Short Biography of Hazrat Mawlana Muhammad Hasan Budhanawi (Rahimahullah)
Eminent Student of Shaykhul Islam Sayyid Hussain Ahmad Madani (Rahimahullah), and Prominent Disciple of Feday-e-Millat Sayyid As’ad Madani ((Rahimahullah))
Birth
Hazrat Mawlana Muhammad Hasan Budhanavi was born in the Surat district of India, in a village known as Budhan, in 1930 in a noble Muslim family. His father’s name was Haji Yusuf and his mother’s name was Kulsuma.
Education
He received his primary education in the maktab and school of his own village. His father was a very pious and devout person. When he was twelve, his father passed away and he became deprived of his love and affection. His father used to tell his own friends that they should make his son an Alim. Whenever his father used to get up for Tahajjud, he used to wake him up too. Having awoken for Tahajjud, he used to memorise the Holy Qur’an. He completed the memorisation of the Holy Qur’an in 1943 under Mawlan Hafiz Moosa Eji (Rahimahullah) and joined the world-famous religious institute of Gujrat, Jamia Islami Taleemuddin Dabhel. Amongst his teachers there, Mawlana Ibrahim Gudrawi, Mawlana Fazlur Rahman Deobandi and Mufti Ismail Bismillah are the most notable.
Mawlana Hasan (Rahimahullah) was very intelligent and hard-working from the beginning of his studies, until he completed his Dawra-e-hadith. He was a strict follower of the Shariah. He was able to earn the love and affection of his Asatizah-e-kiraam (respected teachers). The Almighty Allah had blessed him with great intelligence and strong memory. Since the beginning, he was able to be included amongst the pious, pure and trustworthy students of the Madrassah. He used to live in the room 42 of Jamia Islamia Dabhel. He used to be always cheerful and had a loving relationship with his classmates. At that time, food used to be provided to students from the big kitchen of the Madrassah. Students of different rooms used to go and pick up their meals in turns. They used to wash and clean the utensils in turns as well. Being the most intelligent student of his class did not prevent him from carrying out the cleaning and washing.
He studied Sahih Bukhari under Hazrat Mawlana Abdul Jabbar Azami and Mawlana Abdur Rawuf Peshwary. The both teachers had special affection for him.
Hazrat Mawlana Abdul Jabbar Azami used to deliver religious talks at different places of Surat and Bharuch districts and he used to take Mawlana Hasan Saheb with him too. He used to instruct Mawlana Hasan Saheb to deliver talks for about fifteen minutes prior to his own talks, in order to train him in delivering talks.
The Greatest Muhaddith of his time Hazrat Yusuf Bannori (Rahimahullah) marked his exam papers in Dawra-e-Hadith year. Being impressed, he awarded him 52 and said: ‘I know that the maximum mark should be 50 or 51. However, as this student has written very well, I have awarded him one mark more.’ Undoubtedly, this is a clear indication of his great intelligence. It can be learned from the Students’ Record of Jamia Islamia Dhabel that Mawlana Hasan Saheb had attained the first position throughout his studies. Particularly, he made history by retaining the first position even in the Dawra-e-Hadeeth class.
From a very young age, he was full of piety and internal purity. It was his habit to perform his prayers in the first row of mosque. He was very dedicated to his studies. His hand-writing was very neat and beautiful. Consequently, his hand-written lecture notes were very impressive and eye-catching.
Journey to Deoband for Higher Education
Having completed his studies in Jamia Islamia Dabhel, he travelled to Darul Uloom Deoband, seeking higher education. There, he received knowledge world-renowned Ulama, such as Shaykhul Islam Sayyid Hussain Ahmad Madani (Rahimahullah), Hazrat Ibrahim Bilyawi (Rahimahullah), Mawlana E’jaz Ali Amruhi (Rahimahullah) and Mawlana Qari Hifzur Rahman (Rahimahullah). Hazrat Shaykhul Islam Madani (Rahimahullah) granted him a special Sanad. While staying in Deoband, he used to go to Saharanpur and attend Shaykhul Hadeeth Zakariyya’s (Rahimahullah) lectures as well.
Beginning of Career (Work-life)
Having completed his education in Darul Uloom Deoband, he began his work-life as a teacher at a Maktab in the Kusumba area of Gujrat. Even though he was of very high academic calibre, for the sake of serving the Deen efficiently he preferred to stay within the Maktab environment.
Sulook and Tariqat
The travel arrangements of Hazrat Shaykhul Islam Madani (Rahimahullah) used to be done by Ibrahim Patel of Kusumba, as the beginning of Shaykhul Islam’s stay used to be in Kusumba. The relationship of Mawlana Hasan Saheb with Shaykhul Islam Madani was not merely of love, rather of ardent love. He used to accompany him in every journey of Gujrat. Mawlana Hasan Saheb had taken Bay’at under Shaykhul Islam. He used to regularly perform his daily Wazeefa and Tasbeeh. After the demise of Shaykhul Islam, he tied his Sulooki relationship with Feda-e-Millat Sayyid As’ad Madani (Rahimahullah). After a short period, he received Khilafat (discipleship) from him.
