Scholars of the Sub Continent

Shaykh Abdul Aziz al-Farharvi (1792 - 1824) Renowned for his seminal work Al-Nibras on Sharh al-Aqa’id, Shaykh Abdul Aziz al-Farharvi was among the most prolific scholars of his era. Born in Muzaffargarh, he began his early education at home, where he memorized the Qur’an under the guidance of his father. Alongside this, he studied the fundamentals of the Islamic sciences under his father’s tutelage. During his time, Multan was home to a renowned Darsgah, attracting students from across the region. Shaykh Farharvi traveled to Multan to continue his studies under Maulana Jamalullah al-Multani, a distinguished teacher and scholar of the time. Under his instruction, Shaykh Abdul Aziz completed his formal education. A prolific writer, Shaykh Abdul Aziz authored numerous works across multiple disciplines,. Many of his works are still not published, such as his Hashiyah on Isaghoji, his hashiyah on Musallam al-Thubut & other treatises that he authored. Some of his works which are available include: - Al-Nibras 'ala Sharh al-Aqa'id al-Nasafiyyah (one of the go-to commentaries on sharh al-aqa'id) - Ni'm al-Wajiz fi i'jaz al-Quran al-Aziz - Maram al-Kalam fi aqa'id al-Islam (An independent work in theology. Includes a discussion of al-umur al-'ammah) - Al-Samsam fi usul al-Tafsir - Kitab al-Yaqut (dicsusses the different sciences, their definitions, subject matter) - Kawthar al-Nabi (A work in the science of hadith)

Shaykh Manazir Ahsan Gilani (1892 – 1956) Shaykh Manazir Ahsan Gilani was one of the most distinguished scholars of the 20th century, renowned for his expertise in Islamic sciences, academia, and literary contributions. Born in Patna, Bihar, he received his early education at home, where he studied Persian, Arabic grammar, morphology, and foundational Islamic sciences. Seeking higher studies, he traveled to Tonk, where he studied under the esteemed Shaykh Barakat Ahmad al-Tonki, a scholar known for his mastery of the rational sciences. Over the next seven to eight years, Shaykh Manazir studied extensively, covering works such as: Qadhi Mubarak, Hamdallah, Al-Ufuq al-Mubin, Sharh al-Tajrid Al-Isharat, Al-Shifa, Sharh Mulla Jami, Al-Talwih, Musallam al-Thubut, Al-Hidayah During a visit to Maulana Mu'in al-Din al-Ajmeri, he first learned about Maulana Mahmud al-Hasan and Darul Uloom Deoband. Inspired by the scholarship of Deoband, he resolved to pursue Hadith studies there. In 1913, he enrolled at Darul Uloom Deoband, where he studied Hadith under Maulana Mahmud al-Hasan. His other distinguished teachers included,Maulana Anwar Shah al-Kashmiri, Maulana Shabbir Ahmad al-Uthmani, Maulana Ghulam Rasool al-Hazarwi After graduating, Shaykh Manazir remained at Darul Uloom Deoband as a teacher for a few years. Alongside his teaching responsibilities, he was actively involved in academic writing, serving as the editor for "Risalah Darul Uloom Deoband". In 1920, he was appointed as a professor at Osmania University in Hyderabad, where he served with distinction for nearly three decades, retiring in 1949. Among his most notable students was Muhammad Hamidullah, a renowned Islamic scholar and historian. Shaykh Manazir Ahsan Gilani was a prolific author, translator, and editor, contributing extensively to Islamic scholarship. Some of his most significant works include: Translation of Mulla Sadra's Al-Asfar al-Arba‘a into Urdu Translation of Shah Ismail Shahid's Abaqaat into Urdu Tadween-e-Hadith (translated into Arabic) Fitna-e-Dajjaliyah (translated into Arabic) Tadween-e-Fiqh

Shaykh Abdul Hayy al-Lakhnawi (1848 - 1886) One of the most distinguished scholars of the 19th century, Shaykh Abdul Hayy al-Lakhnawi hailed from the illustrious Farangi Mahal tradition in Lucknow. He memorized the Quran at an early age and began his formal studies in the Islamic sciences under the tutelage of his father, Shaykh Abdul Haleem, a highly esteemed scholar of his time. In addition to his father, he studied under eminent scholars such as Shaykh Nimatullah al-Lakhnawi and Mawlawi Khadim Hussain. During the course of his studies, his father received an invitation from Nawab Turab Ali Khan to teach in Hyderabad Deccan, which he accepted. Shaykh Abdul Hayy accompanied him and completed his advanced studies in Hyderabad, where he also began teaching junior students. Following his father’s passing, he was offered the position of judge, which he declined. In 1875, after returning from Hajj, he settled in Lucknow, where he remained until his demise. It was here that he continued his teaching, authorship, and scholarly pursuits. Shaykh Abdul Hayy was a prolific teacher, and among the many distinguished scholars he trained, some of the most notable include: Maulana Abdul Baqi al-Lakhnawi Maulana 'Ain al-Qudha al-Hyderabadi Maulana Anwarullah al-Farooqui Maulana Idrees al-Nigrami Maulana Dhaheer Ahsan al-Nimawi Alongside being an erudite teacher, al-Lakhnawi was also a prolific author, producing numerous works spanning multiple Islamic disciplines. Among his notable works are: Al-Nafi' al-Kabir Sharh al-Jami al-Saghir (A commentary on Al-Jami al-Saghir of Imam Muhammad) ‘Umdah al-Ri‘ayah ‘ala Sharh al-Wiqayah Al-Si‘ayah ‘ala Sharh al-Wiqayah Sharh al-Risalah al-Adhudiyyah (A commentary on Adab al-Bahth) Al-Ta‘liq al-‘Ajib (Annotations on Al-Dawwani's commentary on Al-Tahdhīb) Hashiyah ‘ala Sharh al-Tahdhib (Annotations on Mulla Yazdi’s Sharh al-Tahdhīb) Al-Kalam al-Mateen Al-Ma'arif bima fi Hawashi Sharh al-Mawaqif Hawashi on Ghulam Yahya Al-Ta‘liq al-Mumajjad (Annotations on Muhammad’s rendition of Al-Muwatta’) Al-Raf‘ wa al-Takmil (An important work in the science of narrator criticism) Al-Ajwibah al-Fadilah (A response to various questions he received on various hadith issues)

Shaykh Abdul Hayy al-Lakhnawi (1848 - 1886) One of the most distinguished scholars of the 19th century, Shaykh Abdul Hayy al-Lakhnawi hailed from the illustrious Farangi Mahal tradition in Lucknow. He memorized the Quran at an early age and began his formal studies in the Islamic sciences under the tutelage of his father, Shaykh Abdul Haleem, a highly esteemed scholar of his time. In addition to his father, he studied under eminent scholars such as Shaykh Nimatullah al-Lakhnawi and Mawlawi Khadim Hussain. During the course of his studies, his father received an invitation from Nawab Turab Ali Khan to teach in Hyderabad Deccan, which he accepted. Shaykh Abdul Hayy accompanied him and completed his advanced studies in Hyderabad, where he also began teaching junior students. Following his father’s passing, he was offered the position of judge, which he declined. In 1875, after returning from Hajj, he settled in Lucknow, where he remained until his demise. It was here that he continued his teaching, authorship, and scholarly pursuits. Shaykh Abdul Hayy was a prolific teacher, and among the many distinguished scholars he trained, some of the most notable include: Maulana Abdul Baqi al-Lakhnawi Maulana 'Ain al-Qudha al-Hyderabadi Maulana Anwarullah al-Farooqui Maulana Idrees al-Nigrami Maulana Dhaheer Ahsan al-Nimawi Alongside being an erudite teacher, al-Lakhnawi was also a prolific author, producing numerous works spanning multiple Islamic disciplines. Among his notable works are: Al-Nafi' al-Kabir Sharh al-Jami al-Saghir (A commentary on Al-Jami al-Saghir of Imam Muhammad) ‘Umdah al-Ri‘ayah ‘ala Sharh al-Wiqayah Al-Si‘ayah ‘ala Sharh al-Wiqayah Sharh al-Risalah al-Adhudiyyah (A commentary on Adab al-Bahth) Al-Ta‘liq al-‘Ajib (Annotations on Al-Dawwani's commentary on Al-Tahdhīb) Hashiyah ‘ala Sharh al-Tahdhib (Annotations on Mulla Yazdi’s Sharh al-Tahdhīb) Al-Kalam al-Mateen Al-Ma'arif bima fi Hawashi Sharh al-Mawaqif Hawashi on Ghulam Yahya Al-Ta‘liq al-Mumajjad (Annotations on Muhammad’s rendition of Al-Muwatta’) Al-Raf‘ wa al-Takmil (An important work in the science of narrator criticism) Al-Ajwibah al-Fadilah (A response to various questions he received on various hadith issues)

Shaykh Muhammad Nadhir al-Jakaysari (1901 - 1971) Shaykh Muhammad Nadhir al-Jakaysari was one of the distinguished scholars of the rational sciences in the past century. Born in 1901, he began his early education under the guidance of his father, Maulana Fadhl Ahmed. He later traveled to study under Maulana Ghorghushti, spending three years under his tutelage. During this period, he completed works such as Sharh al-Tahdheeb, Al-Qutbi, Al-Rashidiyyah, and Al-Kafiyah. Following this, Shaykh Muhammad Nadhir journeyed to Kohistan, where he furthered his studies in the rational sciences under a renowned scholar known as "Kohistani Baba", a figure widely respected for his expertise in the rational sciences. Under his mentorship, Shaykh Muhammad Nadhir completed his studies. Upon completing his studies, he joined Maulana Khan Bahadur in Swat, where they taught together and soon gained widespread recognition for their profound mastery of the rational sciences. He remained there for approximately five years before returning to his native village in Swat, where he continued to teach until his passing. Shaykh Muhammad Nadhir and Shaykh Bahadur Khan were at the helm of two of the most prestigious madaris in Swat, both renowned for their focus on the rational sciences. Shaykh Muhammad Nadhir’s institution became famously known as "Madrassah Jakaysari", while Shaykh Bahadur Khan’s was referred to as "Madrassah Martung." Students from across the region would seek advanced instruction in the rational sciences at these institutions, often attending both. Although there were no formal examinations, the criterion for graduation was that the student would have to write a hashiyah / sharh on one of the advanced works in the rational sciences. Even after the passing of both Shaykh Nadhir and Shaykh Bahadur Khan, their respective madaris continued to teach these texts until recent times. Shaykh Muhammad Nadhir had numerous distinguished students, among them: Mufti Muhammad Fareed al-Haqqani Maulana Abdul Haqq al-Akorvi Maulana Inayatullah al-Jakaysari Maulana Maghfurullah Babaji (Current Shaykh al-Hadith at Haqqaniyyah) Maulana Rahimullah Babaji Some of Shaykh Muhammad Nadhir's works include: Umdat al-Hawashi Sharh al-Qadhi Taqrir ‘ala Mir Zahid Kashf al-Dhulam fi Hall Mushkilat al-Sullam

Shaykh Sayyid Barakat Ahmed al-Tonki (1864 - 1928) One of the foremost scholars of the last century and a distinguished student of Abdul Haqq al-Khairabadi, Shaykh Barakat Ahmed was born in Tonk in 1864. In his early years, he memorized the Quran and studied foundational subjects such as nahw, sarf, farsi, and mantiq, under the guidance of his father. During this time, he also studied under Maulana Muhammad Hasan Khan, a student of Mufti Sadruddin, who was residing in Tonk. Under the tutelage of his father and other local scholars, Shaykh Barakat completed texts such as Sharh al-Wiqayah, portions of Al-Hidayah, and began studying Musallam al-Thubut. In 1878, Shaykh Abdul Haqq al-Khairabadi visited Tonk, and the young Barakat Ahmed had the fortune of meeting him and continuing his studies under his tutelage. Over the next 15 years, Shaykh Barakat Ahmed pursued rigorous studies under Shaykh Abdul Haqq in Khairabad and Rampur. During this period, he studied a variety of advanced texts, including: Qadhi Mubarak Hamdallah Sharh al-Mirqah (authored by Abdul Haqq al-Khairabadi) Sharh al-Isharat of Al-Tusi Al-Shifa of Ibn Sina Al-Ufuq al-Mubin Sharh al-Tajrid with the hawashi of Al-Qushaji In addition, he studied extensively in the fields of Tafsir, Fiqh, and Usul al-Fiqh. Shaykh Barakat Ahmed formally completed his studies in 1892. Following this, he studied the books of Hadith under Qadhi Muhammad Ayyub, who was a grandstudent of Shah Muhammad Ishaq al-Dehlawi. While he was studying works such as Mir Zahid Mulla Jalal, Shaykh Barakat Ahmed began teaching texts such as Sharh al-Tahdheeb and Sharh Mulla Jami. After formally completing his education, he devoted himself to full-time teaching and established Madrasa Khalilliyyah in Tonk. Following in the footsteps of Shaykh Abdul Haqq, he would teach the earlier works in the rational sciences. Many distinguished scholars studied under Shaykh Barakat Ahmed, including: Maulana Mu'in al-Din al-Ajmeri Maulana Manazir Ahsan Jilani Maulana Muhammad Shareef al-Kashmiri Maulana Abdur Rahman Chishti Maulana Abd al-Subhan al-Hazarwi In 1916, Shaykh Barakat Ahmed participated in a renowned debate on rational sciences in Rampur. His opponent was Mulla Abd al-Wahhab al-Bihari, a student of Abd al-Hayy al-Lakhnawi. The debate focused on positions in logic and philosophy, which were discussed in the supercommentaries authored by their respective teachers. The details of the debate can be found in Dr Asad Ahmed's english translation and study of Sullam al-Uloom. Shaykh Barakat Ahmed’s son notes that his father, along with his students and other disciples of Abdul Haqq al-Khairabadi, upheld a balanced approach when engaging with scholars holding differing opinions. Shaykh Sayyid Barakat Ahmed authored numerous works throughout his life, including: Itqan al-Irfan fi Tahqiq Mahiyyah al-Zaman Risalah fi al-Wujud al-Rabiti Al-Ma'arif al-Ilahiyyah Risalah fi Wahdah al-Wujood Al-Samsaam al-Qadhib (on the issue of Imkan al-Kidhb, highly recommended read to see how Shaykh Barakat approached the issue) He also penned hawashi on Jami al-Tirmidhi (up to the section on buyu') and on Abdul Haqq al-Khairabadi’s hashiyah on Mir Zahid Umur 'Ammah. Efforts are currently underway to publish more of his treatises in Lahore.

