llma bdul Hakm Sharaf Qdri

By Muammad bdul Mubn Numni Qdri 2

Translated by Abu Hanzala

The King of Gnostics 1

It was on 1st September, 2007 18th Shabn, 1428 H that llma Ysn Akhtar Mibi telephoned me with the heart breaking news of the demise of Musin-eAhle Sunnat, Sharaf-e-Millat, azrat llma bdul akm Sharaf Qdri Fzil-eLhori. Inn lillhi wa inn ilayhi rajin. llma Sharaf Qdri went and took a world of knowledge with him. He left the field of writing, research and translating totally deserted. As soon as he went, it felt as if the guiding light of this field had extinguished and the saviour of the true religion had left us. Propagating the mission of Ahlus Sunnah was in his blood and he worked tirelessly for the ummah. Time and again he tried to get the leaders of the Ahlus Sunnah to congregate and unite. He fully participated in the Sunni conference of Multan and even published a report of it. Although he lived in Pakistan, his vision was worldwide. He always offered his services where they were needed. It was another Pakistani, Isn Ilhi Zahr, who wrote the book al-Barelwiya and the Saudi government published and promoted it all over the world. llma Sharaf Qdri was the first person to write refutations to this book by writing Andhere se ujle tak and Shshe ke ghar. Later, these two books were gathered and published together as al-Barelwiya k taqqi aur tanqdi jyeza. This book shattered the influence of al-Barelwiya and provided such a strong rebuttal of the false
1 2

Mawlna Munawwar tq Rizwi referred to him thus at www.scholarspen.blogspot.com This article appeared in the monthly Kanzul Imn, Delhi. October 2007

accusations contained in it that proponents of Zars book were left dumbfounded. Whoever read llama Sharafs book saw the lies that had been committed in al-Barelwiya and questioned the motives of the Saudis as to why they would publish a book that spread so many lies. llama Sharaf wrote the book in Urdu but then added to it and translated it to Arabic by the name of Min qyid Ahl al-Sunnah and distributed it in the Arab world. This achieved positive results and those scholars who had been misinformed about the name Barelwi were both delighted to learn the truth and also amazed. It is llma Sharaf Qdri who introduced Ala azrat Imm Amad Raza Muaddith-e-Barelwi to the Egyptian scholars. Publication of Bastn al-Ghufrn and al-Manzmat al-Salmya - which are the Arabic translations of adyiq-eBakhshish and Salm-e-Raza respectively came about due to his efforts. After reading an introduction to his efforts, let us know see details. llma bdul akm Sharaf Qdri was born on 24th Shabn [13th August], 1363 H, in Mirzpr, District Hoshyrpr [Punjab]. His father, Molvi Allh Ditta bin Nr Bakhsh was a pious Sfi. It was his fathers nurturing that alongside being a leading scholar, Muaddith, writer and researcher, llma Sharaf Qdri became a prominent preacher who caused a revolution. It was in his early years that he migrated to Lahore with his father. They lived near the Jmia Mosque in which llma Ghulam al-Dn had become renowned for his oratory. llma Sharaf Qdri would often accompany his father to hear his sermons. llma Ghulm al-Dn would lovingly refer to llma Sharaf Qdri as llma and Fzil-e-Lhori. Allh made these words of llma Ghulm al-Dn ring true and in years to come, bdul akm became known as llma and Fzile-Lhori. After his initial education, he received education at the following institutes: Jmia Rizwya Mazhar-ul-Islm, Faisalbd Jmia Imddiya, Bandyl, District Khushb Jmia Nizmiya Rizwya, Lahore Drul lm Zia Shams-ul-Islm, Siyl Sharf

In these institutes, he was taught by the greatest scholars of the age, most notably: Muaddith-e-Azam Pakistan, llma Sardr Amad Chishti Qdri Rizwi [student of adr al-Sharh Azami], founder of Jmia Rizwya Mazhar-ulIslm, Faisalbd

 azrat llma Ghulm Rasl Rizwi, Shaykh al-adth, Jmia Rizwya, Faisalbd mdat al-Mudarrisn, azrat llma t Muammad Chishti Golrawi Bandylwi azrat llma Mufti bdul Qayym Hazrwi, Mufti-e-Azam Pakistan, Headteacher of Jmia Nizmiya Rizwya, Lahore azrat llma Mufti Muammad Amn, Jmia Amniya Rizwya, Faisalbd azrat llma Muammad Ashraf Siylwi, Shaykh al-adth, Zia Shamsul-Islm, Siyl Sharf He taught at various institutes which include: Drul lm Islmiya Ramnia, Haripr Hazri Madrasa Islmiya Isht-ul-lm, Chakwl Jmia Namiya, Lahore Jmia Nizmiya Rizwya, Lahore

