The Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) people don't talk about...

Asslamo Allaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakartuh

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] was one of the most prominent Islamic Scholars of the subcontinent and occupies a high stature amongst the Deobandi School of thought.

The following thread will Insha’Allah attempt to bring information to the readers (particularly Deobandees) about this great Scholar which is usually neither spoken about or simply brushed aside as an afterthought.

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] was to say some of these things today he would probably be sanctioned or boycotted.

Jazakullah Khairun

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on Democracy & Elections:

Shaykh (RA) has extensively refuted Democracy in many of his writings. Shaykh (Mufti) Rasheed Ahmed Ludhyanwi (RA) has written a 64 page booklet entitled “Hakeemul-Ummat Kay Siyasi Afkaar (political thoughts of Hakeemul-Ummah)” which can be read in Volume 6 of Ahsanul-Fatawa under Kitaabul-Jihad (Book of Jihad).

I will only translate the funny quotes.

“…People have invented a new criterion for the truth; they believe that majority is always right. Brothers! This may be true in some cases but you have to check and see whose opinion is majority! Ignorant laymen? If that’s the case then how come Sayyidina Huda (AS) discarded the opinion of his entire nation and continued steadfastly on Tawheed? Why did he risk the enmity of the entire nation? That’s because the opinion of the entire nation was based on total ignorance…”

Source: Fadhail-e-Ilm wal-Khashiyya

“…Maulana Mohammad Hussain Ilahbadi (RA) had told Sir Syed Ahmed Khan that these decision which you make based on majority are indeed decisions of foolishness because it is naturally accepted that there are more fools in this world then people of intellect. Therefore, majority verdicts are based on sheer stupidity…”

Source: Taqleel Al-Ikhilaat Maa’al-Anaam

…”First of all majority is a collection of fools so their congregation is in itself a gathering of fools and then the foolishness is compounded by making them accept an opinion i.e. they are taught that we will ask this and you should reply in this way, just like an attorney teaches and makes the witnesses practise (parrot fashion)...”

Source: Taqleel Al-Ikhilaat Maa’al-Anaam

…Thus Islam has no place for Democratic government instead Islam has rule by an individual (Khilafah)…

Source: Ahsanul-Fatawa

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on PrayerTimes in London:

In the scans (pages 237, 238 & 239) view inline Shaykh (RA)  in the last book of his life Bawadirun-Nawadir published roughly 2 weeks before his passing away confirms the facts in the question in his response as follows:

1. Adoption of 18 degrees for Fajar & Esha
2. From 22nd of May to 21st of July is perpetual twilight:
   1. The Ulamah who claim that Esha is not Fardh during this time are upon error

The language is too complex and technical for a quick translation so may be some other time (for a full translation).

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on Moon Sighting and conditions of witnessing it:

1. The moon of Ramadaan was not sighted because of clouds or some dust in the sky. However, a religious-minded, pious and honest person gives testimony that he has sighted the moon. The sighting of the moon will thus be established irrespective of whether the person is a male or a female.
2. If the moon of Eid is not sighted because of clouds, the testimony of one person will not be acceptable irrespective of how reliable a person he may be. Instead, the sighting of the moon will only be established if two reliable, pious men or one reliable, pious man and two reliable, pious women give testimony that they have sighted the moon. If four women alone give testimony, it will not be acceptable.
3. If the skies are absolutely clear, even the testimony of several persons will not be acceptable and the sighting of the moon cannot be established. This is irrespective of whether it is the moon of Ramadaan or the moon of Eid. However, if a very large number of people give their testimony that they have sighted the moon to such an extent that the heart feels that such a large number of people cannot be lying and that it is impossible for them to be concocting a story, then only will the sighting of the moon be established.

Source: Bahishti Zewar/Chapter on Fasting

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on 15th of Sha'baan:

1. Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) wrote that to send Isaal-e-Sawaab to the dead in this night is Sunnah in "Bahishti Zewar" and "Islahir-Rusoom"
2. Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) retracted this in "Imdadul-Fatawa" and said that "Islahir-Rusoom" shouldn't be printed without the correction

People for some reason continue to stick to the original opinion of Hazrat Thanwi (RA). The issue is highlighted in great detail by Shaykh (Mufti) Rasheed Ahmed Ludhyanwi (RA) along with the opinion of Deobandi Akabir in his book Saat Masa'il.

Jazakullah Khairun

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on being very punctual on responding to letters:

Shaykh (RA) writes on page 176 that I am very organised and disciplined when it comes to post and I ensure that I deal with the post everyday (without procrastination) as it brings ease and peace of mind to both parties and the writer is saved from the trouble of waiting.

Today, a Maulana from Saharunpur came because his response was delayed by a day and since he knew that I had a minor cough he wondered if the cough had become severe (due to the delay in receiving a response). Similarly, letters arrive from far flung areas for (their) needs so I punctually deal with my post daily and ensure that no trouble (hurt) is caused from my end because the pain of “waiting” is well known.

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on the shameless practise of attracting people to one's own Mashayh:

Shaykh (RA) writes on page 220 that to attract people and to pull them towards one's own Mashaykh while denigrating other (Mashaykh) is a sin but when there is no disrespect (of other Mashaykh) involved then its a shameless practise!

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on there is no friendship between a Kaafir & a Believer:

Shaykh (RA) writes on page 234 that there is no friendship between a Kaafir and a believer and then narrates an incident about Shaykh (Maulana) Fazlur-Rahman (RA) who was mostly absorbed in Jazb.

