Scholars of the Sub Continent

Al-Tafhimat Al-Ilahiyyah is a unique work among the books of Shah Waliullah Al-Dehlawi. The work does not focus on a specific topic but instead covers diverse subjects. It offers interpretations of Qur'anic verses, Prophetic narrations, insightful explanations of the statements of scholars and jurists of the Ummah, and clarifications of theological discussions. The book also delves into clarifying the terminologies of Tasawwuf, aiming to address spiritual concepts in an accessible manner. Throughout the work, Shah Waliullah provides comprehensive responses to objections and critiques directed at Islamic beliefs and rulings, while also refuting the ideologies of deviant sects. The edition includes footnotes and a detailed biography of Shah Waliullah by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa al-Qasimi.

In the classical syllabus of the subcontinent, students engaged deeply with foundational and advanced texts of philosophy, logic, and theology. After completing primary texts such as Sharh al-Shamsiyyah (commonly known as Qutbi) and Sullam al-Uloom by Al-Bihari (base text), they typically delved into its commentaries and other advanced works. Some key texts include: Mulla Hasan: Mulla Hasan al-Lucknawi's commentary on the Tasawuraat section of Sullam al-Uloom Qadhi Mubarak: Qadhi Mubarak al-Gupamawi's commentary on the Tasawuraat section of Sullam al-Uloom Hamdallah: Mulla Hamdallah al-Sandilawi's commentary on the Tasdiqaat section of Sullam al-Uloom Mir Zahid Risalah: Mir Zahid's supercommentary on Al-Risalah Al-Qutbiyyah, a short treatise by Al-Tahtani on Tasawwur & Tasdiq Mir Zahid Mulla Jalal: Mir Zahid's supercommentary on Al-Dawwanis commentary on Tahdhib al-Mantiq Mir Zahid Umur Ammah: Mir Zahid's supercommentary on Al-Jurjanis commentary of Al-Mawaqif - specifically the section of Al-Umur Al-'Ammah Khayali: Al Khayali's supercommentary on Sharh Al-'Aqa'id Al-Nasafiyyah Mulla Sadra: Mulla Sadra's commentary on Al-Abharis Hidayah al-Hikmah Maybudhi: Qadhi al-Maybudhi's commentary on Hidayah al-Hikmah Sharh al-Isharaat: Al-Tusis commentary on Ibn Sina's work in philosphy, Al-Isharaat. This work wasn't studied as commonly as the others, but some teachers did teach it. Abd al-Ghafur: Mulla Abd al Ghafur's supercommentary on Mulla Jamis commentary (Al-Fawa'id Al-Dhiya'iyyah) on Al-Kafiyah. Mutawwal: Al-Taftazanis larger commentary on Talkhis al-Miftah in balaghah. Students traditionally studied these texts as part of their regular curriculum, although the specific selection varied based on the institution and teacher. Over time, as madaris became institutionalized, the number of texts included in the standard syllabus was reduced. However, what many students would do, either before Dawrah Hadith or after, they would take 1-2 years to study these works. Either with a teacher in the Madrassa they were currently in, or they would travel to another madrassa to study these works in particular. This came to be known as "Takmeel" studies.

Shaykh Musa Ruhani Bazi (1935 - 1998) Shaykh Musa Ruhani Bazi, originally from Afghanistan, was one of the notable scholars of the 20th century. Born in Dera Ismail Khan, a small village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he grew up in an environment steeped in knowledge, as his father, Maulana Muhammad Bazi, was a scholar of the Islamic sciences. At the age of five, he lost his father, who had wished for him to pursue a scholarly path. His mother honored this wish, ensuring that he studied with local scholars in their village. Here, he studied the foundational texts of Fiqh and the Persian language By age of ten, under the mentorship of Mufti Mahmud, Shaykh Musa traveled through various villages across Punjab, spending approximately six years pursuing further studies. During this time, he completed important works, including Al-Kafiyah, Al-Fawa'id Al-Dhiya'iyyah by Mulla Abd Al-Rahman Al-Jami, commonly known as Sharh Mulla Jami, Mukhtasar al-Ma'ani, Sullam al-Uloom, Sharh al-Wiqayah, Usul al-Shashi, and the commentary of Al-Maybudhi on Hidayah al-Hikmah, among others. Shaykh Musa then moved to Dar al-Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak, where he spent two years studying advanced books in Mantiq,  Falsafah ,and Ilm al-Kalaam alongside other sciences. His teachers there included renowned scholars like Mufti Muhammad Fareed al-Haqqani, Maulana Fadhl Mawla, and Maulana Usaidullah, all known for their well-rounded knowledge and expertise in the Islamic sciences. Following his time in Akora Khattak, he joined the Dawrah Tafsir program with Maulana Ghulamullah Khan in Rawalpindi during the months of Sha'ban and Ramadan. His studies culminated in Qasim al-Uloom in Multan, where he stayed for three years, also studying under Maulana Abd al-Khaliq al Multani - former teacher of Hadith in Dar al-Uloom Deoband, who was highly renowned for his expertise in the rational sciences. Upon completing his education, Shaykh Musa served as a teacher at a madrassa in Quetta, Balochistan. He later moved to Jamia Ashrafiyyah, Lahore, where he taught subjects including Jami' al-Tirmidhi and Tafsir al-Baydawi until his passing in 1998. One of Shaykh Musa’s distinguishing qualities was his extensive knowledge across diverse subjects. His writings reflect a strong inclination toward both rational and textual sciences. Notably, he wrote detailed commentaries on Jami' al-Tirmidhi and Tafsir al-Baydawi, among others. Selected Works of Shaykh Musa Ruhani Bazi: Al-Kanz al-A'dham fi Ta'yin al-Ism al-A'dham Bughyat Al Kamil Al-Sami Athmaar al-Takmeel – A commentary on the introduction of Al-Baydawi in Urdu A Hashiyah on Al- Muhit al - Da'irah (work in 'arudh) Al-Hay'at al-Sughra Al-Hay'at al Wusta Al-Hay'at al Kubra In addition to these, he composed supercommentaries on the commentaries of Mulla Hamdallah & Qadhi Mubarak on Sullam al-Uloom (of Al-Bihari), as well as on the commentary Mir Zahid on Al-Risalah Al-Qutbiyyah, Al-Tahtani's short treatise on conception and assent (al-tasawwur wa al-tasdiq). While these works remain unpublished, their manuscripts are preserved in Pakistan.

