Rashid Ahmad Gangohi
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Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (May 10, 1829 – August 11, 1905) was an Islamic scholar of British India who co-founded Darul 'Ulum Deoband. After the death of Qasim Nanautvi, Gangohi became its principal. Gangohi authored nearly fourteen literary works on fiqh and tasawwuf, including Fatawa Rasheediyya and Hidaayatush Shia. Aside from being a powerful 'Alim, Gangohi was also a Hakim, an authority of Shari'a and Tariqah, an 'Ashiq of Rasulullah, and a staunch follower of the Sunnah.
Gangohi was born at the time of Chasht 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. After the death of his father, Gangohi 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. He also studied some of his Persian kitabs under Muhammad Ghauth. Then, Gangohi studied primary kitabs on Arabic grammar under Moulvi Baksh Rampuri. On his encouragement, gangohi moved to Delhi in 1261 AH at the age of seventeen in 1261 AH in pursuit of further knowledge. In Delhi, Hazrat attended the classes of various different Ustazs. Coincidentally, Mamluk 'Ali passed by Delhi. Thus, Gangohi had the opportunity to study 'Uloomul Zaahiriyya by studying Sadraa Shams-e-Baazigah under him. Gangohi's Ustazs in the philosophical sciences were Mufti Sadruddin Azurda and Qadi Ahmaduddin. His Ustaz in hadith was Abdul Ghani Naqshbandi. After completion of his studies, Gangohi returned home around the age of twenty-one. After completing his studies once he came across a small book of Thanvi (who was resident in Thana bhavan, and was one of the three shaikh's present in thana bhavan in these days,This is not ashraf ali thanvi.) and found some objectionable in the book.. HE decided to go to thana bhavan and debate with him.. When he reached thana bhavan, he met Haji Imdadullah who enquired to him about his visit to thana bhavan. When he told his purpose, Haji Imdadullah clarified his doubts and Rashid ahmad gangohi had bait with haji sahab. He stayed for forty days in Khankah with Haji Imdadullah. On departing haji Imdadullah told him that i have given you all that i had in these forty days..Rashid Ahmed after returning to Gangoh was in Istegraf for few months. Haji Imdadullah wrote him letter asking his spiritual condition. The reply was magnificent, the three line of reply were,,, 1) "Shariyat ab Tabiyat ban gayi hai"...( Shariyat is now my Nature) 2) "Tarif karne wale aur burai karne wale Yaksa ho gaye"...(Praisers and critics are same to me) 3)"Kisi sharayi masle me koi ishkal nahi raha"....(No doubt in any religious matter);
On receipt of this letter Haji Imdadullah put the letter on his head and said , "This condition is not till achieved by me..."
Thereafter, Gangohi started to teach in Gangoh. He taught a variety of subjects. This occupation continued until 1300 AH. From 1301 AH, his preoccupation was in hadith. He alone would teach the entire Siha Sittah. The duroos of hadith would commence in Shawwaal and be complete by Sha’baan. In 1297 AH, after Nanautvi's death, Gangohi became the patron of Darul Uloom Deoband. Hazrat's career as a teacher was terminated in 1314 AH due to his development of cataracts. More than three hundred students had completed his hadith course. Thereafter, only spiritual instruction and inculcation and the issue of fatawa continued regularly. From then onwards, 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 the short span of forty days, Gangohi was awarded khilafa and, 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 and other companions. When Zamin Shaheed was martyred, ganhi picked up his corpse, carried it to a nearby masjid, and, sitting near it, started to recite the Qur'an. Thereafter, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Thus, he was arrested and sent to prison in Saharanpur, from where he was shifted to Muzaffarnagar. Six months were passed in prison. A number of prisoners became his adherents, after which they all began to offer salaah in a congregation in the prison. With some variance in the report, Gangohi died on Friday, August 11, 1905 after the Adhaan for Jumu'ah, aged seventy-eight.
