Imam Ahmad Rida’s Mastery in Hadith Sciences

Truly, there is very little of what I can say about the sciences that this extraordinary personality had acquired. It is sufficient to know that his knowledge, taqwa and level of mastery were acknowledged by the masters themselves; the renowned Jurists, masters of Hadith, and scholars of traditional Islamic sciences from the two Holy sanctuaries and the subcontinent.

His Juridical opinions ‘fatawa’ and legal stances share a great deal of information with us about his

mastery in Legal Methodology, Jurisprudence and inference from the Primary sources as well as other ancillary sciences. ‘al-Ataya al-Nabawiyyah fi al-Fatawa al-Rifdwiyyah’, is an outstanding contribution made by Imam Ahmad to the traditional sciences and their development, hence acclaimed as one of the greatest encyclopedias on the Hanafi Law and its branches. Not only that it is rooted in the essence of Islamic Jurisprudence, his Fatawa also consists of a variety of subjects from mathematics, theology, history, Euclidean geometry, philosophy, linguistics, and astronomy to exegesis of the Qur’an and Hadith sciences. As recent studies show, it is this work that acclaims him mastery in third from the rank of absolute ijtihad, namely, the rank of the mujtahid fi al-masa'il.

As for His works in the Hadith area, Imam Ahmad has written a huge amount on Inference of rulings from Hadith proof texts ‘Fiqh al-Hadith’, Legal Hanafi Methodology and authentic hadith, Principles of hadith ‘Usul al-Hadith’ and the biographies of men ‘Asma al-Rijal’.

To name a few of his works, I shall first and foremost mention his excellent epistle on the science of takhreej entitled, ‘al-Rawdh al-Baheej fi Adaab al-Takhreej’ (1219h). No work of any hadith scholar before him covers this area of hadith to such an extent. The remarks of Mawlana Rahman Ali, a renowned researcher from Madhiyah Pardesh, India, whence reading the details of scrupulous takhreej and its etiquettes were, ‘if there were no other book of its subject the author i.e. Imam Ahmad Rida would be acknowledged as the founder to this branch of hadith’.

From his works on Fiqh al-Hadith is the far-famed ‘Haajiz al-Bahrayn al-Waqi an jama’ al-Salatain’ (1313h) which he wrote in defense of the Hanafi stance on the impermissibility of combining between prayers. When I studied this work (which is present in his Fatawa) I found it amongst the most amazing works in reconciling the ostensibly contradicting hadith proof texts on this issue which is the most sensitive and complex area of all Muslim Legal concepts.

‘al-Fadhl al-Mawhab fi ma’na izha sahha al-Hadithu fahuwa madhabi’ (1313h), his concise guide on Hanafi Legal methodology and authentic hadith, is another masterpiece which stands unique in its detailed research, strategic presentation and in-depth study. This book is a ‘must read’ for all Hanafi students in specific, and other Madhab students in general, regardless of their religious backgrounds. It provides authoritative guidance for scholars and a great deal of information on fundamental maxims for students, summarized in just a few pages. The book encapsulates issues such as why many authentic hadith are unaccepted in the Hanafi School and its criterion of acceptance. It’s a first-rate manual.

From his other works in hadith sciences are,

• Al-Nujum al-Thawaqib fi Takhreeji Ahadithi al-Kawakib (1296H)
• al-Nahy al-Akeed (1305H)
• Al-Had al-Kaf fi Hukm al-di’af (1313H)
• Madarij Tabaqat al-Hadith (1313H)
• Muneer al-Ayn fi Hukmi Taqbeel al-Abhamaiyn (1313H)
• al-Ahadith al-Waqiyah (1313H)
• Ikmal al-Bahth ala Ahl al-Hadth (1321H)

In February 1992, Dr S M Khalid al-Hamidi published an article on the Imam’s books in Hadith studies in which he gathered forty names of the imam’s epistles and works in hadith, its fundamentals and branches. (Malyah University, India. Maktub no: 20)

Five common elements of hadith found in his works

1. Hadith narration in relevance to the issue
2. Vast hadith textual corpus and channels of transmission
3. Elucidation and accuracy in Hadith terminology
4. Commendation and criticism of the narrators
5. Conciliation between mutually contradictory hadith narrations

His breadth of memorization of Hadith textual corpus and transmissions

The famous caliph of Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, Mawlana Karamatullah wrote a letter to Imam Ahmad Rida questioning about ‘Durud al-Taj’ (a special salawat known as Taj), in which the Prophet Muhammad (May Allah be shower peace and blessings upon him) was referred to as ‘Dafi al-Bala’ or the ‘a guard from befalling calamities’. Whereupon receiving this letter, Imam Ahmad wrote an epistle on the Prophet as the protection and guard of the Ummah entitled, ‘Ikmal al-Tamah ala shirki sawa bi al-Umur al-Aamah’ also known as ‘al-Amnu wa al-Ula’ in which he collected three hundred hadith on the permissibility of calling him by this name !

When asked by his teacher Mawlana Ghulam Qadir Beygh to write on the ‘excellence of the Prophet over all Prophets’, Imam Ahmad wrote an epistle containing one hundred hadith on the issue entitled, ‘Tajjaliy al-Yaqeen’.

