Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Moulana Zafar Ahmed Uthmaani (rahimahullah) mentions:
Hazrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmed Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) had commenced writing the kitaab “Bazlul Majhood” (a commentary on the Kitaab of Hadith – Sunan Abu Dawood) while he was staying in India. Thereafter, when he migrated to Madinah Munawwarah, he completed writing the kitaab there, in the blessed city – the mubaarak city of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) would dictate the commentary of the Ahaadith to his mureed and attendant, Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith, Moulana Muhammed Zakariyya (rahimahullah), who would write down what he was dictating.
During the period when they were in Madinah Munawwarah, they would sit in Madrasah Uloomush Sharia’h and write the kitaab. At that time, this madrasah was adjoining the wall of the Haram Shareef, though the place where the madrasah used to be is now included inside the Haram itself.
Their daily routine was that after the esha salaah, when they would finish their writing for the day, Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) and Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah) would return to their homes.
One night, after Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) had dictated the commentary of Ahaadith to Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah), they both had returned to their homes. That night, Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah) had seen a dream in which he saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
In the dream, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was holding the pages of Bazlul Majhood in his mubaarak hand which Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) had dictated to Hazrat Shaikh (rahimahullah) on that day. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) indicated to a certain place in the commentary and said, “The explanation which is written here under a certain Hadith is incorrect, and this is the correct explanation. Hence, the mistake should be corrected.”
In this dream, there was indication that he should mention this to Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) so that he could correct the mistake. After seeing the dream, Hazrat Shaikh’s (rahimahullah) eyes opened, and he immediately left his home, during the middle of the night, to go and inform Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) of what Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had mentioned to him in the dream.
Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah) realized that this was such an important matter that he should not delay and wait until the morning, as perhaps he could pass away before the morning. Hence, he immediately left his home and walked in the direction of the home of Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah).
Since there were no lights at that time, and everything was dark, while walking, Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah) had seen a person approaching from a distance, carrying a lantern in his hand. Seeing this person, at this hour of the night, he wondered to himself, “Who could this be?” However, as he drew closer, he saw that it was none other than his Shaikh, Hazrat Moulana Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah), coming towards him, holding the lantern.
Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah) ran towards Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) who said to him, “I was on my way to meet you.” Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah) asked him, “Hazrat! Is there any problem due to which you are awake and are coming towards me at this time?” Hazrat Sahaanapuri (rahimahullah) replied, “I saw a dream of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and I could not wait until the morning to fulfil what I was commanded in the dream, as I thought to myself, ‘What guarantee do I have that I will live until the morning?’”
Hazrat Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) then mentioned the dream to Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah), regarding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) informing him of the mistake which was made in the commentary of the Hadith and which needed to be corrected.
Hearing this, Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith (rahimahullah) exclaimed, “Hazrat! I also saw the same dream, and it is for this reason I was coming to you at this time.”
Both – Shaikh and mureed – showed this high level of love and importance to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his Mubaarak Hadith, that Allah Ta‘ala granted them and their works special qabooliyat (acceptance) in the world.
After mentioning this incident, Hazrat Moulana Zafar Ahmed (rahimahullah) said, “When these kitaabs containing the commentary of the Mubaarak Ahaadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) are such that they have gained the special attention of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) himself, and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was happy with them, then imagine the high rank these kitaabs hold, and the high rank of those who have written them!”
(Jamaal-e-Muhammadi 3/163-165)
