Syed Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi
Encyclopedia
Abul Hasanat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi Qadiri (Arabic: , popularly known as Hadrat Abdullah Shah Sahib, was a scholar of Islam
and spiritual reformer. He is more particularly known as a muhaddith (one who specializes in Hadith
literature), honorifically as Muhaddith-e Dakkan (the Muhaddith of the Dakkan). A prolific writer of Islamic sciences, he wrote extensively on fiqh
(Islamic jurisprudence) and compiled his best-known work Zujajat al-Masabih
in five volumes. A unique and comprehensive collection of Hadiths pertaining to the Hanafi
school of law, the book is considered a magnum opus in hadith and fiqh literature. As a mufassir (Qur'anic exegite) and expounder of other Islamic religious texts, he is one of the most celebrated Sufis produced by India in the 20th century. He is popularly considered to be one of the saint-scholars among the masses of South India
, particularly Hyderabad.
, jurisprudence from Mawlana Habibur Rahman Saharanpuri, and the science of Hadith and literature from Mawlana Hakim Abdur Rahman Saharanpur.
s and asnad from Abdullah Shah.
At first Abdullah Shah became the disciple of Miskin Shah a famous Sufi of Hyderabad, India. Later, on the death of the latter, he approached Muhammad Badshah Bukhari, who was a renowned spiritual personality of that time. The latter practiced both the Qadiriyyah and the Naqshbandiyyah Sufi Tariqahs or paths. So long as his spiritual mentor was alive, whatever the climate would be, he would see him on daily basis walking about four miles to serve him in his midnight special ritual prayers, the Tahajjud
, assisting his spiritual master in performing the ablution and other prayer rituals. This practice went on for about twenty years until the death of Bukhari. During the lifetime of his spiritual master, Abdullah Shah did not like to have his own spiritual disciples (murids). The number of disciples in his own lifetime, however, reached in hundreds and thousands. He consistently followed the Hanafi
school of jurisprudence and the practices of his spiritual master by initiating his disciples both in the Qadiriyyah and Naqshbandiya orders.
prayer; he would then listen to his disciples. Next he would meet the public and attend to individual grievances till 9 o'clock in the morning. After Ishraq prayers, for breakfast and other personal needs, he would spare a few minutes. From almost 10 A.M to 2 P.M, he would have a separate session for women who either approach him for guidance or spiritual consolation. At 2 P.M he would return to the mosque for midday Zuhr prayer and until late afternoon Asr
prayer he would be engaged in giving instructions and individual attention to his disciples, responding to miscellaneous requests for help, and so on. The time between Asr
and sunset Maghrib
followed by the Awwabin prayers, he would have dinner, attend to the letters addressed to him and dictate letters of advice. At 10 P.M he would go to the mosque for nightfall 'Isha
' prayer and return home at around midnight. He would sleep for three hours. From 2 A.M till Fajr
prayer he would be busy again with Tahajjud
prayers. In short, he would rest for three hours and the rest of the 21 hours he would devote his religious practices.
, 1384 A.H.
or 1964 A.D., at the age of 92 years. The funeral procession was the largest of its kind in the history of Hyderabad, attended by more than two hundred and fifty thousand people. He is buried in Naqshbandi Chaman, Misri Gunj, Hyderabad, India.
, he has written various books on diverse subjects, right from Salaat to Sulook
.
Apart from his sons, Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan has also authorized other persons to spread the teachings of Islam, who are carrying forward his legacy in their own way.
Under the guidance of Abul Khair, Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri, Naib Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia
started a research center, by name, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center, which runs and manages the website Ziaislamic.com, which is gradually uploading the works of Abdullah Shah.
