[Biography] – Shaikh Muhibullah Shah ar-Rashidi as-Sindhi [1415H]

Compiled, Translated and Annotated

Abu Hibban & Abu Khuzaimah Ansari

 

He is al-Aalim, the great Shaikh al-Allaamah The Imaam The Muhaddith Abul-Qaasim Muhibbullah Shaah Raashidee as-Sindhee

He is Muhibullah Ibn Ehsaanullah Ibn Raashidullah. His name was chosen by his grandfather Sayyid Raashidullah Shaah. His kunyah is Abul-Qaasim, his kunyah used to be Abu Rooh after the name of his older son Rooh however he died in a car accident when he was 13 or 14 and thereafter the Shaikh changed his kunyah to Abul Qaasim after the name of his second eldest son.

He was born on the 29th of Muharram in 1340h corresponding to 12th october 1921ce in the village of Peer Jhanda in the district of Hydrabaad. 

The Shaikh was born into a religious family who were upon the correct Aqeedah from the very beginning and at the same time his surrounding was just a complete understanding of Quraan and Hadeeth. The Shaikh received his early education from his father Shaikh Ehsaanullaah Shaah Raashidee who was titled as an Imaam on Asmaa ur-Rijaal of his time by Shaikh ul-Islaam Thanaullaah Amritsari.

The Shaikh Was mostly educated in his villages historical school of Daar ur-Rashaad where after learning to read the Quraan he learnt Arabic, Persian and English.

He had a remarkable and powerful memory that when he turned 19 he learnt the Quraan in just 2 and a half months

His Teachers

Some of his teachers are,

His father ash-Shaikh Ehsaanullaah Shaah Raashidee

Shaikh ul-Islaam Thanullaah Amritsari

Shaikh Abdul Haqq Bhawalpooree

Shaikh Muhammad Ibrahim Meer Sialkotee

Shaikh Abu Saeed Sharf ud deen Dehlawee

Shaikh Ataaullaah Haneef Bhojiyaanee

Shaikh Abdul Wahhaab

Shaikh Bahaa ud deen Afghani

Haafidh Muhammad Ameen

Shaikh Hameed ud deen

Shaikh Walee Muhammad

Shaikh Muhammad Ismaeel Afghani

Shaikh Muhammad Khaleel Ahmad

Shaikh Muhammad Madani

Shaikh Muhammad Akram Sindhee Ansaari

Shaikh Muhammad Yoosuf

Shaikh Abdul Waahid Haalehpauta

Shaikh Qutb ud deen

Shaikh Noor Muhammad

Shaikh Ubaidullaah Sindhee

Shaikh Mahmood Ahmad

He then went to Shaikh Muhammad Ibraahim Meer Sialkotee and took a letter from him to attend madrassah Rehmania in Delhi but for some reason or another he never went. He read Wadheh al-Bayaan and Shahadatul-Quraan from Shaikh Ibrahim Meer.

Whatever subject the Shaikh studied he developed great expertise in it so much so that he even composed poetry. His father Shaikh Ehsaanullaah was strictly againt and hated Greek philosophy but the Shaikh convinced his father and also learnt it. The Shaikh aswell as learning the Islamic sciences also learnt secular sciences and so he completed his metric and thereafter he completed his F.A. and then B.A and went on further and completed an M.A. In Religious studies from Karachi or Sindh University aswell as further Arabic.

The Shaikh had great expertise and excelled in syntax and Arabic grammar and was an authority in tafseer and Hadeeth and this is the reason why many respected him.

He learnt Hadeeth from Shaikh ul-Islaam Thanaullaah Amritsari, Shaikh Abdul Haqq Bahawalpooree, Shaikh Abu Saeed Sharf ud deen Dehlawee and Shaikh Ataaullaah Haneef Bhojiyaanee and attained chains of Hadeeth from them. 

The Shaikh was unique in his knowledge and actions and he had complete authority in Islamic sciences and principles such as tafseer, Hadeeth, fiqh, principles of fiqh, history and biographies, asma ur-rijaal, adab, philosophy and logic. He had a heartily affection with Hadeeth and his research and expertise in asma ur-rijaal was vast and he was an experienced in research and analysis.

After receiving his education be began teaching in his village in Peer Jhandha and after a number of years he moved to another village Dargah Shareef which is situated about 2 to 3 kilometres from New Saeedabaad. He established a madrassah and began teaching. The Shaikh also has a very big library which has more than 10,000 books.