Wherever he stayed, he continued his writing and publishing. His efforts truly shone through when he became the Shaykh al-adth of Jmia Nizmiya Rizwya, Lahore. Spending time with his teacher, azrat llma Mufti bdul Qayym Hazrwi, was very fruitful and llma Sharaf Qdri helped his teacher establish the Raza Foundation in Lahore from where 30 volumes of Fatw Riawyyah of Imm Amad Raza Khn were published with takhrj [references]. Near the end of his life, llma Sharaf Qdri left teaching and concentrated fully on writing. He was working on a translation of the Holy Qurn which I believe was left unfinished.3 May Allh allow one of his students or children to complete this task. When I first met llma Sharaf Qdri is Sirhind for the rs of Mujaddid-e-Alfi Thni laihir ramah, my happiness was at its peak. For years we had communicated in writing but never had the opportunity to meet. It was during this meeting or another one that he said regarding his teacher: Other teachers teach their students but Muaddith-e-Azam would give us our lessons to drink. It was as though he picked something up and poured it into the heart. This method of teaching was also found in another student of adr al-Sharh Azami, namely, Ustad al-lam, fiz-e-Millat azrat llma Shh fiz bdul zz Muaddith-e-Murdbdi, founder of al-Jmiat al-Ashrafya,
3

I heard on QTV from Mufti Munb al-Ramn that llma Sharaf Qdri did finish this translation Abu Hanzala

Mubrakpr, India. He would instill knowledge in his students regardless but would also give them the spirit to act on this. This is the reason why the blessings of fiz-e-Millat are seen worldwide and the efforts of his students are well acknowledged. azrat Muaddith-e-Azam Pakistan and other teachers instilled pearls of knowledge in azrat llma bdul akm Sharaf Qdri laihir ramah and this resulted in his great aspiration for tablgh which he had throughout his life. Regarding this ambition, azrat llma Ghulm Rasl Sadi writes: azrat Mawlna Muammad bdul akm aib Sharaf is a young scholar and his heart contains immeasurable feeling for Ahlus Sunnah. To strive for the Ahlus Sunnah is his mission and he produces more work than his means allow. His optimism is great and his efforts are enviable and worthy of copying. I am acquainted with Sharaf aib since my student days when, apart from Nri Kitb Khna, Lahore, there was no centre of Ahlus Sunnah in terms of tablgh. There was neither a reputable periodical nor any library. There was a drought in the field of writing and publication. Conversely, the opponents were publishing numerous books and pamphlets. Sharaf aib would often complain of this situation and his heart was continuously broken due to this famine and the thought of publishing books in support of Ahlus Sunnah would frequently trouble him. A few years later, there was a revolution within Ahlus Sunnah. Many worthy periodicals came into existence and libraries were founded in many cities. Various books of Sunni scholars of yore were published. This encouraged others to start writing and many new books came into the market.4 This passage from llma Sadi is enough to understand the revolutionary endeavours of llma Sharaf Qdri. Noteworthy is the fact that this passage was written 32 years ago when llma Sharaf Qdri was only 32 years of age. Indeed the services that he rendered thereafter are so vast that detailing them seems very difficult. Where llma Sharaf Qdri was an outstanding teacher, he was also a master of Logic and Philosophy. It was in his early years of teaching that he published his marginalia of Ahmad Hasan bar amd Allh which was unique and I believe it has not republished since. After entering the sphere of writing, he began concentrating on the books and monographs of Imm Amad Raza Khn laihir ramah. He wrote marginalia to and translated some monographs and also wrote a brief biography of Ala azrat entitled Yd-e-Ala azrat. From this we can tell
4

Tazkira Akbir-e-Ahle Sunnat, p.18-19, Fayyz-ul-asan Bookseller, Kanpur, India

that he had a special love for Ala azrat, the Imm of Ahlus Sunnah and this was due to the tarbyah of Muaddith-e-Azam Pakistan laihir ramah. For the purpose of tablgh, Mawlna established Maktaba Qdrya and published important books of the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah. Similarly, he asked other bookshops to publish these books too. He wrote prologues to Urdu and Arabic books and some of these are so vast and well researched that they are, in themselves, worthy of being published separately. For example, his prologue and epilogue to Bgh-e-Hindutn, translation of al-Shrat al-Hindya, are so extensive that they can be classed as books. He also published al-adqa al-Nadya of llma bdul Ghani Nbulsi from Maktaba Nrya Rizwya with his own prologue. When llma Arshad-ul-Qdri read this work, he wrote in one of his letters: Yesterday, my eyes had the good fortune of seeing al-adqa al-Nadya. My heart felt solace. Mawlna Sharaf Qdris prologue is also a prologue for his contemporaries. May Allh give this Imm a worthy follower. The prologue is capturing, strong, thought provoking and full of knowledge. The language does not seem that of a non-Arab. May Allh reward you all and open the door of resources from the unseen. You have laid a sound foundation for he spread of knowledge and wisdom.5 Now we will look at the written works of azrat llma Sharaf Qdri. Books in Urdu 1. Yd-e-Ala azrat (80 pages) this also contains the monograph Fal allm wal lam by Ala azrats father 2. Tazkira Akbir-e-Ahle Sunnat Pakistan (592 pages) this important book has also been published by Fayyz-ul-asan Bookseller, Kanpur 3. Sawni Sirj al-Fuqah this is a biography of Mufti Sirj Amad Knpri which also contains a fatwa of Ala azrat on inheritance 4. Asanul Kalm f Maslatil Qiym 5. Masyil Ahle Sunnat 6. Sunni Conference Multan (detailed report and suggestions) 7. Sunni Conference Multan k pas manzar 8. Andhere se ujle tak 9. Shshe ke ghar

