Rashid Ahmad Gangohi

Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (10 May 1829  – 11 August 1905) was an Indian Islamic scholar who co-founded the Deobandi Islamic movement at the Darul Uloom Deoband Madrasah, or Islamic School, of which he became principle following the death of Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi. Gangohi authored nearly fourteen literary works on fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and Sufism, including Fatawa Rasheediyya and Hidaayatush Shia. Aside from being a powerful Alim ("one who knows"), Gangohi was also a Hakim ("judge"), and an authority on Shari'a law and the Tariqah of Sufism.

Biography

Maulana Gangohi was born at the time of Chasht^[A] on Sunday, May 10, 1829 in Gangoh, a city in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. His father, Hidaaya Ahmad, died in 1252 AH at the age of thirty-five when Gangohi was seven years old and thereafter he was cared for and trained by his grandfather. It has not been established where Gangohi learnt to recite the Qur’an, but he probably learnt it from his mother at home. Having completed the recitation of the Qur'an, Gangohi moved to Karnal in order to live with his maternal uncle, Muhammad Taqi, under whom he studied Persian kitabs (books). He also studied under Muhammad Ghauth and was later an Arabic grammar student under Moulvi Baksh Rampuri. With Rampuri's encouragement, Gangohi moved to Delhi in 1261 AH at the age of seventeen in pursuit of further knowledge. In Delhi, he attended the classes of various Ulama (Islamic legal scholars). Coincidentally, Mamluk 'Ali passed by Delhi while he was there and Gangohi had the opportunity to study 'Uloomul Zaahiriyya by studying the Sadraa Shams-e-Baazigah under him. Gangohi's Ulama in the philosophical sciences were Mufti Sadruddin Azurda and Qadi Ahmaduddin while his Ulama in hadith (narrations of the words and deeds of the prophet Muhammad), was Abdul Ghani Naqshbandi. On completing his studies, Gangohi returned home at around the age of twenty-one. He then came across a small book by Thanvi (who lived in Thana Bhawan, and one of the three sheikh's resident there at the time, although not Ashraf Ali Thanvi.) and found some objectionable writings in the book. As a result he decided to go to Thana Bhavan and debate them with the author. When he reached the toen, he met Haji Imdadullah.

Thereafter, Gangohi started to teach a variety of subjects in Gangoh where he remained until 1300 AH. From 1301 AH, his preoccupation was with the hadith. He alone would teach the entire Siha Sittah and the duroos of hadith would commence in Shawwaal and be completed by Sha'baan. In 1297 AH, after Nanautvi's death, Gangohi became the patron of Darul Uloom Deoband but his career as a teacher ended in 1314 AH due to his development of cataracts. By this time, more than three hundred students had completed his hadith course and thereafter, only spiritual instruction, inculcation and the issue of fatwās continued regularly. From then on, Gangohi also became the patron of Madrasa Madhahirul 'Ulum in Saharanpur.

Gangohi remained in the company of Haji Imdadullah, who accepted his bay'at. Within forty days, Gangohi was awarded Khilafa (Caliphate) and on returning to Gangoh, remained in Abdul Quddoos Gangohi's cloister. During this period, he earned his income through his medical practice. In 1857, Gangohi participated in the jihad at Shamli with his Pir-o-Murshid (spiritual leader) and other companions. When Zamin Shaheed was martyred, Gangohi picked up his corpse, carried it to a nearby masjid (mosque), and sitting nearby, started to recite the Qur'an. Thereafter, a warrant was issued for his arrest. After his detention by the authorities, Gangohi was sent to prison in Saharanpur, then moved to Muzaffarnagar. Six months passed in prison where a number of prisoners became his adherents, after which they all began to offer salaah (sacred prayers) as members of a prison congregation. Although reports vary, Gangohi is said to have died on Friday, August 11, 1905 after the Adhaan (call to prayers) for Jumu'ah (Friday prayers), aged seventy-six.

References

Notes