Honorable Founders

The city of Saharanpur, which has produced hundreds of prominent scholars and spiritual leaders of the Ummah, such as Hazrat Maulana Wajiha-ud-Din Saharanpuri and Faqih-ul-Islam Hazrat Maulana Sa'adat Ali Saharanpuri, is also the birthplace of the great Muhaddith Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali Muhaddis Saharanpuri, born in 1225 AH / 1810 CE. He was a disciple of Hazrat Shah Is'haq Muhammad Dehlawi (rh) and the teacher of the esteemed Sayyid al-Taifah, Hazrat Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (rh).

Name and Lineage

Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) was a shining light of an Ansari family in Saharanpur, renowned for its distinguished scholarly, religious, and spiritual personalities. His lineage is as follows: "Maulana Ahmad Ali bin Sheikh Lutfullah Shaikh Muhammad Jameel bin Shaikh Ahmad bin Shaikh Muhammad bin Shaikh Badruddin bin Shaikh Sadruddin bin Shaikh Abu Saeed Shaikh Jauhar Ansari (rh), a disciple of Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Quddus Gangohi (rh)."

Education and Training

For nearly 18 years, he spent his youth in frivolity and distractions, such as pigeon flying, without paying any attention to education. This troubled the heart of Hazrat Maulana Mufti Sa'adat Ali (rh), the founder of the Ma'azir-ul-Uloom (Waqf), who felt a deep concern for him. Consequently, Hazrat Mufti Sa'adat Ali arranged for a person to ask a scholarly question to Maulana Ahmad Ali. When the person questioned him, he could not respond, leading to the sarcastic remark that it was surprising he did not know the answer, living in such a prominent scholarly family. This comment struck Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali deeply, making him realize the wasted years of his life. He resolved to abandon frivolity and commit himself to acquiring knowledge.
He first went to Meerut, where he began memorizing the Quran and learning basic Persian. After Meerut, he gained the honor of studying the introductory Arabic texts under Hazrat Maulana Sa'adat Ali Faqih Saharanpuri (rh). He then traveled to Kandhla, where he studied under Hazrat Maulana Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh (rh). Unfortunately, he did not stay there long before Mufti Sb passed away. His genuine thirst for knowledge led him to Delhi, where the esteemed teacher Hazrat Maulana Mamluk Ali (rh) held classes, attended by distinguished scholars who were receiving both theoretical and spiritual education.
Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) also started acquiring knowledge from Hazrat Maulana Mamluk Ali, dedicating a long period to both academic and spiritual training. During this time, Hazrat Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (rh) also arrived to study under Hazrat Mamluk Ali. So, while Maulana Mamluk Ali taught other books, he entrusted the lesson of the Gulistan of Saadi to Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh), even though he was still a student. Thus, his teaching journey began during his learning period.
Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali (rh) studied a significant portion of Sahih Bukhari under his uncle Hazrat Maulana Shah Wajiha-ud-Din Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh), who was highly skilled in jurisprudence, tafseer, and hadith. His fatwas were considered authentic and credible by contemporary scholars. Hazrat Shah Muhammad Is'haq Dehlawi (rh) especially valued his opinions, and among his teachers was Hazrat Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh Kandhlawi (rh).
During his stay in Delhi, Hazrat Maulana Shah Muhammad Is'haq Muhaddith Dehlawi (rh) emigrated to Makkah Mukarramah, which deprived Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) of the opportunity to benefit from him. This caused him great concern, so he accompanied his teacher Hazrat Maulana Mamluk Ali to Makkah Mukarramah, where he spent just over a year studying the Sihah Sittah (the six authentic books of hadith). Meanwhile, he was blessed with the opportunity to perform Hajj.
In Makkah Mukarramah, his routine included copying hadith books from after Fajr until Zuhr. After Zuhr, he would attend Hazrat Shah's lessons, and in that assembly, he completed the Sihah Sittah.
In 1261 AH, he completed his studies and received the sanad (authorization) to teach Hadith from Hazrat Shah (rh). He then returned to India, settled in Delhi, and focused on teaching the Prophet's hadith, as well as correcting and annotating the footnotes (Hawashi) of major hadith texts, such as Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, and Mishkat al-Masabih. To print these corrected books, he acquired a printing press known as "Matba'e Ahmadi," which became famous for its unparalleled and unforgettable contributions to hadith literature.

