International Seminar on the Life and Achievements of Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi: An Overview of My Observations

By: Hifzur Rahman Qasmi

It was the pleasant evening of 11^th August 018. Accompanied by my beloved teachers Maulana Muhammad Burhanuddin Qasmi and Maulana Mudassair Ahmad Qasmi and my friend Mufti Jaseemudin Qasmi, the director and teachers of MMERC respectively, I deboarded the train at Deoband station. Being an alumnus of the renowned seminary of Deoband, I have visited this town innumerable time. But this journey was totally different. For the first time, I found some young gentlemen dressed in white kurta-pajama with an angelic outlook to receive us with sweet smiles and charming forehead at the station. This journey was actually meant to attend an international seminar on the life and achievement of Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi and the gentlemen to receive us at the station were volunteers of the program.

The seminar was organized by Hujjatul Islam Academy, the research wing of Waqf Darul Uloom Deoband under the able management of Maulana Muhammad Sufiyan Qasmi, the rector of the seminary and Maulana Muhammad Shakaib Qasmi, the director of the academy. What I felt about the seminar during the two-day stay in Deoband is indeed a very remarkable and memorable experience.

The arrangement for everything ranging from the conveyance to the lodging for the guest was remarkable. The volunteers took us to the newly built magnificent building of Tahfeezul Qur’an at Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband. Adorned with costly marbles and shining glasses, the three-story building put me into a kind of nostalgic state. My mind quickly travelled back to the days when I was studying in Darul Uloom Deoband during the period of 2003-6. At that time, Darul Uloom Waqf had only two buildings; the long building of Darul Iqamah (hostel) some rooms of which were devoted for official activities, and the newly built beautiful structure of Darul Hadith with a large hall and classrooms. At that time, the campus of the seminary presented a dull look with little charm to the visitors. But now things have gone through quite changes. The present scenario just left us astonished, as the huge progress of Darul Uloom Wafq during the shot span of twelve years was just amazing. Apart from the three newly constructed beautiful buildings of library, Hujjatul Islam Academy and Tahfeezul Qur’an, the neat and clean pathway, the specious Atyabul Masajid mosque and pretty and green gardens spring up a kind of spiritual light which makes the viewer feel freshness deep in the heart and mind.

The volunteer youths who were actually students of Darul Uloom Waqf seemed to have been well trained by some professional trainers to look after the guests. The guests could find at every step a volunteer with charming smile at his faces to fulfill their needs. They were even available in good number during the deep hours of the night. Anyone of the guest opened his door for some natural need and he found a volunteer standing there to ask about his well being and if he needed anything. Most importantly, they looked fresh and agile even during the last hours of the night. Food had been arranged in the large hall of the Tahfeezul Qur’an building. The person appointed to supervise and look after the affairs of food was actually a prominent teacher of Darul Uloom Waqf. Those who are aware of the environment of the Madrasas in the subcontinent know well that the teachers are held in high esteem and they are not generally seen moving there and there amid their students. But here, the situation was quite contrary. The teachers were personally seen to care for the ease of the guests at every step. The entire scenario just reminded the people of the paramount importance of guest maintained in Islam. This teaching of Islam was seen being implemented in the seminary to the fullest.

The next day, after Fajr Salah and meeting necessary needs, the volunteers requested the guest to move to the Darul Hadith which was being used as the seminar hall. In Madrasas, the Darul Hadith is held as a hugely sacred spot, because the Sahih Bukhari and other authentic collections of hadith are taught in it. Therefore, the teachers as well as the students give it nearly as much respect as they give to the mosque. There is no arrangement of chairs in the classroom. The students just sit on a carpet spread on the floor as a mark of respect for the hadith, while the teacher sits on a half-arm high wooden bed adorned with cushion and bolsters which gives a look of royal throne. But as soon as we entered the Darul Hadith to attend the first session of the two-day international seminar, we were amazed to see luxurious sofas in the front rows and beautiful chairs all around the Darul Hadith. This special arrangement was made for the purpose of seminar. Contrary to the general perception about the Madrasa, everything and person looked very modern and professional.

The seminar entitled as “The Life and Achievements of Khateebul Islam Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi” was divided into four sessions. The program was participated by celebrated Ulama like Maulana Arshad Madani, Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Mahmood Madani, Maulana Nematullah Azmi professor of hadith in Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, vice rector of Darul Uloom, Maulana Jalaluddin Umri, Amir Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Asghar Imam Mehdi Salafi, Amir Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani and many others. Nearly 75 papers were presented in Urdu, English and Arabic. But the contents of all the papers were not new for an alumnus of Deoband Madrasa like me, as I have spent a remarkable portion of my life with the Deobandi Ulama. I already knew that Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi was the great grandson of Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanawtvi, the founder of Darul Uloom Deoband. I already knew that Maulana Qasmi was an eminent orator. Therefore, he was known as Khateebul Islam (the orator of Islam). I already knew that he was well versed in the Islamic sciences. I already knew that he forwarded the legacy of his family and became a matchless scholar of Islamic theology. I already knew that he was an excellent teacher and he taught all the customary books of Dars-e-Nizami and a large number of students benefited from him during half century of his life as a teacher. I already knew that he was very professional and punctual in teachings. I already knew that he was a good administrator and he contributed a lot to the Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband as a rector, All India Muslim Personal Law Board as vice president and All India Muslm Majlis-e-Mushawarat as president. I already knew that he had a deep insight of the current issues of Muslims in India and made his best to solve them through these platforms. I already knew that he possessed an impressive writing skills; thought not authored so many books. I already knew that he was a remarkable poet of Arabic and Urdu with great creative ability. I already knew that he was, in spite of all these things, very humble, courteous and generous just like his father Qari Muhammad Taiyib Qasmi the longest serving rector of Darul Uloom Deoband and his forefathers. The scholars covered all these aspects of his life in their papers. But some points which touched me during the seminar are worthy of special mention.

