Maulana Muhammad Ismail Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him) has illuminated the pages of history as the forerunner of those few scholars of religion from the Indo-Pak subcontinent who have channeled their talent, capability, and intellect to raise the banner of Tawheed and Sunnah, who have simultaneously ascended to the highest level of success in the work of Dars-Tadris, Ta'lim, Tanzim(organisation), and Tasneef through hard work and effort.
He has emerged as an example for those who have been honored by the country, society and religion alike and will continue to do so in the future. He is one of those who, despite being thrown into the prison cell of the oppressor while speaking about truth and justice, remained steadfast like a mountain, and the greatest asset of the Ummah is being sculpted in the hearts of the youth. This great man, born in a short time, is the person we are discussing.
Salafi (rahimahullah)'s grandfather and father :
Maulana Muhammad Isma'il Salafi (rahimahullah)'s grandfather was the famous doctor -Hakim 'Abdullah (rahimahullah). He had four sons. Namely-
1. Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim,
2. Maulana Ahmad,
3. 3. Maulana 'Abdul Aziz,
4. Maulana Muhammad Alam.
Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim is the proud father of Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him). The family profession of writing books (since there was no photocopying or typing in those days, multiple copies of various books were made by hand, this became a profession) and medicine were Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim's means of earning a living. And he was adept at this work.
Maulana Abdul Mannan Uzirabadi (rahimahullah) was a famous Ahlil-Hadith scholar of that region at that time. One of the notable students of Miya Nazir Hussain Dehlavi was Maulana Abdul Mannan Uzirabadi. Students from different regions used to come to his Dars every day to take Dars. Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim used to attend that Dars to acquire knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah along with medical treatment. Thus, a wonderful combination of medicine, book copying, and religious knowledge took place within Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim.
Ibrahim(rahimahullah) was a follower of the Hanafi school of thought. His teacher, Maulana Abdul Mannan Uzirabadi, was a renowned scholar of the Ahlil-Hadith. After acquiring the correct knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah from his teacher, he left the hanafi school of thought and converted to the Ahlil-Hadith school of thought.
Birth : Maulana Muhammad Ismail Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him) was born in 1314 AH, 1895 AD, in Gujranwala, a district of Uzirabad (a notable district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Located on the banks of the Chenab River, 100 km north of Lahore).
Education : Salafi (rahimahullah) received his primary education from his father in his childhood. He also acquired knowledge in books such as Nahu, Saraf, Gulista, Busta, etc. from Maulana ‘Umar Uddin Uzirabadi.After completing his primary education, he went to his father's teacher, Maulana Abdul Mannan Uzirabadi, and successfully studied various branches of religious education.
Delhi Tour : Delhi had a great reputation as the Islamic school and nurturing center of knowledge in India at that time. Delhi was full of the footsteps of famous Ulama-e-Qiram of India. He studied under Maulana Abdul Mannan Uzirabadi and went to Delhi in 1908 at the age of just (12/13). Upon arriving at the madrasa where he taught, he studied under the famous hadith scholar Shaykh Abdul Jabbar Umarpuri and other great scholars in various branches of Islam.
Amritsar Tour : Amritsar, which is now part of the Punjab province of India, was at that time a famous Ahlil-Hadith family, the "Ghaznavi family", which was steeped in the 'ilmi khidmat' (scientific of knowledge service). It was there that the greatest scholar of the era, Allama Abul Wafa Sanaullah Amritsari (1285 AH-1367 AH), the founder of Jamiyat-e-Ahlil-Hadith Hind, was born. Salafi (rahimahullah) came there and acquired knowledge from the two best sons of the Ghaznavi family, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Ghaznavi and Maulana A. Rahim Ghaznavi. Then he learned various subjects such as ‘Ilm Mantek, ‘Ilm Kalam, ‘Ilm Falsafah, ‘Ilm Nafs’ etc. from Mufti Muhammad Hasan. Who established Jamia Ashrafia in Lahore after the establishment of Pakistan.
Those by whom he is influenced : People are weak towards someone or the other. They are influenced by someone or the other. Salafis (may Allah have mercy on them) are no exception. In the field of knowledge, he was influenced by Mufti Muhammad Hasan of Amritsar. On the other hand, in organizational terms, he was influenced by Allama Sanaullah Amritsari. On the political side, he was influenced by the veteran politician, Congress President, and the first Education Minister of independent India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1306 AH/1888 AD-1377 AH/1958 AD). In this way, Maulana Muhammad Ismail Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him) continued to move forward with unwavering determination in politics, the Jamiyat-e-Ahlil-Hadith, and the scientific field. As a result, his role in the anti-British movement was outstanding.
Arrival in Sialkot: Sialkot has been the center of Islamic knowledge since ancient times. It was where the greatest philosopher of the Muslim world, Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal (Rahimahullah) (1877 AH-1938 AD) was born. Salafi (rahimahullah) came to Sialkot and studied under the famous Ahlil-Hadith ‘scholars Maulana Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti (1291 AH/1871 AD-1376 AH/1956 AD). Since his name was similar to the name of the student’s father, Maulana Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti loved Salafi (rahimahullah) very much. He even gifted him various priceless books from his vast library.