Shaykh Muhammad Hasan al-Sanbali (1847 - 1887) Shaykh Muhammad Hasan al-Sanbali was a distinguished scholar from the late 19th century, whose remarkable contributions to Islamic scholarship are often overlooked in discussions of that period. Born in Sanbhal, he began his early education by memorizing the Quran and studying foundational texts under the guidance of Mufti 'Abd al-Salam al-Sanbhali. His pursuit of knowledge took him to Rampur, where he studied under renowned scholars such as Maulana Sadiduddin al-Dehlawi and Maulana 'Abd al-Qadir al-Badayuni, a prominent student of Fadhl Haqq al-Khairabadi. Shaykh al-Sanbali’s dedication to scholarship led him to author numerous works that have since provided invaluable insights to students and scholars alike. He had mastery over both the rational & transmitted Sciences. Some of his notable works include: Sharh of Musnad Abi Hanifa called Tansiq al-Nidhaam Nadhm al-Fara'id 'ala Sharh al-Aqa'id Hashiyah on Mulla Hassan’s Sharh of Sullam al-Uloom Fusool al-Hawashi 'ala Usul al-Shaashi Ta’liqaat on Al-Hidayah Sharh on Mizan al-Mantiq titled Al-Mantiq al-Jadid: A commentary on Mizan al-Mantiq, which he completed up to the section on Tasawuraat (concepts). He has several other works that remain unpublished, including a Hashiyah on Sharh al Wiqayah in Fiqh hanafi.

Shaykh Hamdallah Jan al-Dajawi Dagai Baba (1914 - 2019) Shaykh Hamdallah Jan, known affectionately as Dagai Baba, was one of the most revered scholars of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in recent times. His dedication to teaching Islamic sciences spanned over 65 years, impacting countless students and communities. Early Life and Education Shaykh Hamdallah began his education locally in Swabi, studying under Maulana Habibullah and his uncle, Maulana Siddiq, who was a classmate of the renowned Maulana Anwar Shah al Kashmiri. In 1938, Shaykh Hamdallah traveled to Dar al Uloom Deoband, where he studied for six years under prominent scholars such as Maulana Hussain Ahmed al Madani, Maulana I’zaz Ali, Maulana Abd al-Khaliq al-Multani, and Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim al-Balyawi. Seeking further knowledge, he continued his studies at Mazahir al-Uloom, Saharanpur, under the tutelage of Shaykh al Hadith Muhammad Zakariyyah al-Kandhelwi and other distinguished teachers, including Maulana Abd al-Lateef, Maulana Abd al-Rahman Kamilpuri, and Maulana Asadullah. He completed Dawrah Hadith in 1947. Teaching Career After completing his education, Shaykh Hamdallah returned to his village of Dagai and established a madrassa where he began his lifelong mission of teaching. In 1997, following the establishment of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, Shaykh Hamdallah was invited to Kabul to teach at Dar al-Uloom Farooqiyyah. He accepted this call and taught there for several years before returning to Dagai, where he continued his teaching until his passing. Teaching Legacy Shaykh Hamdallah was known for his rigorous teaching schedule, often covering 10-15 books per year. He taught the complete Dars-e-Nizami syllabus multiple times and was renowned for teaching not only Sahih al Bukhari but also foundational and advanced texts such as Al-Kafiyah, Mulla Jami, Mulla Hassan, Sharh al-Aqa’id al-Nasafiyyah, Al-Baydawi, Sullam al-Uloom, Diwan al-Hamasah, Al-Maybudhi, and Al-Husami. His comprehensive approach ensured students received an in-depth understanding of Islamic sciences. He was also well-known for conducting Dawrah Tafsir courses during academic breaks, drawing students from all over Pakistan who wished to complete this intensive study under his guidance. Notable Students Throughout his long teaching career, Shaykh Hamdallah mentored many students who went on to become influential scholars themselves. Some of his notable students include: Maulana Abd al-Rahman Khalafi (Ustadh al Hadith, Mazhar al Uloom Dagai) Maulana Ruh al-Amin al-Swabi Maulana Ainullah al-Mazhari Maulana Khalifah Din Muhammad (Kabul) Literary Contributions Shaykh Hamdallah Jan authored several works during his life. Although many remain unpublished, some notable published works include: Al-Basa’ir Rabt al-Ruku’aat Wa al-Suwar

Some of the lessons include: Usul al Shashi Musallam al Thubut Qadhi Mubarak on Sullam al Uloom Al Hidayah Al Mishkah Mukhtasar 'l Ma'ani