His Students

The Shaikh spent a lot of his life teaching and lecturing in the village madrassah of Daar ur-Rashaad, any of the students who would come would leave with pearls of knowledge. The Shaikh has numerous students some of them are

His younger brother and the great Al-Allaamah Imaam Badee ud deen Sindhee

Shaikh Muhammad Ibraaheem A’waan

Shaikh Abdul Ghaanee bin Shaikh al-Allaamah Allaah Baksh Tanasyo

Shaikh Hamdee Abdul Majeed as-Salafi

Shaikh Muhammad Yaqoob

Shaikh Professor Baksh Muhammadee

Shaikh Yaqoob bin Moosaa Jantee

Shaikh Ayoob Mamduh bin Fathe al-Kuwaitee

Shaikh Muhammad Abdullaah 

And other that so many scholars benefitted from him.

His Books

the Shaikh was constantly busy with teaching and delivering sermons and speeches throughout Pakistan and as he was also in charge of madrassah Daar ul-Rashaad where he would be continuously teaching and so had very little time. The Shaikh has written hundred of articles in the numerous magazines and journals in Pakistan and elsewhere, he would write in both Urdu and Sindhee.

The Shaikh has approximately 57 works spread over 3 languages ie Arabic, Urdu and Sindhee. This alone is a remarkable as most authors write in one language and rarely 2 but to write in 3 languages is indeed something. Writing alone is easy but writing on intricate and integral issues in different languages is a unique capability and we will see from the shaikhs works.

What is further unique to Shaikh Muhibullaah is that a great majority of his books have an Arabic title irrespective of the language they have been written in as you will come to know.

Arabic Works

Ta’leeq an-Najeeh A’laa Jaame as-Saheeh, an explanation of Saheeh al Bukhaari in 9 Volumes

Taraajim ar-Ruwaah Li-Kitaab al-Qiraah Khalfal-Imaam of Imaam Baihaqi

Kashful-lithaam Ann Taraajim ar-Ruwaah al-A’laam Alladheena Yarauna Hadeeth Laa Salata Liman lam Yaqraa Bi-Faatihul Kitaab Khalful Imaam

Tareeq as-Sadaad Wal-Fasl Wal-Maqaal Fee Taraajim ar-Rijaal ath-Thiqaat an-Nibaal Alladheena Laisa Laahum Dhikr Fee Tahdheeb al-Kamaal

Thiqaat ar-Rijaal al-Multaqata Min Taareekh Jurjaan

Aun Allaah al-Quddus as-Salaam Li-Taleeq al-Aneeq at-Taam Alar-Risaalah al-Musamah Bi-Idraak ar-Rakah Bi-Idraak ar-Rukuh Ma al-Imaam

Tahseel al-Mua’ala Bayaan Hukm al-Jahr Bi-Basmala Fis-Salah

Al-Haam ar-Raheem al-Wadood Wa-Tanqeed Fathal-Ma’bood

Ta’leeq al-Muhib al-Hussainee A’la Taqreeb Li-Haafidh al-Asqalaani

Taleeqaat Ala Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan

Azaalatal Aknah Ann Baad al-Muwaadeh Fee Tamaam al-Minnah Fee Taleeq Ala Fiqh us-Sunnah

Urdu Works

Hiyaaz as-Salah Min Bayaan Adyah as-Salah

Sidq al-Maqaal was-Sadaad al-Itjaa Fee Bayaan Suwaneh Hayaat Muhibullaah Khamsah Ajza

Suwaaneh Hayat Sayyid Ehsaanullaah Shaah as-Raashidee

As-Saee al-Atheet Fee Tahqeeq at-Taqallab Bi-Ahlul Hadeeth

As-Sawaa’iq al-Mursalah  Minal Kitaabul Azeez al-Furqaan al-Ahraaq al-Khada Wal-Abateel al-Waaqia Fir-Risaalah al-Musamah Bi-Balaagh al-Quraan

Tanbeehah al-Fitan ad-Daaree Ala Fultaan al-Faadhil al-Hasaaree al-Muqallab be Tawabeekh az-Zujar Liman Yaman’a Ann Ada ar-Rakatain Jaalisa Baadul Witr