Imam Ahmad Rida wrote many works against the heresy of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Qadyani movement which is today known as the Ahmadiiyah movement (See more on this, in this blogpage). His work entitled ‘Jazallahu uduwwahu’ is a notable one in hadith since he narrates one hundred and twenty one hadith in refutation of Mirza Qadiyani!

The student of the renowned Mawlana Ahmad Kanpuri, Mawlana Hassan wrote a question to Imam Ahmad inquiring about the legal Islamic opinion on meals which were cooked for the ulema and local community members for rain at time of famine. The imam supported his fatwa with sixty hadiths on the permissibility of such a practice.

In 1305H, he was asked about the ‘hearing of the dead’ whereupon he wrote the far-famed ‘Sama’al-Mawta’ in which he collects seventy seven hadith on this issue.

On the necessity of the beard, Imam Ahmad narrates fifty six hadith in his work entitled ‘Lum’at al-Duha fi I’fa al-Luha’.

On the rights of parents, his works consists of ninety one hadith.

On the impermissibility of performing sajdah of reverence, he collected seventy hadith in his work entitled ‘al-Zubdah al-Zakiyyah fi Tahreemi Sujudi al-Tahiyyah’

His mastery can be identified by the fact that when he wrote a hadith, it would seem that all of its channels of transmission, narrators and sources were in front of his eyes. On narrating the hadith, ‘seek goodness and accomplishment of needs by the handsome faced ones’ (utlubuw al-khayra wa al-hawa’ija min hisan al-wujuh) he says,

-‘Tabarani narrated it in al-Kabeer, and Uqaiyli, Khateeb, and Tamam al-Razi in his Fawa’id, Baiyhaqi in Sha’b al-Iman all from Ibn Abbas,
-Ibn Abi Dunya in Qadha al-Hawa’ij, Uqaiyli, Dar Qutni in al-Afrad, Tabarani in al-Awsat, Tamam, and Khateeb in Ruwatu Malik from Abu Hurayrah,
-Ibn Asakir and Khateeb in their chronicles from Anas Ibn Malik,
-Tabarani in al-Awsat, Uqaiyli and Khara’iti in I’tila al-Qulub, Tamam, Abu Sahl, Abd al-Samad bin Abdurahman al-Bazzar in his juz’, and the author of Mahraniyat from Jabir bin Abdullah,
-Abd bin Hameed in his Musnad, Ibn Hiban in al-Du’afa, Ibn Addi in al-Kamil, al-Salfi in al-Tuyuriyat from Ibn Umar
-Ibn al-najjar in his chronicle from the commander of Believers Ali,
-Tabarani in al-Kebeer from Abu Khusayfah,
-Tamam from Abu Bakrah,
-Bukhari in his chronicle, Ibn Abi Dunya in Qadh al-Hawa’ij, Abu Y’ala in his Musnad, Tabarani in al-Kabeer, al-Uqayli, Bayhaqi in Sh’ab al-Iman, and Ibn Asakir from the mother of believers Aisha Siddiqah May Allah be pleased with all of them’. [Nine different transmissions of sahabah from thirty four sources, Al-Amnu wa al-Ula Page 70]

This an example from many other examples found in his books explicitly marking his mastery in hadith textual corpus and transmission studies.

Here is another similar example. In his massive refutation on Mirza Ghulam Qadyani’s claim of prophecy entitled ‘Jazallahu uduwwahu’ p46, Imam Ahmad Rida narrates the following hadith ‘Oh Ali! Are you not pleased that your rank with me is as Haruns to Musa except that there is no prophet after me’ (ama tardha an takuwna minni manzilata Haruna min Muwsa Ghayra annahu la nabiyya ba’di) as such,

-‘Ahmad narrated, and Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, NIsa’I, Ibn Majah, Ibn Abi Shaybah and Ibn Jareer in His Sunan from Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas,
-Hakim, Tabarani, Abu Bakr, Ibn Mardaweyh, Bazzar, and Ibn Asakir from Ali,
-Ahmad, Bazzar, Tabarani and Mutayri from Abu S’eed al-Khudri
-Tirmidhi from Jabir bin Abdullah and Abu Hurayrah
-Tabarani and Khateeb from Abdullah bin Umar
-Abu Nu’aym from Sa’eed bin Zayd
-Tabarani from Barra bin Azib, Zaid bin Arqam, Hubaysh bin Janadah, Jabir bin Samrah, Malik bin Huwayrath, Mother of the believers Umm Salmah and from Asma bint Amees, May Allah be pleased with all of them.

On the hadith ‘I am Muhammad and Ahmad, the last in succession and the gatherer; I am the Prophet of repentance and the prophet of mercy’ (ana Muhammad wa Ahmad wa al-Muqaffa wa al-Hashir wa Nabiyy al-tawbah wa Nabiyy al-rahmah), Imam Ahmad Rida states in his epistle ‘al-Amnu wa al-Ula Page129:

-‘Ahmad narrated it, and Muslim, and Tabarani in [Mu’jam] al-Kabeer from Abu Musa Ash’ari
-the abovementioned and Ibn Sa’d, Ibn Abi Shaybah and Bukhari in his chronicle, Tirmidhi in his Shama’il from Huzayfah
-Ibn Mardawayh in His tafseer, Abu Nu’aym in al-Dala’il, Ibn Addi al-Kamil, Ibn Asakir in Tareekh Dimashq, and Daylami in Musnad Firdauws from Abu Tufayl
-and Ibn Addi from Abu Hurayrah. May Allah be pleased with all of them.