Service to Hadith

The most significant, distinguished, and exemplary achievement of Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) was his monumental work in the field of Hadith literature, addressing a long-standing need of the Muslim Ummah. With immense effort, diligence, precision, and utmost care, he not only corrected the texts of Hadith but also composed remarkable annotations and invaluable commentary. He provided scholarly, insightful, and well-researched notes on Sahih Bukhari, Jami' Tirmidhi, and Mishkat al-Masabih, correcting their errors and ensuring their accuracy.
After completing his work on Sahih Muslim, he published it for the first time in India alongside the commentary of Nawawi from his own press. During the editing of Abu Dawood, he consulted numerous ancient manuscripts, which played a crucial role in his work. His annotations on Sahih Bukhari are especially noteworthy, reflecting exceptional diligence and attention to detail. He collaborated with various scholars and experts in Hadith for over ten years on this project.
When the work was published, prominent scholars were compelled to recognize his meticulousness. His efforts garnered widespread acclaim, with both the general public and scholars praising him. The eloquence, skill, and mastery of the rector of Mazahirul Uloom, Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri, along with the exaltedness of his knowledge and his perfect command over the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him), are universally admired wherever Islamic knowledge is taught. And, Insha Allah, until the Day of Resurrection, the name of Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri and Mazahirul Uloom, alongside Bukhari Sharif, will remain illustrious—a name that Mazahirul Uloom has always justly taken pride in.
After meticulously editing and annotating these books, he took great care in their publication. Even after the first and second editions, he continued to investigate and refine the texts, correcting errors from earlier editions and adding valuable information about the lineage and names of narrators. The third edition was published in 1867.
In addition to these exemplary contributions, he authored other works, including a book on the topic of Qirat Khalfal Imam, titled Al-Daleelul Qawi 'Ala Tarki Qira'atil Muqtadi, which was published in Arabic in 1854 in Delhi. To further disseminate its benefits, he translated this book into Urdu, which was published in 1878 and received significant acclaim.
He had a comprehensive command over Hanafi jurisprudence, and his fatwas were highly respected and considered authoritative by contemporary scholars.

Press Confiscated

Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) continued his unparalleled scholarly contributions in Hadith and teaching in Delhi until Ramadan 1273 AH (1857 CE). However, the brutal upheaval of 1857 wrought havoc across India, particularly in Delhi, marking a dark chapter in history for Muslims. Widespread massacres occurred; thousands of innocent people were stuffed into pig skins and burned. Fifty-four thousand scholars were hanged to death, and three hundred thousand copies of the Quran were destroyed and discarded in the Yamuna River. Many living individuals were bound and thrown into the river. Innocent mothers, sisters, and chaste daughters fell victim to white savages and human-like demons, who shot them mercilessly. Hundreds of virtuous women chose to leap into wells and rivers to protect their honor, leaving some wells filled with their bodies. In addition to seizing properties and possessions, homes were set ablaze, turning Delhi into a slaughterhouse for Muslims. Under these dire circumstances, many Muslims fled from Delhi to save their lives. Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali (rh) was also compelled to escape Delhi, facing significant difficulties. His historical press was confiscated by Christian oppressors. Consequently, he relocated from Delhi to Saharanpur, where he dedicated himself to the service of Hadith and teaching for a year and a half. Later, he accepted a position with a monthly salary of five hundred rupees from the prominent merchant Sheikh Ilahi Bakhsh Lal Karti in Meerut. Sheikh Sahib was a great merchant, holding the contract for transporting goods to all chaonis from Peshawar to Calcutta. He appointed Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali (rh) in Calcutta, where he stayed for about 9 to 10 years, continuing his teaching of Hadith, which greatly benefited those interested in Hadith.
During this time, he performed Hajj to the House of Allah, where he met the spiritual leader of the Deoband scholars, Sayyidut Taifah Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (rh). When they met, Haji Sahib remarked, "Maulana Mamluk Ali had entrusted you with the teaching of Gulistan, so you are my teacher. However, I must advise you that the job you’ve taken with Sheikh Sahib does not seem appropriate. You are a man of knowledge; ideally, you should have been a hakim (ruler), he should have been mahkoom (the ruled one), but here the fact is different. Therefore, you should resign from this job and dedicate yourself to the teaching and service of the Hadith so that the community may benefit." Mawlana accepted this advice, saying, "Please pray for us in the sacred sanctuary." (Shama'im Imdadiyah, with slight variations).

