Obituary: Sayyid Mawlānā Muḥammad ʿĀqil Maẓāhirī (1356/1937 – 1446/2025)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent
We woke up this morning (Monday 29 Shawwāl 1446 – 28 April 2025) to the sad news of the demise of the teacher of our teachers, 90 (87) year-old, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Sayyid Muḥammad ʿĀqil Ṣāḥib Maẓāhirī Raḥimahullāh. Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā was the Shaykh al-Ḥadīth of the famous seminary of India, Mazahirul Uloom Saharanpur since the demise of Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Yūnus Jownpūrī (d. 1438/2017) and also its Principal and Rector since the demise of Sayyid Mawlānā Muḥammad Salmān Maẓāhirī (d. 1441/2020). He was the son of Mawlānā Ḥakīm Muḥammad Ayyūb and the son-in-law and disciple of Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā Kāndhelwī (d. 1402/1982).
Undoubtedly, this is a huge loss for the Ummah and particularly for Mazahirul Uloom Saharanpur. Reflecting on his demise, my respected father Mufti Shabbir Ahmad (b. 1376/1957) who studied under him said:
“I had the honour of studying Sunan Abī Dāwūd with Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā ʿĀqil Ṣāḥib. His demise leaves a huge void particularly for Mazahirul Uloom Saharanpur. He was the final personality of the previous generation of luminaries and scholars. I would visit him regularly in Saharanpur and he was always extremely affectionate towards me and my children. He lived a life of simplicity and was very humble. He would not travel abroad except to the Ḥaramayn despite repeated requests. He played a major role in the publication of the books of Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā Kāndhelwī and spent his life teaching Ḥadīth. He taught Sunan Abī Dāwūd for fifty years and also authored an Urdu commentary of it in six volumes. Since 2017, he started teaching Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī. We express our condolences to the entire family and share their grief. May Allah Almighty provide Mazahirul Uloom a good replacement.”
Early life, education and teachers
Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Sayyid Muḥammad ʿĀqil Ṣāḥib was born on Friday 15 October 1937 (9 Shaʿbān 1356) into a household famous for its piety and nobility. He started memorising the Quran in Ṣafar 1366 (January 1947) at the Jaame Masjid of Saharanpur and completed it in Dhū al-Ḥijjah 1369 (October 1950).
Thereafter, he embarked on the journey to become a scholar and enrolled at Mazahirul Uloom Saharanpur where he undertook all his studies. His colleagues in the final year included Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Yūnus Jownpūrī with whom he enjoyed a good relationship until his demise. He graduated as a scholar in 1380 (1961) and thereafter studied Funūn (Ṣadrā, Rasm al-Muftī, al-Durr al-Mukhtār, Tawḍīḥ and Talwīḥ, Shams Bāzigah, Khulāṣat al-Ḥisāb, Musallam al-Thubūt) in the year that followed.
Some of his notable teachers include:
- Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā Kāndhelwī taught him Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and also bestowed him with Ijāzah in Taṣawwuf.
- Mawlānā Manẓūr Aḥmad Khān Sahāranpūrī (d. 1388/1968) taught him Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
- Mawlānā Asʿadullāh Rāmpūrī (d. 1399/1979) taught him Sunan Abī Dāwūd.
- Mawlānā Amīr Aḥmad Kāndhelwī (d. 1384/1965) taught him Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Sunan Ibn Mājah, Muwaṭṭaʾ Mālik and Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ.
- Mufti Muẓaffar Ḥusayn Ṣāḥib (d. 1424/2003) also taught him some books.
Teaching
After completing his studies, in 1381 (1961) he was appointed as a teacher at his alma mater Mazahirul Uloom. He taught Nūr al-Anwār among other books within the first few years of his appointment. Our respected teacher and uncle, Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Hāshim Patel Ṣāḥib (b. 1363/1944) studied Nūr al-Anwār with him. Thereafter, our respected teacher and founder of Darul Uloom Bury, Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Yūsuf Motālā (d. 1441/2019) studied Tafsīr al-Jalālayn with him.
In 1386 (1967), he started teaching Sunan Abī Dāwūd, which he continued to do so until 1438 (2017). Thousands of students studied the Sunan with him. They include my respected father along with my respected teacher Mawlānā ʿAbdurraḥīm Limbādā Ṣāḥib (b. 1385/1965) and many others. They also include Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Ayyūb Surtī who also studied Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim and Muwaṭṭaʾ Muḥammad with him.
Subsequently, after the demise of our respected teacher Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Yūnus Jownpūrī in 1438 (2017), he started teaching Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, which he continued to do so for eight years until his demise. Many people also benefited from him spiritually particularly during the latter years of his life.
In relation to the administration and management of the seminary, in 1390 (1971), he was appointed Ṣadr al-Mudarrisīn (Headteacher), a role which he fulfilled until two years ago. This position was previously held by his teacher, Mawlānā Amīr Aḥmad Kāndhelwī (d. 1384/1965), whose demise had left the position vacant for a few years.