In His al-Amnu wa al-Ula Page 73, he collects ten different transmissions to the sahabah from twenty three sources on the hadith in a similar fashion to the aforementioned, ‘Oh Allah! Cherish Islam with the most beloved to you from either of these two men; Umar bin al-Khattab or Abu Jahl bin Hashim’. Similarily, he collects ten different channels of transmissions back to the Sahbah and one successor from twenty three sources on the hadith ‘the great practices that bring one near to Allah are; spreading salam, giving food, and praying salah at night when people are asleep’ (Raad al-Qaht wa al-Waba p12). There are several other examples like this, providing sufficient evidence of his breadth of study and memorization of hadith. If one wants to see this mastery, acquire his book al-Amnu wa al-Ula, and al-Zahr al-Basim on the impermissibility of zakah on Banu Hashim. When he wrote, it was as if the pen never stopped and the chains and sources flowed continuously from his blessed pen. May Allah shower abundant mercy on him, and place him in the greater gardens. Ameen.

Elucidation and rectification of Hadith terminology

His explanations to the fundamentals of hadith in his prominent work on kissing the thumbs entitled, ‘Muneer al-Ayn’ spreads over two hundred pages of scholarly rectification and correction of mistakes made by those who objected to the narrations on this issue. His explanations to the principles such as, ‘Negation of authenticity does not entail negation of soundness’, ‘fifteen signs of forgery’ (after which he says, ‘and memorize this for you shall not find this detail elsewhere’), ‘empowerment of weak hadith’, ‘difference between acting and accepting a hadith’, ‘ranks of hadith and their reliability’, ‘weak hadith in issues of merit and excellence’, ‘experience without reliance on the channel of transmission’, ‘authentication of hadith by means of spiritual opening or kashf’, ‘difference between non-authentic and forged narrations’, ‘authenticity and weakness are based on the apparent, thus the weak may be authentic in reality’, ‘the types of ambiguity of narrators and their rulings’ are some of the very detailed issues in this work. In numerous sections of this work, he wrote statements such as ‘take this for you shall not find it elsewhere’ and ‘this was what was spiritually opened upon me, and Allah knows best’.

Commendation and criticism of the narrators

His accuracy and depth of understanding in this branch of Hadith principles was extraordinary.

Some scholars of Imam Ahmad’s era objected to the narration of Muhammad bin Is’haq on the second adhan of Juma based on the fact that he was a rafidhi Shiite to which he replied in book-form, entitling it as ‘Shama’im al-Anbar fi Adaab al-Nida amama al-Minbar’. His commendation ‘ta’deel’ of Muhammad bin Is’haq is based on the commendation of twenty one masters of this domain and a must-read for those who want to acquire knowledge about his knowledge in the branch of al-Jarh wa al-Ta’deel and breadth of study of the biographies of men.

In his work ‘al-Hujjat al-Muwtammah’ Imam Ahmad Rida commends and makes tawtheeq of Ash’ath bin Siwar, who was marked as ‘weak’ in Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb, based on specialist commendations and said that the criticism was not explained ‘jarh ghayr mufassar’ hence his narration on the permissibility of a dhimmi on entering the mosque was sound ‘hasan’.

The hadith on the excellence of wearing a turban in salah was marked a ‘forgery’ by Ibn Hajar since it passed through a chain of four unknown persons; Abbas bin Kathir, Abu Bashr bin Yasar, Muhammad bin Mahdi Marwazi and Mahdi bin Maymun. On his comments to this ranking, Imam Ahmad Rida, with all respect and esteem for Ibn Hajar, remarks,

‘May Allah have mercy on Ibn Hajar! It is a questionable fact why he marked this hadith forged when none amongst its narrators is a forger ‘wadda’ nor accused of forgery ‘muttaham bi al-Wad’, and neither a liar ‘kadhab’ nor accused of lying ‘muttaham bi al-kadhib’, neither does its context contravene the law or prove logically impossible! Such a narration should not be rejected as a forgery ‘mawdu’ so as to exclude it from the chapter of excellence’.

Nevertheless, Imam Ibn Hajar himself values two hadith of such a nature in ‘al-Qawl al-Musaddad’ which consist of unknown ‘majhul’, ‘Mudhtarib al-Hadith’, those who make excessive mistakes ‘katheer al-Khata’ and ‘fahish al-wahm’ narrators and accepts them in the issue of excellence!

Whilst commenting on the second of the two, Ibn Hajar states that it neither contravenes the Islamic law nor does it conflict with human logic hence accepted. To this Imam Ahmad Rida states, ‘why not say the same for the hadith on the turban!? It is also from the issues of excellence and neither contradicts the law nor logic. Its narrators are of a lesser degree in weakness than those narrators whose chains are accepted by Ibn Hajar himself!’

Conciliation between mutually contradictory hadith narrations

Imam Ahmad had strong knowledge if fiqh al-Hadith. His works such as Hajiz al-Bahrayn and al-Fadhl al-Mawhabi shed light on his manhaj in conciliating contradictory texts and lifting the conflict of narrations, as if there was no contradiction in the first place.

Hadith scholars agree that this area of study is the most complex of all since it requires a thorough mastery of the principles of riwayah and dirayah. Dirayah here would include a solid understanding of abrogation, limits of interpretation, detailed consideration of the illah, depth of knowledge in hadith flaws ‘illal’ and so forth.

His conciliation between hadith texts on the following issues is a categorical proof on the depth of his knowledge

• Conflicting Hadith texts on saying, ‘whatever Allah and His messenger will’ see: al-Amnu wa al-Ula
• Hadiths on praying salat al-Janazah on the absent dead (a great study on conflicting hadith) See Fatawa Ridhwiyyah 4:69
• Ostensibly contradicting narrations on combining prayers See: Hajiz al-Bahrayn

These are only a few examples; his fatawa is the best source for this study.

Ijazahs in Hadith

Imam Ahmad Rida was very fortunate to complete his studies at a very young age. It is recorded in many sources that the first time he issued a fatwa were at the age of thirteen. His detailed answer to a question on ‘breastfeeding’ astonished his father thus acclaimed popularity for his knowledge at a very young age.

On his first travel to Haj, in company with his father, Imam al-Mutakallimeen Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan, he attained ijazahs in hadith from the following scholars of Makkah

• Shaykh Zaiyni Duhlan al-Shafi’i
• Shaykh Abdurahman Siraj, Hanafi jurist of Makkah
• Shaykh Hussain Salih Jumal al-Layl

His Ijazahs in hadith from India pass through his grand teacher, the pillar of Muhaddith masters, Shah Abd al-Aziz al-Dehlvi from whom he narrates through his teacher and spiritual guide, al-Sayyid Aal al-Rasul al-Marharwi.

Imam Ahmad Rida narrates all hadith from his father, too, which pass through Sheikh Abd al-Haq al-Dehlvi.

From his other ijazah’s are the musalsalat which he narrates from numerous scholars. May Allah be pleased with all of them.

Scholars’ praise to Him

On his second travel for haj and ziyarah in 1323h (1905), Imam Ahmad Rida’s knowledge shun over the horizon of al-Hijaz and his great work ‘al-Dawlah al-Makkiyah bi al-Madah al-Ghaybiyyah’ , which he wrote in response to the wahabi rejection of the Prophet’s knowledge of the unseen during his travel in approximately nine hours, acclaimed great praise and commendation. Imam Ahmad wrote this book without the direct study of any books which was then recited in his absence in a gathering of three hundred scholars, in two sittings.

Thereafter, great scholars of hadith from Makkah and Madinah took ijazahs from him in hadith which are recorded in two of his great works,

• Al-Ijazat al-Mateenah li ulama’i Makkata wa al-Madinah [1324H]
• Al-Ijazat al-Ridhwiyyah al-Mubajjil Makkata al-Bahiyyah [1323H]

The total number of ijazahs he issued were seven to the follwing scholars,

• Shaykh Ismail Makki
• Shaykh Abdurahman al-Duhan
• Shaykh Abid Hussain
• Shaykh Ali bin Hussain
• Shaykh Jamal bin Muhammad al-Ameer
• Shaykh Abdullah Meerda
• Shaykh Abdullah Duhlan
• Shaykh Bakr Rafee al-Makki
• Shaykh Hussain al-Ajami
• Shaykh Umar bin Hamdani al-Hmarasi
• Shaykh Ahmad al-Khafrawi
• Seyyid Muhammad Uthman Duhlan
• Seyyid Muhammad al-Maghribi (And others)

Shaykh Yaseen Ahmad al-Khiyari, a renowned scholar of Madinah, referred to him as ‘Imam al-Muhadditheen’ the leader of hadith masters.

The Archive keeper of the Mekkan library, Shaykh Isma’il Makki called him ‘Shaykh al-Muhadditheen ala al-Itlaq’ the absolute shaykh of Hadith scholars.

Ali bin Hussain Maliki, a teacher of the Mekkan Haram, called him ‘the encyclopedia of all sciences’.

When asked about the mastery of Imam Ahmad in Hadith, ‘Hafiz al-Bukhari’ Shah Wasi Ahmad Surti (who was known as ‘the pillar of hadith masters’ in the subcontinent) said: ‘he is the commander of believers in Hadith of our era’. Upon hearing this Muhaddith Kachawchwi remarked: ‘do you know what level of mastery this is!?’ To which Hafiz al-Bukhari replied, ‘the awilya distinguish awliya and masters identify the masters’.

