Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Among the luminaries of the past was an Aalim by the name of Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah). Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was born in 1248 A.H. (1832/1833) in the village of Nanota in India, and he was a descendant of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). (Sawaanih-e-Qaasimi 1/146-147)
Allah Ta‘ala had blessed him with profound deeni knowledge and understanding. Together with his perfection in ilm (deeni knowledge), he was blessed with a very high level of piety and taqwa.
Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was the founder of the famous Daarul Uloom in India known as Daarul Uloom Deoband. Allah Ta‘ala blessed him with such great acceptance that though he passed away in 1297 AH (1879) at the age of forty-nine, his legacy, in the form of Daarul Uloom Deoband, continues to benefit the ummah. (Ml Muhammed Qaasim Nanotwi – Hayaat aur Kaarnaame pg. 170)
Hence, from this madrasah, we find that great Ulama were produced – the likes of Hazrat Sheikhul Hind, Hazrat Moulana Husain Ahmed Madani, Hazrat Ashraf Ali Thaanwi, Hazrat Mufti Shafee Saheb, and Hazrat Moulana Muhammed Ilyaas Kaandhlawi – the reviver of the effort of Da’wah and Tableegh (rahimahumullah).
When we view the life of Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah), we find that the outstanding quality that led to his acceptance was the quality of adhering to the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in all facets of his life.
Bringing Happiness to a Muslim’s Heart
Among the mubaarak qualities and sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was the sunnah of bringing happiness to people’s hearts. Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah) possessed this mubaarak quality of the sunnah in his life to an extremely high degree.
It is mentioned that once, a certain person came to Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) and gifted him a colourful topi. Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was used to wearing a white topi. However, out of consideration for the person’s feelings, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) wore the topi.
After the person had left, Hazrat (rahimahullah) mentioned, “I only wore this topi in order to make this person’s heart happy.” Nevertheless, later on, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) gifted the topi to a child. (Sawaanih-e-Qaasimi 1/469)
Showing Consideration to the Host
Another beautiful quality of the sunnah is the quality of honouring people by accepting their da’wat when they invite you for a meal to their home (and there is nothing against the shari’ah which will prevent one from accepting the da’wat e.g. the person’s earnings being from haraam or doubtful sources).
Once, a very poor person in Deoband invited Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) for a meal. Hazrat (rahimahullah) happily accepted the da’wat. Thereafter, by coincidence, heavy rain began to fall in the evening (at the time of the da’wat), and it seemed as though the rain would not stop. Seeing the weather, the poor person who had given the da’wat felt that Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) will not be able to come to his home due to the rain. He therefore did not take the trouble of preparing any food, nor did he go to fetch Hazrat Moulana (rahimahullah) at the time of the da’wat.
In the meantime, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was waiting, and after some time had passed, he took his blanket and used it to cover his head and body. He then held his shoes in his hands and went out into the pouring rain, and walked through the streets of Deoband. The rain continued to pour, yet Hazrat (rahimahullah) slowly made his way to the home of this poor person. He eventually reached the door and knocked.
When this poor man opened the door and saw Hazrat (rahimahullah) drenched in rain, he became completely surprised, as he had not expected Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) to come at that time and had not prepared anything. Hazrat (rahimahullah) immediately realized that the person had not expected him to come and had not prepared anything. Hence, Hazrat (rahimahullah) said to him, “Don’t worry, and don’t feel embarrassed that you have not prepared anything! There must be some left-over food in your home from the past meal. You may serve that to me if you wish.”
The host found some simple dholl and roti which he placed before Hazrat (rahimahullah). Hazrat (rahimahullah) ate it with so much of relish, as though he was eating biryani and khorma (a special dish prepared with vegetables or meat). After eating, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) made dua for the poor man and then returned home in the rain.
Due to staying out in the rain for so long, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) became sick for a few days. However, he did not reveal his illness to anyone as he did not want the news of him becoming sick to reach the poor host and cause him to feel embarrassment. (Ml Muhammed Qaasim Nanotwi – Hayaat aur Kaarnaame pg. 180-181)