Muslim scholars
This article is a ist of modern-day scholars of Islam who are themselves Muslim.Geographical categories have been created based on commonalities in culture and language across the Muslim World. Non-Scholars This article is a ist of modern-day (20th to 21st century) scholars of Islam who are...
and spiritual reformer. He is more particularly known as a muhaddith (one who specializes in Hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
literature), honorifically as Muhaddith-e Dakkan (the Muhaddith of the Dakkan). A prolific writer of Islamic sciences, he wrote extensively on fiqh
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
(Islamic jurisprudence) and compiled his best-known work Zujajat al-Masabih
Zujajat al-Masabih
Zujajat al-Masabih is the renowned five volume compendium of Hadith literature, authored by Muhaddith-e-Dakkan Abul Hasanat Syed Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi, popularly known as Hadrat Abdullah Shah Sahib, who was one of the most celebrated scholars of Islam from Hyderabad India...
in five volumes. A unique and comprehensive collection of Hadiths pertaining to the Hanafi
Hanafi
The Hanafi school is one of the four Madhhab in jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. The Hanafi madhhab is named after the Persian scholar Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man ibn Thābit , a Tabi‘i whose legal views were preserved primarily by his two most important disciples, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani...
school of law, the book is considered a magnum opus in hadith and fiqh literature. As a mufassir (Qur'anic exegite) and expounder of other Islamic religious texts, he is one of the most celebrated Sufis produced by India in the 20th century. He is popularly considered to be one of the saint-scholars among the masses of South India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, particularly Hyderabad.
Birth
The Abdullah Shah was born in Husaini 'Alam, Hyderabad, on 10th of Dhu'l Hijjah, 1292 (AH) or 6 February 1872 (CE). His father was Mawlana Sayyid Muzaffar Husain Ibn Sayyid Yaqub of Naldrug. Since the migration of his ancestor, Hazrat Sayyid Ali, this family has been the recipient of land grant from Adil Shah I, the ruler of Bijapur. The daughter of Gul Badshah was his mother.Education
In keeping with the traditions of his society, the young Abdullah Shah did not attend any formal school for his education and training. He received his elementary education and lessons in Persian from his father; logic and philosophy from Mawlana Mansur Ali Khan; the Qur'anic sciences and other subjects from Shaykh al-Islam Hafiz Anwarulla Khan Faruqi, the founder of Jamia NizamiaJamia Nizamia
Jamia Nizamia , more properly, Jami'ah Nizamiyyah, is one of the oldest Islamic seminaries of higher learning of Sunnis in India.- History :...
, jurisprudence from Mawlana Habibur Rahman Saharanpuri, and the science of Hadith and literature from Mawlana Hakim Abdur Rahman Saharanpur.
Teaching
Even while a student, he started teaching, in both formal and informal ways. At times this was in the form of adult education. Most of his audience consisted of elite and common people. He began his teaching career at the mosque named Ali Aqa at Husaini Alam, Hyderabad, and continued until his death. The Syrian scholar Shaykh Abdul Fattah visited Hyderabad and took ijazahIjazah
An ijazah is a certificate used primarily by Sunni Muslims to indicate that one has been authorized by a higher authority to transmit a certain subject or text of Islamic knowledge...
s and asnad from Abdullah Shah.
Tasawuf
Tahajjud
Tahajjud , also known as the "night prayer" is a voluntary prayer, performed by followers of Islam. It is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all Muslims, yet still, the Islamic prophet, Muhammad has been recorded as performing the tahajjud prayer regularly and encouraging his...
, assisting his spiritual master in performing the ablution and other prayer rituals. This practice went on for about twenty years until the death of Bukhari. During the lifetime of his spiritual master, Abdullah Shah did not like to have his own spiritual disciples (murids). The number of disciples in his own lifetime, however, reached in hundreds and thousands. He consistently followed the Hanafi
Hanafi
The Hanafi school is one of the four Madhhab in jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. The Hanafi madhhab is named after the Persian scholar Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man ibn Thābit , a Tabi‘i whose legal views were preserved primarily by his two most important disciples, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani...
school of jurisprudence and the practices of his spiritual master by initiating his disciples both in the Qadiriyyah and Naqshbandiya orders.
