Shaykh Abul Wafa Al Afghani is one of the former Shaykh Ul Fiqh of Jamia Nizamia, Hyderabad. He was known for his deep knowledge of Islamic sciences, especially of the Hanafi School of jurisprudence.
Contents
- Birth and education
- Teaching career
- Establishment of Ihya Al Maarif An Nomaniya
- Books published by Ihya Al Maarif An Nomaniya
- Books worked on by Hadhrat Abul Wafa Al Afghani
- Hajj of Hadhrat Abul Wafa Al Afghani
- Personal life of Hadhrat Abul Wafa Al Afghani
- Association with Hadhrat Muhaddith e Deccan
- Demise of Hadhrat Abul Wafa
- References
Birth and education
He was born on 10th Dhul Hijjah, 1310 Hijri in Kandahar in Afghanistan (hence the epithet Al Afghani). His full name is Syed Mahmood Shah Qadri Hanafi. His father's name is Syed Mubarak Shah Qadri Hanafi. He completed his introductory education under his father himself. At a young age, he came to India. He studied in Rampur, in Gujarat and reached Hyderabad and enrolled in Jamia Nizamia. He graduated from here in 1330 Hijri.
In Jamia Nizamia, Hadhrat Abul Wafa studied under great scholars of the time like Shaykh Ul Islam Imam Muhammad Anwaarullah Farooqui, the founder of Jamia Nizamia and Daairatul Ma'arif Al 'Uthmania, Shaykh 'Abdul Samad, Shaykh 'Abdul Kareem, Shaykh Muhammad Yaqoob, Shaykh Muqri Muhammad 'Ayud, Shaykh Ruknuddin, the first Mufti of Jamia Nizamia and others.
Teaching career
After graduating from Jamia Nizamia, Hadhrat Abul Wafa was appointed as a teacher in Jamia Nizamia. He taught there for a very long time and scores of students benefited from him.
Establishment of Ihya Al Ma'arif An Nomaniya
Hadhrat Abul Wafa had a great desire to propagate knowledge of Islam, especially of the Hanafi School of jurisprudence. Thus, he established Al Ihya Al Ma'arif An Nomaniya to publish rare books of Islamic sciences, especially those pertaining to the Hanafi School of jurisprudence.
Whatever manuscripts and rare books he needed, he would write letters to all the scholars he knew and seek their cooperation. Thus, Hadhrat Abul Wafa had an extensive collection of books on Hanafi jurisprudence, Hadith and its narrators, history and other Islamic sciences.
Books published by Ihya Al Ma'arif An Nomaniya
Many rare books have been published through this organization. They include:
Books worked on by Hadhrat Abul Wafa Al Afghani
Apart from the aforementioned works, the Shaykh also worked on the following books:
Hajj of Hadhrat Abul Wafa Al Afghani
Hadhrat Abul Wafa performed his Hajj and stayed in the blessed lands for some time. Many scholars came to him and took authorizations (Ijaazah) from him. With this, the fame of Hadhrat Abul Wafa spread far and wide.
Personal life of Hadhrat Abul Wafa Al Afghani
Hadhrat Abul Wafa Afghani never married. Shaykh Abul Fatah Abul Ghudda who visited him writes: There was nothing in his house except books, manuscripts and writings. These books would be spread all around him.
Hadhrat Abul Wafa would have only a few morsels at night and his nights would be spent supplicating Allah Most High.
Association with Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan
Hadhrat Abul Wafa was very close to Muhaddith-e-Deccan Hadhrat Abul Hasanaat Syed 'Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri, the author of Zujaajatul Masabeeh. The author of Tadhkira Muhaddith-e-Deccan, Hadhrat Abul Fida Abdul Sattar Khan Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri, the caliph of Hadhrat Abul Hasanaat writes: Hadhrat Abul Wafa told me that I am indeed fortunate to have a perfect spiritual mentor in Hadhrat Abul Hasanaat. Otherwise, I would have had to travel to find a perfect Shaykh.
Demise of Hadhrat Abul Wafa
Hadhrat Abul Wafa Al Afghani spent all his life in the quest to spread Islamic knowledge. He died on the morning of 13th Rajab, 1395 Hijri.