The introductory session of the seminar was participated by Maulana Arshad Madani. Being a student of Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi and a good orator, Maulana Madani raised a very eye-opening point in his speech. Maulana Madani said that there have been remarkably celebrated scholars in India who left indelible impression on the hearts and minds of people. Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlavi is held in high esteem by all schools of thoughts. Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi is known as spiritual mentor for the Deobandi School and a prominent jurist whose Fatawa hold the status of reference among the Muslims in India. Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deoband, known as Shaikhul Hind was not only an esteemed leader during the freedom struggle, but also a celebrated scholar and impressive teacher. I groomed a number high reputed scholars like Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri, Shaikhul Islam Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi and many others. But their descendents are not known today. It is peculiar feature of Maulana Qasim Nanawtvi that he was personally a great scholar, prolific writer, strong debater, spiritual mentor and a visionary administrator. He was succeeded by his son Hafiz Muhammad Ahmad who was also a celebrated scholar and administrator. After that, this legacy was taken up by his son Qari Muhammad Taiyib Qasmi. He was also an effective orator, a prolific writer and a good administrator. He was not only a founding member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and its first president, but also he was the longest serving rector of Darul Uloom Deoband. During his rectorship, the seminary became a world renowned institute and made stupendous progress in terms of area, building, quality of education and all other aspects. After that, Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi appeared on the horizon who is the subject of the seminar. This legacy is, in the fifth generation, held by his young and dynamic grandson Maulana Dr. Muhammad Shakaib Qasmi. The current condition of Darul Uloom Waqf and the activities of Hujjatul Islam Academy indicate that Dr. Shakaib possesses all the qualities of his forefathers and it is hoped that he will leave no stone unturned to maintain the reputation of his family and forward its legacy. This continuous chain of prominent personalities shows, according to Maulana Arshad Madani, that Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanawtvi was a hugely blessed person to have such a long chain of knowledge, skills, piety, spirituality and scholarship in his descendents.

The second point was raised in the seminar was the efforts of Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi for unity of Muslim Ummah. Being obsessed by this topic, this point was very interesting for me. The scholars elaborated in the papers that Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi did not only theoretically established the need of unity among Muslims on the basis of solid arguments from the Islamic scriptures, but also he made practical efforts for that.

Theoretically Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi believed that one of the major problems of the present society is that people make some opinion in any matter and want to impose it on others by hook or by crooks. It becomes even worse when it comes to religion, as it leads to formation of religious groups and sects. Therefore, Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi has differentiated between the Din and the Madh’hab (juristic school of thought) and Maslak (ideological sect). According to the view of Maulana Qasmi, Din is something clearly revealed from Allah. The human intellect does not have any scope in it. Thus, the Din is sure, firm and inflexible. There is no room of lapse in it. Contrary to that, Madh’hab or Maslak is something inferred by the scholars from the religious sources; and therefore, the human intellect also has scope in them. Thus, it has possibility of errors. Given to this case, the Madh’hab or Maslak can only be preferred according to the strength of the arguments. It cannot be preached, whereas the Din is unchangeable and free from error. Therefore, it alone deserves to be preached.

Maulana Qasmi even practically made efforts to brush away the elements of discords from the Muslim Ummah and bring about unity among them. The bright example of this point can be given through his selfless efforts to do away with the differences among the two groups Deobandi scholars. In 80s, his father Qari Muhammad Taiyib was not only dismissed from the post of rectorship, but also the entire family was pushed away from Darul Uloom Deoband. This incident led the entire Deobandi community to be divided into two groups. But after thirty years, it was Maulana Muahmmad Salim Qasmi who made practical effort to end the discord and unify the Deobandi scholars. It was the first time when Maulana Mahmood Madani who belonged to another group openly proclaimed this fact in his historic words: “The credit of ending all the discords and settling all the dispute goes alone to Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi.” Apart from that, Maulana Qasmi efforts to maintain unity in All India Muslim Personal Law Board and settle the dispute in the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat were also covered by the researchers in the seminar.

It all shows that we have strong basis of unity among us. We may adhere to specific school of thought or group. But the actual tribute to the soul of Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi will be to forward the mission of his life and make effort to bring about unity among Muslims.