{jb_quote}Muhammad Zakarīyyā ibn Muhammad Yahyá ibn Muhammad Ismail al-Kandhlawi (February 3, 1898 – May 24, 1982) was a prominent Muslim scholar of the South Asia. He was a nephew of Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi, the reviver of the Tablighi Jamaat.{/jb_quote}
When Allah Ta'aala favors some one He makes unseen arrangements for all the necessary things. The learned say that there are two things which play an important role in making a person's personality. One of the two things is one's family because the family traditions and virtues are transmitted from one generation to another. This is the probable reason why the prophets were born in the noblest of families only. Imaam Bukhari has quoted a narration in which the Caesar of the Roman empire said (He knew it from the ancient divine scriptures) that prophets were always born in the in the noblest families of their communities .The second thing that builds an important role in building a person's character is the child's environment, surroundings, the birth place and its growth as these become part of the person's whole life and personality.
Hadrat Maulana Inaamul Hasan (RA) was given both of these to a high degree. Allah Ta'aala selected a noble and high Siddiqui family which was blessed with the virtues of religious knowledge, piety, sincerity, Taqwa etc. from their great ancestor Hadrat Abu-Bakr (RA) whose legacy came down from one generation to another. Several great personalities were born with special characteristics and virtues which cannot be easily understood by the people of our times. Hadrat Maulana Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi (Ali Mian) (RA) says about this family that not only males but also the females of this family were models of piety. They remained busy in divine worship, zikr, Tasbeeh, and Tilaawat day and night as a daily pattern of their lives. The ladies busied themselves in non-obligatory (Nawaafil) prayers individually and prayed their Taraweeh Salat behind the male members of the family. During the month of Ramadhaan there used to be a wonderful home atmosphere. The recital of the holy Quraan used to be continuous day and night time during the whole month. The ladies had so much enthusiasm that tilaawat was their great pleasure. Their Salaat was such that they remained completely unaware of happenings in their houses. (Hadrat Maulana Ilyas and his Dini Dawat).
Hadrat Qazi Ziyaa'uddin Sanami (RA) a contemporary of Hadrat Khwaaja Nizaamuddin Awliya (RA) was Hadratji's ancestor. Maulana Hakim Muhammad Ashraf Jhanjhanawi (RA) was also one of his ancestors. He was famous for miracles (Karaamat), Ilm, fadl Taqwa and Ma’arifat. Ulama of his days acknowledged his kamal and fadl. A great aalim (Islamic scholar) Allama Abdul Hakim Sialkoti (RA) said that he did not believe in Qudusi persons but I came to know that such persons do exist in this world after having discussion with him in a meeting. On getting an unknown sign Maulana Hakim Muhammad Ashraf went out in search of a murshid (a spiritual Sage- teacher), met such a Buzrug of the Qadiriyyah order of Tasawwuf. He was greatly impressed with what he saw and heard. He took the Bait (an oath of allegiance) and became engrossed in wird, wazaa'if, zikr, azkaar and mujaahida (various activities of divine remembrance and meditation). After two years his murshid asked him to go to another Buzrug. After some time he was sent to yet another who informed him that he (Maulana Hakim Muhammad Ashraf) had reached the final stage (of Tasawwuf) so he was told to go back to his native place and advised that if he wished to declare his spiritual status he should take bait and give guidance to the people, but if he wished to conceal it from the people he should remain busy in teaching. He replied that he preferred to devote himself to the service of the Ilme- Shariah (knowledge of the Islamic Jurisprudence). So the Buzrug made Du'aa that the zaaheri (the publicly known) Ilm (knowledge) of Islamic Shariah would remain in his family. After getting the khilaafat (spiritual authority) he returned to his native place and busied himself in obtaining and transmitting the knowledge (Ilme-deen) of the Shariah.
Maulana Muhammad Ashraf (RA) had two sons, Maulana Muhammad Shareef (RA) and Abdul Muqtadir (RA) . The former followed the footsteps of his father in Ilm, Fadl, ma'aarif. Mulana Ihtisaamul Hasan Kandhalwi writes in his kitaab "Halat-e-Mashaa'ikh-e-khandalah", Hadrat Maulana Ashraf was told by his Pir-murshid that Ilm of Shariah would remain in his children till the day of judgement (Qiyaamah). This was evident first of all in Maulana Muhammad Shareef (RA). Since then this bashaarat has remained in his progeny of eleven generations till this day. Insha'allah this Ilme-shariah will remain in in every generation of his family till the last day.
Maulana Hakim Muhammad Shareef (RA) had two sons. One son Maulana Muhammad Faiz (RA) lived in Jhanjhana Some great scholars like Maulana Isma'eel Khandalwi (RA), Maulana Muhammad Yahya Kandalwi (RA) and his sons Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA), his brother the pioneer (Baani) of Tabligh Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) and his son Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Kandalwi (RA) were born in his family. The second son of Maulana Hakim Muhammad Shareef (RA) was Maulana Hakim Abdul Qadir (RA) who lived in Kandhala. Many great religious scholars were born in this family e.g. Mufti Ilaahi Bakhsh Kandhawi (RA), his nephew Maulana Mufti Muzaffar Husain Kandalwi (RA) and others. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) is also from the same family. Jhanjhana and Kandalwi family branches get together in Maulana Muhammad Shareef (RA). Maulana Mufti Elahi Bakhsh (RA) was very famous in his family. He was one of the very great disciples of Shah Abdul Aziz Dehelvi (RA). He was a famous author, Mufti of his age. His "takmilo" on the mathnawi of Maulana Rumi (RA) is well known, his son Maulana Abul Hasan (RA) was also a great Aalim, (Islamic scholar) as well as a famous physician (Hakim). He had a high position in the matter of piety (taqwa). His son Noorul Hasan (RA) was also a great alim. Sir Sayyed Ahmed Khan, the founder of the Aligarh College was his student. His son Zahurul Hasan (RA) and his son Hakim Riyazul Hasan (RA) were great scholars and physicians. Maulana Hakim Raziyul Hasan (RA) studied the Hadith from Maulana Rashid Ahmed Gangohi (RA). His son Maulana Ikramul Hasan (RA) was the maternal nephew of Maulana Ilyaas (RA). Ikraamul Hasan (RA) got religious education, and then he obtained B.A. and L.L.B. degrees from the Aligarh University. He then for some time had law practice in the Kerana court. After giving up the lawyer's profession, he remained in the service of Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA) whose companionship and the service of Madressah Mazaahir Uloom became the aim of his life. Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) loved him very much. He rendered a great deal of help in nursing Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) in his last illness. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) was his son.
Hadrat In'aamul Hasan (RA) was born in the town of Kandhla., Dist Muzaffar Nagar, U.P., India on the 18th Jammadul Oola 1336 A.H. i.e. 20th February, 1918 C.E. Famous Hafez Mangtu taught him Hifzul Quraan. He learnt Persian up to Boston of Sheikh Saadi (RA) from his maternal grandfather Abdul Hamid (RA) and received Arabic based education from Mizan-Munshaeb to ShahreJami from Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) at Nizaamuddin Kaashiful Uloom. When Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas went for Haj in 1451 A.H., he and Maulana Yusuf (RA) were given admission in Madressa Mazaahirul Uloom Saharanpur. He learnt Hidaya from Maulana Zakaria (RA) and Mebzi from Maulana Jameel Ahmed Thanvi. When Maulana Ilyaas returned from Haj, In'aamul Hasan went back to Basti Hadrat Nizaamuddin where he studied Mishkaat from Maulana Ilyaas (RA) and Jalaalain from Ihtisaamul Hasan Kandhalwi (RA).
He and Maulana Yusuf (RA) were companions of studies. He was admitted again in Mazzahir Uloom, Saharanpur where Maulana Abdul Latif taught him Bukhari Sharif, Maulana A. Rahmaan Kamilpuri taught him Tirmidhi Sharif, Maulana Manzoor Ahmed (RA) taught him Muslim Sharif and Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA) taught him Abu Dawood (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood are the famous Hadith literature). His companion in Hadith studies was Maulana Muhammad Yusuf (RA).
It is narrated that both of them had made an arrangement to study at night by turn. One would study till mid-night, prepare tea for the other and wake him up and then go to bed. Then the other would study till Fajr prayer and wake the one whowas still sleeping. Both of them took turns every other day (life story of Hadrat Maulana Yusuf (RA). Page 170- 171)Before he could complete his studies due to Maulana Yusuf's (RA) illness he had to leave Mazaahir Uloom and return to Basti Hazrat Nizaamuddeen. He studied Ibn Majah, Nasa'ee, Tahawi and Mustadrake Haakim (compilations of Hadith) from Maulana Ilyaas (RA) and thus completed his religious education.