Al-Manhaj as-Suwee Fil-Malahadhaat Ala Tafseer al-Ghaznawee

Ar-Radd alar-Risaalah Li-Noorallaah Shaah Raashidee

Tabeed al-Aalim ul-Ghayb Was-Shahadatul Kabeer al-Muta’aal Li-Ahlul Irsaal Fee Tahqeeq Nayl al-Amaanee Wa-Hasool al-Amaal La-Yuheeq al-Qunoot wa-Ilyaas al-Bil-Mubtal al-Maanad Aw Majaadil al-Makaabir Min Ahlul Dhalaal

Nayl al-Amaanee Wa-Hasool al-Amaal Bi-Tahqeeq Inna Hayyatal Masnoonah Lil-Qiyaam Baad ur-Rukuh Hiyal-Irsaal.

Izaalatul-Niqaab at-Tazweer Ann Min Wajh Masaltatul Tasweer

Jaudatun-Tanqeeh Fee Masalatu Rakaat ur-Taraaweeh

At-Tahqeeq al-Mustahlah Fee Thaboot as-Salaatun-Nabee Sallaahu alayhee Was-Sallam Fil Aqdatal Oula

al-Qatoof ad-Daaniyyah Fee Ajwabatus-Suwaalaat ath-Thaamaniyyah

Ghuzaarshaat Hamaree Bar-Jawaab Insaanee A’dha Ki Paiwankaaree

Anaam Zul-Jalaal Wal-Ikraam Bi-Tahqeeq Istihbaab Tagtiyyah ar-Raas Fee Ghair Haalatal Ihraam

Haqeeqat Pasandana Mashgalah Barai Jaizah Qiblah Roo Paun Karneh Ka Masala

Imaam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhaab Ek-Mujaddid

Al-Burhaan al-Qaate Minallaah al-Wahhaab al-Waahid Ala Inna Sayyidana Eesaa bin Maryam Alayhuma as-Salatu was-Salaam Walad Bilaa Walad

Itihaaf as-Sadaatah wal-Ikraam Bi-Tahqeeq Inna Awal Salatal-Masbooq Huwa Maa Adraku Maa al-Imaam

Ikhtisaar al-Lumatut-Tahqeeq al-Adhaan al-Uthmaanee Yaum al-Jumuah

Khutbah Sadaarat Conference Lahore

Aydah al-Maraam was-Tifaa al-Kalaam Ala Tad-Dhaeef Hadeeth Nahya Ann al-Intaal Fee Haalatul-Qiyaam

Taskeen al-Qalb al-Mushuwish Baa-Ataa at-Tahqeeq Fee Tadlees ath-Thawree wal-Aamash

Dharee Kitnee Rakni Chahiyeh

Ghuzaarish Banda Haqeer Par Taqseer Muhlisana Naseehat Nafees Ba-Janaab Muhtaram Maulana Muhammad Idrees Saahib

Ar-Radd at-Tahqeeq Ala Kitaab Paighaan-e-Khuda

Sindhee Works

Al-Manhaj al-Qaum Fee Tafseer Soorah Maryam

Fataawaa Raashidiyyah

Bazal Aqsaa al-Was’a Fee Ajwabatus-Suwaalaat at-Tisaa

Safar Namah Istanbul

Safar Namah Hijaaz

Safar Namah Hijaaz Wa-Europe

Safar Namah Islaamabaad conference Ahlul Fikar Wa Daanish

Al-Qawaateh ar-Rahmaniyyah al-Iftara al-Firqah al-Qaadiyaaniyah

At-Tanqeed as-Sunnee Ala Fultaat al-Maulwee Abdul-Ghanee

Izaar al-Ghaawiyyah al-Waaqiah Kitaab Paighaam Hidayat

At-Tahqeeq al-Jaleel Fee An Irsaal Baad ur-Rukuh Fis-Salah Huwal-Haq Min Haith ad-Daleel

Anees al-Firaag Fee Bayaan Haqaaiq Uloom al-Balaagh

Aunu Lil-Hameed Fee Radd Ala Abdul Waheed

Allaahu Subhaan Wat-Ta’ala Jau Ehsaan Sundas Mint Baraa Jaizah

Al-Bayaan al-Ambal Fee Sharh al-Mufassal

At-Tabsarah Ala Kitaab Jaihee Zana’a Mauna

Sher Wa Shairee

Afsah at-Tibyaan Wa-Waadheh al-Burhaan Ala An as-Salah Liman Yaqraa Feehaa Baam al-Quraan

Mulaahazaat Barkataat Muqaam Mustafa

The Shaikh had travelled to Amritsar, Delhi, Agra, Saudia Arabia, Istanbul in Turkey and to some European countries with regards to knowledge. He spent 12 days just visiting the museums and bookshops in search of books.

