“The role of Ah e Hadith in Nadwatul Ullama”, Extracts from the book “Bare Sagheer mein Ashabul Hadith, Eek Mutala’ah” of Shaykh Muhammad Tanzeel Siddiqi Husayni, translated by Ali Hassan Khan

Shaykh Muhammad Tanzeel Siddiqi Husayni is the great grandson of Allamah Shamsul Haq Azeembadi (author of the famous explanation of Sunnan Abi Dawud called “Awn Al-Ma’bood”) and his paternal grandmother is from the Sadiqpuri family who had great struggle for the independence of India.

Shaykh Ishaq Bhatti was recruited by Shaykh Arif Javed Muhammadi and Jamiyah Ihya Turath Kuwait to write books on the history of the Ahl e Hadith movement in the Indian Subcontinent and many of his books were thus published by Dar Abi Tayab in Pakistan . After the death of Shaykh Ishaq Bhatti, Shaykh Arif Javed Muhammadi and Jamiyah Ihya Turath recruited Shaykh Muhammad Tanzeel Siddiqi for this purpose. 3 Urdu volumes of “Dabistan Nazeeriyah” (containing the biographies of the students of Mian Nazeer Husayn Dehlvi) of Shaykh Tanzeel Siddiqi have already been published by Dar Abi Tayab and others books such as “Bare Sagheer mein Ashabul Hadith, Eek Mutala’ah” on the history of Ahl e Hadith in the Indian Subcontinent.

Shaykh Irshad Al-Haqq wrote in the introduction of the book “Bare Sagheer mein Ashabul Hadith, Eek Mutala’ah” of Shaykh Muhammad Tanzeel Siddiqi Husayni:

“Ahl e Hadith scholars did not only raise the banner of the Book and Sunnah against the rigidity of Taqleed but they also were the forefront of all movements of reform and movements affecting the community (Islahi wa Milli Tahrikat), whether it is related to the reform of Madaris and their curriculum, or programs of Da’wah and Irshad, or the establishment of Nadwatul Ullama, or the formation of Jam’iat Ullama Islam, or “Ahrar Al-Islam” or “Khilfah Committee”, or the establishment of “The Muslim League” and the creation of Pakistan, all such forms of services will be found in this book categorised in different chapters.

May Allah Ta’ala reward Muhammad Tanzeel Siddiqi with the best of rewards for his efforts to contain the sea into an earthen vessel through the ink of his pen…

We are also very thankful to Shaykh Arif Javed Muhammadi and Shaykh Yaseen Zafar, who played a key role in including this book in the curriculum of Wafaq Al-Madaris As-Salafiyah, so that students, who are our future builders, are fully aware of our glorious past and can obtain guidance from the footsteps of their giant scholars.”

Shaykh Muhammad Tanzeel Siddiqi Husayni wrote on p 202 and after of ““Bare Sagheer mein Ashabul Hadith, Eek Mutala’ah”:

“Nadwatul Ullama Lukhnow:

“Nadwatul Ullama” was an educational movement of its time, whose aim was was to establish unity between all schools of thoughts and increase the religious conscience of Muslims. In 1310H/1892, in the annual conference of Madrasah Fayz e Aam Kanpur, it was advised to establish “Nadwatul Ullama”. Shaykh Sanaullah Amritsari participated in this founding gathering.

From 15 to 17 Shawwal 1311/22 to 24 April 1894, the first conference of “Nadwatul Ullama occurred. In this gathering we count among Ahl e Hadith scholars who were present: Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ibrahim Aarwi, Shaykh Muhammad Husayn Batalwi, Shaykh AbdulHakeem Sadiqpuri (d 1337H/1918), Shaykh Muhammad Yunus Khan Raees Datawali, Shaykh Muhammad ‘Arab (d 1344H/1926), Shaykh Sayyed Ameen Naseerabadi (d 1349H/1930) and others

In this gathering, it was decided that a committee of 12 scholars of high calibre would be formed to improve the way of education. Shaykh Ibrahim Aarwi, Shaykh Abu Sa’eed Muhammad Husayn Batalwi were part of this committee¹.

