Biography of Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi

His family and birth

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi’s grandfather Abdullah ibn Waliyullah and his grandmother both passed away in the plague of 1902 in Maunath Bhanjan. Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad’s father Haji Muhammad Dhameer was 4 or 5 at this time, and as his paternal relatives were reluctant to take care of him, his maternal uncle AbdulHafeez Garhast took him in his charge and raised him. His paternal family members were all Hanafi but his maternal uncle AbdulHafeez Garhast was Ahl e Hadith, hence Haji Muhammad Dhameer was raised as an ardent Ahl e Hadith.

At the age of 19, AbdulHafeez Garhast married Haji Muhammad Dhameer to the daughter of Hafiz Muhammad Sa’eed, called Salmah

In 1937 the British gave a contract of making nets to Raja Bathal Das, and Raja Bathal Das seeing Haji Muhammad Dhameer’s honesty appointed him as supervisor of the workers.

Haji Muhammad Dhameer was not a scholar but was very fond of scholars such as Shaykh Sanaullah Amritsari, Shaykh AbdulJabbar Shakrawi, Shaykh Abul Makarim Muhammad Ali Maowi, Shaykh Ubaydullah Mubarakpuri, Shaykh Nazeer Ahmad Rehmani, and he would attend conferences of scholars with great fervour.

Haji Muhammad Dhameer had 5 sons and 5 daughters. His sons were Haji Muhammad, Haji Mushtaq, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad, Haji Riyadh Ahmad and Haji Molvi Irshad Ahmad.

Haji Muhammad Dhameer passed away in 1985 and Shaykh Ubaydullah Mubarakpuri led his funeral prayer.

Shaykh Muhktar Ahmad Nadwi was born on the 30 June 1930 in the area Washonath Purah in Maunath Bhanjan.

His education

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi started his education in “Madrasah Shakh Dar Al-Ulum” Mirzahadi Maunath Bhanjan. He studied the Quran and Urdu beginners book from Hafiz Ismaeel there.

Afterwards he joined “Madrasah Aaliyah” Jamalpurah in Mau where he studied from Shaykh Muhammad Sulayman (student of Mian Nazeer Husayn Dehlawi) and Shaykh AbdusSamad Mubarakpuri (student of Shaykh AbdurRahman Mubarakpuri).

Afterwards he joined “Madrasah Chasmah Samad” in Mau Aimah where he studied for 3 months and benefited there from Shaykh Muhammad Shafee Maowi

He joined Dar Al-Hadith Rehmaniyah Delhi in 1944 and studied there for 2 years and benefited there from Shaykh Nazeer Ahmad Rehmani, Shaykh Ubaydullah Mubarakpuri, Shayh Ahmadullah Bengali, Shaykh AbdulHaleem.

Afterwards he joined Dar Al-Ulum Nadwah Al-Ulama Luknow in 1946 where he studied from Shaykh Muhammad Mustafa Nadwi (who was Ahl e Hadith), Shaykh Shah Haleem ‘Ata, Mufti Muhammad Sa’eed, Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi.

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi completed his Alimiyat in Nadwah but due to the partition in 1947, he returned to Maunath Bhanjan

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi returned to Madrasah Aaliyah in Mau in the 6^th year but he only stayed few months there in which he benefitted from Shaykh Azeemullah Faizi Maowi, Mufti AbdulAziz Umri, Shaykh AbdulHakeem Rehmani Majaz Azami.

He joined afterwards Jamiyah Islamiyah Faydh e Aam Mau, where he studied from Shaykh Abdullah Shaaiq Maowi, Shaykh AbdurRahman Nahwi

Shaykh Muhammad Ahmad (Head teacher Faydh e Aam Mau) and Shaykh Muhammad Ahmad (Bare Movli Wale, Nazim Faydh e Aam Mau)

In his last year of Fazeelat in Jamiyah Islamiyah Faydh e Aam Mau, Shaykh Abdullah Shaaiq Maowi went to Hajj so Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi with other students went to Madrasah Sa’eediyah to study the 2 Sahih from Shaykh Abul Qasim Sayf Banarsi and thus they obtained Ijazah from him.

On his return to Jamiyah Islamiyah Faydh e Aam Mau, Shaykh Muhkhar Ahmad Nadwi completed his Fazeelat in 1949 at the age of 19. Among his class fellows there, we count Shaykh Muhammad Azami (father of Shaykh As’ad Azami)

His teachers

Hafiz Ismaeel

Shaykh Muhammad Zuhur

Shaykh Hakeem Muhammad Sulayman Rehmani

Shaykh Abu Tayib AbdusSamad Mubarakpuri

Shaykh Shafee Ahmad Maowi

Shaykh Ahmadullah Bengali Rehmani

Shaykh AbdulHaleem

Shaykh Nazeer Ahmad Amlawi Rehmani

Shaykh Ubyadullah Mubarakpuri

Shaykh Muhammad Basheer Mubarakpuri

Shaykh Rustam Rehmani Bengali

Shaykh Shah Haleem Ata

Mufti Muhammad Sa’eed

Shaykh Muhammad Mustafa Nadwi

Shaykh Muhammad Imran Khan Nadwi

Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi

Mufti Abdul’Aziz Umri

Shaykh AbdulHakeem Rehmani Majaz A’zami

Shaykh Azeemullah Faizi Maowi

Shaykh Abdullah Shaaiq Maowi

Shaykh AbdurRahman Nahwi

Shaykh Muhammad Ahmad (Head teacher Faydh e Aam Mau)

Shaykh Muhammad Ahmad (Bare Movli Wale, Nazim Faydh e Aam Mau)

Shaykh Abul Qasim Sayf Banarsi

His services as Imam in Calcutta

From 1952 to 1962 Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi worked as Imam in Masjid Ahl e Hadith Tanti Bagh Calcutta. He was also Nazim of Dar Al-Huda Library in Calcutta, he organised this library giving it a second life.

In his free time in Calcutta, he obtained a BA from Muslim University Aligarh, and a diploma in Library Science. He also learned English from master Sa’eed Ar-Rahman and Master Mukhtar Ahmad.

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi also started a business in Calcutta alongside his service as Imam. Indeed, he established a bookshop called “Maktabah Tawheed” and it was very successful.

His move to Mumbai

Due to the Indo-China war in 1962, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi left Calcutta and he became Imam in Jami Masjid Ahl e Hadith Muminpurah Mumbai.

He established a Bayt Al-Maal in Mumbai and started welfare work in Mumbai.

On the 16^th December 1963 there was a gathering presided by Shaykh AbdulHakeem Sharfudin in Jami Masjid Muminpurah Mumbai, and Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Mumbai Uzma was formed. Under Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi’s leadership, Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Mumbai Uzma was very active, hence Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind recognised it as its Subai organisation. In 1972 elections were conducted in Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Mumbai Uzma and Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi was elected as its president.

Establishment of Dar As-Salafiyah in Mumbai

In 1970, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi established the publishing Idarah “Dar As-Salafiyah”. Shaykh Ahmad ibn Hajar Botami, judge in Qatar came in its opening ceremony. In 1884 it moved to Sankli Street in Mumbai in a large building.

The first book published by Dar As-Salafiyah was the Urdu translation by Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi of the book “Tathir Al-Jannan wal Arkan ‘an Dark Ash-Shirk wal Kufran” of Shaykh Shaykh Ahmad ibn Hajar Botami under the name “Tawheed”. In few years more than 100 000 copies of it were distributed. Afterwards Shaykh Raees Nadwi translated a book of Shaykh Ahmad ibn Hajar Botami on innovations called in Urdu “Bid’at or un ka Shar’i post mortem”.

Dar As-Salafiyah published more than 200 Urdu books, around 50 Arabic books, and a dozens of Hindi and English books.

Among the Urdu books, books on Aqidah of Shaykh Al-Islam ibn Taymiyah, Hafiz ibnul Qayim, Shaykh Muhammad ibn AbdilWahhab, Qadhi Ahmad ibn Hajar, Allamah ibn Baz, Allamah ibn Utheymeen, Shaykh AbdurRahman AbduKhaliq, Shaykh Omar Sulayman Ashqar, Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan and others were translated. More than 100 000 copies of the Urdu translation of a book on Tawheed of Shaykh Fawzan were distributed. The book on Tawassul of Shaykh Naseeb Rifai was translated by Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi.

With books on creed, books on social issues were also translated in Urdu such as “Mushkilatul Faqr” of Shaykh Qardawi, “Tuhfatul Urus” of Shaykh Mahdi Istanbuli, “Bimah or us ki Shari Haythiyat” on life insurance, “Rishwat Shariyah Islamiyah mein ek Azeem Jurm” on bribe, “Jhoot ek Ma’sharti Nasur” on lying, “Ijazat Talbi ke Adab wa Ahkam” on seeking permission, “Qawali or Islam” on Music, “Ma’zuron ke Mutaliq Ahkam wa Masail” on rules of disabled people, “Talaq”, “Sas or Bahu, Damad or Susral ke Huquq” on rights of in laws.

Many books on Fiqh were also translated in Urdu such as “Al-Halal wal Haram” of Shaykh Qardawi, a book of Shaykh AbdurRahman AbduKhaliq on the permission of photography, a book of Shaykh Sadlan on the ruling of the congregational prayer and a book of Shaykh Sadlan on the Fiqh of marriage.

Shaykh Arif Javed Muhammadi mentioned that by publishing all these books, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi revived the memory of Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan

His writings and translated books

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi authored 14 books and translated many.

His authored books:

1) “Salah An-Nabi (saw)”

2) “Namaz Masnoon”: it was also published in Hindi and translated to English

3) “Ta’lim Islam”: This book was also translated in English

4) “Ramadan Al-Mubarak ke Fazail wa Masail”

5) “Hajj Masnoon”

6) “Qurbani ke Fazail wa Masail”

7) “Islami Adaab”

8) “Kiya Muslim Khawatin ka Masjid mein Ana Fitnah he?”: refuting the notion that women coming to the Masjid is a Fitnah.

9) “Awrat Kitab wa Sunnat ki Roshni mein”: Position of the woman in Islam, this book was also translated in English.

10) “Dhari ke Masail Kitab wa Sunnat ki Roshni mein”: ruling on the beard

11) “Quran Khawani or Isale Sawab”: Rejecting the transfer of reward through Quran reading sessions on specific days.

12) “Ta’un Rehmat ya Zehmat”: rulings on the plague.

13) “Talaq”

14) “Kitab Ad-Du’a”: collection of Duas

His translations:

15) “Mashru or Mamnu’ Waseelah ki Haqiqat”: translation of a book of Shaykh Muhammad Naseeb Rifa’i on Tawassul

16) “At-Tawheed”: translation of the book “Tathir Al-Jannan wal Arkan ‘an Dark Ash-Shirk wal Kufran” of Shaykh Shaykh Ahmad ibn Hajar Botami

17) “Islam or Masail Jahiliyat”: Translation of a book of Shaykh Muhammad ibn AbdilWahhab

18) “Mazhabi Firqah Prasti or Islam”: Translation of a book of Shaykh Muhammad Sultan Ma’soomi Al-Khajnadi against blind following

19) “Jannat”: A summarised translation of “Hadi Al-Arwah ila Bilad Al-Afrah” of Hafiz ibnul Qayim

20) “Shadi ke Masail”: translation of a book of Shaykh Sadlan on marriage

21) “Sunni or Bid’i Talaq ka Shar’i Hukm”: translation of a book of Shaykh Abdullah ibn Zayd Al-Mahmood

22) “Namaz bi Jamaat or us ka Shar’i Hukm”: Translation of a book of Shaykh Sadlan on the ruling of the congregational prayer.

23) “Majmoo’ah Naseehah Al-Muslimin”: translation of a book of Shaykh Muhammad ibn AbdilWahab “Naseehah Al-Muslimin bi Ahadith Khatim An-Nabiyin (saw)”

24) “Awdahu Al-Masalik”: translation of a book of Shaykh AbdulAziz As-Salman on Hajj

25) “Khutbat Muhammadi”: he verified the 5 volumes Khutbat of Shaykh Junagarhi

26) Al-Adaab: translation of a book of Imam Al-Bayhaqi

27) “Aqidah Al-Mumin”: translation of a book of Shaykh Abu Bakr Al-Jazairi

28) Al-Ikhlas: Translation of a book of Shaykh Husayn Al-Awaishah

29) “Istighfar ki Ahmiyat”: translation of a book of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah

30) “Da’iyan e Haqq ke Awsaf”: translation of a book of Shaykh Qardawi on attributes of callers to Islam.

