BOOK REVIEW: Naqsh-e-Ḥayāt A Biography and Memoirs of Shaykh Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh
All praise is for Allah Ta’ālā, the sole deity worthy of worship. May peace, salutations, and benedictions be upon the final Rasūl of Allāh, Sayyidunā Muḥammad Rasūlullāh ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
The book under review has gained traction in many circles, and is now gaining
popularity in South Africa. Looking at the hype around the book, we also
acquired a copy and began reading it with the hope of gaining inspiration from
the lives of the illustrious pious predecessors in our chain of knowledge.
However, as we went along, we were surprised (but not utterly astonished) to
note the brief and problematic sentences that seems to promote a different kind
of picture from the original that we had about the illustrious saintly
personality of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh.
Hereunder, we shall list the problematic issues, which we feel, must be
corrected by the Editor, and the Publisher.
1.
The disrespect
for the pious personalities that are covered in the book is reflected quite
clearly, as there are no honorific du’ā’s mentioned at the end of the names of the
‘Ulamā – even the name of Mawlānā Ḥusain Ahmad Madanī raḥimahullāh!
This is something part and parcel of our lives, and on our tongues all the
time. We have taken the liberty to add raḥimahullāh in the title
of the book in this review, and the entire review itself.
2.
The book paints
an image of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh as bigger
than Deoband itself. As though, the entire institute revolved around his
political activity. This is an unfortunate case of abusing the name of Mawlānā Ḥusain
Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh for some political motive held by
others.
3.
The personality
of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh is huge. His life
cannot be covered accurately in an abridged and edited book. If the editor was
sincere in his attempt to genuinely cover the life of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad
Madanī raḥimahullāh, then important parts of his life would not
have been chipped away and edited to portray him as a personality that lived
his life in accordance to modernist trends of this day and age.
4.
This kind of work
resembles that of the Rawāfiḍ, who edit and alter the lives of the Ṣaḥābah raḍiyallāhu
‘anhum in such a way as to present them as usurpers, we seek the protection of
Allah. Now, with the flood of modernism, the modernists are chipping away,
altering, and editing the lives of the pious ‘Ulamā’ of Islām, and presenting
them as proofs for modernist trends. Astaghfirullāh.
5.
The book stands
as a piece of subtle brainwashing. It takes the composite nationalism issue and
uses it as a basis for full blown interfaith heresy and polytheism.
6.
In this regard,
it comes as no surprise that the publisher promoted the modern day heretic, Bin
Bayyah – the notorious figure behind the Abrahamic Religion fitnah on their
social media [X].
7.
The language in
the book, albeit, in certain places, clearly shows interfaith terminology being
employed. For example, the word ‘Allah’ is replaced with ‘the Almighty’.
8.
The book suggests
that political activity as the only and ultimate aim of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad
Madanī raḥimahullāh.
9.
The book also
suggests the debates with the Shia must be avoided, whereas the direct students
of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh were at the forefront
of working against Shiasm and other heresies.
10.
The book twists
the role of the ‘Ulamā’ from one of standing up to promote and defend true
Islam, into one of adopting secular ideas and becoming as accommodating as
possible to people of all faiths under a democratic system.
11.
In no unclear
terms, the movement of Shah Waliullah raḥimahullāh and Shah ‘Abdul ‘Azīz raḥimahullāh
– both of whom lived before Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh and
whose lives and work laid the foundation for the Deoband ideology, has been
termed a ‘radical’. Such an insinuation casts the entire Deoband fraternity
into disregard and question. Hence, this can never be accepted.
12.
The book also
states – very clearly – that the actions of Sayyid Aḥmad Shahīd raḥimahullāh
were for the misfortune of the country!
13.
The book mixes
facts and truths with falsehoods by modernists in order to find some basis and
foundation for modernist ideas being currently implemented.
14.
This work – in
its current form - stands as a great disservice to Islam and the Ummah. It
seeks to create discord and fragmentation by poisoning the minds of the common
Muslims into embracing modernist trends that Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh
did not subscribe to.
15.
The book very conveniently
avoids the dislike for the Hindu ways and customs that was a prominent feature of
the life of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh.
16.
As a well-wisher,
and as a form of advice to the Editor and Publisher, we sincerely hope that this
work is recalled and a proper edit is done by a genuine scholar of the Ahl-us-Sunnah
wal Jamā’ah, preferably by a student of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh,
or a student of the student of Mawlānā Ḥusain Aḥmad Madanī raḥimahullāh.