In 1303H Imam Ahmad Rida was invited to the opening ceremony of Madrasah al-Hadith in Peeli Bheet, India, to lecture on the Sciences of Hadith. Renowned scholars of hadith from Saharanpur, Lahore, Kanpur, Jauwnpur, Rampur, Badayun and elsewhere attended (all of the aforementioned are far-famed cities for service in hadith sciences in the subcontinent). Imam Ahmad lectured continuously for three hours shedding light on Hadith fundamentals and its obscure stages and in other of its branches whereupon the scholars were astounded by his meticulousness in Hadith narration, breadth of knowledge of the biographies of men, memorization of hadith texts and their channels of transmission. Sheikh Khaleel al-Rahman, the son of the great master of Hadith in Saharanpur Mawlana Ahmad Ali, praised the Imam with these words, ‘Had my father been alive today, he would have acclaimed your mastery in hadith and he would have the right to do so’. Hafiz al-Bukhari al-Surti and Mawlana Muhammad Ali Mawngeeri, the founder of Nadwat al-Ulama Lakhnouw, accredited this reality.

Upon reading the Imam’s response to a question on the legal stance of making a sajdah of reverence ‘sajdah al-Ta’zeem’, Mawlana Abu al-Hassan Ali al-Nadwi remarked, ‘This rich epistle clearly indicates his depth of knowledge and strength of inference’. He furthermore comments saying, ‘Other than the various verses and one hundred and fifty legal proof texts on this issue, he i.e. Imam Ahmad Rida refers to fourty hadith linked to it’.

From his unpublished works in the sciences of hadith are his commentaries and notes on the following great works

• al-Ta’aqqubat ala al-Mauwdu’at by Imam Suyuti
• Kashf al-Ahwal fi Naqd al-Rijal by al-Madrasi
• Irshad al-Sari sharh al-Saheeh al-Bukhari by Qastallani
• Musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal
• al-Isabah fi Ma’rifat al-Sahabah
• Mizan al-I’tidal by Imam Dhahabi
• Tahdheeb al-Kamal
• Sunan Ibn Majah
• Shifa al-Siqam
• Kitab al-Asma wa al-Siffaat
• Al-Ilall al-Mutanahiyyah
• Jami’ al-Fusulayn
• Mifath al-Sa’adah
• Fat’h al-Mugheeth
• Hasr al-rashad
• Nayl al-Awtar
• Al-Durr al-Maknun
• Khulasah Tahdheeb al-Kamal
• Ash’at al-Lum’at
• Sharh al-Sudur
• Al-Maqasid al-Hasanah
• Al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb

Dr Masud Ahamd from Imam Ahmad Rida research Institute, Karachi, has managed to obtain all of the abovementioned works. Walhamdulillah

The greatest resources available on Imam Ahmad Rida’s mastery in Hadith are listed below:

‘Ilm-e-Hadith auwr Muhaddithe-e-Brelvi ki rijaley hadith auwr Usul par nazar’ (The science of Hadith and the Muhaddith’s knowledge of its men and fundamentals) by Aal Mustafa Misbahi prnt. Ma’arif Raza Karachi, 1991

‘Imam Ahmad Rida bahaythiyyet Imam-e-Fanney hadith’ (Imam Ahmad Rida; An Imam of Hadith Science) by Abdal Mustafa al-Azhari prnt Ma’arif Raza Karachi, 1992

‘Imam Ahmad Rida auwr Ilmey Hadith bahawalah tareekh -e- Adabiyyat –e- Musalmanan-e- Pak wa Hind’ (Imam Ahmad Rida & hadith sciences; a study from the historical perspective of scholars from the subcontinent) by Dr Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Punjab University

‘Ilm-e-Hadith auwr Muhaddith-e- Brelvi’ (Hadith Science and the master of Breiley) by Muhammad Anwar Nizami prnt Ma’arif Raza, Karachi, 1998

‘Hadith-e-Nabawi Fatawa Rizwiyyah ka bunyadi Ma’khaz’ (Hadith; the fundamental source of Fatawa Ridhwiyyah) by Dr Muhammad Tufayl

Jami’ al-Ridhwi also known as ‘Saheeh al-Bihari’ (a collection of Imam Ahmad Rida’s narrations in hadith) by Sheikh Muhmmad Zafar al-Din al-Bihari

‘Imam Ahmad Rida auwr Ilme-e-Hadith’ (Imam Ahmad Rida and the science of Hadith in 3vols) by Sheikh Muhammad Isa Rizvi prnt Dehli, 1999

‘Muhaddith-e-Breillvi’ (The hadith master of Bareilly) by Dr. Masud Ahmad, Karachi, 1993

‘Imam Ahmad Rida aur Aalmi Jami’at’ (A study of Imam Ahmad Rida in the international universities) by Dr Masud Ahmad, Karachi, 1998

‘Jami al-Ahadith’ (a collection of the Imam’s hadith from his Fatawa in 6 Vols) by Sheikh Muhammad Haneef Khan, Gujrat, 2001

‘Imam Ahmad Rida ki Khidmaat-e-Ulum-e-Hadith ka tahqeeqi wa tanqeedi Ja’izah’ (A phd on Imam Ahmad Rida’s service in Hadith sciences; a critical research) recently completed by Sheikh Manzur Ahmad Sa’eedi

I hope this article has shed some light on the hadith knowledge of Imam Ahmad Rida and lifted the weak comments on his mastery, as such made by Mawlana Ali Miyah al-Nadwi who wrote the additional notes on his father’s (Mawlana Abd al-Hayy al-Lakhanwi) biography of the subcontinent scholars entitled ‘Nuzhat al-Khawatir’ in which he added, ‘he i.e. Imam Ahmad Rida had little experience in hadith and Tafseer’. I will request the reader to think about this injustice. Even so, ‘Inba al-Hayy’, the detailed commentary on al-Dawlah based on largely tafseer and hadith issues, alone is sufficient to know about Imam Ahmad’s mastery in tafseer and Hadith!

