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Mawlid, Deoband and Hanafi fiqh

By Hakim al-Ummah Mawlana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi
Mawlid, Deoband and Hanafi fiqh

There are three types of mawlid gatherings and the ruling for each is different.

The first type of gathering is that which does not contain any of the prevalent and customary restrictions (quyud). Neither [does it contain] mubah (permissible) restrictions nor makruh (prohibitively disliked) ones, i.e., it is free from all [sorts of] restrictions. For instance, a few people gathered by coincidence, no one had invited them with any extraordinary effort; rather they were gathered for some other permissible event. In this gathering, either by… »

Epitome of Humility: Shaykh Muhammad Ayyub A’zimi (Part Two)

By Shaykh Yusuf Laher

This tragic news reached Jami’ah Islamiyyah Dabhel by telegram on Saturday 7th Shawwal 1404 AH (1984 CE). Many hearts were saddened and many became unsettled. This news spread throughout the surrounding areas of Dabhel. Recitation of the Noble Qur’an took place in many masjids for the isal al-thawab of the shaykh.

The Jami’ah was still closed… »

Epitome of Humility: Shaykh Muhammad Ayyub A’zimi (Part One)

By Shaykh Yusuf Laher

Shaykh A’zimi was born in the month of Shawwal 1319 AH (1902 CE) at Mau Nat Bhanjan in the district of Azamgarh, U.P., India. His lineage is as follows: Muhammad Ayyub bin Muhammad Sabir bin Ahmad bin Jiwan bin Rawshan ‘Ali. This family previously resided in a place called Bakhtiyar Ganj, which was approximately one… »


Scholar of Deep Learning: Shaykh Mazhar Nanautwi

By Muhammad Habib

Mawlana Muhammad Mazhar ibn Lutf ‘Ali ibn Muhammad Hasan al-Siddiqi al-Hanafi Nanautwi (1238 1302 AH /1823-1885) - the righteous imam, ‘arif (knower of Allah) and mujahid-was amongst the leading scholars of fiqh, hadith, and tasawwuf… »

Regarding the Fundamentals of Islamic Belief

By Mawlana Sayyid Muhammad Yusuf Binnori

When stating the necessary fundamentals of Islamic belief, scholars of the ummah usually mention a few examples in their books. A misunderstanding that occurs in the minds of some readers is that they think the… »

Definition of Suluk

By Shaykh Yusuf Laher

Suluk means to constantly keep the parts of the body and the heart occupied in the obedience of Allah Most High. This should be done in accordance with the Shari’ah and the noble Sunnah of… »

Do Not Despise The Sinners

By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “That person who taunts and ridicules his Muslim brother over a sin from which he has repented, will not die until he himself… »

Mawlana Gangohi and the Wali Allah Tradition

By Mawlana 'Ubayd Allah Sindhi

Shaykh al-Islam Abu Mas’ud Rashid Ahmad Gangohi is the son of Hidayat Allah Ansari. He was born in 1244 AH, and learnt from Mawlana Mamluk ‘Ali [Nanautwi], Mawlana ‘Abd al-Ghani [Dehlawi], Mawlana Ahmad Sa’id [Dehlawi],… »

Inner Dimensions of the Zakat

By Shah Wali Allah al-Dahlawi

You should know that when a need presents itself to the poor person, and he entreats God about it either verbally or through hit condition, his entreaty knocks at the door of the Divine Generos­ity…. »

Brief notes on Shaykh al-Hind

By Mawlana 'Ubayd Allah Sindhi

Shaykh al-Hind Mawlana Mahmud Hasan was my teacher. During my stay at Dar al-’Ulum Deoband my sole reliance was upon him. His father’s name was Dhu ‘l-Fiqar ‘Ali. His genealogy stretches back to the Umayyad… »

The Reality of Tasawwuf (Part Two)

By Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Zakariyya Kandhlawi

Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Husayn Ahmad Madani (may Allah enlighten his resting place) has also stressed in his letters that the original purpose of Suluk is ihsan. In one epistle he writes, “My respected one. The… »

The Reality of Tasawwuf (Part One)

By Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Zakariyya Kandhlawi

It has been mentioned above that Sayyiduna Jibril (may Allah grant him peace) asked the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), “What is ihsan?” The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant… »

Authority to Permit and Prohibit

By 'Allamah Sarfaraz Khan Safdar

In regard to making things halal (permitted) and haram (prohibited), it is the well-established belief of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa ‘l-Jama’ah that Allah alone has authority over it. To make something halal or haram is… »

Inner Dimensions of the Fast

By Shah Wali Allah al-Dahlawi

You should know that sometimes a person comprehends, due to God’s inspiring him with this knowledge, that his physical animalistic form is keeping him from what would constitute his fulfillment in terms of it’s obeying… »

Virtues and Laws Pertaining to Bismillah

By Mufti Muhammad Shafi' 'Uthmani

Islam has come with an easy and practical Shari’ah. Its effort is limited but its reward is great. There are many amazing examples of a small action carrying great rewards. Its salah is not confined… »