Resignation from Employment

After completing his pilgrimage to the House of Allah, Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) returned to India, resigned from his position with Sheikh Ilahi Bakhsh, and moved to Saharanpur. He continued his teaching and lectures at his residence for some time, which was a great blessing and joy for Mazahirul Uloom. The historical accounts of Mazahirul Uloom express this joy openly. In the record of 1291 AH, it is noted:
Students and seekers of religious knowledge, rejoice! This year, Maulana Ahmad Ali has severed ties with Calcutta and is residing in Saharanpur. The main goal is to dedicate as much time as possible to teaching religious sciences.

ساقیایاں لگ رہا ہے چل چلائو
جب تلک بس چل سکے ساغرچلے

Pour the wine, it seems like we should keep moving,
As long as the cup can still be passed around.
As a result, students of Hadith from distant places flocked to him, and some students from Mazahirul Uloom also attended his classes. Most of his days were spent in teaching, and some students even came to study at night. His stay in Saharanpur provided students with access to many valuable books. He taught Hadith at his residence for almost a year. When the permanent building of Mazahirul Uloom (the Old Madrasa) was completed, from 1291 AH to 1292 AH, he moved there and continued teaching for life. A special classroom was designated for him according to his wishes, where he imparted knowledge abundantly. He kept his own books in that classroom so that students could benefit as much as possible. Despite all these efforts and countless blessings, he dedicated his entire life to the service of Mazahirul Uloom purely for the sake of Allah. The records of Mazahirul Uloom state:
"All praise is due to Allah for His kindness. Allah Almighty has shown great mercy upon this madrasa and granted it a teacher without a salary. If we wished to maintain the madrasa with the presence of such a teacher, even at a cost of two hundred rupees monthly, it would never have been possible. May the evil eye be kept away! As if the sun of knowledge shines upon the spirit of the founder, and the sky of elevation is illuminated over this madrasa. O Allah, grant us the ability to express gratitude equal to the gifts You have bestowed."