Letter from llma Arshad-ul-Qdri to Mawlna Muammad Mansha Tbish Qusri 13th February, 1979. Akbir-e-Ahle Sunnat, p.24

10. al-Barelwya ka taqq aur tanqd jyeza (amalgamation of books 8 and 9 above) 11. Ghyat al-Itiyt f Masla lat al-Isq (expiation for acts of worhip) 12. Nidye Y RaslAllh 13. zmaton ke psbn yan Tazkira Akhyr-e-Millat (biographies of Sunni Akbir and scholars) 14. Nr Nr Chehre (Biographies of various Akbir and Aslf) 15. Khulafye Imm Amad Raza 16. Lamt Imam Rabbni (collection of 3 articles on Mujaddid Alfi Thni) 17. Maqlt-e-Rizwya (12 essays about Ala azrat Imm Amad Raza Muaddith Barelwi raimahullh. Published by al-Majma al-Islmi, Mubrakpr, India, 136 pages) 18. Maqlt Srat-e-Tayyiba (collection of articles on the Srah of the Prophet allAllhu laihi wasallam) 19. qyid-o-Nazryt (translation of Min qyid Ahl al-Sunnah) Books in Arabic 20. Min qyid Ahl al-Sunnah 21. awl Mubath al-Tawassul 22. al-ayt al-Khlidah 23. al-Mujizt wa Karmt al-Awliy 24. al-Mirt shiya al-Mirqt (fil Mantiq) 25. Madnat al-lm Translations (title of the translation the translated book the author) 26. Barakt al-e-Rasl al-Sharaf al-Mubbad llma Nabhni 27. Mazrt-e-Awliy Kashf al-Nr n Ab al-Qubr llma bdul Ghani Nablsi 28. Islmi qyid Adillah Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jamh llma Sayyid Yusuf Hshim Rif 29. Taruf Fiqh-o-Tasawwuf Tal al-Taarruf f Marifah al-Fiqh wal Tasawwuf Shaykh Muaqqiq bdul aq Muaddith Dihlawi 30. Translation of Ashitul Lumt Shaykh bdul aq Muaddith Dihlawi (volumes 4,5,6) 31. Zindah Jwed Khushben Min Naft al-Khuld Shaykh Muammad li Farfr, Damascus 32. Sad Bahr Khushben Min Rasht al-Khuld Shaykh Muammad li Farfr, Damascus 33. Translation of Taqq al-Fatwa llma Fazl-e-aq Khairbdi 34. Translation of Mutla al-Musarrt Shar Dalyil al-Khairt llma Muammad Mahdi Fsi
6

There are some books that are not mentioned in the above list that were written as articles or prologues. Let us know mention his marginalia. We have already mentioned al-Mirt shiya al-Mirqt; the remaining are: Marginalia [awshi] 35. shiya Tufa Nai 36. shiya Badi Manm 37. shiya Karma 38. shiya Nm-e-aq 39. shiya Naw Mr 40. shiya Qai Mubrak 41. shiya Mal 42. shiya amd Allh 43. shiya adra 44. shiya Mr Zhid 45. shiya Risla Qutbyah 46. shiya Maibzi Prologues [Taqdmt] Many of llma Sharaf Qdris prologues are extensive with a few exceptions. These are: 47. Saif al-Jabbr 48. Bghi Hindustn 49. Do Ahm Fatwe 50. al-adqa al-Nadya 51. Ghyat al-Taqq of Ala azrat 52. Taqq al-Fatwa 53. Madrij al-Nubwwah 54. Fawid Makkyah 55. Qawwli Ki Shara Haisyat 56. Mirt al-Tanf 57. Ghunyat al-libn 58. Fuyz Ghawth-e-Yazdni 59. Shif Sharf 60. Naw Mr 61. Mirqt 62. Mula al-Musarrt
7

Sayyid Yusuf usaini Shaykh li Raza Shaykh Sadi Shrzi Shaykh Sharfuddn Mr Sayyid Sharf Jurjni Arabic [unpublished] Arabic [unpublished] Urdu [unpublished] Urdu [unpublished] Urdu [unpublished] Urdu [unpublished] Urdu [unpublished]

It is possible that there are other prologues too. Another achievement of llma Sharaf Qdri is getting Fat al-Ramn f Ithbt Madhhab al-Numn of Shaykh bdul aq Muaddith Dihlawi translated and published. The translator is Mawlna Muammad Muyuddn. The book is written is unparalleled in support of the anafi madhhab. The translation is called Tyeed Madhhab anafi Adth Mubrakah Ki Roshni Mein. It has been published by Arshad Brothers and is available in India. It is a valuable read. To conclude, azrat llma Sharaf Qdri spent his whole life in the service of Islm and spreading knowledge. His life is a shining example for his contemporaries and young scholars alike.