Rahmatullah Kairanawi
Rahmat Allâh Kairânawî or Rahmatullah Kairanvi (رحمت الله الكيراناوي) (91-1818) was a Muslim scholar and an author. He is best known for his grand work, Izhar ul-Haqq.
Background
Kairanvi was born in Kairana, India during the last years of the Mughal Empire. A full family tree that goes back to the third Caliph, Uthman Ibn Affan, is mentioned in family sources.[1] Part of the family wealth, large property in Kairana, was granted by Akbar the Great following a successful treatment by some of Kairvani's grandfathers.[1] Many family members held high positions and/or were intellectuals. Kairanvi began receiving traditional Islamic education at the age of 6, memorizing the Qur'an at 12.[1] He also learned Sharia, Arabic and Persian languages. He moved later to Delhi where he studied different disciplines including mathematics and medicine.[1] Working as a Mufti and Sharia teacher, he founded a religious school in Kariana.[1] He had to quit and dedicate his time to writing and refuting missionaries, whose activities were increasing at the time.
Debate with Pfander
In 1837 the Church Mission Society appointed Karl Gottlieb Pfander, described by Eugene Stock as "the greatest of all missionaries to Mohammedans", to Agra in northern India, where in 1854 he engaged in a famous public debate with leading Islamic scholars. The main Muslim debater was Kairanvi, being assisted by English-speaking Dr. Muhammad Wazîr Khân.[2] The debate itself went badly for Pfander, and he decided to withdraw from it.
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Following armed uprisings against the British which he personally took part in, Kairanvi had to leave all his property (auctioned later), run for his life, and board a ship in Bombay. Arriving at the port of Mocha, Yemen, it is claimed he walked to Mecca. The full journey took 2 years.[1]
Author
Kairanvi wrote many books in Arabic, Persian and Urdu. Some of his books have not been published. An Arabic list can be found on his school website. here
Izhar ul-Haq (Truth Revealed)
Written originally in Arabic, this book in six volumes was translated later into Urdu, and from Urdu into a summarized English version[1] published by Ta-Ha. The book aims to respond to Christian criticism of Islam. It is the first Muslim book to use Western scholarly works in order to ascertain the errors and contradictions of the bible. The doctrine of Trinity is purportedly contested using biblical, Christian and other sources. Christine Schirrmacher says:[2]
'The Demonstration of the Truth' (izhâr al-haqq) served as a summary of all possible charges against Christianity and was therefore used after al-Kairânawî's death as a sort of encyclopaedia since al-Kairânawî extended the material of former polemicists like 'Ali Tabarî, Ibn Hazm or Ibn Taymiyya to a great extent.
The Madrasa Sawlatia
Residing in Mecca, Kairanvi is famed for founding the first school there, Madrasa Saulatia. Prior to which, all teaching had been carried out at the grand mosque.[2]
Visits to Constantinople
According to the same source,[1] Pfander was carrying out missionary work in Turkey and claiming victory against the Muslims of India. Requesting more information from Amir of Mecca (which receives Indian pilgrims), Sultan Abdülâziz was told about Kairanvi. Kairanvi was invited to meet him in Constantinople, and all missionary activities were banned in Turkey.
Students
Sherif Hussein and others are listed among people taught by him.
References