Shaykh Abdul Haqq al-Khairabadi (1828 - 1899) Shaykh Abdul Haqq al-Khairabadi, the son of Fadhl Haqq al-Khairabadi, was one of the leading authorities in the rational sciences in the 19th century. Born in Delhi, Shaykh Abdul Haqq studied all of the Islamic sciences under his father’s guidance and had completed his studies by the young age of 16. At the time, Delhi was home to many prominent scholars, such as Maulana Mamluk Ali al-Nanotwi and Mufti Sadruddin Khan. Shaykh Abdul Haqq had the good fortune to meet and benefit from some of these esteemed figures. From a young age, he attended scholarly gatherings with his father, where his intelligence and aptitude were widely recognized. During the War of Independence in 1857, his father was imprisoned. Despite Shaykh Abdul Haqq's efforts to secure his father’s release, Fadhl Haqq al-Khairabadi was exiled to the Andaman Islands, where he eventually passed away. Following his father’s exile, Shaykh Abdul Haqq returned to his village of Khairabad, where he stayed briefly. Later, at the insistence of Nawab Ali Khan, he moved to Rampur. There, he served as a judge and the head teacher at Madrassa 'Aliyah until 1883. After Nawab Ali Khan’s demise, Shaykh Abdul Haqq returned to Khairabad. He later moved back to Rampur at the request of Nawab Hamid Ali Khan but ultimately settled in Khairabad, where he remained until his passing. Shaykh Abdul Haqq taught the advanced texts of the Dars Nizami syllabus, which included works such as Mir Zahid Umur 'Ammah, Mir Zahid Mulla Jalal, Mir Zahid Risalah, Qadhi Mubarak, Mulla Sadra etc. Maulana Sayyid Ahmed Barakat notes that Shaykh Abdul Haqq had continued the practice of his father & grandfather by teaching works such as Al-Isharat, Al-Shifa, Al-Ufuq Al-Mubin. This unofficial syllabus came to be known in some circles as "Dars Nizami Khairabadi". Through his teaching efforts, Shaykh Abdul Haqq nurtured many great students who went on to become distinguished scholars in their own right. Among his notable students were: Maulana Sayyid Barakat Ahmed al-Tonki (who studied with him for approximately 15 years) Maulana Fadhl Haqq al-Rampuri Maulana Majid Ali al-Jaunpuri Maulana Dhuhur al-Hasan al-Rampuri Maulana Abdul Aziz Amithwi Maulana Ridha al-Hasan al-Kandhalvi Shaykh Abdul Haqq also authored numerous significant works, including: Tashil al-Kafiyah (A translation of Al-Jurjani's commentary from Persian to Arabic) Sharh Hidayah al-Hikmah Tahqiq al-Talazum Sharh Musallam al-Thubut Zubdatul Hikmat (A work in philosophy in urdu) Al-Jawahir al-Ghaliyah A commentary on Mir Zahid Mulla Jalal A Hashiyah on Hamdallah’s commentary on Al-Sullam A commentary on Mir Zahid Umur 'Ammah Sharh al-Mirqah