Abdul Mannan Al-Wazeerbadi.

After completing his studies in 1914, he went back to Amritsar and after in Ropur in 1915, in the district of Anbala. He established there a Madrasah called “Dar Al-Hadith” and taught there until 1938. In 1933, he launched the magazine “Tanzeem Ahlul Hadith”, which is still being published today and propagating Tawhid and Sunnah and combating Shirk and Bid’ah.

In 1931, he established Jam’iyah Tanzeem Ahlul Hadith Muttahidah Punjab. This organisation established a Madrasah in GujranWala, whose teachers where Mawlana ‘Abdullah Al-Bhujiyani and Mawlana ‘Ataullah Haneef Al-Bhujiyani, but this Madrasah did not carry on long.

Shaykh ‘AtaurRahman had established the Madrasah “Dar Al-Hadith Ar-Rehmaniyah Dehli”, which was one of the biggest Madrasah of the Ahlul Hadith in India. He established Shaykh ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri as the principal of this Madrasah, which he remained up to 1947.

In 1947, Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri went to Lahore, and took his residence in Model Town and established his Madrasah called “Jami’ah Ahlul Hadith” in Dalgran Chowk. He also established a mosque “Jami’ Al-Quds Ahlul Hadith” next to the Jamiyah. This Madrasah in nowadays run by his younger brother afiz abdulWahid's grand son Hafiz ‘Abdul Ghaffar Ropuri, and Mufti ‘Ubaydullah Khan ‘Afeef is the Shaykh Al-Hadith of this Jami’ah.

His main students:

Mawlana ‘Abdul Jabbar Al-Kandhalwi
Hafiz Muhammad Husayn Ar-Ropuri, his youngr brother.
Isma’eel Ar-Ropuri, who is his nephew, son of his brother Mian Raheem Bakhsh.
Hafiz ‘Abdul Qadir Ar-Ropuri, who is his nephew, son of his brother Mian Raheem Bakhsh.
Mawlana Muhammad Siddiq ibn ‘Abdil ‘Azeez
Hafiz Thanaullah Al-Madni
Mawlana Hakeem Muhammad Ashraf Sindhoo
Hafiz Sayid Badi’udin Shah Ar-Rashidi
Mawlana Muhammad ‘Ataullah Haneef Al-Bhujiyani
Mawlana ‘AbdusSalam Al-Kaylani
Hafiz Abdul Mannan An-Nurpuri
Mawlana Habeer Rahman Shah
Hafiz Maqbool Ahmad
Mawlana Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil Azeem Al-Pasrori
Mawlana ‘Abdul ‘Aleem At-Tunki
Mawlana Abu Bakr Al-Bengali
Mawlana Muhammad Yusuf Al-Bengali

And many others such as Hafiz AbdulMannan Nurpuri, Shaykh AbdurRahman Madni who is a nephew of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri.

His books and epistles:

The books printed recently and available are indicated in brackets:

Fatawa Ahlul Hadith (published, 2 vol)
Dirayat Tafsiri
Tafsir Al-Quran Al-Kareem
Hawashi Mishkat Al-Masabih (Arabic, few chapters)
Translation and commentary of Mishkat Al-Masabih
Irsal Al-Yadayn Ba’da Ruku’
Itfa As-Shama fi Az-Zuhr fil Jum’ah (3 volume refutation of An-Nimawi and other Hanafis who claim that Jumua’h Salah is not allowed in the village, only in cities)
Loud speaker or Namaz
Irshad Al-Wara fi Jumua’ah fil Qura
Radio or Riwayat e Hilal
Hajj Masnun
Shar’i Nizam
Islami Darhy
Insani Zindagi ka Maqsad
Mawdudiyat or Ahadith Nabawiyah (published, small book refuting Al-Mawdudi’s methodology in rejecting Ahadith that oppose his reason)
Kalimah At-Tawhid
‘Urs or Ghyarveeen (small pamphlet, published)
Waeeelah Buzurgan (small pamphlet on Tawassul, published)
Nur Muhammadi ki Padaish
Hukumat or Ulema Ar-Rabbani
Al-Murshid wal Imam (Arabic)
Ahlul Hadith ke Imtiazi Masail (published, small book)
Takbeerat Al-Eedayn
Ta’leem As-Salah (2 vol)
Risalah Niyat e Namaz
Witr ki Ta’dad or Kayfiyat
Tahqeeq At-Taraweeh (published, small book)
Al-Kitab Al-Mustatab fi Jawab Fasl Al-Khitab (Arabic, this book is a refutation of Anwar Shah Al-Kashmiri’s book “Fasl Al-Khitab” on the topic of reciting Surah Al-Fatihah behind the Imam)
Ahsan Al-Kalam
Nikah Ash-Shighar
Larki Shadi kyun Karti hein (published, small pamphlet)
Nikah or Niswaniyat
Risalah Talaq Thalathah (published, small book)
Wirathat Islami
Ziyarat Qabr e Nabawwi (refuting ‘Abdul Haqq Ad-Dehlawi’s book “Jazb Al-Qulub” and the fabricated Ahadith about visiting the grave of the Prophet (saw))
Bid’at Murawajjah ki tardeed (published, small book)
Tawheed ur Rehman bi Jawab Istimdad iz Ibad ur Rehman (published, refuting Brelwi book “Istimdad iz Ibad ur Rehman” on invoking saints and Tawassul on graves)
Taqleed Ulema Deoband (published, small book refuting Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi and Ashraf Ali Thanvi on Taqleed)
Ahlus Sunnat ke Imtiyazi Masail
Imamat e Mushrik (Risalah saying that praying behind a Mushrik is not allowed)
Risalah Imarat (Risalah refuting Ghuraba Ahlul Hadith, that to have a Shar’i leader, one must have a land, and one cannot be a Shar’i ruler in a land of Kufr such as India)
Nabi Ma’sum
Mirzayat or Islam (refuting Ghulam Ahmad Mirza Qadiyani’s interpretation of Khatam An-Nubuwwah)
Ahlul Hadith ki Ta’reef (2 vol)
Ahlus Sunnah ki Ta’reef
Tuyur Ibrahimi
Ameen wa Raful Yadayn
Sima Mawta (published, small book establishing that dead do not hear)
Raf’ul Ibham fi Jawab Daleel At-Taam
Tatha Islam
Du’a bi Hurmat Anbiyah
Bakra Devi (on the topic of Nadhar for other than Allah)
Shirkiyah Dam Jhar (against using Shirk in Ruqiyah)

His death and scholar’s praise of him

Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri passed away on the 20^th of August 1964 in Lahore, and was buried in a cemetery in Garden Town. Hafiz Muhammad Al-Gondalwi led his funeral prayer.

‘Allamah Muhammad Husayn Al-Batalwi said about him: “Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri for me in knowledge and merits has the same level as Hafiz ‘Abdullah Al-Ghazipuri”

‘Allamah ‘AbdurRahman Al-Mubarakpuri, author of “Tuhfatul Ahwazi”, said to a student that came from Najd to study in India: “You will not find a more knowledgeable and better teacher than Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri in the whole of India. None is similar to him in India.”

‘Allamah Muhammad ‘Ataullah Haneef Al-Bhunjiyani, author of “Ta’liqat As-Salafiyah” said: “Hazrat Al-’Allam Ar-Ropuri had a Mujtahid’s Baseerah in Fiqh Al-Hadith. More than the sciences of the Quran and Hadith, he had a great expertise by teaching and writing in Fiqh, Usul Al-Fiqh, Sarf, Nahow, Ma’ani, Adab, ‘Aqaid, Kalam, Hikmat, Mantiq, Falsafah and others.”

Hafiz Thanaullah Al-Madni told me that when he gave to Shaykh Al-Albani the book “Al-Kitab Al-Mustatab” of Hafiz Adullah Ar-Ropuri, Shaykh Al-Albani praised him abundantly. In this book, Hafiz Abdullah Ar-Ropuri corrected Anwar Shah Al-Kashmiri’s Arabic in more than 80 places. He also in other books showed grammatical mistakes of An-Nimawi.

Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri’s opposition to Shaykh Al-Islam Thanaullah Al-Amritsari

It is written in "Sirah Thanai", that shaykh Thanaullah Amritsari, the Shaykh Al-Islam and Munazir of Ahlul Hadith, who defeated Ghulam Ahmad Mirza Qadiyani, Christians, Hindus, Shiah, Sufis and others when he made mistakes in Asma wa Sifat and in denying some miracles, Shaykh Abdul Jabbar Ghaznawi wrote a book against him called "Al-Arbaeen fi anna Thanaullah laysa ala madhab al-Muhaditheen

Shaykh Abdullah Ar-Ropuri translated this book into Arabic and sent it to King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, who was very close to the Ghaznawi family.

King AbdulAziz ibn Saud and his father were students of Shaykh Abdul Wahid Al-Ghaznawi and Shaykh AbdurRaheem Al-Ghaznawi, who were little brother of Shaykh ‘Abdul Jabbar Al-Ghaznawi. Indeed, before the first world war, when Aal Saud were in exile in Kuwait, Shaykh Abdul Wahid Al-Ghaznawi came for business to Kuwait, and King Abdul Aziz asked him and his brother AbdurRaheem to stay and teach Hadith to Aal Saud family.

The two Ghaznawi brothers, who were students of Mian Nazeer Husayn Ad-Dehlawi stayed 5 years in Kuwait and taught many books of Hadith to members of the Aal Saud. And later on Ale Saud always honoured the Ghaznawi family when they came in power.

Dawud Al-Ghaznawi, son of Abdul Jabbar Al-Ghaznawi, was the first president of Jamiyat Ahlul Hadith Pakistan after the creation of the state of Pakistan. Whenever prince Saud ibn ‘Abdil Aziz would come to Pakistan, he would visit Dawud Al-Ghaznawi and prince Saud ibn Abdul Aziz invited him for the inauguration of Madeenah university and also asked Dawud Al-Ghaznawi to become a member of the Madeenah university board, which he refused due to his activities in Pakistan.

After receiving the book of ‘Abdul Jabbar Al-Ghaznawi, translated by Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri, king ‘Abdul Aziz formed a committee of scholars with Shaykh Abdul Lateef Aal Shaykh, Shaykh Bahjat Al-Beetar Ash-Shami, Shaykh Rasheed Rida Al-Misri, ‘Abdullah ibn Hasan Imam of Makkah, Shaykh Abdullah Al-Bulayhid, chief justice of Hijaz.

And Shaykh Abdul Wahid Al-Ghaznawi appeared with Shaykh Amritsari in this committee. After this, Shaykh Thanaullah Al-Amritsari stopped doing Taweel of Allah’s attributes and stopped his denial of Karamat, rather established them according to the Madhab of the Salaf.  He quoted after sayings of ibn Taymiyah in his “Tafsir Thana’i” when explaining the attributes of Allah

The matter was that Shaykh Thanaullah Al-Amritsari, though he studied from Mian Nazeer Husayn Ad-Dehlawi, but he also graduated from Dar Ulum Ad-Deoband and learned from Mahmud Al-Hasan Ad-Deobandi, and this lead him to have a soft corner for Asharis, and that is why at the beginning he would even do taweel of the attributes of Allah.

But Al-Hamdulillah, Shaykh Thanaullah at least stopped performing Taweel, rather would quote Ibn Taymiyah’s speech about affirming the Madhab of the Salaf, and this was through efforts of the Ghaznawi family and Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri.

May Allah reward these scholars abundantly for their Jihad against Shirk, Bid’ah and misguided sects.

Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri met King AbdulAziz many times in his 5 Hajj, and he would write some letters of advices to King AbdulAziz who would reply to him and respect him a lot. Likewise Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri and his nephew Hafiz AbdulQadir Ropuri were invited once by King Faisal when Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri performed his last Hajj in 1962. King Faisal said about him: "The Saudi government especially our family love you from their heart. Thanks to Allah the basis of these relations are Islamic brotherhood, sincerity, Taqwa. You are among the sincere firends of our father (King AbdulAziz)." 

Anecdote:

Mawlana Muhammad Siddiq ibn ‘Abdil ‘Azeez who gathered some of the Fatawa of Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri and published them in 2 volumes under the name “Fatawa Ahlul Hadith” said that he saw in a dream Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri telling him that he was being lazy in these days, so when he woke up, he decided to gather and published Fatawa of hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri.

This should also be a reminder for Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri’s grand sons to publish the other books of Hafiz ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri and also to translate them in Arabic.

Dar Al-Hadith in Madeenah

Shaykh ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri had many students from Saudi Arabia and other countries who came to study in Dehli from “Dar Al-Hadith Rehmaniyah”, and among these is Shaykh Muhammad ‘Umar ibn Nasir An-Najdi, Shaykh ‘Abdullah Al-Abyadh from Jamiyah Al-Azhar.

Also among his students is Mawlana Ahmad ibn Muhammad Ad-Dehlawi who was the founder of Dar Al-Hadith in Madeenah.

Shaykh ‘AbdurRahman Al-Ifriqee, who was a student of Ahmad ibn Muhammad Ad-Dehlawi and principal of Dar Al-Hadith in Madeenah, also studied with Shaykh ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri.

So Shaykh ‘Abdullah Ar-Ropuri left not only books, but he and his students established universities from which thousands benefited.

May Allah send Salah and Salam on the Prophet (saw), his family and companions!

Sources:

“40 Ulema Hadith” of AbdurRasheed Al-‘Iraqi,

“Tazkirah Muhadith Ar-Ropuri” by ‘AbdurRahseed Al-‘Iraqi

Introduction of “Fatawa Ahlul Hadith” by Muhammad Siddiq ibn ‘Abdil ‘Azeez

“Ghaznawi Khandan” by ‘AbdurRasheed Al-Iraqi

Some preeminent scholars from family of Mujtahid Al-Asr Hafiz Abdullah Muhadith Ropuri.

1) Hafiz Muhammad Isma'eel Ropuri. He was the nephew of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri, the son of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri's elder brother Mian Raheem Bakhsh. He studied from Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri and was teacher in Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri's Jamiayh Ahl e Hadith, in Dalgran Chowk Lahore, Jami Masjid Quds, He was an excellent orator and spent all his life preaching and teaching. He passed away at young age of 47 in 1962. Hafiz Thanaullah Madni wrote about him: “There was none similar to him in Khitabat. Rabbul Izzat had honoured him with Lahn Dawoodi. His recitation of the Quran would provoke so much emotion and happiness in the mind”

2) Hafiz Abdul Qadir Ropuri, born in 1915, he was nephew of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri. He was the younger brother of Hafiz Isma'eel Ropuri. He also studied from Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri and other scholars, and taught at Jamiyah Ahl e Hadith Dalgran Chowk. He was a prolific debator, called "Sultan Munazireen" and he defeated in particular the famous Brelwi scholar Umar Icharwi. His debates are published in 2 volumes and studied by debaters.

Hafiz Thanaullah Madni mentions in a article called “Mere Azeem Muhsin Sultan Al-Munazirin Molana Hafiz AbdulQadir Ropuri” (published in the book “Ropuri Ullama e Hadith” of Shaykh Ishaq Bhatti) that Hafiz AbdulQadir Ropuri was very engaged in India in Muslim league, was elected as president of Muslim League in Ropur, and was a very vocal voice calling for creation of Pakistan. In 1946 among 15000 voters in Ropur, only one voted against Muslim league. He was imprisoned by British and condemn for 7 years jail but released after peace deal between government and Muslim league.

