Thanvi, Maulana Ashraf Ali
b. Rabi'-ul-Ukhra5,
1280HI November 18, 1863
d. Rajab 16, 1362HI July 19, 1943
A big religious
figure of the sub-continent. He was a writer ~ religious teacher, orator,
translator and commentator of the Holy Quran. master of the science of religion
and religious law, authority on Quran, Hadees and fiqh, corrector of bad
customs, guide to the seekers of rikr. and a reformer.
After memorising the
Holy Qur'an in the 10'h year of his age and after completing his early
education he took education from Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband, and later became there
the teacher of Hadees, and then became the member of its advisory committee,
and finally became its patron. He was the disciple of Sayyid-ut-Tuaifa Hazrat
Haji Imdadullah Thanvi Muhajir Makki R.A· (b. Safr 22,
1233HIJanuary 2, 1818 d. Jamad-ulUkhra 13, 1317H/October 20. 1899).
He is
specially famous for his disciplined life. Seekers of spiritual guidance
crowded round him and his circle did spread very vast, so much so that
government made a railway station in his small village, Thana Bhavan, where he
lived in his khanqah. His books are his heritage from which Muslims all over
the world are benefiting.
One of his biographers has given a list which shows
that he has written 711 books, of which 14 are in Arabic, 3 are in Persian, and
remaining are in Urdu. Due to their common understandability and special
literary attributes, his books find no parallel in the Islamic literature ever'
produced in Urdu.
His commentary of the Holy Qur'an, Bayan-ul-Qur'iin, stands
'first on the long scroll of his books.
Reformation of women has been one of
his special subjects. His book in this series, Heavenly Ornaments, is
traditionally presented to' all Muslim brides all over the Islamic world, and
has been translated into various languages. His rulings on religious matters
have been published in 11 volumes. Hazrat Thanvi's attention towards the work
of Tableegh meant the circle of Dar-ul-Uloorn Deoband coming to this work.
Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyas R.A. always kept him and the
people of his connection in the highest regard.
Initially he was not very enthusiastic about the
work of Tablighand was having some doubts. But when he saw it from close He said a Masterpiece Sentence that.............
Maulana Ilyas has changed my YAAS (Hoplessness) into AAS (Hope)...............
The story of this change????????????
is very long in brief it is summerised here from MIYAN JI ISA Book Tablighi Kam ki Ibteda (Page No 22-33)
is very long in brief it is summerised here from MIYAN JI ISA Book Tablighi Kam ki Ibteda (Page No 22-33)
1. In the winter of 1933 nearly 250 people from Mewat became ready to offer some time in the path of Allah and came to DELHI JAMA MASJID. Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madni (Rahmatullah Alaihi)gave the departure advice to jamaat and it was sent to PANIPAT,KARNAL (HARYANA),SAHARANPUR &THANA BHAWAN,KANDHLA (UTTAR PARDESH).
2. The Jamaat of eight people( writer of book Miyan Ji esa was also in that Jmaat and wrote detail account ) with Mushi Nasrullah Sb as Ameer was sent to areas near Thana Bhawan the place of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi R.A. with special Instruction.................
NOT to go Thana Bhawan Proper , Do work around Thana Bhawan, When the good news about your effort will reach to Ashraf Ali Thanwi and ........if he calls then only go to Thana Bhawan........
3. If he does not call within eight days Dont go Thana Bhawan and Return back to Nizamuddin.
(Probably Maulana Ilyas was knowing that he is not enthusiastic about the work and may not like Jamaat in his town. But Otherwise Maulana Ilyas was very close to Maulana Ashraf Ali and all the Mashaikh of that era. Maulan Ashraf Ali several time came to his house at Kandhla and he was also present at the time of Nikah of Maulana Ilyas Rahmatullaha Alaihi. Allah knows the best)
JAMAT Reaches areas near Thana Bhawan....................
The sincere effort of Jamaat bore fruit in the Area and good result news reached to Ashraf Ali Thanwi R.A .......
Then Ashraf Ali Thnwi R.A. called JAMAAT TO THANA BHAWAN..........Jamaat was also waiting for this happy moment ....... They were so happy that could not sleep that night well ..They went their after Ishraq,day was Friday ........
By his Order they made the work plan with Maulana Zafar Ahmad Sb........
In brief........... Maulana saw their pattern of work from close, their effectiveness in calling people closer to Deen...................
He became very impressed with the work and in special interaction with Jamaat he told the Masterpiece Sentence with Great Emotion.............
Maulana Ilyas has changed my YAAS (Hoplessness) into AAS (Hope)...............
Then he invited Jamaat for food and made further eight day Plan for his Town. There were 52 mosque at that time. After eight days he permitted the Jamaat to return and Ordered them to go another town Rampur Mniharan a nearby Town where his relatives were staying. Jamaat went there.
In the words of Miya Ji esa who was present there.....
" Yeh Sunkar Hazrat Baagh Baagh Ho Gaye aur Baar Baar Farmate Rahe Maulana Ilyas ne Naummedi ko Ummid mein Badal Diya...............
He further said Allah Rabbul Izzat jisse jo kam lena chahe le lete hain, Yeh kam Maulana Ilyas ke Hisse mein Aya.........
