''Khasa'il Nabawi'' ( ur, خصائل نبوی) is an Urdu translation and commentary on the ''
Ash-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyya''. It was authored by
Zakariyya Kandhlawi, who compiled and offered explanations for the narrations found within this book. This work marks Zakariyya Kandhlawi's debut composition, published in 1926 when he was 29 years old. It explores diverse aspects of the
Prophet
In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the s ...
's physical attributes, character, habits, clothing, and other details that present a depiction of his life and teachings.
Background
This commentary was undertaken at the insistence of Muhammad Usman Khan, with Zakariyya Kandhlawi ensuring that his visits to Delhi coincided with the publication of ''
Badhl al-Majhud fi Hall Sunan Abi Dawud''. The work commenced on the 24th of
Jumada al-Thani, 1344 AH and reached completion on a Friday night. Abdul Rahman, the head of the Department of Education at
Mazahir Uloom
Mazahir Uloom ( ur, ) is an Islamic seminary located in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Started in November 1866 by Sa'ādat Ali Faqīh, and developed further by Mazhar Nanautawi and Ahmad Ali Saharanpuri; it is regarded as the second most influen ...
, provided supervision and reviewed the book. The first edition was published by Maktabah Yahyawiyyah in 1926, followed by a second revised edition in 1927, which addressed mistakes and incorporated additional content. Spanning 443 pages, this book has seen numerous editions published by various publishers in India, Pakistan, and other countries.
Methodology
In this compilation, the author devoted special attention to various matters, which encompassed works such as ''Jami' al-Wasa'il'' by
Ali al-Qari
Nur ad-Din Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Sultan Muhammad al-Hirawi al-Qari ( ar, نور الدين أبو الحسن علي بن سلطان محمد الهروي القاري; d. 1605/1606), known as Mulla Ali al-Qari () was an Islamic scholar.
He was b ...
in Muntakhab Manadi, ''Mawahib al-Anbiya'' by
Ibrahim al-Bajuri
Ibrāhīm ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Bājūrī ( ar, إبراهيم بن محمد بن أحمد الشافعي الباجوري Al-Shafiʽi) was an Egyptian- Ottoman scholar, theologian and a dean of the al-Azhar University. A follower of Imam Al- ...
, and ''Tahdhib al-Tahdhib'' by
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani
Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī or ''Ibn Ḥajar'' ( ar, ابن حجر العسقلاني, full name: ''Shihābud-Dīn Abul-Faḍl Aḥmad ibn Nūrud-Dīn ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī al-Kināni'') (18 February 1372 – 2 Febru ...
. The majority of the topics were derived from the sayings of the predecessors, with care taken to avoid personal opinions. The translation has been tailored to ensure comprehension by the general public, rather than rigidly adhering to a literal translation. Furthermore, each point is accompanied by benefits and details, indicated by the word "Fee" (meaning "in") at the outset. Parentheses are utilized to offer supplementary information or clarification beyond the translation. In instances of apparent contradictions in the hadiths, concise solutions are provided. The author occasionally attributes differences in religious sects and occasionally criticizes
Hanafi
The Hanafi school ( ar, حَنَفِية, translit=Ḥanafiyah; also called Hanafite in English), Hanafism, or the Hanafi fiqh, is the oldest and one of the four traditional major Sunni schools ( maddhab) of Islamic Law (Fiqh). It is named aft ...
beliefs. Brief references to supporting evidence for conflicting opinions are included as necessary. When referring to specific battles or stories within the hadith, the corresponding narrative is provided within parentheses. Additionally, hidden connections between relevant hadiths and chapters are elucidated. Topics that were not extensively discussed due to brevity are cross-referenced to other books where more comprehensive information can be found. The objective of this book is to equally benefit scholars, students, and the wider public.
Reception
According to Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhary, a PhD scholar at the
University of the Punjab
The University of the Punjab (Urdu, pnb, ), also referred to as Punjab University, is a public, research, coeducational higher education institution located in Lahore, Pakistan. Punjab University is the oldest public university in Pakistan. ...
, Zakariya's work is characterized by its concise and easily comprehensible language. Muhammad Inamullah, affiliated with
Abbottabad University of Science and Technology
The Abbottabad University of Science and Technology (AUST) is a public university located at Havelian ( from Abbottabad) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
History
AUST was started a ...
, commented that it serves as a comprehensive summary of previous commentaries by renowned Hadith scholars. Riyaz Ahmad, a PhD scholar at
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University (abbreviated as AMU) is a Public University, public Central University (India), central university in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, which was originally established by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as the Muhammadan Anglo-Orie ...
, asserted that this book unquestionably merits a place in the homes of Muslims, serving as a reference in times of necessity.
Translation
English
The book has several English translations. One of its early translations was done by Muhammad Miyan Afridi and was published by Al-Ma'idah Islamic Trust in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its most recent translation was published in 2022 by Turath Publishing in the United Kingdom. This version was translated by Abdus Subhan ibn Amanulla and edited by Ahmed ibn Sheikh Mohammed, Ismaaeel Undre, and Yusuf Zanella.
Legacy
Mohamed Yahia Bilal Minar, a researcher at the Faculty of Sharia & Regulations at
Taif University
Taif University is located in Al Hawiyah, Ta’if, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making ...
in Saudi Arabia, conducted an applied study that highlights Zakariyya Kandhlawi's exceptional scientific expertise in reconciling contradictory Hadiths found in this book. The study utilized the inductive method to thoroughly analyze the subject matter.
See also
*
Deobandi hadith studies
Deobandi hadith studies is a field of Islamic scholarship within the Deobandi movement that critically examines and authenticates the sayings and actions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad as recorded in the Hadith literature. The Deobandi approach ...
*
Works of Zakariyya Kandhlawi
References
External links
*
''Khasa'il Nabawi'' at
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
{{Authority control
Deobandi hadith literature
Books by Zakariyya Kandhlawi
Hadith commentaries
Islamic literature
Sunni literature
Hanafi literature
Urdu-language books
20th-century Indian books
Indian non-fiction books
Indian religious texts