Obtaining permission to narrate Hadith : Obtaining permission is one of the conditions for narrating Hadith. Salafi (rahimahullah) obtained that permission from two great people.
1. Maulana Abdul Mannan Uzirabadi; who was awarded the title of Ustaze Punjab.
2. The famous Salafi ‘Alim of Mecca, Shaykh Abu Bakr Khuqir (rahimahullah). Thus, it can be seen that there are 24 narrators with an unbroken chain of transmission between Salafi (rahimahullah) and the Prophet (rahimahullah).
Return to Gujranwala : Salafi (rahimahullah) returned to his native Gujranwala with Maulana Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti in 1339 AH corresponding to 1921 AD. When this great scholar, endowed with versatile talents, arrived in his native land, everyone welcomed him warmly. Maulana Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti said, "I will not stay here for long and I am not a native of this place. So you take care of it." At that time, there were only a handful of Jamiyat well-wishers in Gujranwala. Then Salafi (rahimahullah) decided to work in Gujranwala itself. He started his career by taking the responsibility of Imamate(lead) and Khutbah in the central mosque of Ahlil-Hadith there. His colorful career spanned a long half-century. Meanwhile, the then Vice-Chancellor of the Islamic University of Madinah, Allama Bin Baz (may Allah have mercy on him), the greatest jurist of the 20th century, invited Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him) to Madinah. But he preferred to stay in Gujranwala and sent Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Qandhalvi instead. It was in this Ahlil-Hadith Masjid in Gujranwala that he founded Madrasa Muhammadia on his own initiative, which for more than fifty years quenched the thirst for knowledge of students coming from remote areas of Punjab. Salafi (rahimahullah) did not stop at just teaching in this madrasa; rather, he appointed qualified teachers from different places and turned this madrasa into an exemplary and notable madrasa. But it is a matter of regret that after the demise of Salafi (rahimahullah), the Jamiyat Ahlil-Hadith of Gujranwala did not take any steps to maintain the madrasa. As a result, its activities were stopped within a few days (Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhe rajeun).
Students : Thousands of students have graduated from Madrasa Muhammadia who have achieved immortality by spreading the message of Tawheed and Sunnah in different parts of Pakistan. Notable among them are: -
1. Sheikh Muhammad Hanif Nadwi, a famous scholar of Islamic philosophy.
2. Sheikh Tayyib ‘Abdullah Nasr.
3. Sheikh Hafiz Muhammad Isma‘il Zabeeh, who gained fame in lecturing and teaching. 4. Sheikh Muinuddin Laxmouvi, who gained fame in ‘Ilm-e-Siyasa.
5. Sheikh Muhammad Sulaiman Kailani, who was an expert in the translation of Arabic and Persian books.
6. Sheikh Khaled Karzakhi, who founded the “Idaratu Ihya’e Sunnah”.
There are also numerous students who have received education from the Salafis (may Allah have mercy on them) and have devoted their lives to serving Tawheed and the Sunnah.
Daily Routine : Salafi (rahimahullah) was so active in life that it is very difficult for us to understand. How did he accomplish so much? Leading the five daily prayers in the mosque, delivering Friday khuthba, reciting the Quran in regular Dars, giving regular Dars in Madrasas, writing and responding to Fatwas coming from different parts of the country. Jamiyat's Tablighi and organizational tours, his impeccable contribution to the freedom movement, this is the daily routine of his life. In this life of non-stop work, where there is no leisure, no rest, do we remember the service he has rendered to Jamiyat ? Are we not properly protecting the sacred trust left by them - are we being betrayed?
In the field of speech : Salafi (rahimahullah) was a shining example in the field of speech too. His speech was based on facts and logic, and was based on reality. The elegance of his literature was evident in his choice of words, and the elegance of his words gave him an attractive invisible power. Maintaining the continuity of the speech, immersing the audience in the content, and the arrival of such high literary words in a torrential flow was truly like a masterpiece of speech. He had never given a prepared speech on any subject since 1921. Audiences of all classes, coming from remote areas of Punjab, were captivated by his speeches, and his devotees and admirers were captivated.
Writing : Despite his busy schedule, Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him) left behind some invaluable books for the Ummah, which have granted him immortality. Despite being a scholar in Arabic, he wrote in Urdu. Some of them are published, some are unpublished.
Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him) writings and original works
إسلامى حكمومت كا مختصر خاكه
(A Brief Outline of Islamic Governance)
جماعت إسلامى كا نظري مى حديث
(Hadith in the Viewpoint of the jamat-e-islami)
تحرىكى أزادى فكر اور شاه ولى الله
(Freedom Movement: A Thought and the Reformation Activities of Shah Waliullah)
مسئلہ حيات النبى ﷺ
(The issue of the life of the Prophet ; peace be upon him)
مسئلہ زيارت قبور
(Grave visitation topic)
Books Translated into Arabic (Translator: Renowned Arabic Writer Dr. Muqtada Hasan Al-Azhari)
حركة الانطلاق الفكري وجهود الشاه ولى الله في التجديد
(Original text : تحرىكى أزادى فكر اور شاه ولى الله)
رسالة في مسئلة حياة النبى ﷺ
(Original Text : مسئلہ حيات النبى ﷺ)
مسئلة زيارات القبور فى ضؤء الكتاب والسنة
(Original Text : مسئلہ زيارت قبور)
Other books (in Arabic)
السنة فى ضوء القرآن
مكانة السنة فى التشريع الإسلامى
صفة صلاة النبى ﷺ
تخطيط وجيز للحكومة الإسلامية
مذهب الإمام البخارى
The books written by Salafi (rahimahullah) have been published by the famous Indian organization “Idaraatul Buhus al-Islamiyah wad Da’wah wal-Ifta”. The Saudi government has also arranged for the publication of several of his books in Arabic. Thus, the books of Salafi (rahimahullah) have gained wide popularity in the Arab world as well.
Jamiyat-e-Ahlil-Hadith and Salafi (Rahimahullah) : Jamiyat-e-Ahlil-Hadith and Maulana Salafi (Rahimahullah) were inseparable parts of each other, they were closely related. He has rendered tireless service to this ancient organization of the subcontinent for more than half a century. After starting his stay in Gujranwala, in 1931 he was elected as the director of the local office of Punjab Jamiat. Then in 1940, in the Delhi General Conference, he was elected as the secretary of the Education and Research Council of Jamiyat . After the separation of Pakistan from Hindustan in 1947, the Pakistan Jamiyat-e-Ahlil-Hadith was reorganized in 1952. In the elections, Allama Syed Muhammad Dawud Ghaznavi (rahimahullah) was elected as the President. And Maulana Muhammad Ismail Salafi (rahimahullah) was elected as the Secretary General. He remained in this position until his death, contributing to the progress and prosperity of the Jamiat. His tenure in this position was 16 years (1952-1968).
When the Qadiyani fitnah rose to its peak in the 1960s, the historic Khatme Nabuwat movement gained momentum throughout India and Pakistan. In 1953, a grand conference of the Khatme Nabuwat movement was organized in Pakistan. Three people were nominated by Jamiyat Ahlil -Hadith to the implementation committee of this conference. Among them was Shaykh Ismail Salafi (rahimahullah). Salafis (may Allah have mercy on them) were also imprisoned in this movement. (Source: “Al-I’tisam”, the weekly newspaper of the Pakistan Jamiyat, first published on August 19, 1949. March, 1968 issue.)
In 1924, when there was a forcible conversion of Muslims to Hinduism in India (especially in Central India), known as the “Shuddhi Movement”, Muslim leaders from various provinces gathered in Madhya(middle) Pradesh. Among the Punjab representatives, Salafi (rahimahullah) was a notable representative.
Salafi (Rahimahullah) in the service of the Muhajirs : After the partition of the country, many Muslims living in India migrated to Pakistan. From the Sharia perspective, they were considered as Muhajirs. Pakistan Jamiyat-e-Ahlil-Hadith came forward to meet their basic needs including accommodation, food, medical treatment, and education in the new country of Pakistan. Maulana Ismail Salafi (Rahimahullah) was given the responsibility of looking after the Muslims who migrated to Gujranwala on behalf of the Jamiyat.A famous scholar like him worked tirelessly day and night to serve the Muhajirs. He remained memorable in the pages of history. He became a proud partner in serving the Muhajirs.
Establishment of Jamia Salafia Faisalabad : Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him) was dreaming day and night of establishing a Jamia where the Ahlil-Hadith school and the teachings of the Salaf would prevail. The unequivocal declaration of the Quran and Sunnah would be pronounced from that religious center. That is why his choice was independent Kashmir or any other city in Pakistan. Allah Almighty fulfilled that dream. On 7 Shaban, 1374 corresponding to April 1951. He established Jamia Salafia in Lyallpur (the former name of Pakistan's third largest city, Faisalabad. In 1979, Faisalabad was named after Saudi King Shah Faisal.). The journey began. With a firm, unwavering, and firm oath of Tawhid, he corresponded with Shaykh bin Baz, the Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Madinah, to improve the quality of education at Jamia Salafia. He invited the teachers of Madinah to provide the Jamia's services. The communication was fruitful. Several Saudi Shaykhs came to teach at Jamia Salafia.
Leaving this world : Humans are mortal. Maulana Ismail Salafi (may Allah have mercy on him) was forced to accept this inviolable maxim, which is known throughout the world.
After being ill with a bone disease for several years, on Tuesday, February 20, 1968, after the 'Asr prayer, according to the 2nd of Zilqad, 1387 AH, this great man, a wise scholar of Hadith, left this world and passed away to the presence of the Almighty God (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihe Raji'un).
I hope that every Ahlil-Hadith child will take his wonderful sacrifice and sacrifice as a guide.
🖋️ Tanzil Ahmad
Secretary General, jamiyat e shubban ahlil hadeeth, Bangladesh
Translator : Takbirul Islam Ronok