Administration

Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Asadullah (rh), son of Maulana Rashidullah (rh), was born in Shawwal 1314 AH (March 1897) in the state of Rampur. He is historically known by the names Marghoobullah and Chiraag Ali, but he became renowned throughout the world as Muhammad Asadullah. He began his Quranic education under his mother and later pursued English education for some time in a government school in Rampur. At the end of Shawwal 1329 AH, he traveled to Thana Bhawan with his uncle, Hakim Muhammad Fazlullah. There, he established an educational relationship with Maulana Haji Abdullah Gangohi, studying initial Arabic and intermediate texts under him. He also studied the translation of the Quran and Mishkat from Hazrat Thanwi.
During his stay in Thana Bhawan, he read several texts with Hazrat Maulana Zafar Ahmad Usmani (rh) and Hazrat Maulana Shabbeer Ali (rh). On 22 Shawwal 1333 AH, he moved from Thana Bhawan to Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur, where he began his studies with books such as Mishkat, Hidayah 1, Mukhtasarul Maani, Sullamul Uloom, Maqamat Hariri, Hadiya Sadiya, Mulla Hasan, and Nukhbatul Fikr.
In 1334 AH, he enrolled in the Hadith course and completed the Sihah Sittah (Six Authentic Books of Hadith). He also studied other texts like Jalalayn, Sharh Aqaid Nasafi, and others under notable scholars, including Hazrat Maulana Khalil Ahmad, Hazrat Maulana Yahya, Hazrat Maulana Sabit Ali, and Hazrat Maulana Abdul Latif.
His special companions in the last year of the Hadith course (Daurah Hadith) included Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariya Muhajir Madani (rh), Hazrat Maulana Khair Muhammad Muzaffargarhi Muhajir Makki (rh), founder of Rabat Manzil Al Khair Madina Munawwarah, Hazrat Maulana Abdul Ghani (rh), former teacher at Jamia Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur and founder of Madrasa Madinatul Uloom Rasuli District Barabanki, Imam of Nahw and Mantique Hazrat Allama Siddique Ahmad Kashmiri (rh), and Maulana Muhammad Bakhsh from Dera Ghazi Khan (Pakistan).
In 1335 AH, he enrolled in the Arts program and studied books such as Baydawi, Sahih Muslim, Hidayah, and others during his first year. In his second year, 1336 AH, he studied Abu Dawood, Iqilidas, Sadar Shams Bazighah, Durre Mukhtar, Sab-e Shidad, Sharh Chagmeeni, Tasreeh, and Musallamus Suboot, completing his Dars Nizami.
In 1337 AH, he was appointed as an assistant teacher at Mazahir Uloom. A year later, in Shawwal 1338 AH, he was formally appointed as a permanent teacher with a salary of fifteen rupees. During this period, he also became the administrator of Anjuman Hidayatur Rashid.
He taught almost all subjects at Mazahir Uloom, and his classes included high-level books in addition to primary ones. He taught books such as Jalalayn, Sharh Aqaid Khayali, Umoore Amma, Khulasatul Hisab, Diwan Mutanabbi, Diwan Hamasah, Tauzeeh Talmeeh, Sadra, Iqlidas, Shams Bazighah, Baizawi, Tafseer Madaris, Hidayah-4, Hamdullah, and Rasmul Mufti.
At the earnest request of the people of Burma, he visited them twice as the chief administrator of Jamia Randiriya in Rangoon. His first trip was in Rabi al-Thani 1348 AH, where he stayed for a year, and the second was in Safar 1354 AH, after which he went for Hajj.
On 1 Safar 1365 AH, he was appointed as the Deputy Administrator of Mazahir Uloom, and after the passing of Hazrat Maulana Abdul Latif, he was elected as the Chief Administrator (Nazim Ala) on 1 Muharram 1374 AH.
From 1374 AH to 1385 AH, he managed the administration of Mazahir Uloom alone. However, observing his health issues and frailty, on 1 Ramadan 1385 AH, he appointed Hazrat Maulana Haji Mufti Muzaffar Hussain (rh) as Deputy Administrator of Mazahir Uloom.
Due to continuous health challenges, he ceased teaching in 1389 AH. His entire life was dedicated to knowledge, practice, and the revival of faith, actively engaging in reform during the grave and horrific period of apostasy and Shuddhi (conversion) in various regions like Rewari, Punjab, Rajputana, Mathura, Agra, Nawgano, etc.
He maintained a close reformative relationship with Hakimul Ummat Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi, often visiting him and sometimes staying for extended periods.
Among his significant disciples were three notable figures: Hazrat Maulana Qari Sayyid Siddique Ahmad Bandwi (rh), Hazrat Maulana Mufti Muzaffar Hussain (rh), and Hazrat Maulana Abdul Latif Nalihari (rh). Through these three, streams of knowledge and spirituality have emerged that will continue to benefit humanity until the Day of Judgment.
Many others have also benefited from his teachings, becoming sources of goodness and blessings for the community. He was a master orator, an exceptional writer, and a skilled poet and prose writer in Urdu, Arabic, and Persian. He was a fearless debater, a beloved teacher, a respected spiritual guide, and a magnificent preacher.
These works encompass a broad spectrum of fields, including literature, education, and religious scholarship. His literary contributions include over two dozen literary, educational, and scholarly books such as Isa-adun-Nahu, Takmilul Irfan fi Sharh Hifz al-Iman, Al-Qata'if min al-Lata'if, Rahbar Hujjaj, Isa-adut-Talibeen, Sahaif Asad, Kalam Asad, Misbah al-Tahawi, Isa-ad al-Asad, Al-Mukalama Baini wa Baini Ba'dhi Ma'quliyyeen, Al-Tuhfa al-Haqira, Haft Akhtar, Al-Hawashi 'ala al-Tahawi, Sharh al-Taqsir fi al-Tafseer, Aruz Baqafiya, Sharh Hamasah, Ameen bil-Jahr, Qira'a Fatiha Khalfa al-Imam, Rafa' Yadayn, and Shia Taqiyya among various others.
In his final days, he suffered from various ailments, leading to significant frailty. In the last days of his life, he mostly withdrew from worldly matters. He passed away on the night between 14 and 15 Rajab 1399 AH (June 10, 1979). According to his wishes, his funeral prayer was conducted the following day by Hazrat Maulana Mufti Muzaffar Hussain, and he was laid to rest beside the founder of Mazahir Uloom, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Mazhar Nanotwi, and to the right of his esteemed teacher, Hazrat Maulana Sayyid Abdul Latif Purqazwi, in Haji Shah Kamal Cemetery.