Daily schedule
Abdullah Shah would begin his day early in the morning from the FajrFajr
The Fajr prayer is the first of the five daily prayers offered by practising Muslims. The five daily prayers collectively form one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the Religion according to Shia Islam.The Fajr prayer is mentioned by name in the...
prayer; he would then listen to his disciples. Next he would meet the public and attend to individual grievances till 9 o'clock in the morning. After Ishraq prayers, for breakfast and other personal needs, he would spare a few minutes. From almost 10 A.M to 2 P.M, he would have a separate session for women who either approach him for guidance or spiritual consolation. At 2 P.M he would return to the mosque for midday Zuhr prayer and until late afternoon Asr
Asr
The Asr prayer is the afternoon daily prayer recited by practising Muslims. It is the third of the five daily prayers . The five daily prayers collectively are one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the Religion according to Shia Islam...
prayer he would be engaged in giving instructions and individual attention to his disciples, responding to miscellaneous requests for help, and so on. The time between Asr
Asr
The Asr prayer is the afternoon daily prayer recited by practising Muslims. It is the third of the five daily prayers . The five daily prayers collectively are one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the Religion according to Shia Islam...
and sunset Maghrib
Maghrib
The Maghrib prayer , prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers performed by practicing Muslims.The formal daily prayers of Islam comprise different numbers of units, called rak'at. The Maghrib prayer has three obligatory rak'at. The first two fard rak'at are prayed...
followed by the Awwabin prayers, he would have dinner, attend to the letters addressed to him and dictate letters of advice. At 10 P.M he would go to the mosque for nightfall 'Isha
Isha
* Hebrew word meaning "woman"* Isha'a, the Fard daily Salah prayers in Islam* A Sanskrit term for "God, deity", see Ishvara* A name meaning: deity; the ruling Goddess; the Lord, One who protects, Supreme.* Another name of Goddess Kali* An Indian given name...
' prayer and return home at around midnight. He would sleep for three hours. From 2 A.M till Fajr
Fajr
The Fajr prayer is the first of the five daily prayers offered by practising Muslims. The five daily prayers collectively form one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the Religion according to Shia Islam.The Fajr prayer is mentioned by name in the...
prayer he would be busy again with Tahajjud
Tahajjud
Tahajjud , also known as the "night prayer" is a voluntary prayer, performed by followers of Islam. It is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all Muslims, yet still, the Islamic prophet, Muhammad has been recorded as performing the tahajjud prayer regularly and encouraging his...
prayers. In short, he would rest for three hours and the rest of the 21 hours he would devote his religious practices.
Prediction of his own death
When his contemporary Sayyid Muhammad Badshah Husaini died on 25 August, Abdullah Shah predicted that he too would die in two days. His prediction came true; and he died on 18th of Rabi' al-ThaniRabi' al-thani
Rabī’ al-Thānī is the fourth month in the Islamic Calendar. It is also known as Rabī` al-Ākhir .-Timing:The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year,...
, 1384 A.H.
Hijri year
The Hijri year is year numbering system used in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the Hijra , or emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 CE. In Arabic, AH is symbolized by the letter هـ...
or 1964 A.D., at the age of 92 years. The funeral procession was the largest of its kind in the history of Hyderabad, attended by more than two hundred and fifty thousand people. He is buried in Naqshbandi Chaman, Misri Gunj, Hyderabad, India.
Works
Apart from Zujajat al-MasabihZujajat al-Masabih
Zujajat al-Masabih is the renowned five volume compendium of Hadith literature, authored by Muhaddith-e-Dakkan Abul Hasanat Syed Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi, popularly known as Hadrat Abdullah Shah Sahib, who was one of the most celebrated scholars of Islam from Hyderabad India...
, he has written various books on diverse subjects, right from Salaat to Sulook
Sulook
Sulook or Suluk , as a noun, means pathway, and specifically refers to a spiritual pathway. As a verb, it means to walk a spiritual pathway.-Sulook in relation to Islam and Sufism:...
.
- Fadhail Namaz- On the excellence and blessings of Salaat.
- Yousufnama- Known as Guldasta-e-Tareeqat as well. This is an exegesis (Tafseer) of the Surah Yousuf of the Quran.
- Qiyamatnama- On the trials and tribulations of the Day of Judgment.
- Merajnama- On the heavenly journey (Meraj) of the Muhammad
- Miladnama- On the Milad of Muhammad
- Gulzar Auliya- A brief introduction of the Elders of the Naqshbandi order of Tasawwuf.
- Mawaiz Hasana, Volumes 1 and 2- The sayings and teachings of Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan.
- Suluk-e-Mujaddidiya- A treatise on the teachings of the Naqshbandi Mujaddidi order of Tasawwuf.
- Fadhail Ramadhan- On the excellence of the month of Ramadhan.
- Kitab ul Muhabbat- A treatise on the love of Allah.
- Ilaj Us Salikeen- A treatise on the spiritual diseases of the heart.
Legacy
His spiritual and intellectual legacy is carried forward by his disciples and students. After him, his spiritual lineage was carried forward in the following way:- His eldest son, Abul Barakaat Syed Khaleelullah Shah Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri.
- Khaleelullah's son and successor, Abul Khairaat Hadhrat Syed Anwarullah Shah Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri.
- The present successor of Abul Barakaat, Abul Faiz Hadhrat Syed Ataullah Shah Sahab Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri.
- The last son and present successor of Muhaddith-e-Deccan and the present Sajjada Nashin of Naqshbandi Chaman, Abul Khair Hadhrat Syed Rahmatullah Shah Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri.
Apart from his sons, Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan has also authorized other persons to spread the teachings of Islam, who are carrying forward his legacy in their own way.
Under the guidance of Abul Khair, Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri, Naib Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia
Jamia Nizamia
Jamia Nizamia , more properly, Jami'ah Nizamiyyah, is one of the oldest Islamic seminaries of higher learning of Sunnis in India.- History :...
started a research center, by name, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center, which runs and manages the website Ziaislamic.com, which is gradually uploading the works of Abdullah Shah.
External links
- A Lecture in Urdu by Abdullah Shah on "Disobedience to Allah and its relationship with the Heart and its ailments"
- A lecture on the Abdullah Shah's life and teachings by Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri, Shaykh Ul Fiqh Jamia Nizamia
- Works of Abdullah Shah at ZiaIslamic.com
See also
- Jamia NizamiaJamia NizamiaJamia Nizamia , more properly, Jami'ah Nizamiyyah, is one of the oldest Islamic seminaries of higher learning of Sunnis in India.- History :...
- Zujajat al-MasabihZujajat al-MasabihZujajat al-Masabih is the renowned five volume compendium of Hadith literature, authored by Muhaddith-e-Dakkan Abul Hasanat Syed Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi, popularly known as Hadrat Abdullah Shah Sahib, who was one of the most celebrated scholars of Islam from Hyderabad India...
- Sadr Ush Shuyukh Syed Shah Tahir RazwiSyed Shah Tahir RazwiAllama Syed Shah Tahir Razwi Qadri is an Islamic scholar of modern times. He is one of the most famous Sufi scholars of the modern times. He was also the vice chancellor of Jamia Nizamia and was later made the Sadr Ush Shuyukh i.e...
, Former vice-chancellor of Jamia Nizamia, famous for his exegesis of the Holy Quran. - BarelwiBarelwiBarelvi is a term used for the movement of Sufi , Sunni Islam originating in the Indian subcontinent.The Movement is known as Ahle Sunnat movement to its followers....
- List of Sufis
- List of Islamic studies scholars
- Hyderabad StateHyderabad State-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
- HadithHadithThe term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....