Mawlana Hasan Saheb was like a born Wali. He was widely known for his great knowledge and amicable character. He was offered repeatedly to teach in Darul Uloom Falaahe Daarain as a teacher of higher education. However, he always requested for some time to perform Istikhara (seeking divine guidance) and to decide afterwards. The offeror used to say, out of frankness, that Ibrahim Patel Saheb would appear in the Istikhara. Hearing that, Mawlana used to smile and become quiet. He was also offered to teach in Jamia Islamia Dabhel.
He had immense love for the family of Shaykhul Islam. To him, serving that family would make him feel fortunate.
Migration to England
In 1957, after the demise of Shaykhul Islam Sayyid Hussain Ahmad Madani (Rahimahullah), he migrated to England and devoted the remainder of his life in providing Islamic education, Islamic talks and the service of Sulook and Tariqat in the city of Walsall. He served as the Chairman of Wifaqul Ulama until his death. The Almighty Allah enabled him to remain in the service of His Deen until his death.
My Relationship with Hazrat
While I was in Bangladesh, I became familiar with Hazrat through Shaykhul Hadeeth Mawlana Tafazzul Hoque Hobigonji and my father-in-law Mawlana Zamiruddin (Rahimahullah) of Walsall. I heard a lot from them about Hazrat’s greatness, piety and hard-work for the sake of Deen. Since the time I immigrated to England, I have been a resident of Walsall. The distance between Hazrat’s residence and my residence was no more than a quarter of a mile. I used to frequently attend his Islahi gatherings. During my life in Bangladesh I had an Islahi relationship with the great disciple of Shaykhul Islam Madani (Rahimahullah), Madfoone Makkah, Mawlana Abdul Hoque of Gazi Nogor (Rahimahullah). Here, in Walsall, I used to sit in Mawlana Hasan’s (Rahimahullah) gatherings and I used to experience special serenity and peace of mind. His Islahi advice would melt my heart. He asked me once whether I had any Islahi relationship with anyone. I replied that I had such a relationship with an elder of Bangladesh, a disciple of Shaykhul Islam, Shaykh-e-Gazi Nogori. In reply, he said that I should continue having that relationship with him.
The days passed by like this. After a short period, my Shaykh, Hazrat Gazi Nogori went on Hajj and passed away in Makkah al Mukarramah. After his demise, one day I was sitting in the gathering of Mawlana Hasan Saheb and listening very attentively to his heart-melting talk. He recited:
وقت طلوع ديكها وقت غروب ديكها
اب فكر آخرت ہے دنيا كو خوب ديكها
“I have seen the sunrise and I have also seen the sunset;
This is the time to think about the Hereafter; I have seen enough of this world.”
Listening to this couplet from the blessed mouth of Hazrat hit my heart. Indeed, (I thought) I have seen a lot of this world; it’s the time now to think about the afterlife.
Therefore, I informed Hazrat about the demise of my previous Shaykh. Hazrat advised me to reconnect myself with another Shaykh. Thus, I did Istikharah (sought guidance from Allah Almighty) regarding the choice between the Hazrat and Shaykhul Hadeeth Allamah Yusuf Motala. After the Istikhara, my heart leaned towards the Hazrat. Therefore, I submitted myself to the Hazrat. Since then, I began to develop special interest for worship. After having submitted myself to the Hazrat, I felt that whenever my Wudhu becomes void my mind becomes restless until I have reperformed Wudhu. Thus, for the peace of mind, I would always try to remain in the state of having Wudhu. Indeed, the company of the Hazrat was immensely influential. By virtue of having his residence closer to mine, I was fortunate to sit in his after-Zuhr gathering consecutively for 5 to 6 months of Ramadhan and tried to be benefitted. He was a Zahid-fid-Dunya, i.e. a person who was not enticed by this world. He had no desire to chase this Dunya.
Many masjids and madrassahs were founded with the duas of the Hazrat. Amongst them, Madinatul Uloom Kidder Minster, Jamia Qur’ania Birmingham and Darus Sunnah Walsall are the most notable. He always wanted, and worked for the fact, that there were masjids and madrassahs throughout the UK; more people were praying regularly; more people were becoming religious; more people were loving Islam and preserving the Islamic culture and teachings. He devoted his whole life for this mission. May Allah Almighty grant him immense rewards for his actions.
Demise
For the previous few months, prior to his demise, he had been bed-ridden. He had breathing difficulty since long time ago. Although, about three-four months ago, he was relatively healthy. People used to visit him seeking his prayers. He used to be pleased seeing them and pray for them. People used to go back, having had a heavenly feeling of satisfaction. Gradually, his health began to deteriorate, and the disease began to intensify.
Surprisingly, he used to prepare for death every Friday. He had a very strong desire to die on a Friday, which has been regarded as virtuous in a Hadeeth. Allah Almighty accepted the desire of this pious servant of His. The day of death was getting nearer. Just one week before his death, he saw Shaykhul Islam Sayyid Hussain Ahmad Madani (Rahimahullah) in a dream who was addressing him saying, ‘Soon you will come to me’.