In addition to this, after the demise of his nephew, Sayyid Mawlānā Muḥammad Salmān Maẓāhirī in 1441 (2020), he was also appointed as the Nāẓim (Principal and Rector) of the seminary in addition to his teaching and Ṣadr al-Mudarrisīn responsibilities .
Publications
Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā played a key role in supporting his teacher and father in law, the prolific author Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā Kāndhelwī during the authorship of his books. Along with Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Yūnus Jownpūrī and Sayyid Mawlānā Muḥammad Salmān Maẓāhirī, he assisted in some of the publications of Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā, including Lāmiʿ al-Dirārī, al-Abwāb wa al-Tarājim, Juzʾ Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ and others. In fact, Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā has mentioned all their names at the end of Juz Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ (p. 325, al-Maktab al-Islāmī edition, 1434/2013).
In addition to this, Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā ʿĀqil Ṣāḥib himself wrote several works. The most prominent publication is the six-volume commentary on Sunan Abī Dāwūd in Urdu entitled al-Durr al-Manḍūd ʿalā Sunan Abī Dāwūd. It is a simple and easy to read commentary that simplifies the Sunan and also details some discussions that are brief in Badhl al-Majhūd. There are many references to the views of Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā and also Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (d. 1323/1905) therein.
Another prominent publication of Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā is the three volume Al-Fayḍ al-Samāʾī ʿalā Sunan al-Nasāʾī, which features the notes of Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī and Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā along with the footnotes of Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā ʿĀqil Ṣāḥib.
Another material contribution of Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā is the Muqaddimah of al-Kawkab al-Durrī which was written in Arabic at the request of Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā. This is published at the beginning of al-Kawkab al-Durrī with an introductory note from Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā.
There are also some small booklets which Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā authored including one on the Fuḍulāt (excrement) of our beloved Prophet ﷺ in Urdu, Taʿrīf Wajīz ʿan Jāmiʿah Maẓāhir al-ʿUlūm Saharanpur in Arabic, Malfūẓāt Ḥaḍrat Shaykh in Urdu, Mukhtaṣar Faḍāʾil Durūd Sharīf in Urdu and Bayān al-Duʿāʾ
Students
After Darul Uloom Deoband, Mazahirul Uloom Saharanpur is recognised as the second most important seminary affiliated to Deoband. It is home to thousands of students, and several hundred students graduate annually. Many of the leading scholars of India and beyond studied with Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā ʿĀqil Ṣāḥib. Some of the notable personalities include:
- Sayyid Mawlānā Muḥammad Salmān Maẓāhirī, the former Principal of Mazahirul Uloom, Saharanpur, India.
- Mawlānā Yūsuf Motālā, founder of Darul Uloom Bury, UK.
- Mawlānā Hāshim Patel, co-founder of Darul Uloom Bury, UK, and founder of Darul Uloom Zakariyya, Jogwad, India.
- Mufti Ismail Kacholwī, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth of Jamia Hussainia Rander, Gujrat, India.
- Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Ḥafīẓ Makkī, Saudi Arabia.
- Mawlānā Nūr al-Ḥasan Rāshid Kāndhelwī, India.
- Mawlānā Gulām Muḥammad Wastānwī, founder of Jamia Islamia Ishatul Uloom, Akkalkuva, India.
- My respected father, Mufti Shabbir Ahmad, UK.
- Mawlānā Muḥammad Ayyūb Sūrtī, UK.
- Mawlānā Muḥammad Iqbāl Rangūnī, Manchester, UK.
- Mawlānā Muḥammad Bilāl Bāwā, Bury, UK.
- Mawlānā Zubayr al-Ḥasan Kāndhelwī, India.
- Mawlana Muḥamamad Saʿīdī, the rector of Mazahirul Uloom (Waqf).
- Mufti ʿAbdullāh Maẓāhirī, the founder of the seminary in Hansot, Gujarat, India.
- Mawlānā Fazleḥaq Wādī, the rector of Jāmiʿah al-Kawthar, Lancaster.
- Mufti ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Aḥmad, the founder of Darul Uloom Blackburn, UK.
- Mufti Muḥammad Musṭafā, the founder of Darul Uloom London, UK.
- Mawlānā Sayyid Ḥabīb ibn Qārī Ṣiddīq Bāndawī, rector of the seminary in Hathaura, Banda, India.
- Mawlānā Muḥammad Anwar Gangohī, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth of the seminary in Gangoh, India.
- Mawlānā ʿAbdurraḥīm Limbādā, founder of Tafseer Raheemi, UK.
- Mawlānā Zayd Nadwī, lecturer at Nadwatul Ulama Lucknow, India.
- Mufti Kawthar ʿAlī Subḥānī, ḥadīth lecturer at Mazahirul Uloom (Waqf).
- Mawlānā ʿAbdulaẓīm Balyāwī, ḥadīth lecturer at Mazahirul Uloom.
- Mawlānā Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ, ḥadīth lecturer at the seminary in Kafleta, Gujarat, India.
