Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
It is the teaching of shariah that we should show respect to all our seniors, especially our deeni seniors. Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was blessed with this sublime quality in his life.
The Foundation Laying of Daarul Uloom Deoband
In the town of Deoband, there was a pious man by the name of Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah). Though he was not an aalim, he had deep concern for deen.
After the British had killed thousands of Ulama, Hazrat Moulana Nanotwi (rahimahullah) perceived the need to establish a madrasah in order to produce Ulama to uphold and safeguard deen. For this purpose, Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah) and other pious servants had collected some money to assist Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) in establishing a madrasah.
During the early stages of Daarul Uloom Deoband, the madrasah did not have its own, independent building or structure. Rather, the madrasah was run out of the musjid and a few rooms that were rented.
As time passed, more and more students came to study and the madrasah began to grow. Hence, approximately nine or ten years after the madrasah had commenced, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) felt that it was no longer suitable to continue running the madrasah from the musjid. Rather, there was now a need for the madrasah to have its own, independent and separate premises.
When Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) mentioned this suggestion to the other people in charge, they all agreed and supported his suggestion. However, Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah) did not agree and opposed his suggestion.
Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah) would say, “What is the need to spend so much of money? The Jaami Musjid is sufficient. Rooms can be built around the musjid, and the teachers can teach in the musjid.”
However, Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah) did not have the foresight which Allah Ta‘ala had blessed Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) with. The madrasah may have been small at that time, but Allah Ta‘ala had made Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) realize that the day would come when it would be a large Daarul Uloom. In order for the madrasah to expand in time to come, it would require its own premises and its own land.
Hence, Hazrat Nantowi (rahimahullah) explained to Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah) saying, “Hajee Saheb! A madrasah should have its own premises. Running a madrasah in the musjid will cause many objections and problems. Students are free in their behaviour. At times, we will receive complaints that the toilet jugs have been broken (by the students). At times, people will complain that the mats or the lanterns of the musjid are missing or damaged. Basically, we will have many challenges. That is why it is only appropriate for the madrasah to have its own premises.”
However, Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah) still did not agree and insisted that the madrasah did not need its own premises, but rather it should remain in the musjid. The people who were present at that time were upset with the insistence of Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah), but seeing the tolerance of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), nobody said anything.
Nevertheless, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) later instructed the people to send out the notices regarding the place of the madrasah being established. However, he instructed them saying, “In the notice, do not mention whether the place of the madrasah will be separate or in the musjid. That will be attended to and announced when the time comes. By that time, Hajee Aabid Husain will hopefully agree with the decision.”
Everyone present agreed, and the decision was also taken that people should be called from different areas to come and participate in the foundation laying which would take place on a Friday. On that day, after the jumuah, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) would give a bayaan, after which all the people, both the locals and those who had come from different areas, would go to the place where the madrasah would be built, for the foundation laying.
Accordingly, the notices were made and were sent out, and from far and wide, people’s letters of response came, informing of their intention to come and participate.
On the appointed day, a large group of people had arrived from various places, and many of these people had come mainly to listen to the bayaan which Moulana Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was going to deliver.
According to the pre-decided program written on the notice, Moulana Nanotwi (rahimahullah) gave the bayaan after the jumuah. At the end of his bayaan, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) said to the congregation, “Everyone should come to such-and-such place for the foundation laying of the madrasah.”
As soon as he heard these words, Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah) became upset and began to exclaim in anger, “Haai! What is this!?” Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) came to him and addressed him saying, “Hajee Saheb! This is the appropriate course of action! Please come with us to lay the foundation!”
However, Hajee Saheb (rahimahullah) was upset and said in anger, “Why should I come? What is the need to spend so much of money like this? Why is such a big, unnecessary project being undertaken?” Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) responded, “Hajee Saheb! Understand that it will be in keeping to the interest of deen that the madrasah has its own premises!”
Hajee Saheb (rahimahullah) was upset, and in this condition, he went and sat inside the Chatta Musjid, while the rest of the people went to the foundation laying site. As for Moulana Nanotwi (rahimahullah), then instead of going to the site with the crowd, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) came into the musjid as well.
Viewing the fact that Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah) had been running the madrasah for the last ten years since its inception, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) showed him great consideration. He called out to Hajee Saheb saying, “Hajee Saheb! You are our senior, and we are all your juniors! Why have you begun to abandon and turn away from us – your juniors – in this manner?”
In this manner, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) mentioned other similar statements to him, and his words, sincerity and love had such an effect on the heart of Hajee Saheb that he realized that had been mistaken, while Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) had been correct in his decision. Hence, he came forward and fell to the ground where he began to weep uncontrollably. He said to Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), “Moulana! For the sake of Allah Ta‘ala, please forgive me for my mistake!”
Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) held Hajee Saheb, embraced him and said, “Hajee Saheb! What are you saying? You are our buzurg and senior!” Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) then brought Hajee Saheb (rahimahullah) to the foundation laying site where the foundation had already been dug.
Most of the pious and saintly personalities of the time had come for the foundation laying, and thus people were wondering as to who, from this galaxy of great Awliyaa, would be chosen for the honour of laying the first brick.
The people felt that from everyone present, it would surely be Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) who would lay the first brick, as he was distinguished even among the great Ulama of the time. However, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was such that when it was time to do some deeni work, then he would always be in the forefront, but when it was time to receive recognition, then he would remain in the back. He would be the first to do the work, but would put someone else forward to receive recognition.
Even when Daarul Uloom Deoband was founded, began to operate and progress in the field of deeni academics, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) had done everything for the progress of the madrasah, yet he did not want his name to appear anywhere, to the extent that even when purchasing the land for the madrasah, he did not write his own name down but rather bought the land in the name of Hajee Aabid Husain (rahimahullah).
Therefore, when it was suggested that Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) should lay the first brick in the foundation, he refused and said, “That can never happen.” He then personally selected the first person saying, “Hazrat Miyajee (the grandfather of Moulana Asghar Husain [rahimahullah]) will place the first brick, as he is a Sayyid (descendant of Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam]), and is also a saintly person. Thereafter, Hajee Aabid Husain will place the next brick, after which all the other seniors will place bricks.”
Accordingly, these two personalities placed the first two bricks, after which Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) called Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah) forward to place the third brick.
After Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah) had placed the third brick, the people said to Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), “Hazrat! You should also place a brick now!” Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) replied, “Yes, I am also here, with all of you.” Hence, he also placed a brick with the rest of the people present.
(Arwaah-e-Thalaathah pg. 198-201 & Ml Muhammed Qaasim Nanotwi Hayaat aur Kaarname pg. 96-110)
