Zakariyya Kandhlawi

**Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya ibn Shaykh Muhammad Yahya ibn Shaykh Ismail Kandhlawi al-Madani** was a famous Islamic scholar from India. He was seen as one of the most important hadith scholars in the Muslim world. He wrote many books in Arabic and Urdu. His books were free for everyone to use. He wrote about hadith, Islamic law (fiqh), Quran explanation (tafsir), correct Quran reading (tajwid), history, people’s life stories, good behavior, good morals, and groups and movements of his time.

## Family and birth

He was born on 2 February 1898 (11 nights into Ramadan 1315 AH) in Kandhla, near Delhi, in present-day Uttar Pradesh. He was born into a family that loved Islam and knowledge. His family worked very hard to follow Islam, learn the Quran, and study religious knowledge.

## Education and travels

When he was very young, he moved to Gangoh. He grew up around good and religious scholars. Later, in 1328 AH, he moved with his father to Saharanpur, which was a big center for Islamic learning. There, he studied very hard and focused fully on learning.

He started learning hadith from his father. In 1333 AH, he read most of the main hadith books with him. In 1334 AH, he studied Sahih al-Bukhari and Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi with the great scholar Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri.

He stayed close to his teacher Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri. He helped him write the book Badhl al-Majhud, which explains Sunan Abi Dawud. He traveled with him for Hajj, and his teacher gave him permission to teach hadith. After his teacher passed away, Muhammad Zakariyya became the main hadith teacher and many students came to learn from him.

He also learned a lot from the great scholar Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. He learned Islamic law, hadith, and many other religious sciences from him and other scholars of his time.

Later in life, he traveled to Africa and Pakistan to teach Islam. In his final years, he lived in Medina and taught at Madrasat al-‘Ulum al-Shar‘iyyah. He had Saudi citizenship. Many students from around the Muslim world learned from him. He lived in Medina until he passed away.

## Books

He wrote more than 140 books. Some were printed and some were handwritten. His most famous printed books include:

- Awjaz al-Masalik ila Muwatta Malik (18 volumes)
- This book was started by his father, who passed away before finishing it. Muhammad Zakariyya completed it.
- Notes on Badhl al-Majhud Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud (14 volumes)
- Notes on Lami‘ al-Darari on Sahih al-Bukhari
- Notes on Al-Kawkab al-Durri on Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi (4 volumes)
- The Farewell Hajj and the ‘Umrah of the Prophet
- Chapter Headings of Sahih al-Bukhari
- Why Muslims Become Happy or Sad
- The Duty of Keeping the Beard
- Shari‘ah and Tariqah
- Maududi: What Is For Him and Against Him
- Ustad Maududi and His Ideas
- The Place of Prayer in Islam
- Virtues of Calling to Good
- He also wrote many books in Urdu, including:
- Explanation of Shama’il al-Tirmidhi
- Stories of the Companions
- He is very famous for writing books about good deeds, such as:
- Fada'il A‘mal, virtues of prayer, remembrance, fasting, charity, Hajj, and sending blessings on the Prophet.

These books were written to guide young people in a simple way. Many people benefited from them. They are widely used by members of Jamaat al-Tabligh as study books.

## Death

He passed away in Medina on Monday, the first day of Sha‘ban 1402 AH, after the afternoon prayer. A very large number of people attended his funeral. He was buried in Al-Baqi‘ next to his teacher Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri.