‘Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Yusuf Binnori

By Maulana Muhammad Ayyub Jan Banuri

Bayyinaat Zulhijjah 1397
Ar Rashaad

Moulana Muhammad Yusuf Bannuri R.A. was born on the 6th Rabiuth Thani 1326 in the village of ‘Mahabatabad’ near the railway station of Rashkay in the District of Mardan, West Pakistan.

He received his primary education and learnt the recital of the Quraan Kareem at home (Ghari Meer Ahmed Shah, Peshawar’) from his father and matenal uncle Moulana Fadhl Hamdan Banuri. He learned the basics of Sarf, Nahw and Mantiq from Moulana Abdullah Peshawari. He then went to Kabul where he studied Fiqh, Usul Fiqh, Mantiq, and Ma’aani etc. from the Qudhi ul Qudhat, Moulana Abdulqadeer, Moulana Saieli Qaleeghawi and other well-versed Asaatiza. For higher education, he went to Darul Uloom, Deoband in 1345 and completed his education there in two years. He studied Dorah Hadith in Dabhel under the great Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri R.A., Moulana Shabbir Ahmed Utmani R.A. and other great-learned scholars.

After graduation, he stayed for quite some time in the company and service of the learned Shaykh Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri R.A. and was his special and close attendant. He benefited tremendously from Shah Saheb. At that time on the wish and insistence of his father, he participated in the Molvi Fadhil examinations at the Punjab University and attained first position, though he disliked this examination, in spite of having time to prepare for it. He then lived for a few years in his home town of Peshawar, and began diligently teaching in Madrasah Rafiul Islam, Baanah Maar’i (The principal of this Madrasah was his maternal uncle Moulana Fadhl Hamdan Banuri R.A.) I was at that time studying Dorah Hadith in Darul Uloom, Deoband. In 1352 (1934 A.D.) when Moulana Anwar Shah Saheb passed away, Moulana Yousuf Banuri came to pay his respects and after staying for a few days returned. Thereafter he was approached by the authorities of Dabhel to teach there, and he accepted the offer.

Waterval Islamic Institute (Mia’s Farm)

By ‘Abd Allah bin Muhammad al-Afriqui

The famous Waterval Islamic Institute, commonly known as Mia’s Farm, is situated to the north of Johannesburg. Recently, the annual South African Tabligh Ijtima was held here and many reminisced on the early days of the Institute. The institute housed a school, hostel and madrasah and hundred of students attended over a period of more then 5 decades. Great scholars trace their routes back to the institute.

I have compiled below from various sources information on Mia’s Farm. The idea is to compile the available information in a logical, constructive way. Anyone willing to assist in this regard may contact us.Flashback: Waterval Islamic Institute (Mia’s Farm)

http://www.radioislam.org.za/a/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29433&Itemid=47

Bismihi Ta’aala

There are very few South African Muslims who have turned to the back of their 13-line Quraans and not wondered about the Waterval Islamic Institute. Of interest to many of us was how an obviously Muslim organization (in the times of crippling apartheid) managed to secure the address: P. O. Box 1, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa. In many ways the ‘one’ in the postal address is indicative of the Waterval Islamic Institute being the first to spark a series of da’wah flames that now light up many Islamic institutes in our country and beyond.

Imam Muhammad bin Qasim al-Thaqafi

MUHAMMAD BIN QASIM is undoubtedly one of the noblest sons of Islam. The most remarkable thing about him is that he combines the innocence of youth with the highest level of achievement.

MUHAMMAD BIN QASIM is undoubtedly one of the noblest sons of Islam. The most remarkable thing about him is that he combines the innocence of youth with the highest level of achievement. He was hardly seventeen when he led an army into Sind and conquered the whole of Sind and gave it a just and good government. These great achievements were attained in a strange, far off land, with the help of a few thousand countrymen. History has very few examples to put beside this one.

Muhammad bin Qasim strongly felt for the downtrodden masses who were suffering in the hands of rulers and gave them the basic human rights. All citizens were given equal rights. The Arab rule brought a new hope and new horizons for the down-trodden. The blessings of Arab rule were meant for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Hindus were amazed at the treatment they received. Their temples remained intact, and the government even repaired temples. Three per cent of the income from land revenue was set aside for the upkeep of the temples. The priests continued to enjoy the rights they had enjoyed before.

‘Allamah ‘Abd al-Hayy al-Lakhnawi

Source:An Nasihah – February 2003He was born in Banda, India, on Tuesday 26 Zul Qada 1264 A.H, author of many famous works and a great scholar of his time. He was a descendant Sayyidina Abu Ayyub Ansari (R.A). His predecessors emigrated from Madinah Munawwarah to Hirat, then to Lahore, Delhi and finally to Sihala and Firangi Mahal near Lucknow. Pious and noble scholars always inhabited this locality.

Maulana Abdul Hayy began memorising the Noble Qur’an at the age of five. He was endowed with an outstanding memory from childhood to the extent that in his own words, he remembers the time when he was beaten at the age of three.He initially learnt the Quran by Hafiz Qasim Ali. Subsequently his parents relocated to Jaunpur where he continued his by Hafiz Ibraheem. He completed memorising the Quran at the age of ten. During the period of his hifz, he also studied some Persian books under his learned father.

When he turned eleven, he began his Islamic studies under his father who was at that time teaching in Jaunpur. He learnt all the books from Mizanus Sarf (Arabic Morphology) till tafsir Baydawi, qualifying at the age of seventeen. After the demise of his father, he studied some books in mathematics under his fathers tutor, Maulana Muhammad Ni’matullah. (1290 A.H)

Allah Ta’ala endowed Maulana Abdul Hayy from childhood with the love of teaching and writing. Any book that he learnt, he taught it thereafter. As a consequence, he developed uncanny ability in every subject. No textbook on any subject remained difficult for him to the extent that he was able to teach books he had not previously studied by any tutor like Al Isharat of Tusi, Al ufuqul Mubin and Qanunut Tibb etc.

‘Allamah Abu ‘l-Hasan ‘Ali al-Nadwi

Early Life
Moulana Abul Hasan ‘Ali Nadwi (RA) was born in an extremely pious and noble family on the 6 Muharram 1332 A.H. (15 December 1913) in a village of Rai Bareli, India. This village was previously a centre for tauhid, sunnat and jihad for several centuries. The family that inhabited this village was very meticulous in ensuring that they only partook of halaal food. Moulana Abul Hasan’s father, Hakim Sayyid ‘Abdul Hayy (RA), who was exceptionally pious, always took special precautions that not a single grain of doubtful food enter the house. Moulana Abul Hasan (RA) began his studies at the age of four under the careful guardianship of his uncle, Moulana ‘Azizur-Rahmaan (RA). Even during his childhood, he was not inclined to play and amusement but instead developed a keen interest in reading kitaabs. The entire family was enveloped in the desire for literature. Whatever few coins the children were given as gifts were used to buy kitaabs. Moulana Abul Hasan (RA) experienced very little of his father’s compassion as his father had passed away in 1341 A.H. (1923) when Moulana was was not even ten years old. Although he was a hakeem (physician), his father used to spend most of his time in writing ‘Nuzhatul Khawatir a voluminous work on the biographies of Muslim scholars of India. Due to no adult male being in the house, Moulana (RA) was brought up by his mother who saw to his nurturing in the correct manner. Although she was extremely compassionate, she never tolerated him missing his Salaah or oppressing the children of the servants. She earnestly made dua to Allah Ta’ala to make her son fulfil all her dreams. Her duas were proverbial in the family. Sometimes she would spend hours making dua to the extent that her scarf would become wet due to excessive weeping.

Shaykh Masih Allah Khan al-Sherwani

Birth
Moulana Maseehullah Khan (RA) was born in 1330 A.H. (1910 C.E.) in the district of Aligarh, India. He belonged to the Sherwani family whose great grandfather was Sayyid Shah Husain Ghauri (RA). Hadhrat Moulana Maseehullah’s father, Janab Ahmad Husain Khan (RA) was a notable personality of the family. He was a very popular person in his district, loved by one and all. Moulana Maseehullah Khan (RA) who later became popularly known as Hadhratjee had a desire for ibaadat from a very young age. He loved to perform nafl (optional) Salaah, Tahajjud and Zikr.

Education
He went to school in his hometown till grade 6. He always excelled in his class. During this time he also learnt to read the Qur’aan and learnt some Urdu. He began studying the books of Hadhrat Thaanwi (RA) like Bahishti Zewar etc. This made such an impression on his young mind, that he became dissatisfied with schooling. On seeing his inclination towards Islamic studies, his father encouraged him to start studying Persian and Arabic. After studying Arabic and Islamic sciences till Mishkaat under Moulana Sa’id Ahmad Saahib Lucknowi (RA), he took admission at Darul ‘Ulum Deoband. At this institute, he was afforded the invaluable opportunity of studying under luminaries like Hadhrat Moulana Husain Ahmad Madani (RA), Moulana ‘Izaz ‘Ali (RA), Moulana Asghar Husain (RA) and ‘Allamah Balyawi (RA) amongst others.

Mawlana Muhammad Yunus Nu’mani (Panjpiri)

Munazir e Ahle Sunnat, Shaykhul Hadeeth Wa Tafseer, Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Younus Nomani Rahimahullah was recognised as a prominent Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat Hanafi/Deobandi scholar in Pakistan. He was a profound Muhaddith (A specialist who knows and narrates Hadith, the chains of their narration Isnad, and the original and famous narrators) and considered an authority on various Islamic disciplines, including: Usool (hermeneutics), Tafsir (Quranic Exegesis), Aqeedah (theology), Comparative Fiqh (jurisprudence) and Hadith (Prophetic tradition), etc.

EDUCATION:

After completing his Darse Nizami curriculum at a very young age, he continued to engage in the study of the Islamic sciences to increase his experience and knowledge by studying Tafseer, under the influential Moulana Ghullam Ullah Khan (AKA Shaykh Ul-Quran) Rahimahullah. Later on, he went on to study Hadeeth Under the tutelage of the world renowned Muhaddith, Shaykh Allama Yusuf Binnori Rahimahullah (key student of the famous Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Rahimahullah), and received authorisations (Ijaza’s) in various books including the six major books of Hadith.

Also, amongst his teachers includes the outstanding personality of his time, the late Shaykhul-Tafseer Wal-Hadeeth Allama Qadhi Ismatullah Rahimahullah, and the honorable Qadhi Shamsuddin Rahimahullah (A former Shaykhul Hadeeth of the Great Darul Uloom of Deoband).

Shaykh Mawlana Isma’il Wadi

By Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat

Once, ‘Umar radhiyallāhu ‘anhu asked those around him of a hadīth of the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam with regards to the trials and tribulations which were to fall upon the Ummah. Hudhayfah ibn Al-Yamān radhiyallāhu ‘anhu, who knew the hadīth, remarked, “Why do you worry about such a fitnah, O Amīr-al-Mu’minīn, when there is a closed door between it and yourself?” When asked who this ‘door’ was, Hudhayfah radhiyallāhu ‘anhu replied, “Umar radhiyallāhu ‘anhu.”

The existence of pious and righteous servants of Allāh ta‘ālā amongst us is a barrier that stops the torrents of evil from emerging and causing havoc. Upon their demise, the doors to these evils are opened, and the people are tested by trials and tribulations. That is why, as time draws nearer to the Day of Judgement (during which trials and tribulations will increase), the passing away of pious servants of Allāh ta‘ālā become more frequent.

In November 2012, a pious and righteous servant from amongst this category, my most honourable and beloved teacher, Shaykh Mawlānā Ismā‘īl Wādī rahimahullāh, of Blackburn, UK, passed away. I had studied the revered subjects of ‘aqīdah, hadīth and fiqh under his tutelage when I was studying at Dār-al-‘Ulūm Bury.

Mawlana Ahmad ‘Ali Lahori

If anyone is willing to translate the following article or parts of it please do so fi’sabilillah and forward to us:

http://marifat.al-marifat.org/documents/32.pdf

Maulana Ahmed Ali Lahori was a renowned Sufi muslim scholar of Indian subcontinet, in 1950′s, who immensely influenced religious and academic circles in Lahore ,Pakistan.With his particular focus on human spirit in the Quranic paradigm and its impediments, his message transcended Pakistan and spread all over the globe, within muslim communities. He was the founder of Khuddam ud Din Movement ( a movement of accelerating teachings of The Holy Quran and its application of human, physical and spiritual, affairs. He presented a non-sectarian and non-political rendition to the universal message of The Holy Quran, about one’s spiritual disorders and a necessary comprehension of anatomy of soul. He stressed the dire need to guard one’s spirit of spiritual disorders aka moral defects. In fact his name stands prominent in laying guiding principles for Muslim psychology. Today , his followers spread all around the world and carry this message of spiritual comprehension of man in a holistic model of integration of Mind, body and Spirit, thus bringing medical , cognitive and spiritual sciences in a blend.
A cursory look at his life span can reveal the course of hardships and sacrifices he took to finally bring out an important facet of human spirit and its varying textures.

Birth and Upbringing
He was born on Friday 2nd Ramadhan 1304 A.H ( Wednesday 25 May 1887 C.E) at Gujrawala, Pakistan. Prior to his birth his father had decided to dedicate his in the service of Islam.

Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Ghuman

Translated by: Abu Salih Muadh Khan

Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Ghuman [حفظه الله] is a well-known ‘Alim, Mujahid, Muballigh and orator. His personal biography is printed on the back of his book “Jihad Fi Sabeelillah Aur Ai’terazat Ka Ilmi Jaiza”.

Name: Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Ghuman

Date of Birth: 12th of April 1969

Place of Birth: 87 Northern, Sargodha [Pakistan]

Education:

Hifdh of Qur’aan completed at Jamia Masjid Bohadh-Wali (Gaghar-Mindi, Gujranwala)

Translation and Commentary of Qur’aan completed under Imam Ahlus-Sunnah Shaykh (Maulana) Sarfaraz Khan Safdar [رحمه الله] at Madrasa Nusratul-uloom (Gujranwala)

Dars-e-Nizami (Islamic Scholarship course) started at Jamia Binoria (Karachi) and completed at Jamia Islamia Imdadia (Faisalabad)