Shaykh Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi)

(1248AH – 1297AH) (1852AD – 1901AD)

Maulana’s background and education

Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) was born in 1248 AH (1852 AD) and passed
away at a young age of 49 in 1297 AH (1901 AD). The name of Maulana Qasim Nanotwi
(Rahmatullah Alayhi) seems older than his life due to his prominence. In reality, this is barakah
that Allah Ta’ala had granted him in his life.

Maulana Qasim Nanotwi’s title was Hujjatul Islam (the proof of Islam). Generally this title is
given to such a person who has such great qualities that if such a person was a Muslim and
practiced upon Islam, this itself is a proof that Islam is the true religion. Hadhrat Maulana Qasim
Nanotwi’s ancestral background reaches up to Abu Bakr Siddique (Radiyallahu anhu).
Therefore, he is known as Siddiqi.

Maulana acquired his knowledge at a very young age and he was known to be very brilliant. He
traveled to Delhi with Hadhrat Maulana Mamlook Ali Sahib (Rahmatullah Alayhi) who was a
very great Alim of that time. Previously we discussed that Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki Sahib
(Rahmatullah Alayhi) also benefited from Hadhrat Maulana Mamlook Ali (Rahmatullah Alayhi).

Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) acquired his education in all fields Sarf, Nahwa,
Tafseer, etc. from Hadhrat Maulana Mamlook Ali (Rahmatullah Alayhi) but acquired Hadith
from Shah Abdul Ghani Muhaddith Delwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi). Maulana Rashid Ahmad
Gangohi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) was with him in acquiring Hadith from Shah Abdul Ghani
(Rahmatullah Alayhi).

Hadhrat Maulana’s knowledge

One can imagine what depth of Uloom and what insight was in that kitab. Hadhrat Maulana
Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) says that Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullah
Alayhi) wrote such kitabs that if his name was not written on those kitabs, and if it was translated
into Arabic then the Arab Ulama would have thought that Imam Razi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) or
Imam Ghazali (Rahmatullah Alayhi) wrote those kitabs.

Hadhrat Maulana Qasim (Rahmatullah Alayhi) used to work in the library of Hadhrat Maulana
Ahmad Ali Saharanpuri (Rahmatullah Alayhi) and make tasheeh (correction) of kitabs. He
always had this inclination towards kitabs and anything to do with academics. Hadhrat Maulana
memorized the Quran late in life in two Ramadhans. Effectively in two months. In the following
Ramadhan he would perform one and a quarter juz and the listener would think that he is an old
Hafiz.

Debating skills of Hadhrat Maulana

Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) was a great debater and very witty. The British
sent many Christian missionaries to India to propagate Christianity. They were proud that they
have sent the world’s best missionaries to India to propagate Christianity. One person arranged a
debate and called all the Ulama. He also called Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi).
The Hindus were also invited but they did not participate because this was a debate between the
Islam and Christianity. They were there as observers.

Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) presented such a powerful speech in

substantiation of Islam against Christianity that the Christian Missionaries who were regarded to
be world-renowned missionaries were severely defeated. They stated that they have gone to so
many debates and conferences and they haven’t heard the like of Maulana Qasim Nanotwi
(Rahmatullah Alayhi). Some Hindu pundits also started debates with Muslims. They felt that if
Christian missionaries can debate with the Muslims then we too could debate with Muslims. One
pundit arranged a debate. When this pundit heard that Maulana Qasim Nanotwi was going to
address this debate, he fled.

Humility of Hadhrat Maulana

Hadhrat Maulana was very simple. If someone were to look at him they would have thought that
he was a villager. The British were also misled because of Maulana’s simplicity. When a warrant
of arrest was issued by the British against Hadhrat Maulana, they were looking for a person who
would be well dressed. They saw a person with simple clothing and thought that he was a
villager.

Maulana wouldn’t make imaamat and he always preferred to be a muqtadi and follow the Imam.
He also wouldn’t even give talks, but because of the need of the time he used to go and join the
debates. He was so humble that once he said, “I am disgraced among the Sufis.” My
understanding of this is, what a Sufi is supposed to be, he stated, “I did not live up to the
expectation of the Sufis, or to the expectations of the people about the Sufis.” He also mentioned,
“I have a stain of being a Molvi on myself.” He further mentions, “Had it not been for the stain
of being a Molvi, even the sand wouldn’t have known of Qasim Nanotwi.”

When there is a fruit tree and the branch is laden with fruits then it goes more down. When a
branch is laden with fruits and because of the heaviness of the fruits, the branch also lowers
itself. If Hadhrat Maulana perceived some pride in some student then he would make that
particular student pick somebody else’s shoes to make the student’s Islah. But at the same time if
he saw humbleness in any student, then Hadhrat Maulana Qasim Nanotwi himself would pick up
the shoes of that particular student. Who would do that today?

Demise of Hadhrat Maulana

Hadhrat Maulana passed away in Deoband at the young age of 49. May Allah Ta’ala put Noor in
the Qabr of Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) and may Allah Ta’ala give us the
benefit and roohaaniyat of Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullah Alayhi) and grant him a great
reward for establishing Darul Uloom Deoband and spreading Uloom in the different parts of the
world. (Ameen)

This biography only serves to inform students of the lives of the famous personalities that appear in the
asaneed (chains of narration) from the 20th century. Cordoba Academy holds no responsibility for nor
does it condone any actions or statements that were made by them that are contrary to the teachings of
Islam based upon the understanding of the first three generations of this Ummah.