Fazail-e-Amaal

Fazail-e-Amaal is a book written in the Urdu language. It was written by Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi (d. 1402 AH). It was first known and printed with the name Tablighi Nisab. The book uses simple and clear words, so it is easy for people to read and understand.

 Definition 

As the name shows, the book talks about good deeds and why they are good. The author wrote it to be a guide book for Jamaat al-Tabligh. This book is one of the most important books for this group and also for the Deobandi movement in general. Some people said they respect this book very much, like how Sunni Muslims respect the two authentic hadith books (Bukhari and Muslim).[https://islamqa.info/ar/answers/108084/%D9%86%D9%82%D8%AF-%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%81%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%89%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%B2%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A
 Criticism of the book Fazail-e-Amaal by Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi] – Islam Question & Answer 

About how famous the book is, Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi said that books about virtues are, in his view, the most read books after the Quran among Muslims all over the world.Muhammad Khayr Ramadan Yusuf – [https://www.alukah.net/web/khair/0/38019/
 Various writings], Alukah website – 9/3/1433 AH 

 Background 

After Jamaat al-Tabligh was started, Ashraf Ali Thanwi used to give certain books as part of the teaching plan. For example, books like Bahishti Zewar were used to teach students. Later, Ilyas Kandhlawi wanted one fixed and permanent book just for the group. For this reason, he asked his nephew, Zakariyya Kandhlawi, to write a book that could be used as a main guide.

Because of this, Zakariyya Kandhlawi wrote books about the virtues of prayer, remembrance of Allah, preaching, and charity. Later, at the request of his cousin Yusuf Kandhlawi, he also wrote a book about the virtues of Hajj. After that, following the advice of his spiritual teacher Abd al-Qadir Raipuri, he collected earlier writings like stories of the Companions. On the order of Shah Yasin Najinawi, a student of Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, he also joined earlier writings about the virtues of the Quran and sending blessings on the Prophet. 

Around 1955, these writings were printed together in two volumes with the name Tablighi Nisab. In 1958, a one-volume version was printed, and it also became known as Fazail-e-Amaal.

 Method 

The book talks about good deeds. Each chapter usually starts with Quran verses related to the topic. Then the verses are explained and translated.  After that, the chapter talks about the topic more and includes hadith with explanations.

After explaining the hadith, the book includes sayings of the Companions, sayings of scholars, and stories about their lives. Sometimes the author puts hadith before Quran verses. This can be seen in chapters about prayer, the Quran, and Ramadan. Sometimes sayings of scholars are placed before authentic hadith, such as in the chapter about prayer. Sometimes benefits related to the hadith are explained.

The hadith are used as proof for the topic. Sometimes the hadith text is written in Arabic or Urdu, but the book does not explain how strong or weak the hadith is.

 Editions 

Some newer Urdu editions also include the book The Decline of Muslims and Its Only Cure (1939) written by Ihtisham Hasan Kandhlawi. English editions include writings such as Six Principles, A Call to Muslims, and The Decline of Muslims and Its Only Cure, translated from earlier works.

Some editions of Fazail-e-Amaal do not include Virtues of Sending Blessings, because it was written later and published after the main Tablighi Nisab.

 Arabic translation 

 Criticism 

Some scholars criticized the book, especially because it contains many weak hadith.[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aUFICwAAQBAJ
 Man‘ ibn Hammad al-Juhani – Simplified Encyclopedia of Religions and Sects]  Shams al-Din al-Afghani said that the book is full of Sufi shrine-related stories that he considered incorrect.

 Sources 
Category:Books by Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi
Category:Deobandi literature
Category:Sufism books
Category:Urdu-language books
Category:Maturidi creed books
Category:Hanafi fiqh books
Category:20th-century Indian books
Category:Indian non-fiction books
Category:Indian religious texts
Category:Wiki Loves Books contest/2024