- Mawlānā Ibrāhīm Maẓāhirī, rector of the seminary in Kharod, Gujarat, India.
- Mawlānā Ḥanīf Luhārwī, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth of the seminary in Kharod, Gujarat, India.
- Mawlānā Mujtabā, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth of the seminary in Alipor, Gujarat, India.
- Mawlānā Yūnus Tājpūrī, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth of Imdadul Uloom, Vadali, Gujarat, India.
- Mawlānā Yūnus ibn Mawlānā ʿUmar Pālanpūrī, India.
- Mawlānā Maqbūl, former Imam of Masjid Quwwatul Islam, Preston, UK who enjoyed a very close relationship with Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā.
Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā was extremely punctual on his lessons. His lessons would be easy to understand and he would simplify discussions for the students without any pretentiousness. His commentary on Sunan Abī Dāwūd also reflects this.
Marriage
Ḥāḍrat Mawlānā married the daughter of Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā in Rajab 1381 (December 1961). This was towards the end of the completion of his studies in Mazahirul Uloom. Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyā has mentioned this Nikāḥ in his autobiography ‘Āp Betī’ wherein he mentions that the Nikāḥ was performed by Mawlānā Yūsuf Kāndhelwī (d. 1384/1965) in Raipur in the presence of Mawlānā Shāh ʿAbd al-Qādir Rāipūrī (d. 1382/1962) who was not well. Along with Mawlānā’s Nikāḥ, the Nikāḥ of Mawlānā Ṭalḥah (d. 1440/2019) and Mawlānā Hārūn ibn Mawlānā Yūsuf Kāndhelwī took place at the same time.
Ḥāḍrat Mawlānā ʿĀqil Ṣāḥib leaves behind six boys and six daughters. His wife passed away previously.
Some memories
My respected father enjoyed a good relationship with Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Raḥimahullāḥ. Whenever we would visit Saharanpur, we would visit him at his residence. Sometimes we would also meet him in Saudi Arabia. He would enquire about us and supplicate for us. He was softly spoken and gentle. He was humble and preferred to remain low profile. He would not approve of his photo being taken or circulated; this should be respected including after his demise.
My respected father mentions that Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā enjoyed a good relationship with Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Muḥammad Yūnus Jownpūrī and would sometimes visit him in his room. On one occasion, my father was also present and mentioned during a discussion that a Mufti should also be attached and engage with the Prophetic Ḥadīths to ensure that he remains balanced. Both these luminaries concurred with this.
Our last meeting with Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā Raḥimahullāḥ was on Thursday 24 November 2022 at the office in the Dār Jadīd block of Mazahirul Uloom. The following is an excerpt from my travelogue of that visit to Bangladesh and India:
“We return to Mazahirul Uloom and meet with Mawlānā ʿĀqil Ṣāḥib, my respected father’s teacher, who is currently the Shaykh al-Ḥadīth as well as the Principal. Mawlānā mentions that he is extremely busy as a result. My father gives condolences upon the passing of his wife. Mawlānā is extremely appreciative of my father’s continuous support. Mawlānā mentions that his work on Sunan al-Tirmidhī in Urdu is currently being typeset and will be published soon. He also mentions that his focus is now on Duʿāʾs, his short booklet on Duʿāʾs is now available in four languages. He is not too keen on Taʿwīdhs and instead directs people towards Masnūn Duʿāʾs.”
Demise
In Shaʿbān two months ago, Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā completed teaching Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and the reading of Musalsalāt as per the normal routine. He then travelled to Hyderabad for medical treatment and returned to Saharanpur. During the final ten days of Ramaḍān, he supervised the Iʿtikāf in Mazahirul Uloom Saharanpur. Thereafter, he became weak again and was admitted to a hospital in Meerut after Ramadan and underwent treatment. He returned to Saharanpur yesterday on 28 Shawwāl 1446 (27 April 2025) and passed away today Monday at 11.45am Indian time. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ also passed away on Monday, and Imām Bukhārī (d. 256/870) and Imam Nasāʾī (d. 303/915) are of the view that Monday is the best day for one’s demise.
The Janāzah Ṣalāh was performed at Mazahirul Uloom after the Adhān of Maghrib before Maghrib Ṣalāh. The Ṣalāh was led by his son, Mawlānā Sayyid Muḥammad Jaʿfar. He was buried thereafter in the family cemetery known as Qabristān Ḥakīmān.
We pray to Allah Almighty to forgive his shortcomings and grant him an abode in the highest stations of Jannah. May Allah Almighty accept his services and grant patience to all his family members, associates and students. May Allah Almighty protect Mazahirul Uloom and all the seminaries across the world.
Yusuf Shabbir
29 Shawwāl 1446 / 28 April 2025
To read Ḥaḍrat Mawlānā’s profile in Urdu by Shaykh Khalil Ahmad Kazi and the foreword he wrote to Dhikr Yusuf, click on the following link: Profile of Mawlana Aqil Sahib in Urdu and his foreword to Dhikr Yusuf by Shaykh Khalil Ahmed Kazi