30) “Barkat”: Translation of a book of Shaykh Abu Huzayfah Ibrahim ibn Muhammad

31) “Ummat Muhammadiyah ke Khasais wa Fazail”: translation of a book of Shaykh Abu Amr Hai Al-Hai

32) “Tazkiyah An-Nufus”: translation of quotes from ibn Rajab, ibnul Qayim and Ghazali on purification of the soul

33) “Salah At-Tasbeeh wa Tawbah”: translation of a book of Shaykh Adnan Al-Aroor on the prayer of Tasbeeh and Tawbah.

34) “Bimah or us ki Shar’i Haythiyat”: translation of a book of Shaykh Abdullah ibn Zayd Al-Mahmood on life insurance.

35) “Awliya e Haqq wa Batil”: translation of “Furqan bayna Awliya Ar-Rahman wa Awliya Ash-Shaytan” of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah.

36) “An-Nabi Al-Ummi”; Translation of a book of Shaykh Ahmad ibn Hajar Al-Botami refuting the claims of some people that the Prophet (saw) could read, and clarifying that he (saw) was unlettered.

37) “Hayat Shaykhul Islam Muhammad ibn AbdilWahhab”: translation of a book of Shaykh Ahmad ibn Hajar Botami

38) “Zikr Ilahi”: translation of “Al-Wabil As-Sayib” of Hafiz ibnul Qayim

39) “Tafseer Ayat Al-Kareemah”: translation of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah’s Tafsir of the verse “La ilaha ila Anta Subhanaka inni Kuntu minaz Zalimin”

40) “Al-Wasiyah As-Sughra”: Translation of epistle of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah

41) “Ziyaratul Qubur”: Translation of a book of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah on visiting the graves.

42) “Mahasin Al-Islam”: translation of a book of Shaykh Abdul Aziz As-Salman

43) “Mujizat Nabawi”: translation of a book of Shaykh Abdul Aziz As-Salman

44) “Hajj wa Umrah wa Ziyarat ke Masail”: translation of an epistle of Shaykh Ibn Baz

45) “Qawali or Islam”: translation of an epistle of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah on music

46) “Al-Hizb Al-Maqbool”: translation of a book of Duas

47) “Islam ke Sahih Aqaid or us ke Nawaqid”: translation of a book of Shaykh ibn Baz.

48) “Majmooah Rasail Ash-Shaykh”: translations of 11 epistles of Shaykh Abdullah ibn Zayd Al-Mahmood

Arabic books published by Dar As-Salafiyah

1) “Musannaf” ibn Abi Shaybah: Published in 15 volumes. Shaykh Ibn Baz had advised Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi to publish this great book of Hadith under his Idarah. Under Shaykh Imran Azami, the Musannaf was published after 5 years of work, and more than 10 000 copies were exported, for which Dar As-Salafiyah was awarded by the Export Council of India for exporting most books from India.

2) “Al-Jami Ash-Shu’ab Al-Iman” of Imam Al-Bayhaqi: This was was published based on 8 manuscripts of the book, Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari worked on the 7 first parts of the book, and after he left to settle in the UK, Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi completed the 8 to 20 parts of it.

3) “Tafsir Surah Al-Ikhlas” of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari

4) “Tafsir Al-Mu’awizatayn” of Hafiz ibnul Qayim with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari

5) “Tafsir Ayat Al-Kareemah” of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari

6) “Tafsir Surah An-Nur” of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari

7) “In’am Al-Bari fi Sharh Hadith Abi Zarr Al-Ghifari” of Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari

8) “Kitab fihi Zikr Ad-Duniya wa Zuhd fiha” of Hafiz Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Amr ibn Abi Asim, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari

9) “Kitab Amthal Al-Hadith” of Hafiz Ramahurmuzi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari

10) “Kitab Amthal fil Hadith Nabawi” of Hafiz Abu Ash-Shaykh Al-Asbahani with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abdul ‘Ali Azhari

11) “Kitab Ar-Rida ‘ani Allah bi Qadaihi wat Taslim li Amrihi” of Hafiz Abu Bakr ibn Abi Dunya with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi

12) “Kitab Az-Zuhd” of Imam Abu Dawood, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi

13) “Kitab Az-Zinah” of Imam Nasai, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi

14) “Kitab As-Sunnan” 2 parts of Hafiz Sa’eed ibn Mansur, Tahqiq Shaykh Habib Ar-Rahman Azami

15) “Kitab At-Tabsirah fil Qiraat As-Sab’” of Makki ibn Abi Talib Hamush, with the Tahqiq of Dr Muhammad Ghawth Nadwi

16) “Musnad Umm Al-Muminin Aishah (rad)” of Hafiz Suyuti, with the Tahqiq of Dr Muhammad Ghawth Nadwi

17) “Masanid Ummahat Al-Muminin (rad)” of Hafiz Suyuti, with the Tahqiq of Dr Muhammad Ghawth Nadwi

18) “Munasabat Tarajim Al-Bukhari” of ibn Jama’ah, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Muhammad Ishaq teacher Jamiyah Malak Su’ud Riyadh.

19) “Kitab Al-Ahwal” of Hafiz Abu Bakr ibn Abi Duniya, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Ridhaullah Muhammad Idrees Mubarakpuri

20) “Kitab Al-‘Ilal wa Ma’rifah Ar-Rijaal” of Imam Ahmad narrated by Al-Marwazi and others, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Wasiullah Abbas

21) “Musnad Abi Bakr As-Siddiq (rad)” of Hafiz Suyuti, with the Tahqiq of Hafiz Aziz Beg

22) “Musnad Uthman ibn Affan (rad)” of Hafiz Suyuti, with the Tahqiq of Hafiz Aziz Beg

23) “Al-Jami’ fil Khatim” of Imam Bayhaqi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Amr Ali Umar Misri

24) “Kitab Al-Ghibah wan Namimah” of Hafiz Abu Bakr ibn Abi Duniya, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Amr Ali Umar Misri

25) “Al-Iqaz bil Jawab ‘an Masail Al-Wu’az” of Imam Sakhawi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Amr Ali Umar Misri

26) “Al-Jam’ bayna As-Sahihayn” of Shaykh AbdulHaq Ishbili, with the Tahqiq of Dr Rif’at Fawzi

27) “Rawa’i At-Turath” with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Ozair Shams

28) “Tarikh Wafat Ash-Shuyukh alazina adrakahum Al-Baghawi”, of Shaykh Abul Qasim Abdullah ibn Muhammad Baghawi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Ozair Shams

29) “Kitab An-Nafaqat” of Imam Abu Bakr Al-Khasaf, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Abul Wafa Afghani

30) “Rasail fi Radd alal Rafidah” of Shaykh Abu Hamid Maqdisi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh AbdulWahhab Khalil Ar-Rahman Madni

31) “Man Wafaqa Ismahu Kuniya Abihi” of Abul Fath Azdi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Muhammad Iqbal Baskohri, teacher Jamiayh Muhammadiyah Malegaon

32) “Man Wafaqa ismahu Isma Abihi” of Abul Fath Azdi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Muhammad Iqbal Baskohri

33) “Asma man Yu’rafu bi Kuniyatihi min Ashab Rasoolillah (saw)” of Abul Fath Azdi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Muhammad Iqbal Baskohri

34) “Al-Kuna liman la Yu’rafu Ismuhu min Ashab Rasoolillah (saw)” of Abul Fath Azdi, with the tahqiq of Shaykh Muhammad Iqbal Baskohri

35) “Al-Asilah Al-Ghaiqah bil Ajwibah Al-Laiqah” of Hafiz ibn Hajar Asqalani, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim Hafeez Ar-Rahman

36) “Jawahir Al-Usul fi Ilm Hadith Ar-Rasool (saw)”: Abul Faydh Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Farsi, with the Tahqiq of Qadhi Muhammad Athar Mubarakpuri

37) “Kitab Al-Maradh wal Kafarat” of Hafiz Abu Bakr ibn Abi Dunya, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh AbulWakeel Nadwi, and verified by Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi

38) “Kitab As-Siyam” of Hafiz Abu Bakr Ja’far ibn Muhammad Faryabi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh AbulWakeel Nadwi, and verified by Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi

39) “Musnad AbdurRahman ibn Awf (rad)”: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa Al-Barqi, with the Tahqiq of Shaykh Akram Mukhtar Nadwi, verified by Shayh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi

Below are books authored in Arabic or translated to Arabic:

40) “Mawrid Az-Zaman fi Ulum Al-Quran” of Shaykh Sabir Hasan Muhammad Abi Salman

41) “Al-Itijah Al-Islami fi Shi’r Muhammad Iqbal” of Dr Salahudin Nadwi

42) “Ghazawat An-Nabi (saw)” of Shaykh Muhammad Ghawth Nadwi

43) “Faharis Al-Ayat Al-Karimah wal Ahadith wal Athar li Kitab Musannaf li ibn Abi Shaybah”, prepared by a group of scholars among whom Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi

44) “Faharis Al-Alam fi Kitab Al-Musannaf li ibn Abi Shaybah”, Shaykh Dhia Al-Hasan Salafi

45) “Itman Al-In’am bi Tartib ma Warada fi Kitab Ath-Thiqat li ibn Hibban min Al-Asma wal A’lam” of Shaykh Zaki Akhtar Salafi (Mau)

46) “Faharis Al-Ayat Al-Karimah wal Ahadith wal Athar fi Kitab Al-Jami li Shu’ab Al-Iman” prepared by a group of scholars including Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi

47) “Rahmatun lil Alamin” of Qadhi Muhammad Sulayman Mansurpuri, translated into Arabic by Shaykh Muqtada Hasan Azhari and Shaykh AbdusSalam Aynul Haqq Salafi

48) “Quratul Aynayn bi Tafdheel Ash-Shaykayn” of Shah Waliyullah, translated into Arabic by Shaykh Muqtada Hasan Azhari

49) “Afaat Al-Lisan” of Dr Zafar Ahmad (Jeddah), translated into Arabic by Shaykh AbdusSalam Aynul Haqq Salafi

50) “Seerah Al-Imam Al-Bukhari (rah)” of Shaykh AbdusSalam Mubarakpuri, translated into Arabic by Shaykh Abdul’Aleem Abdul’Azeem Bastawi

51) “Mad Al-Islam wa Jazarihi” of Khawajah Altaf Husayn Haali, translated into Arabic by Dr Salahudin Nadwi

Educational Institutions and hospitals he established

1976 Molana Azad High School in Muminpurah area of Mumbai

1978 Jamiyah Muhammadiyah Mansoorah Malegaon

1979 Kulliyah Aishah As-Siddiqah Mansoorah Bangalore

1981 Muhammadiyah Taybah College Mansoorah Malegaon

1982 Kulliyah Fatimah Az-Zahra Al-Islamiyah lil Banat Mau

1989 Jamiyah Muhammadiyah Mansoorah Bangalore

1990 Kulliyah Aishah As-Siddiqah Bangalore

1992 Madrasah Muhammadiyah lil Banina wal Banat Jhandah Hariyanah

1994 Madrasah Muhammadiyah lil Banat Aakot Maharashtra

1994 Madrasah Muhammadiyah Mahsalah Rae Garh Kokan

1994 Madrasah Muhammadiyah Orangabad Maharashtra

1995 Madrasah Muhammadiyah Dholiyah Maharashtra

1997 Madrasah Muhammadiyah Beginwari Gondi Mumbai

1998 Madrasah Muhammadiyah Maham Mumbai

Madrasah Muhammadiyah Bhopal Madihah Pardesh

Muhammadiyah Technical College Mumbai

Muhammadiyah General Hospital Mansoorah Maonath Bhanjan

Badr Muhammad As-Saair Hospital Mansoorah Malegaon

Aaliyah General Hospital Mau

Shaykh Umar Naseef from Rabitah Alam Islami said during his visit to Jamiyah Muhammadiyah Malegaon: “Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi is so much active and productive that he achieved on his own works that rulers of countries and Sultans would do” (as told by his son in law Shaykh Shairkhan Jameel Ahmed Umri in his introduction of “Molana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi, Hayat wa Khidmat” of Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi)

For these large projects, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi had many benefactors such as

Shaykh Hamed ibn Rashid Na’eemi, ruler of Ajman UAE

Shaykh Sayid Yusuf Jasim Hajji, former minister Awqaf Kuwait and president of Al-Hayah Al-Khayriyah Al-Alamiyah Al-Islamiyah Kuwait.