The Shaikh would speak very little and when he did speak he was softly spoken, smiling and a pleasant natured scholar. His speech would always be weighed before he spoke and he would speak with his full knowledge.

The Shaikh would prayer with great ease and simplicity and by this the followers would also tend to relax and pray with great ease. The Shaikh was indeed very simple and a very humble man so much so that if ever he needed a quote from a book he would get up and get the book himself instead of asking his students.

With regards to Tawheed and The Sunnah he was like an open razor sharp sword. Once a man came to the Shaikh and bowed down and gave Salaam, The Shaikh with great anger reprimanded the action and said any bowing is only for Allaah alone, when nowadays the people wait and anticipate that people bow and give them salaam.

The Shaikh was strictly opposed and hated acts and statements of shirk. So an incident occurred in the year 1939 when the Shaikh along with his mother, nephew and some other people left for the annual pilgrimage of hajj via ship. The ship had not lifted the anchor when a man said “labbayk ya rasoolullaah” so the Shaikh said in a loud voice “is other than Allaah already being called upon what will happen to this ship” and as soon as the ship left the shores of Karachi it became engulfed in a storm and all you could hear were screams and the waves were rising and washing the ship.

So now all of them were calling upon Allaah frantically and prostrating and reading the Quraan asking for leave of destruction. The captain said this ship has never had to face such a storm in over 40 years. The man who said labbayk ya rasoolullaah was on the ground prostrating and praying to Allaah. The captain had to turn the ship around away from Jeddah as he thought it was too dangerous and then the people became very sad at the thought of not being able to perform hajj. The ship remained in the storm for for 3 to days until things calmed and they finally made their way to Jeddah for hajj. This frightening ordeal lasted a total of 11 days and finally in the end they were able to fulfill their obligations.

The Shaikh really disliked pictures and any form of imagery so much so that all of the books in his library had all of the pictures defaced and every morning the photos in the newspaper would be defaced before they were give to him.

Shaikh Ehsaanullaah asked his brother for his daughters hand in marriage for Shaikh Muhibullah but his brother refused saying he (Shaikh Muhibullaah) does Raful Yadain ie raises his hands in the prayer so Shaikh Muhibullaah said I cannot abandon a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu alayhee was-Sallam) just for the sake of a woman, let alone one woman i can sacrifice 1000 women over the Sunnah of my beloved Prophet (Sallalahu alayhee was-Sallam). Later on after Shaikh Ehsaanullahs demise his uncle agreed to his daughters marriage himself.

The Shaikh would lead the Taraweeh prayer himself and recite one juzz every night in the month of Ramadhan. In any month he would on average recite 4 juzz per day and would finish reciting the whole Quraan in approximately one week, and he would start on the saturday and finish on the Friday, not only would he do this by memory but also by looking at the Quraan. Furthermore he would recite one juzz in the tahajjud prayer and would finish hence a whole Quraan via this way too.

He would practise what had been narrated in the ahadeeth concerning the recitation of certain soorahs in the prayers for example what has been mentioned concerning reciting soorahs al-Baqarah, Ale Imraan and an-Nisaa the Shaikh would practise this as well as reciting 20 soorahs in 10 rakahs. This shows how the Shaikh was very observant of the Sunnah even when it came to actions.

The Shaikh would have a lesson on tafseer ie explain the Quraan everyday after the fajr prayer and he would do so after researching the verses from at least 14 or 15 explanations of the Quraan and every ruling or issues related to the verse the Shaikh would mention and explain so much so that the explanation of a verse could continue for days. The Shaikh had great love for the Quraan and he would research and learn the meaning of the Quraan with great depth.

The Shaikh travelled extensively throughout Pakistan calling people to Islaam and delivering lectures at so many different places. He also travelled abroad and called non Muslims to Islaam. He travelled to England and visited cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester and Oxford and told the people about the importance of sticking to the Quraan and Sunnah.