As his paternal grandfather Maulana Al-Haj Hakim Raziyul Hasan (RA) wished Hadrat In'aamul Hasan (RA) was engaged for marriage with the second daughter of Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA). During his boyhood, Maulana Yusuf (RA) was engaged with marriage to the eldest daughter of Hadrat Shaikhul Hadith (RA). On the 3rd Muharram, 1354 Hegira the annual Jalsa (gathering) of the Mazaahirul Uloom was held. At that time of the Jalsa Maulana Ilyaas (RA) expressed his wish to Shaikhul Hadith (RA) that it would be better if the Nikaah ceremony of both Yusuf and In'aamul hasan should be performed in the Jalsa though there was no preparation for it. The Shaikhul Hadith (RA) readily accepted it. When he was leaving for the jalsa he then informed his wife about it. She said politely that if she had been informed of it she would have got a pair of clothes ready for their daughters. Hearing this he remarked that if he had known that their daughters were naked (in dire need of clothes), he would have been informed earlier. (Our present day Muslim society should follow our elders as the leaders of the community and learn a lesson from this incident). Hadrat Shaikhul Islam Maulana Sayyed Hussain Ahmed Madani (RA) performed the Nikaah ceremony which was attended by the religious elders of the day. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) went together with Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) for his first Haj-pilgrimage to Mecca in 1356 hegira. Maulana Yusuf (RA) and Maulana Ihtisaamul Hasan were with them. They made the Haj journey from Karachi by steamer. During this journey they did the Tabligh. The Arabs praised their effort and promised them help. During this journey he received several good tidings (Bashaarat) about the tabligh mission. Then he returned home. For a long period Maulana In'aamul Hasan remained ill. He lived in his native place kandhla during this illness. During this period, he was engaged in meditation ( mujahidha), also in the path of Suluk(sufism). Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) died on the 21st Rajab 1363A.H. on 23rd July, 1944 C.E. It was a Thursday morning. Two days before his death he named six persons from among his special people as his khalifas. Hadrat Maulana In'aamul Hasan was among these six people. After the death of Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA), the religious elders held consultation with Maulana Shah Abdul Qadir Raipuri (RA), maulana Fakhruddin (RA) and Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA) and decided that Maulana Yusuf (RA) should be the successor of Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) as the Amir (leader) of the Tabligh Jamaat. Hadrat Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) heartily welcomed the decision and became such a helper and advisor of Maulana Yusuf (RA) that he was called the right hand of Maulana Yusuf (RA). He was the brain of the Tabilgh jamaat. He continued it till the last moment of the life of Maulana Yusuf (RA)with complete support and he played the main role in the various activities of of the Tablighi centre (markaz) of Nizaamuddin. Besides he discharged the responsibilities of Mohtamim (Administrator) of madressah Kaashiful Uloom even during the time of Maulana Yusuf (RA) and he did the teachings as well. He taught various branches of Islamic Knowledge, for several years he taught Bukhari Sharif. He was well versed in the Ilme-Hadith (knowledge of the traditions of Nabi sw. Hadrat Shaikhul Hadith included some of his narrations in the marginal notes of his kitaab "Lami'uddarri".
Since boyhood Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) had a reserved nature. He was quiet. He avoided unnecessary talk. He remained busy with his own work. He would not see anyone unless it was necessary. He disliked meeting people and their companionship passing time in talk. He strictly observed his routine. He talked briefly and to the point. When necessary he replied to questions very effectively. He was fair skinned. He was active. He had a very active mind. He could understand intricacies very well. He dressed himself in fine and clean clothes. His food was limited as necessary. He could spare enough time for reading because he observed limit in meeting the people and perfect punctuality. He was fond of reading. He passed most of his leisure in studying books. He had an unique collection of books on various branches of knowledge in his own library.
When Hadrat (RA) was writing Hayaatus-Sahaba and Amanil-Ahbar, he thought deeply about problems that would arise and search for information in the books. Even then if he could not get the necessary information he used to send Maulana Abdullah Taariq (RA) to get the necessary information from Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA). Maulana Abdullah Taariq (RA) says that it mostly happened that Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) would open a book and point out the required information exactly in its place or his active mind would give the right information for the solution to the problem. Quickly he would rise up, pick up the book from the cupboard and hand it over saying, “Go and show it to Maulana Yusuf (RA).
One of his special Khaadim's (servants) gives the information that Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) studied the whole volume of "Fatwa Alamgiri" from the beginning to the end completely twice. From this we can get an insight into his enthusiasm and untiring efforts for the search of knowledge. Several of the Mufties of these days don’t have this honor. He has written several explanatory notes of research in the manuscript of "Tarajimul Abwab" of the Bukhari Sharif. This shows his scholarship and versatility of the traditions of the holy Prophet (SAW).
The second Amir of the Tablighi Jamaat Maulana Yusuf (RA) died on Friday 29th Zilqaad, 1384 Hegira i.e. 2nd April 1965 C.E. in Lahore, Pakistan. An important problem arose, who could be the successor? It was not only important but also delicate. It was not an easy matter. There was a great need of a person who had a great attachment for the Tablighi mission with mind and heart; and who had remained in the company of the late Amir in the markaz as well as in the journey. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) was the most likely choice because he was the companion of Maulana Yusuf (RA) from their young days and he was also his right-hand. Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) was a great religious scholar of repute. He had a fine personality. He was trustworthy of Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA). He was the brain of the Tablighi Daawat. Maulana Yusuf (RA) relied on his advice, consultation, co-operation and affection trustfully. Hadrat Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (RA) held consultations with others and thenappointed Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) as the Amir of the Tablighi jamaat as the successor of Maulana Yusuf (RA), Moulana Fakhrul Hasan (RA), an Ustaadh of the Darul Uloom and made the declaration in the assembly of thousands of people. Almost all the previous activists of the Tablighi Jamaat were ter some time resent. All of them expressed their satisfaction and relief and promised their trust and co-operation. Since that day till the last breath Maulana In'aamul Hasan (RA) for a period of 31 years discharged his responsibility as the Amir with foresight and courage. Under his leadership the great mission of Tabligh spread far and wide in all parts of the world. Until the time he became the Amir-e Tablighi Jamaat he had no great linking with oratory (takrir, Bayaan, speech). But when becoming the Amir he made good progress in the art of oratory. He talked briefly but with firmness and to the point. After some years of experience he began to deliver lengthy speeches. We should know that Dawah and Tabligh are not the names of Takrir. It is more than Takrir. He paid much more attention to other activities of the Jamaat than Takrir making. Yet if there was a big gathering (Ijtima) he would give brief but factual guidance and the Ijtima would come to an end with his Du'aa. He had a reservednature. This enabled him to achieve important activities, i.e. if someone asked about a matter, whose reply would create fitna he used to observe silence. As a result the opportunity of fitna never materialized. Mischief was thus buried in the bud. Hadrat Umar Ibne-Khattaab (RA), the second Khalifa once remarked ' observe silence and destroy baatil ( falsehood)". He was an expert in the art of observing silence. As he disliked unnecessary contact, people did not try to get his companionship. It saved his and their time. They devoted their time to some useful activities instead. At the markaz and on journeys it made no difference in people's coming and going here and there, it reduced the waste of their time. Clearly it was advantageous. He believed in the division of labor. He allocated activities. He sentpeople to the responsible man selected for a particular work. He did not interfere in the activities of others. He remained bed-ridden for the last few years continuously. So the special visits were reduced to minimum. Important activities were allocated to others who were made responsible so such visits were not necessary yet he made long journeys to attend large Ijtima's. he supervised every activity himself and remained in close contact with all the matters of the markaz, the country and foreign lands. He kept a careful watch. He could solve the difficulties silently but pretty well. His physical built up did not become heavy till the last so he could move about cheerfully. At ten'o clock at night on the 9th June, 1995 he was taken to hospital in a wheelchair by car. Everything possible was done for his medical treatment.at last he breated his last at the age of seventy years at 1.25 p.m. on Saturday the 10th Muharram, 1416 Hijara, 10th June, 1995 C.E. Innaalillaah… He left behind in this world a son named Maulana Zubairul hasan and a daughter. The sad news of his death spread around the world like lightning. The namaaz-e-janaza was to be held at sixin the evening. There was a huge gathering in the Basti nizamuddin by that time. There was no more space for more people so all the roads leading to the basti hadrat Nizaamuddin were closed to the traffic. His funeral was attended by more than half a million people, but everyone observed perfect discipline and order. After the Magrib namaaz he was laid to rest beside Hadrat Maulana Yusuf . hadratji received the direct training and upbringing from Maulana Muhammad Ilyaas (RA) and he took part in tabligh from the beginning of the Tablighi mission till his last in all the activities. Such a wonderful personality has left us; and the golden age of tabligh has come to an end. We make Du'aa to Allah to shield him from every type of fitna and evil Aameen