ع ’’شکرنعمت ہائے توچندانکہ نعمت ہائے تو‘‘

Gratitude for your blessings is so abundant, that it exceeds the very blessings themselves.
Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) continued to teach many students at his residence while taking care of their meals and needs. The name "Mazahirul Uloom" was formally adopted by his advice, as prior to 1291 AH, it was known simply as the "Arabic Madrasa." All the accounts before 1291 AH have been printed under the name 'Arabic Madrasa.' From 1292 AH, the completion year of the 'Old Madrasa' building is also revealed, and there is a subtle reference to the esteemed name of its principal, Fakhr al-Mathail, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Mazhar Nanotwi (rh).
The level of his teaching was such that from dawn to dusk, a crowd of students gathered around him. Even while traveling from home to the madrasa, he would teach students along the way. After Asr prayer, when he mounted his horse for relaxation, students would accompany him, eager to learn.
The dedication, effort, and sincerity with which Hazrat Muhaddith (rh) taught elevated the reputation of Mazahirul Uloom far and wide. The educational system was praised by both the common folk and the elite. Al-Hamdulillah, Mazahirul Uloom still feels pride in following the footsteps of esteemed scholars and their traditions.
His tireless efforts can be gauged by the fact that the books he taught at Mazahirul Uloom, he taught many of them twice, the details of which can be traced in the reports from 1291 AH to 1297 AH.
In 1294 AH, when Hazrat Fakhr al-Mathail Maulana Muhammad Mazhar Nanotwi (rh) went for Hajj, Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) efficiently managed all the affairs of his presidency and taught the related subjects.
In 1286 AH, when his esteemed teacher, the distinguished jurist Hazrat Maulana Mufti Sa'adat Ali (rh), passed away, the elders and notable figures of the madrasa unanimously appointed Hazrat Qazi Fazl ur-Rahman (rh) as the head. Since the position of deputy head was vacant, Hazrat Muhaddith (rh) was honored with that role. Shortly thereafter, in 1291 AH, he was unanimously proposed as the head of the madrasa at a public meeting, and his name was published as the head in the records of that year, 1291 AH.
The truth is that Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali (rh) greatly contributed to the progress of Mazahirul Uloom. The educational standards were raised, financial stability was achieved, and its reputation spread widely. He made numerous trips to gather resources, and for the construction of the Old Madrasa (the first building of Mazahirul Uloom), he collected and submitted a significant donation of ten thousand rupees (Roodad of Darul Uloom Deoband, page 33, 1284 AH, Monthly Darul Uloom Deoband, April 1977 CE).
He was a person of utmost nobility, kindness, compassion, and gentleness. His generosity was unparalleled, and he was known for his integrity and trustworthiness. He wore new clothes daily, distributing his used garments to the poor. Due to these commendable traits, everyone admired and revered him. He was known for his piety, worship, sincerity, and deep devotion to Allah, with many anecdotes about his piety being shared in the reports of Mazahirul Uloom, the history of Mazahirul Uloom, and in the autobiography of Hazrat Sheikh al-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariya Mahajir Madani (rh).
Once, while traveling to secure funds in Calcutta, he visited a place where he had no acquaintances. Although he received good donations there, when he submitted the accounts to the madrasa upon his return, he specified that the rent from a particular location in Calcutta should not be included since he had no intention of soliciting donations there, although significant donations were received.
Similarly, when he traveled to Varanasi to meet the ruler of Tonk, he did not include the fare from Saharanpur to Kanpur in his expense report because it was a personal meeting. The madrasa officials insisted he take the fare, but he refused to accept it.
These two incidents reflect the essence of his pious life. He was an angelic figure who dedicated his wealth to the students and the madrasa throughout his life. Despite teaching for the sake of Allah, he personally contributed two to three hundred rupees annually to the madrasa. Every year, he generously contributed to Mazahirul Uloom highly valuable scholarly books and took meticulous care in examining students, offering both cash prizes and books as rewards for their success. For instance, successful students received 26 copies of Sahih Bukhari and 6 copies of Jami' al-Tirmidhi.
Through Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh), the scholarly lineage of Faqih al-Islam Hazrat Maulana Sa'adat Ali (rh) greatly expanded, details of which can be found in the "Shajrah-e-Saadat," compiled by his respected student Hazrat Maulana Ataur Rahman Sahib, a teacher at Mazahirul Uloom.
Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) held great love and attachment for Darul Uloom Deoband, which was established by his distinguished student, Hujjat al-Islam Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (rh) on 15th Muharram 1283 AH. During the laying of the foundation stone for the first building of Darul Uloom Deoband, known as "Nawardah," Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) personally laid the first stone. After him, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (rh), Hazrat Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (rh), and Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Mazhar Nanotwi (rh) laid one brick each.
Initially, the elders of Darul Uloom intended to construct it with temporary materials, but Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) wisely insisted that it should be built solidly, which was ultimately carried out.
In truth, Hazrat Muhaddith (rh) devoted the best part of his blessed life to religious services, engaging in teaching, supporting Islamic institutions, hosting esteemed guests, providing for the needs of students of religious education, traveling to distant places for societal reform and religious outreach, combating innovations and superstitions, preserving the golden traditions of akabir and aslaf, severely opposing the customs of not marrying widows, giving sermons to different people and addressing them, and leaving behind invaluable contributions in every field in writing and publishing religious books.
The list of Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri’s notable students is extensive; if only their names were to be mentioned, it would fill many pages of this document. However, among those who were exceptional in their time and masters of religious knowledge are:
Sayyidut Taifah Hazrat Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (rh), Imam Rabbani Hazrat Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (rh), Hujjatul Islam Hazrat Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (rh), The Great Muhaddith Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Hasan Amrohi (rh), Fakhru al-Amathil Hazrat Maulana Mazhar Nanotwi (rh), Zubdatul Ulama Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Yaqub Nanotwi (rh), Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ahsen Nanotwi (rh), Hazrat Maulana Abdullah Ansari Anbahati (rh), Hazrat Maulana Abdul Ali Merathi (rh), Munazir al-Islam Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ali Mongiri (rh, founder of Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow), The great Adeeb Hazrat Allama Shibli Nomani (rh), Hazrat Maulana Mufti Abdullah Tonki (rh), Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Suleiman Phulwari (rh), and Hazrat Maulana Sayyid Tajammul Hussain Bihari (rh). Each of these individuals was a significant figure in their own right.
In the early days of 1297 AH, Hazrat Maulana Muhaddith Saharanpuri (rh) suffered a stroke, and along with it, his headache and fever worsened. Consequently, in his iyadat (visiting), Hujjatul Islam Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (rh) came to Saharanpur for about 10 to 12 days and then returned to Deoband. However, instead of improving, Hazrat Muhaddith Saharanpuri's condition continued to deteriorate. He passed away on the 6th of Jumadal-Awwal, 1297 AH, corresponding to 17th April 1880 CE, which was a Saturday, at the age of approximately 72 years. انا للہ واناالیہ راجعون!
He was buried in his ancestral graveyard near the Eidgah in Saharanpur.
Hazrat Maulana Inam-ur-Rahman Thanvi (rh) wrote the following date of death in his book Armaghan-e-Takhayyul.

حضرت الحاج مولانا سعادت علی ارجمند ٭ داشت بہرنشرعلم دیں چہ طبع دردمند
مولانا حاج حضرت احمد علی محدث ٭ سرخیل عالمانہ وشیخ الحدیث امجد
بودہ پئے مظاہرآں ذات چوں مؤسس ٭ اوہم باتدائش کارش نمود بیحد
درہندبارِاول باحسنِ حواشی ٭ کردہ حدیث طبع ازحق چوں شدمؤید
استاذ کل بدوراں آں مرجع افاضل ٭ چوں انتقال کردہ گردید زیب مرقد
انعامؔ بہر امرو فرمائش احباء ٭ سال عیسوی فوتش گفت از حساب ابجد
مولانا پاک جبہ احمد علی محدث ٭ درجلوۂ جناں شدازلطفِ ربِ اوحد

Translation:Hazrat Haji Maulana Saadat Ali Arjmand/ a distinguished scholar, was devoted to spreading knowledge and had a compassionate heart.
Maulana Haji Hazrat Ahmad Ali Muhaddathith, a leading scholar and the Sheikh al-Hadith, was a prominent figure,
He was like a founder of Mazahir Uloom and through his efforts, he made significant contributions to the field of learning.
In India, for the first time, he printed books on Hadith with excellent annotations, ensuring the truthful and accurate transmission of knowledge.
He was a revered teacher and a source of guidance for scholars. Upon his passing, his grave became a place of great honor and respect.
In response to the request of his loved ones, it is recorded that he passed away in the Christian year [1880], based on the abjad calculation.
Maulana Ahmad Ali Muhadddith, a pure-hearted scholar, passed away, and may he reside in a place in paradise by the grace of his Lord.