Sayid Nasir Muhammad As-Saair Kuwait

Faisal Badr and Musaid Badr ibn Marhum Badr Muhammad As-Saair Kuwait

Sayid Salih Al-Hasin Madinah

Sayid Sayf Ahmad Al-Gharir, UAE

Sayid Muhammad Abdullah Al-Jamih KSA

Sayid Jumu’ah Al-Majid UAE

Shaykh Muhammad ibn AbdilAziz Al-‘Ali Kuwait

Shaykh Tariq Al-Isa, president of Jamiyah Ihya Turath Al-Islami Kuwait

Shaykh Sayid Salih Ali Ash-Shai’ Kuwait

Shaykh Abdullah Uthman Al-Hasini KSA

Ustadh Muhammad Ali Jabash UAE

His journalistic efforts

During his stay in Calcutta, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi started to write every Friday in the daily newspaper “Azad Hind” under the pen name Allamah Hijazi.

Afterwards Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi was assistant Mudeer and was writing columns for many years in the magazine “Majallah Ahl e Hadith”, the organ of Jamiat Ahl e Hadith.

In January 1989, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi launched the monthly magazine of Jamiyah Muhammadiyah Mansoorah Malegaon called “Sawt Al-Haqq”

On the 30 August 1990, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi launched the monthly magazine “Al-Balagh Mumbai”, which revived the memory of “Al-Balagh” of Shaykh AbulKalam Azad.

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi wrote in total 1068 articles in “Al-Balagh” and 125 articles in “Sawt Al-Haqq”.

We hope Shaykh’s sons or sons in law would gather these articles in the form of books.

His services with Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi was 22 years old when Shaykh AbdulWahab Aarwi, president of All India Ahl e Hadith Conference named him as member of the Majlis Amilah of All India Ahl e Hadith Conference in 1952.

His presidency of Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Mumbai Uzma in 1972 had been mentioned previously.

From 1979 to 1989, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi occupied the position of vice Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind, while Shaykh AbdulWaheed Salafi was Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind.

In 1989 Shaykh AbdulWaheed Salafi passed away and Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi was elected as Qaim Maqam Ameer for 2 years up to 1991.

In 1992 Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi was elected as Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind, and in 1995 he was re-elected at this post.

In 1997 Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi resigned from his position of Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith due to some reasons but he remained attached to this organisation his while life.

Shaykh Hafeez Ar-Rahman Umri writes: “All his breath was a waqf for Jamiat and Jamaat Ahl e Hadith, he had very extensive efforts for its progress and good name, Whatever meeting or gathering of Ahl e Hadith was to occur in any corner of the country, whatever his health was or how much busy he was, he would come straight”

His positions in different organisations

1) Founding member and life long vice president of Jamiyah Salafiyah Banaras

2) Member of Majlis Shura and Majlis Amilah of Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind

3) Vice Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind from 1979 to 1989

4) Qaim Maqam Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind from 1989 to 1991

5) Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith Hind from 1991 to 1997

6) Vice president of All India Ulama Council Mumbai

7) Life long vice president of Muslim Personal Law Board

8) Life long vice president of All India Milli Council

9) Life long president of Jamiyah Siraj Al-Ulum Bond Bahar UP since 1945

10) Life long Head of Muhammadiyah Educational Society Mumbai

11) Head of Jamiyah Muhammadiyah, Kulliyah Aisha Malegaon, Jamiyah Muhammadiyah, Kulliyah Aishah Bangalore.

12) Life long Head of Kulliyah Fatimah Az-Zahra lil Banant Mau

13) Head of Muhammadiyah Welfare Society Mumbai

14) Head of Muhammadiyah Taybah College and Badr Muhammad As-Saair Hospital Malegaon

15) Head of Aaliyah General Hospital Mau

16) Head of Dar As-Salafiyah Mumbai

17) Head of Idarah Islah Al-Masajid Mumbai

18) Head of Awami Welfare Association Bandrah Mumbai

19) Head of Muhammadiyah Technological College New Mumbai

20) Head of the magazines “Al-Balagh” and “Sawt Al-Haqq”