We heard this dream from the Hazrat’s son. When the Hazrat’s son narrated this dream to Shaykhul Hadeeth Muhammad Yusuf Motala, he replied, ‘My brother, not only Shaykhul Islam, rather all the eminent Ulama and pious people are waiting for him’. In fact, the exact thing happened. It was the night before the day of Friday, 10th Rabius Sani of 1439 AH, 19th December 2017. He had nearly reached the age of 90. Like the previous times, he had taken preparations for death. He performed the Isha prayer; took the Tasbeeh in his hand and began to recite Zikr and Tasbeeh. He continued his Zikr and Tasbeeh. Gradually, he closed his eyes and said farewell to this temporary world and began his journey for the eternal world. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiwun.
After the Jumuah prayer, Ulama and his devotees from various cities of the UK came to attend his funeral prayer. The disciple of Hazrat Qutbul Aqtaab Shaykhul Hadeeth Zakariyya (Rahimahullah) and the founding principal of Darul Uloom Bury Shaykhul Hadeeth Hazrat Mawlana Muhammad Yusuf Motala Saheb led his funeral prayer. An enormous number of worshippers attended his funeral prayer. Another huge number were unable to attend. Undoubtedly, such a massive gathering of worshippers for his funeral prayers is a sign of his acceptance to Allah Almighty. The vacuum that has been generated in the fields of knowledge and piety as a result of his death cannot be easily fulfilled.
May Allah the Most Merciful accept all the good actions of this pious scholar; elevate his status; accept him as a noble guest of Jannatul Firdaws; grant this Ummah a better deputy and grant his family members, relatives and close people the ability to have beautiful patience. Ameen.
Disciples of Shaykh-e-Tariqat Hazrat Mawlana Muhammad Hasan Budhanavi (Rahimahullah)
- Shaykh Abdul Jabbar of Rengun
- Shaykh Hafiz Ismail Saheb Walnavi of London, UK
- Shaykh Mawlana Yusuf Sallu Saheb of Walsall, UK
- Shaykh Mufti Abdus Salam Saheb of Punjab, Pakistan
- Shaykh Mawlana Asjad Madani Saheb of Deoband, UP, India
- Shaykh Mawlana Abdul Ahad Saheb of Birmingham, UK
- Shaykh Sayyid Khairul Islam Saheb of Sunderland, UK
- Shaykh Hafiz Abdur Rabb Saheb of Birmingham, UK
- Shaykh Mufti Abdur Razzaq Khan Saheb of Bhopal, India
- Shaykh Anwar Hussain Saheb Sylheti of Coventry, UK
- Shaykh Mawlana Ghulam Saber Saheb of Gujrat, India
- Shaykh Hafiz Mawlana Reza Saheb of Walsall, UK
- Shaykh Mawlana Abdur Rahim Meer Saheb of Bradford, UK
- Shaykh Dr Hafiz Muhammad Khalid Saheb of Birmingham, UK
- Shaykh Mufti Sabir Hussain Saheb Bangladeshi of Walsall, UK
- Shaykh Muhammad Iqbal Choudhury Saheb of Birmingham, UK
- Shaykh Sayyid Iqbal Hussain Saheb of Birmingham, UK
- Shaykh Mushtaq Ahmad Saheb of Walsall, UK
- Shaykh Mas’ud Ahmad Saheb of Birmingham, UK
- Shaykh Nadim Ahmad Hafizji Saheb, Machester
- Shaykh Hafiz Imran Ahmad Saheb of Bolton, UK
Sanad of Shaykh Mawlana Muhammad Hasan Budhanawi (Rahimahullah) in Hadeeth to Musnidul Hind Shah Waliullah (Rahimahullah)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (Rahimahullah) said: ‘If there was no Sanad system, then everybody would be capable of saying things (about the religion)’.
His Sanad from Darul Uloom Deoband
His Shuyookh from Darul Uloom Deoband were as follows:
- Shaykhul Islam Sayyid Hussain Ahmad Madani (Rahimahullah)
- Mufti Kefayat Ullah (Rahimahullah)
- Mawlana Fakhruddin (Rahimahullah)
Their Shaykh was Shaykhul Hind Mahmud Hasan Deobandi (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Hujjatul Islam Muhammad Qasim Nanutavi (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Shaykh Shah Abdu Ghani (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Shah Muhammad Ishaq (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Shah Abdul Aziz (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Shah Waliullah Ahmad bin Abdur Rahim Dehlavi (Rahimahullah).
His Sanad from Saharanpur
His Shaykh in Saharanpur was Shaykhul Hadeeth Zakariyya Kandhalavi (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Allamah Khalil Ahmad Saharnpuri (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Shaykh Shah Abdu Ghani (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Shah Muhammad Ishaq (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Shah Abdul Aziz (Rahimahullah).
His Shaykh was Shah Waliullah Ahmad bin Abdur Rahim Dehlavi (Rahimahullah).
Originally written by:
Mawlana Mufti Sabir Hussain
Chairman, Darus Sunnah Madani Trust, Walsall
Translated by:
Abdullah Fahim