Biography of Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri(RH)
By Ahmad Jamal Azad Qasmi Kabir Nagri
His Personality: Hadrath Allama Anwar Shah (may mercy be upon him) known as Muhaddith-e Kashmiri (the Aalim of Hadith from Kashmir) was a native of Kashmir, which is famous as the Jannah on the earth. He was a Sunni Islamic scholar of former British India. During his career, he taught at a number of prominent institutions including the great national educational center Darul Uloom Deoband, which has an eminent name in the world.1
If we have a short look on the history of Darul Uloom, especially on the life of Allama Kashmiri, we will easily come to know that his whole life was really full of great roles and significant challenges. Let's turn our minds towards his earlier life.
Birth: The Allama was born on 27, Shawwal 1292 AH corresponding to November 16, 1875, Saturday morning at the region of Laulab located in Kashmir. His father Molana Muazzam Shah(rh) was a great Islamic scholar, pious, nobel, and spiritual person of Kashmir. The Allama belonged to the lineage of Hadrath Shaikh Masood Nardari (rh) from Baghdad. They moved to Multan, then to Lahore and finally settled in Kashmir. Allama Kashmiri, in his autobiography, has mentioned about his lineage that it goes back to Imam-e Azam Abu Hanifa (rh).2
Studylife: When he reached 4 or 5 years of age, he started studying the holy Quran visually before/under his father Mu'azzam Shah (rh). In the short span of 2 years, he completed the Quran and some other Persian books too. Then he sought the knowledge of Arabic to Maulana Ghulam Mohammed (rh) and a few others. Afterwards, at the age of about 17, he left for Darul Uloom Deoband to get further study. Having spent 4 years of education, he completed Fazilah in 1310 AH.3
Among his teachers are: Shaikhul Hind Mahmood Hasan Deobandi, Hafiz M. Ahmad ibn Hujjatul Islam Maulana Qasim Nanotavi, Mufti Habibur Rahman Usmani (peace be upon them). At the school age, the Allama owned an illustrious characteristic which nobody can easily acquire. This attribute was to respect each of ones. Thus, almost everyone respects his teachers, but their hearts are empty to book respect.
While the Allama was too sensitive to respect them. He said about him that he never touched any book without Wudhu since the age of 7. Even he never rotated any of books to read their commentaries. He turned himself following the books' text position. That's why, he had an excellent memory. It's said that what he studied once, he didn't need study it again his whole life. This distincts him from some other ones. 4
The Allama as a Teacher: When he got his study finished, at first he went to Delhi where he got the appointment in Madarsa Aminia as head teacher. After 4 or 5 years, while he stayed at Delhi, he got some problems which caused him to return Kashmir. After that, in 1323 AH, he travelled to perform Hajj. Having come back, he founded a Madarsa namely Faiz-e Aam in the region of Baramulla (Kashmir). He taught 3 years at the same place. Around the very time, there was a program held in Darul Uloom Deoband as "Jalsa Dastar Bandi" (the convocation ceremony) which also he was invited. 5
And in accordance with another book, we come to know that one day the Allama wished for meeting his honourable teacher "Hadrath Shaikhul Hind". He left for Darul Uloom and informed his teacher about it. When he arrived at Deoband and met the Shaikh, he ordered him (the Allama) to teach at Darul Uloom Deoband forever. Since Shaikhul Hind had realized that Darul Uloom needs the person for conveying the true messages of Islam to the next generation, this pupil is really worthy of it. Those days, Shaikhul Hind taught Bukhari, Tirmidhi, and Abu Dau'd. So he assigned Muslim, Nasai, and Ibn Maaja to the Allama. Days passed by, even the one came, when Shaikhul Hind had to go away due to any matter of his freedom movement. Shaikh ul Hind and other Akabir of Darul Uloom agreed upon him to be appointed as the head teacher and shaikhul hadith. Till now he was unmarried and liked this life, but when the Akabir got worried about him that lest he should return to Kashmir, they, especially Maulana Habibur Rahman Usmani got him married in 1326 AH, in a nobel family. This plan of Hadrath Usmani was completely successful to have him stay at Darul Uloom for a long time. 6
The Allama as an Author: Nobody can deny it that the Allama was not only a great teacher who has spread the teachings of Islam through this language, but he has played also a significant role in the field of authorship and he has given us a large number of weapons in the shape of books to defend the religion Islam against it's enamies, especially from the Qadiyanis. Because at the time of Allama, Qadiyanism was such a problem that was increasing day by day. They believed in nabuuah or prophethood of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiyani and did not agree that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the final messenger. In addition, there was a great influence of theirs. Most of our Muslim brothers were accepting their faith. In this situation, the Allama protected the Islam by the shining process of his authorship. He authored several books some of which are: Khatimun Nabiyyin, Aqeedatul Islam, Al-Tasrih, Faslul Khitab etc. 7
May Allah give us taufiq to gain benefits from these books.
Resignation from Darul Uloom: It cannot be overlooked that something happens in everyone's life which deeply effects him. It doesn't matter that the process of the impact has the positive aspect or the negative one. An incident like the second, occurred into the history of Darul Uloom. It was the time, When the Allama had been at Darul Uloom and the students wished for learning from him, unfortunately there was a conflict. This pained Allama a lot causing his health to deteriorate. It was the reason of him resigning from Darul Uloom in 1345 AH. He left for Jamia Islamia Dabhel (Gujrat). But the environment was adverse which increased his ill-health. However, he had reluctantly to leave out the Madarsa and come to Deoband back for his medication. In spite of all resources being used, there seemed no hope of his life. At the midnight of 28 May 1933(1352 AH), having spent a few hours between life and death, finally he was overcome by the death. (Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiu'n). Miyan Asghar Husain Sahab Deobandi (rh) led his Janazah Salah. He was burried in Mazar-e Anwar, near Eidgah. 8
May Allah provide him a restful place in the Hereafter, accept all his Islamic services and give him good rewards. May Allah protect his children from each type of difficulties. Aameen
REFERENCES
1. W https: // en. m. wikipedia. Org retrieved from
2&3. Sayyad Akbar Shah Bukhari, Tazkira Ulama e Deoband (p 238)
4. Sayyad Anzar Shah Kashmiri, Naqsh e Dawam (p 108)
5. Sayyad Akbar Shah Bukhari, Tazkira Ulama e Deoband (p 239)
6. Sayyad Anzar Shah Kashmiri, Naqsh e Dawam (p 36-39)
7. Sayyad Anzar Shah Kashmiri, Naqsh e Dawam (p 182-185)
8. Sayyad Anzar Shah Kashmiri, Naqsh e Dawam (p 42-55)