The Shaikh On Asmaa ur-Rijaal

Shaikh Zubair Alee Zaee said I did the checking of Imaam Baihaqis book “Ithbaat Adhaab al-Qabr” (Affirming the Punishment of The Grave) and this book was written in manuscript form by our Shaikh Imaam Bade ud deen so whilst doing the checking I was unable to find information concerning some narrators so I would refer to Shaikh Muhibullaah and he having unparallel memory would tell me the affair of some of these narrators from his memory from the books. Shaikh Muhibullaah also wrote the introduction to this book.

Shaikh Hamdee Abdul Majeed as-Salafee one of the students of Imaam Badee ud deen is a checker and verifier of books and from one of the books he checked is Mu’ajam al-Kabeer of Imaam Tabarani and this is indeed a great service. He would often refer and benefit from Shaikh Muibullaah with regards to his checking in one place in the notes to a narrator he says,

“For he is unknown according to the principles as my Shaikh Muhibullaah Shaah has said” (al-Muajam al-Kabeer 1/209)

Shaikh Hamdee would also send Shaikh Muhibullaah any new books printed in Iraaq.

Once in answer to an issue of science of hadeeth he authored a 74 page treatise titled, “Calming the heart of one troubled by the tadlees of Thawree and al-A’amash”

Shaikh Zubair Alee Zaee has for a number of years has been compiling a book on scholars of current times and other people as he also had a great interest in Asmaa ur-Rijaal. So he asked Shaikh Muhibullaah pertaining  to some great scholars of our times and he was indeed a great expert and fair in these affairs when he spoke so I asked him about

Ash-Shaikh Abdul Azeez bin Abdullah bin Baaz (Rahimahullah)

He said, “Scholar, researcher of the truth, trustworthy and honest.”

Ash-Shaikh Muhammad Naasir ud deen al-Albaanee (Rahimahullah)

He said, “Researcher of the truth undoubtedly, established and trustworthy”

Ash-Shaikh Ataaullaah Haneef Bhojiyaanee (Rahimahullah)

He said, “My teacher, the trustworthy from amongst my trustworthy teachers, and there are very few similar to him in this era.” 

Ash-Shaikh Badee ud deen Sindhee (Rahimahullah)

He said, “Trustworthy”

Zaahid al-Kawtharee

he said, “staunch/bigoted from amongst the hanafis.”

(taken from Shaikh Zubair book titled, Anwaar us-Sabeel Fee Meezaan al-Jarh Wat-Ta’deel (Manuscript)

Some of the Scholars who Praised him

The great Shaikh Imaam Abu Fadhal Faidh ur-Rahmaan ath-Thawree (d.1417H) a great researcher and a great scholar of hadeeth who wrote an answer and refutation to Ibn Turkamaanee Hanafis book al-Jawhar an-Naqee said about Shaikh Muhibullaah Shaah “The Great Scholar”

The Shaikh al-Allaamah the Muhaddith Irshaad ul-Haqq al-Atharee said,

“Shaikh Muhibullaah Shaah Raashidee is the person that if you do not mention him the history of Sindh is incomplete. His knowledge, his virtues, his fear of Allaah and actions were like mountains and his life was just like an example of a salaf. There was no one like him when it came to being upfront and honest and serving guests. His clear statements and his following the Sunnah was a clear sign of a clear way. His daily living was just books and he is really worthy of the following statement, ‘we will die in books and the pages will be our shroud’

Shaikh Zubair Alee Zaee said,

“if I was made to stand between the station of Ibrahim and Rukn al-Yamaani ( ie facing kabah) and made to swear I would say I have not seen anyone more pious, worshipper or virtuous than Shaikh Muhibullaah Shaah”

The Shaikh leaves behind 3 sons, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Raashid and Muhammad Qaasim all of whom have received religious education and are now also teaching in the madrassah, the first two sons also help with cultivating the land that they own.

During various times various governments offered him positions within the governments but he kindly refused them and said the biggest service was to spread the Quraan and Sunnah.

The great Shaikh and Muhaddith passed away on the 9th of shabaan in 1415H corresponding to 21st January 1995ce in Hydrabaad, his younger brother and the great Muhaddith and Imaam of Ahlus Sunnah The Shaikh al-Arab wal-Ajam Abu Muhammad Badee ud deen led his funeral prayer and was buried in his family village