21) Member of Muslim University Aligarh Court

22) Member of the Majlis Shura of Dar Al-Ulum Nadwatul Ulama Lucknow

23) Founding member of Jam’iyat Ihya At-Turath Al-Islami Kuwait

24) Member of Al-Hayah Al-Khayriyah Al-Islamiyah Al-Alamiyah Kuwait

25) Life long Vice president of the governmental organisation “Jaizah committee of the Shakhsi conditions of Muslims of India”,

26) Founding member of Lajnah Ta’mir Al-Masajid Kuwait

27) Special envoy of Rabitah Alam Islami Makkah Mukarramah

Idarah Islah Al-Masajid Mumbai

In 1980, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi established “Idarah Islah Al-Masajid” in Mumbai with his benefactors and helpers, and this Idarah established around 400 Masajid all over India with 35 in Karnatak, 60 in Andhra Pradesh, 30 in Tamil Nado and 13 in Kerala.

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi’s Salafi Ghayrat

He manifested publicly many strong positions on Tawheed on different occasions. For instance Bohras were inaugurating the shrine of one of their leaders in Mumbai and they invited many scholars. Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi contacted many scholars not to attend such a ceremony as shrines and mausoleum are forbidden, and he also ran an advertisement on the 1st page of the newspaper “Inqilab” speaking against this ceremony and danger of Shirk at graves.

His teacher Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi who was to attend returned back on Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi s insistence. Likewise other scholars decided not to attend.

Also among other examples of Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi s Ghayrat for the Maslak is that once someone in the gathering of the Muslim Law Board made fun of the Ahl e Hadith position on triple Talaq. Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi replied to him on the stage and asked whether they gathered here as a sect or an Ummah? Shaykh Mujahidul Islam Qasimi to dilute the situation between Shaykh Nadwi and this individual replied that we are here as an Ummah.

When Shaykh Asad Madni conducted with Jamiat Ullama Hind “Tahafuz Sunnat Conference” and targeted Ahl e Hadith in it, Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi criticised it in his magazine “Al-Balagh” and instructed scholars to writes replies in his magazine “Sawt Al-Haqq”.

Also once in a gathering of Rabitah Alam Islami, there were many scholars from India and Pakistan and someone criticised the Ahl e Hadith Maslak. Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi asked Shaykh ibn Baz to give him chance to speak again for 5 min to reply but Shaykh ibn Baz said he will give him opportunity later on.

Dr Luqman Salafi wrote: “I have seen very few scholars as Shaykh Nadwi in Salafi Ghayrat, who would not do any Mudarat or Mujamalat for the rise of Quran and Sunnah. He had links with many Non Salafi scholars, thinkers and Duaat, he would say that the lives of our elders taught this to us, but in their gatherings finding an opportunity, they would speak about Quran, Sunnah and Salafi Fikr, and as a very intelligent person, he had the capacity to present his view in different ways, and he was never intimated and never had the fear to present his view”

His death and children

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi passed away on the 9^th September 2007.

Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi had married Asma, the daughter of Shaykh AbdulMajid from Jamalpurah Mau. He had 3 sons and 6 daughters who are all scholars. His sons are: Aslam Mukhtar, Akram Mukhtar and Arshad Mukhtar.

Shaykh Muhammad Raabi’ Hasan, the Nazim of Nadwatul Ulama, wrote in his condolence message: “Shaykh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi, a world renowned scholar known for his services to knowledge and publication at a very high level, became famous as an important personality in India and the Arabic world. He spent a portion of his education in Dar Al-Ulum Nadwatul Ulama and saw its scholarly and educational concept and benefited from it. He had chosen the Salafi Fikr in Fiqh and he exerted great efforts in this circle, especially in Hadith and its verification and publication. He established in Mumbai a publishing Idarah in Mumbai Dar As-Salafiyah for the service of Hadith…”

Sources:

Taken mostly from “Molana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi, Hayat wa Khidmat” 960 pages by Shaykh Dhiya Al-Hasan Salafi. Shaykh Ozair Shams had an advisory role in this book.

Magazine “Sawt Al-Haqq” Ishaat Khas Hazrat Molana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi, 344 pages.

“Tarikh Ahl e Hadith” vol 2 by Shaykh AbdulHakeem AbdulMa’bud Madni