Hafiz Thanaullah Madni wrote after mentioning the Ropuri family emigration to Pakistan: “In 1953 he took part actively in Tahreek Khatme Nubuwat, associating with many Muhiban e Islam, he played an active role in making this movement successful. In 1974 he joined the Pakistan Jumhuri party (Tr: PDP). In 1977 he became the Naib Sadar of this party (tr: PDP) in Tahreek Nizam e Mustafa, after being arrested he was sent toMianwali jail. In the rule of general Zia ul Haq, he became a Rukn of the Majis Shura, adviser to the Wafaqi Shar’i Adalat, and a member of Ruwayt e Hilal Committee. I consider that he did not need at all such positions but his particularities and distinguished qualities were such that such positions came running behind him. Zalika Fazlullahi Yutihi may Yasha. He was by himself heavier than Jama’at and groups. The truth is that pearls of such qualities, upon whose greatness (Ulul Azmi) history is proud, are produced rarely by mothers. Nowadays we will find many praising Isma’eel (Ropuri) and AbdulQadir (Ropuri) but similar to them in greatness and determination, in being motivated, in readiness to give sacrifices, the existence of such people is difficult. May Allah have mercy on our condition accept the efforts of those who passed away and confer them highest level in Paradise, Ameen!” End of Hafiz Thanaullah Madni speech.

After the death of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri, Hafiz AbdulQadir Ropuri was in charge of his Jamiyah Ahl e Hadith in Dalgran Chowk Lahore. Hafiz AbdulQadir Ropuri passed away in December 1999.

3) Shaykh AbdurRahman Madni, born in 1932, nephew of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri. His father Hafiz Muhammad Husain Ropuri was a scholar and a younger brother of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri. Shaykh AbdurRahman Madni with his brothers all studied from their uncle Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri, and he joined Madeenah University and after established with his brothers Jamiyah Lahore Islamiyah, previously called Jamiyah Rehmaniyah. He established also the monthly Magazine "Mohadis" which runs since 1968. All his children are involved in knowledge, many graduated from Madeenah, and are in charge of his Jamiah, its magazine and other activities.

4) Hafiz AbdulGhafar Ropuri, born in 1959, who is the grand son of Shaykh AbdulWahid Ropuri. Shaykh AbdulWahid Ropuri was a scholar and a younger brother of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri. Hafiz AbdulGhafar's father, AbdulJabbar ibn AbdilWahid passed away while he was young so he was raised with his siblings by his grand father Shaykh AbdulWahid Ropuri. He studied in Jamiyah Muhammadiah GujranWalah and Jamiyah Salafiyah Faislabad and his teachers include: Hafiz Muhammad Gondalwi, Hafiz AbdulMannan Nurpuri, Shaykh AbdulHameed Hazarwi, Hafiz Thanaullah Madni and others. After the death of Hafiz Abdul Qadir Ropuri, he became in charge of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri's Jamiyah Ahl e Hadith.

5) Hafiz AbdulWahab Ropuri, born in 1964 the younger brother of Hafiz AbdulGhafar Ropuri. He graduated from Jamiyah Muhammadiyah GujranWala and after from Umm ul Qura in Makkah. After he taught in Jamiayh Ahl e Hadith Dalgran Chowk and did takhrij of many books of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri such as "Sima Mowta", "Tawhid Ar-Rahman", “Tahqiq Tarawih”, “Ek Majlis ki 3 Talaq” and others published by "Muhadith Ropuri Academy" which is under Jamiyah Ahl e Hadith, Jami Quds, Dalgran Chowk.

Many other brothers of Hafiz Abdullah Ropuri such as Hafiz AbdurRahman Kamirpuri and nephews such as Hafiz Mahmud Ahmad Ropuri, younger brother of Hafiz AbdulQadir Ropuri were involved in knowledge, may Allah reward them all for their efforts.

Source: “Ropuri Ullama e Hadith” of Shaykh Muhammad Ishaq Bhatti and “Tazkirah An-Nubala” of shaykh AbdurRasheed Iraqee.