Makateeb e Rashidiya

Just finished reading the Makateeb e Rashidiya, a compilation of letters penned by the great theologian and Sufi master Shaykh Rashid Ahmed Al-Gangohi ???? ????. The book was gifted to me by Mualana Omar Anwar Badakhshani. Shaykh Rashid Ahmed Al-Gangohi ???? ???? was one of the pioneers of the Deoband Movement who has penned masterpieces in Hadith, Fiqh and Tasawwuf. His life and accomplishments can be covered in this short review, but for those interested in his biography, Tazkera-Tur-Rasheed has been penned by Ashiq Ilahi Meeruthi ???? ????.

Most of the letters compiled in the book are in Urdu, with a few in Arabic and Persian. The conversations are between himself and his spiritual guide and Sufi master Haji Imad Ullah Makki ???? ????, his disciples and students, including Maulana Siddiq Ahmed, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi and Maulana Khalil Hamed Saharanpuri. They encompass various topics, sometimes chains of a to-and-fro conversation discussing Fiqh, Tasawwuf and current affairs. It is not a simple read, and many letters discuss many complex theological issues cross-referenced by Quran, Hadith, Fiqh and other classical texts.

The letters are a must-read for students of knowledge as they give valuable insight into these giants' perspectives on different issues and how they dealt with differences of opinion and other religious matters. I think two chains of letters are a must-read for students of knowledge. One is with Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi ???? ???? where he discusses the complex issues of Bidah and its definition. The depth of conversation, the etiquette of writing to seniors and juniors, intellectual honesty, and clarity of thought in these letters are a ?blueprint for scholars, especially in the present-day charged sectarian atmosphere. After the exchange of 7-8 letters and a pile of evidence and counterevidence Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi ???? ???? acknowledges and accepts the viewpoint of Shaykh Rashid Ahmed Al-Gangohi ???? ????. The second letter is a response to an unknown lost letter; the original manuscript of the letter was acquired by Mufti Shafi ???? ???? and has subsequently been printed. The letter is a response to some of the questions raised on the issue of Taqleed e Shakhsi. This issue is hotly debated today also; however, the depth of arguments and the articulation and clarity of thought is a masterpiece. The connectivity with classical Muslim thought and the rationality of arguments are striking.

The book has given me many valuable lessons and insights, the most important of which are:

1.??????The humility these scholars had is now a relic of a bygone era. One cannot ignore in these letters the immense emphasis laid on how weak, sinful and empty-handed the author considered himself to be. This humility is expressed not only to elders but to his juniors and even disciples.

2.??????Another thing noticeable in the book is the immense importance Ikhlaas (sincerity) had in their life. To many of the letters from his disciples informing him of karamaat (Miracles given to saints), he would reply simply that all of this is good, but the real purpose of life is to come close to Allah through the ways of the Prophet ?.

The book is a wisdom treasure trove providing?amazing insights into past scholars' lives and their approach to existence.