Also in this first conference, the duty of establishing a constitution for Nadwah was conferred to 37 scholars among whom we count great leaders such as Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ibrahim Arwi, Shaykh Muhammad Husayn Batalwi, Shaykh Muhammad Yunus Khan Raees Datawali, Shaykh Muhammad ‘Arab, Hajji Muhammad ‘Isa Khan Raees Datawali (d 1367H/1948) and Hajji Muhammad Musa Khan Raees Datawali (d 1363H/1944)²

From 16 to 18 Shawwal 1312H/12 to 14 April 1895, the second annual conference of “Nadwatul Ullama” occurred in Lukhnow. In the 5^th sitting of this conference, the difference between Shaykh Amanatullah Fasihi Ghazipuri (d 1315/1898) and Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ibrahim Arwi ended. The difference with Shaykh Amanatullah on Taqlid and absence of Taqlid lead to a grim situation, but in the sitting of Nadwah Shaykh Ibrahim came forward and shook Shaykh Amanatullah’s hand and hugged him and put aside the difference at the same time. This unity brought a great benefit to the progress of Nadwah. In removing dispute, this was the first feat of Nadwah which lead to far reaching consequences.³

In this gathering, 21 Islamic Madaris accepted to participate in the conference of “Nadwatul Ullama” among whom we count “Madrasah Ahmadiyah” (Arah), “Madrasah Islamiyah” (Banaras) and “Madrasah Islah Al-Muslimin” (Patna)⁴.

Also in this conference, an executive board for Nadwah comprising 34 scholars was formed, whose members contained Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ibrahim Arwi, Shaykh AbdulAziz Raheemabadi (1336H/1918), Shaykh Hafeezullah A’zamgarhi (d 1362H/1943), Shaykh AbdulJabbar Umarpuri (d 1334H/1916), Shaykh AbdusSamad Danapuri (d 1318H/1900) and Shaykh Hajji Muhammad Yunus Raees Datawali and others⁵.

With the scholars mentioned above, we also count among famous Ahl e Hadith scholars who participated in this conference: Hafiz Abdullah Ghazipuri, Shaykh AbdulHakeem Sadiqpuri, Shaykh Hakeem AbdulBari Nagarnahsawi (d1318H/1900), Shaykh Sharful Haqq Muhammad Ashraf Diyanwi (d 1326H/1908), Shaykh Shah ‘Aynul Haqq Phulwarwi (d1333H/1915) and others.

The 3^rd annual conference of Nadwah occurred in Breilly on 26 Shawwal 1313H/11 April 1896. There was an anti-Nadwah atmosphere in Breilly and after this conference, this opposition became open and Brelwi oriented people took different ways. When at this time Nadwah was circled with an atmosphere of adversity, Ahle Hadith scholars supported Nadwah. The recommendation of the creation of a Dar Al-Ulum in this conference was agreed upon.

The 4^th conference of Nadwatul Ullama was situated in Meeruth from 15 to 17 Shawwal 1314H/21 to 23 March 1897. The texts of this conference contain the list of the participants comprising the names of the following Ahl e Hadith scholars: Shaykh Hakeem AbdulHameed Sadiqpuri (d 1323H/1905), Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ibrahim Arwi, Hafiz Abdullah Ghazipuri, Shaykh Hakeem AbdulBari Nagarnahsawi, Shaykh Ahmad Hasan Shokat Meeruthi (d 1341H/1922), Shaykh Hafeezullah A’zamgarhi, Shaykh Hameedullah Sarawi Meeruthi (d 1330H/1912), Shaykh AbdulJabbar Umarpuri, Shaykh AbdulGhafoor Danapuri (d 1333H/1915), Shaykh AbdusSamad Danapuri, Shaykh Shah Aynul Haqq Phulwarwi, Shaykh AbdurRauf Sadiqpuri (d 1318H/1900), Shaykh Ja’far Ali Khan Rampuri (d 1325H/1907), Shaykh Hajji Muhammad Yunus Raees Datawali and others⁶.

These are the transcriptions of the gatherings of the first years when the Dar Al-Ulum was not established yet, but they clearly show the participation of Ahl e Hadith scholars to Nadwatul Ullama from its first days, and they also have excellent efforts in its establishment and progress.

In 1316H/1898, the movement of Nadwah obtained a great success when its Dar Al-Ulum came into existence. Shaykh Hafeezullah Bandwi A’zamgarhi, who was on the Manhaj of Muhadithin, was appointed as its first head teacher and he occupied this position up to 1326H/1908. Likewise another scholar affiliated to the Manhaj of Muhadithin Shaykh Sayid Ameer Ali Malihabadi from 1333H/1915 to his death in 1337/1919 was the head teacher of Nadwah. The head teacher has the responsibility to teach important books of Hadith. Shaykh Sayid Sulayman Nadwi learnt there Hadith from Shaykh Hafeezullah.

With them, Shaykh Muhammad Tayib Makki Rampuri (d 1334H/1916), Shaykh Muhammad ‘Arab, Shaykh AbdulGhafoor Jerajpuri (d 1371/1951), Shaykh AbdulWadood Jerajpuri (d 1376H/1957) and others also taught in Nadwah.

End of the Extracts from Shaykh Muhammad Tanzeel Siddiqi’s book.

With those scholars who taught in Nadwah, many giant Ahl e Hadith scholars such as Shaykh Nazeer Ahmad Rehmani and Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi were part of Nadwah’s committees.