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on refusing to take Bayah from wife without the husband's consent:

Shaykh (RA) writes on 238 that I don't take woman as Mureeds without the husband's consent because it is possible that the wife is Mu'taqid and husband is Non-Mutaqid so it may cause problems within their relationship as it is possible that the wife may not like something (of the husband) which he may say towards her Shaykh. I don't consider to take Bay'ah from her without his consent and Alhumdolillah everything here is governed by principles.

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on not using Intellect is misguidence!

Shaykh (RA) writes on page 234 in answering a question that when it is said that animals are completely devoid of intellect; it isn’t correct according to (people) of knowledge. They have intellect but not the kind (and at the level of humans) which will make them responsible for (injunctions of) Shariah. The one who doesn’t use his intellect is similar to animals but animals would be called “devoid of sufficient intellect” and he would be called “of less intellect” and (this) being of lower intellect (due to not using it) is a severe defect which causes misguidance in this life and punishment in the afterlife and sometimes even punishment in this life. A British person punished a Rafidhi (Shai) for Tabarra during a meeting, he replied that it Tabarra amongst us is a religious act of worship and a person should be free to worship. The British officer replied, “Yes we also accept that it’s an act of worship so you will be rewarded in the hereafter but here you will be punished according to section such and such”! A good decision and sometimes rulers have wisdom...

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on Muslim leaders and Hindu-Muslim unity!

Shaykh (RA) writes on page 59. Those who have leadership are the real culprits. They are responsible for these baseless movements and the destruction of the Deen & Dunya of people, particularly those Ulamah who agree with these leaders and issue baseless fabricated Fatwaas! Their fatwaas cost the employment of thousands of Muslims and thousands lost their live, may Allah (SWT) forgive  they will know when their eyes close. Is there any limit to selling Deen (for petty gain)? They have agreed to let go of slaughtering a cow which thousands (nay millions) of Muslims established in this land (of India) by sacrificing their lives! To turn away from a single injunction of Islam is to uproot all the injunctions and it conveys to Non-Muslims that Islamic injunctions are just like this (meaning they can be similarly compromised and abandoned). These are the intellectuals who have taken the reins of the Muslims, those who have no idea about the destruction (these compromises) will cause in the future. Today they have comprised on slaughtering a cow and tomorrow they will be made to relinquish the Kalima so unity (between us and them) is achieved. In essence, this enmity is due to recital of the Kalima so what will you do, abandon Islam and turn away from it? It is because they regard unity and agreement as essential (and obligatory). An orientalist foolishly brushed aside a legitimate and needed difference of opinion by claiming that disagreeing is worse than Shirk. The moron had concluded this from the incident of Sayyidia Musa (AS) and his brother Haroon (AS) as stated in the Qur’aan:

[7:150] When Musa returned to his people, angry and sad, he said, .How bad is the thing you have done in my absence! How did you act in haste against the command of your Lord?. He dropped down the Tablets, and grabbed the head of his brother, pulling him towards himself. He (Harun) said, .My mother‘s son, the people took me as weak and were about to kill me. So do not let the enemies laugh at me, and do not count me with the wrong-doers.

The correct Tafseer of this is in Bayanul-Qur’aan. Anyways, the orientalist at least regarded the internal difference amongst Muslims as worse than Shirk, here people regard the difference between Islam & Kuf’r worse than disbelief and want to sacrifice Islam and its commands on Islam-Kuf’r unity. May Allah (SWT) have Mercy on us and give us the correct understanding and sound intellect (Ameen).

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on carelessness the root of all problems!

Shaykh (RA) responds to a Maulana on page 137 that with method and planning everything is accomplished with ease and harm is minimised. This is due to the blessings of principles and guidelines but it is realised when due care and attention are paid and all is lost due to carelessness. I try to inculcate care and attention in people but people get afraid and people run away.

Verily! work can only be accomplished with due care and attention.

...Today the situation is that a person doesn’t work (properly) and won’t let anyone else work (properly) either. And if someone does the work (properly) then he is criticised!

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on confirmation when an assigned job has been accomplished!

Shaykh (RA) responds on page 193 assigned a task to someone and asked him to confirm when the job has been completed. He added that today the disease of not confirming had spread which causes great pain. It is essential to (confirm) and notify after finishing the job but people regard my advice as trivial.

A rich person came to our (Khanqah) and upon returning he said that the teachings (of the Khanqah) can be summarised as whoever wants to learn legal practise should go there! I don’t remember when he came here and what exactly happened but the reality is that whoever comes here and tries to hide something (by being deceptive), due investigation is done (to uncover the facts) which he thinks to be indulging in legal practise.

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on discipline, order and planning and being displeased with chaos!

Shaykh (RA) responds on page 65 states that people are not in the habit of cleanliness and order and my habit (even at home) is the opposite! When I pick something from one place e.g. pen, matchsticks (at home) I replace it at the same location (myself) and don’t rely on others to replace them (for me).  My heart desires that I follow the correct principles and also make others follow them and this is what people detest. I neither serve nor want to be served; I neither want to follow nor take command (with haphazardness and chaos)! If someone desires work (with order and discipline) I am wholeheartedly ready to serve but I am unable to serve where chaos and haphazardness reign. Allah (SWT) has put order and discipline in my nature and if people are unable (or unwilling) to adopt them then I am unable to adopt the opposite (i.e. chaos and haphazardness)!

Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on truthful straight talking!

Shaykh (RA) responds on page 257 that someone says that it’s easier to respond to the questions of Mukneer & Nakeer (Angels in the grave) then to respond to my questions and I say that this is (probably) correct because in the grave there will be straight, truthful to point discussion while here (with me) you want to play games and  “spin the conversation”  so responding here becomes difficult.