Wa Sallalahu ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa Aalihi wa saHbihi wa Sallim

--
Munawwar Ateeq Rizvi
Completed on 13th May 2005

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Amazing Preface of Fatawa ar-Ridawiyyah by AlaHadrat Imam Ahmed Rida al-Qadiri [Arabic]

خطبة رائعة من العطايا النبوية في الفتاوى الرضوية
للإمام الأكبر المجدد أحمد رضا خان البَرَيلَوي القادري رضي الله عنه



ثلاثة وثلاثون مجلدات من موسوعة الإسلامية والفقه الاستثنائية المعروفة باسم
العطايا النبوية في الفتاوى الرضوية للإمام الأكبر المجدد أحمد رضا القادري رضي الله عنه

 

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A Husband's Duties towards his Wife

A Husband's Duties towards his Wife

Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has prescribed certain rights of the husband towards their wives. The Holy Qur’an says: “The women have almost the same rights over men as men have certain rights over the women in kindness.”

Beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has said: “Best among you are those who behave well with their women.”

The Prophet of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has also said: “I make a Will to you about the women, so obey my will.”

In another Hadith, the Beloved Habeeb SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam is reported to have said: “No believing man should have enmity and hatred against a believing woman. If he dislikes certain habits of that woman, there would certainly be some virtues in her too.”

The Hadith means that the woman must be having both good and bad habits. Man should not always point out her bad habits only. He should also appreciate her good habits.

 

The Rights of the Wife

There are certain obligations that men owe to the women and these obligations should be fully appreciated.

1. Every husband has the obligation to provide for the sustenance of his wife. She should be provided with adequate food, a comfortable home, suitable clothes and other basic amenities of life. He should always bear in mind that this woman has disassociated herself from her parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends and has joined him to share all the ups and downs of life. Hence, it has become his duty to look after her basic needs and comforts.

2. It should be remembered that husbands, who never bother for the sustenance of their wives, commit a severe crime of depriving Allah’s SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala creatures of their rights. Such people would be dealt with severely in the Court of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala. The Holy Qur’an says: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means.” [4:34]

3. The husband should satisfy his wife’s physical needs. The Sharee’ah has not prescribed any limit for this. But, he has to ensure that woman’s minimum sexual requirements are met so that she may not commit a sin by eyeing other men in order to quench her thirst. There are certain men who, after marriage, do not take care of the sexual needs of their wives. Such people are great sinners and will be severely convicted in the Court of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala. Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has granted women the right to conjugal relations with their husbands. The importance of this right can be well understood by the following example of Ameer al-Mo’mineen Sayyiduna Umar al-Farooq Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho. It is reported that he was on his routine inspection round at night in Madinatul Munawwara when he heard an old lady moaning and reciting melancholic couplets. The Caliph Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho stopped there and listened to the wailing lady. He Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho investigated the matter and came to know that the husband of the woman had gone for Jihad long time ago and this woman has been remembering her husband with these sad couplets. The Ameer Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho was deeply moved and immediately issued an official Decree to all chiefs of his army that no married man should be away from his wife for more than four months.

4. The husband should not beat up his wife without her committing a most severe crime. The Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has said: “Nobody should beat up his wife as he does beat up his slave. He should make love with her later some time.”

However, if the woman commits a bigger crime, the husband can beat her not in vengeance but with the intention of reforming her and as a warning.  While beating, he should take care that she should not be hurt seriously. The Books of Fiqha have mentioned that the husband can punish his wife for four things:

a. If the husband orders his wife to decorate herself with ornaments and legitimate make-up but she disobeys and remains dirty.
b. If the husband invites her to bed and she refuses without any legitimate reason.
c. If she does not take bath to purify herself after menses.
d. If she abstain from performing Salaah without a legitimate reason.

In the above circumstances, the husband should first persuade the wife. If she does not agree to comply with his requests, he may threaten her. If she still does not obey him, he can beat her barring her face. He should not beat her so severely to the extent of a fracture or a severe wound.

5. In order to bring peace and prosperity in the married life, both the wife and the husband should take care of each other’s sentiments and emotions. The anger of husband brings to the wife nothing but tension, depression and confusion. Similarly, the anger of the wife brings to the husband nothing but disappointment, mental torture, frustration and bitterness. It is, therefore, advisable to both husband and wife to be patient and compassionate in their dealings.

 

6. The husband should never appreciate the beauty and other merits of strange woman in front of his wife. This may lead to create jealousy and suspicion in the mind of his wife. She would think that her husband has some illicit relations with that woman. This thought is a poison that kills matrimonial relations. If a man cannot tolerate that his wife should wrongly be associated with another man, the wife also cannot tolerate another woman to share her husband. The woman cannot listen to praise and admiration of another woman through the lips of her husband even if that another woman happens to be his mother or sister or some other close relative.

