Author: Obaidullah Nimrozi
Allama Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi, may Allah have mercy on him (Part 68)
Science of Hadith
The Imam Nadwi family’s love for Hadith and the science of Hadith is a long-standing affection, which, in every era, has had a strong connection to Hadith books, as they have also left lasting works in this field. For example, Mawlana Abdul Hai Hasani provided valuable annotations on the manuscript of Tirmidhi by Sayyed Qutb al-Huda. He also compiled a selection of Hadiths in a book called Talkhis al-Akhbar, known as Tahdhib al-Akhlaq.
Mawlana’s studies in Hadith began when his compassionate teacher, Sheikh Khalil Arab, taught him the book Jihad Sahih Muslim in addition to literature books, marking the beginning of his acquaintance with this noble art. He also utilized the book Al-Targheeb Wal-Tarheeb by Al-Mundhiri in his lectures. During the same period, he studied the book Qiyam Al-Layl by Muhammad bin Nasr Marozi; after visiting the library of Jahan Shah Halim Atta, his great passion for Hadith made him restless.
Mawlana Nadwi writes: “It was my repeated good fortune that I benefited from an expert teacher in the field of Hadith like Mawlana Haider Hassan Khan, who was a student of Mawlana Ghulam Ahmad Lahori, Mawlana Lotfullah Koeli, Mawlana Ahmad Hussain Kanpuri, and Sheikh-ul-Islam Sheikh Hussain Yemeni, and the pledge of allegiance to Hazrat Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki. It was also my good fortune that once I started Hadith, no other technique bothered me. It was just a Hadith lesson, and that was all; I was also blessed with the company of Mawlana. His lesson focused on Hadith and included discussions on Hadith criticism, the principles of Hadith, and the scholars of Hadith.”
In the field of Hadith, Mawlana Nadwi obtained the authority of Hadith from many great Hadith scholars and wrote three treatises on Hadith:
• Al-Madkhal al-Diraas al-Hadith al-Nabawi al-Sharif – An introduction to the research on the noble Hadith of the Prophet;
• Dur al-Hadith fi takwin al-Majmat al-Islami – The role of Hadith in the emergence and development of the Islamic community;
• Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari and his book al-Jami’ Al-Sahih – Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari and his book Sahih.
Mawlana Nadwi’s expertise and passion in the field of Hadith are evident from the fact that he wrote valuable introductions to many important Hadith books and embellished them with his beautiful and rich research. Sheikh of Hadith, Mawlana Muhammad Zakaria, recognized this and asked him to write introductions to his books, which Mawlana Nadwi accepted. Here, as an example, we will mention a selection of these Hadith books that are adorned with the introduction of the Mawlana:
• Hayat al-Sahaba by Mawlana Muhammad Yusuf Dehlawi.
• Ujjaz al-Masalik al-Muwatta Malik.
• Hajjat al-Wada’ by Mawlana Zakaria.
• Laami al-Darari ‘ala al-Bukhari, Mawlana Ganguhi’s discussions on Bukhari, collected by Mawlana Muhammad Yahya.
• Al-Abwab wal-Tarajeem al-Bukhari by Mawlana Zakaria.
• Badl al-Mujodh Sharh Sunan Abu Dawood by Mawlana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri.
• Al-Kukab al-Darri ‘ala al-Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, commentary by Mawlana Ganguhi, compiled by Mawlana Yahya.
• Ma’arif al-Hadith by Mawlana Muhammad Manzoor Nomani.
• Taklima’ Fath al-Mulhim by Shaykh al-Islam Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, may Allah preserve him.
• Rawaa’ al-Alaaq Sharh Tahdhib al-Akhlaq by Abu Sahiban Ruh al-Quds Nadwi.
• Al-Talik Al-Masjid on Muwatta al-Imam Muhammad, researched by Dr. Taqi al-Din Nadwi.
• Zafar al-Amani, a brief commentary on al-Jurjani, researched by Dr. Taqi al-Din Nadwi.
All these requests from his contemporaries to write introductions to their books are living and clear proof of his deep knowledge of the science of Hadith, as well as his skill and proficiency in this art. As Abu Subhan Ruh al-Quds Nadwi writes, “Mawlana Abul-Hasan holds a high position among the Hadith scholars of the present era, although he did not gain fame in this field.” While most of Mawlana’s works were explanations and interpretations of Hadith, his life is a clear and shining example of practicing Hadith.
During the later years of his life, Mawlana Nadwi was very reflective and always desired to hear Hadith; he made it a point to listen to two pages of Al-Bukhari Sharif daily from one of his loved ones. Perhaps this was a good conclusion to his fruitful and blessed life.
Continues…
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