A brief introduction to Mazahir al-'Ulum Saharanpur

By Mufti Muahammadullah Khalili Qasmi

Madrasah Mazahir al-‘Ulum Saharanpur was established in November 1866 just months after Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband was founded in May 1866. One of the aims and objectives of Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband’s establishment was to introduce such madrasahs and Islamic seminaries across the country. Following this, a number of such madrasahs were started in several cities. Many such madrasahs were started in Delhi, Meerut, Khurja, Buland Shahar, Amroha, Saharanpur etc. But, Mazahir al-‘Ulum in Saharanpur is the most popular from amongst all these madrasahs and is renown for producing great ‘ulama and scholars of hadith.

Mazahir al-‘Ulum was established by luminaries like Mawlana Ahmad Ali Saharanpuri, Mawlana Mazhar ‘Ali Nanautawi and Mawlana Sa’adat Ali Faqih. The madrasah was patronized by Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. The madrasah touched the peak of fame and name during the time when Mawlana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri and later Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyyah Kandhlawi taught there.

The madrasah produced a number of prominent and distinguished ‘ulama, especially scholars who where experts in the field of hadith sciences. The founder of Nadwat al-‘Ulama Lucknow, Mawlana Muhammad Ali (Kanpuri and later) Mongiri, Mawlana Zafar Ahmad ‘Uthmani who was the author of I’la al-Sunan, Mawlana Badr al-‘Alam Mirathi, Mawlana Idris Kandhlawi, Mawlana Hayat Sambhali and Mawlana ‘Abd al-Rahman Kamilpuri were products of this great seat of learning. In recent past, Mawlana Yusuf Kandhlawi, Mufti Mahmud Hasan Gangohi, Qari Muhammad Siddiq Bandwi, Mawlana ‘Abd al-Halim Fayzabadi (Jaunpuri), Mawlana ‘Abrar al-Haq Hardoi etc were alumni of this madrasah. The famous hadith commentaries like Badhl al-Majhud and Awjaz al-Masalik were written in Mazahir al-‘Ulum. Fada‘il al-‘Amal was also written by Mawlana Zakariyyah Kandhlawi in Mazahir al-‘Ulum.

Mazahir al-‘Ulum is well known throughout Islamic world for its religious and cultural contributions. But, unfortunately this great madrasah was divided in 1983 and two madrasahs came into being: (1) Jami’ah Mazahir al-‘Ulum Jadid (2) Mazahir al-‘Ulum Waqf Qadim. However, both the madrasahs are actively busy in imparting high Islamic education to Muslims.