7. Man is, undoubtedly, made a ruler over the woman but it does not mean that he should ask her to do a work, which is beyond her capacity, or a work which she would not like to do. If the husband still insists his wife to do the work against her will, she would accomplish that job unwillingly and this would create a sort of disgust against her husband, which would ultimately mar their matrimonial life.

8. The husband should from time to time censure the life style of his wife - sometimes in a harsh tone, sometimes with love and affection and sometimes with persuasion. There are husbands who always keep a rod hanging with their moustaches and never treat their wives in a good manner other than rebuking and beating them. Such wives get frustrated and start hating their husbands. There are other hen-pecked husbands who over-pamper their wives even after they commit severe blunders. Their wives become stubborn and outspoken.

9. The husband should implement this couplet of Sa’di of Shiraz in their life. He says: “Strictness and pampering are very good things but at appropriate times”. For example, the surgeon cuts open the wound but at the same time apply soothing ointment. Likewise, the husband should not be very strict nor very soft. A middle path always brings good results.

10. The husband, while setting out on a tour, should go to his wife and informally seek her consent in a loving manner and as a matter of goodwill. He may ask her to invoke the Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala that the journey may prove safe and beneficial for him. Similarly, while returning from the tour he should bring some exclusive gifts for her. This gesture would encourage the wife to think with satisfaction that my husband loves me to the extent that even if he was away engaged in his business activities, he remembered me. Thus, a simple initiative on the part of the husband will win over the heart of his wife.

11. If the woman brings anything from her father’s house or prepares herself and presents it to the husband, he should express gratitude and appreciate it. This will please her. The husband should never reject or discard or criticize any gift offered by his wife.

12. If the wife falls sick, the husband should dedicatedly look after her. He should take extra pain in her nursing, feeding, etc. This little service will win over the heart of the wife and she will be very grateful to the husband.

 

13. The husband should express his full confidence and trust in his wife and, to prove this, he should hand over the domain of the house to her so that she may feel dignified and involved. The Holy Prophet of Islam SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has said that the woman is the guardian and caretaker of her husband’s house and Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala will take an account from her in this regard on the Day of Judgement.

14. The very benefit of relying on the wife would be that she would feel herself responsible for a vital department in the set up of the household. This will give the husband an opportunity to freely think of other things regarding the promotion and progress of his business.

15. The husband should never share the secrets of her wife with others. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has said: “Worst is the person in the sight of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala who goes to his wife and then discloses her secrets and lowers her status in the eyes of others”.

16. The husband should be neat and clean as he expects the same from his wife. He should look smart, dynamic and a loveable person.

17. The husband should provide her with the paraphernalia of personal hygiene such as soap, hair oil, comb, Mehndi, perfumes, etc.  so that the wife may keep herself neat and clean and in better looks.

18. The husband should not level charges of corrupt practices against his wife without going into the depth of the matter. The relationship between a husband and a wife is based purely on mutual understanding. They have to trust each other. Any baseless suspicion against each other would mar the relations of the husband and wife.  A Hadith says: “One Bedouin came to the court of the Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, my wife has delivered a child who is dark complexioned and does not resemble me. I am sure it is not my child’. The Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam said, ‘Do you have some camels?’ He said, ‘Yes, I have many camels’.  The Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam asked, ‘What is the colour of those camels?’ He said, ‘They are brown’. The Prophet of Islam SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam asked, ‘Are there some grey camels among them?’ He said, ‘Yes, a few of them are grey’. The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam said, ‘Tell me how those brown camels gave birth to these grey camels?’ He said, ‘Some camel among the ancestors of my brown camels would have been of grey colour and these grey camels might have taken their origin from that particular camel.’ The Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam said, ‘Similarly, it is possible that anyone among your ancestors would have been of black complexion and your child might have inherited his genetic influence.’”

 

19. If there is some difference of opinion between the husband and wife, the husband should not make a hurry to pronounce divorce to her.  He should exercise restraint. After his anger subsides, he should ponder over the entire matter with a cool mind. He may seek the advice of his elders in this matter and decide whether or not there is a chance of reconciliation and settlement. If a point of understanding and reconciliation emerges, he should act accordingly and refrain from breaking the wedlock. The Beloved Habeeb SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has said that the divorce is the most disliked things among the permissible things in the sight of Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala.

20. If both husband and wife feel that there is no way out except the separation, the husband should pronounce one Talaaq after the woman clears her menses.  There will be a temporary separation between them. This period will give them enough time to review their decision of separation. If they think that reconciliation is in their interest, the husband should take his wife back in his arms and forget what had happened between them.  But if they think that they can no more live together, the husband should pronounce the second Talaaq after she clears her menses. The second pronouncement separates both of them. They have still a time to think of reconciliation. If they decide to live together, they have to perform the Nikah afresh after the period of Iddat is over. If they do not go for any reconciliation till the completion of the Iddat period, the third Talaaq will automatically come into force bringing a permanent separation between them. They cannot enter wedlock unless they go for Halalah. Halalah means that the woman should marry another man and have physical intercourse with him. The husband number two should divorce her. After the completion of the period of Iddat, she can marry the husband number one again.

21. There are some ignorant persons who play with the word Talaaq. They pronounce the divorce over minor clashes with their wives. After the pronouncement of divorce they repent and rush to the theologians and Muftis and force them to give a verdict in their favour. Some persons, while approaching the theologians, tell a lie that they had pronounced only one Talaaq. The Mufti has to allow them to retain their wives according to the Law of Sharee’ah. Thus, these ignorant people get themselves involved in establishing relations with a woman who is otherwise not to be taken as wife without Halalah.

22. If a man possesses more than one wife, it is obligatory on him to do justice with them. There should be equal treatment among wives in respect of sustenance, living conditions and personal attention. He has to spend equal time with every one of them. The Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has said that if a man has two wives and does not treat them equally, he would be raised on the Day of Judgment with half his body paralysed.

23. If the husband faces some trouble because of the misbehaviour of his wife, he should try to avoid her and keep patience. Woman’s arrogance and foolishness is a natural phenomenon. The Glorious Prophet of Islam SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has said: “Woman has been created from the bent rib of Adam Alaihis Salam. If somebody tries to make the bent bone straight, it will rather break instead of becoming straight”. Similarly, if someone tries to set his wife right, there will be more a chance of separation instead of improvement in her nature.

24. The husband should not behave as a miser in meeting the materialistic requirements of his wife nor should he go for extravagance in her maintenance. He should define his expenditure as per his capacity.

25. The husband should not confine his wife within the four walls of his house. She should be taken to her parents and relatives from time to time provided these visits do not bring any trouble to the peace of his house.

--
Extracted from the Book, "Gateway to Heaven"
by Hadrat Allama Sayyid Shah Aal-e-Rasool Nazmi Barakati

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Supreme Example

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmathullahi Wa Barakkaththukhu . 

              A Beautiful story about QURAN.
قصة جميلة عن القران


Why do we read Quran, even if we can't understand a single Arabic word???? 
 
This is a beautiful story.

لماذا نقرأ القران, حتى لو لم نكن نفهم مفرداته العربية جيدا




An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quran. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

عجوز امركي مسلم يعيش في مزرعة في جبال شرق كنتاكي مع حفيده الصغير

في كل صباح الجد يستيقظ باكرا ويجلس على طاولة المطبخ ويقرأ القران.

حفيده الصغير كان يريد ان يصبح مثل جده لهذا كان يحاول تقليدة بكل طريقة ممكنة



One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Quran just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"

في أحد الايام سأل الحفيد جده قائلا (جدي! انا احاول ان اقرأ القران مثلك لكنني لم افهم كلماته,والذي افهمه انساه وسرعان ما اغلق الكتاب.ما هي الفائده المرجاة من قراءة القران.


The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.

الجد بهدوء وضع الفحم في المدفئة واجاب (خذ سلة الفحم الى النهر وأملئها بالماء)



The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

قام الولد بعمل ما طلبه منه جده,لكن كل الماء تسرب من السلة قبل ان يصل عائدا الى المنزل.ضحك الجد وقال(يجب عليك ان تكون اسرع في المرة القادمة)ثم بعثه مرة اخرى الى النهر مع السلة ليحاول مرة اخرى.في هذه المرة ركض الولد بشكل اسرع,ولكن مرة اخرى السلة فرغت قبل وصوله المنزل.كان يتنفس لاهثا.واخبر جده انه من المستحيل ان احمل الماء بهذه السلة,وذهب ليحضر دلواً بدلا من السلة.



The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just aganot trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try in.

الرجل العجوز قال (انا لا اريد دلوا من الماء,بل اريد سلة من الماء.انت فقط لم تحاول بجهد كاف) ثم خرج ليشاهد الولد يحاول مرة اخرى


At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

في هذه الاثناء.ادرك الولد انها مهمة مستحيلة,لكنه اراد ان يثبت لجده انه حتى لو ركض بأسرع ما يستطيع ,الماء سوف يتسرب قبل ان يصل عائدا الى المنزل .فقام الولد رمى بالسلة في النهر وركض بسرعة وبجهد.ولكنه عندما وصل الى البيت وجد ان السلة فارغة مرة ثالثة.

فقال وهو يلهث, انظر جدي ........انها غير مجدية

اذن انت تظن انها غير مجدية.؟ أجاب الجد

انظر الى السلة


The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

نظر الولد الى السلة وللمرة الاولى ادرك ان السلة مختلفة.كانت سلة متسخة تنقل الفحم القديم والان اصبحت نظيفة من الداخل والخارج.


Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an . You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out when you read time by time . That is the work of Allah in our lives...."

بني أجابه الجد : هذا ما يحصل عندما تقرأ القران.من الممكن أن لا تفهم شيئا او تتذكر اي شيء ولكن عندما تقرأه مره بعد مره بعد مره .سوف تتغير داخليا وخارجيا.هذا عمل الله في حياتنا .


If you feel this email is worth reading, please forward to your contacts/friends. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh & his family) says: *"The one who guides to good will be rewarded equally"

اذا كنت ترى ان هذه الرسالة تستحق القراءة,ارسلها مرة اخرى لجميع اصدقائك.

قال الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم "من دعى الى هدى فله اجره واجر من عمل به الى يوم القيامة لا تنقص من اجورهم شيئا"

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