Saturday, July 25, 2026

Five incidents of Mufti A‘ẓam رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ

(1)  Stopped the Speech and Made Him Repent

It is said that once, during a gathering, Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ was present on the stage. Out of emotions while delivering a speech, a fiery speaker addressed the undercover police and said, “If the government's Kirāman Kātibīn are present here, they should write that...” Hearing this, Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ immediately interrupted him and told him to repent. Upon this, the speaker immediately stopped his speech and repented publicly. (Kufriya Kalimat ke bare mein Sowal Jawab, p. 300) May Allah Almighty have mercy on Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ and forgive us by his virtue without accountability!

آمِينْ بِجَاهِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم

Dear Islamic brothers! The reason Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ interrupted him was that the speaker had compared the government's undercover police to the noble and infallible angels who record the deeds of servants, معاذالله!

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيب      صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّد

(2)  They Should Have Obeyed

Mawlānā Ḥāfiẓ al-Raḥmān رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ narrates:

Once, I presented myself along with a very close relative to meet Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ. After the meeting, the Shaykh insisted on hospitality, so we stayed. Meanwhile, some devotees from Shahjahanpur arrived, kissed Mufti A‘ẓam’s hand, sat down, and then immediately tried to leave. Mufti A‘ẓam رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ paid special attention to stopping these gentlemen, but they did not stop and left for the station. They could not get the train. After that, they left for the bus stand, but they could not get a bus there either. The bus stand manager told them that no more buses would go to Shahjahanpur; the next one would leave in the morning. Disheartened, they left for A‘ẓam’s blessed home.

When they left, Mufti A‘ẓam رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ had said to Mawlānā Ḥāfiẓ al-Raḥmān that all these gentlemen would return after a short while; they would find neither a bus nor a train. After some time, disappointed and exhausted, they came back to Mufti A‘ẓam’s blessed home. Seeing them, Mawlānā Ḥāfiẓ al-Raḥmān and Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ smiled, and they all ate food together.1

May Allah Almighty have mercy on Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ and forgive us by his virtue without accountability!

References

¹ Jahan-e-Mufti-e-Azam, p. 912

آمِينْ بِجَاهِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيب      صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

(3)  Concern for the Comfort of the Maid

The summary of a statement by the commentator of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Mufti Muhammad Sharif al-Ḥaqq al-Amjadī رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ, is as follows:

When I arrived at Bareilly to serve Mufti A‘ẓam Hind, ‘Allāmah Muṣṭafā Riḍā Khan رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ, he entrusted me with the service of the Dār al-Iftā’. During the day, I would write answers to religious queries, and after ‘Isḥā’, I would read them out to him. Wherever he deemed appropriate, he would make corrections. This session generally lasted for two to three hours, though at times it would even extend to four hours. During those days, it was a time of severe winter; there was a brazier in the room for the Shaykh which began to cool down after some time. Suddenly, he remarked, “If there were more coal, the brazier would warm up.” I asked, “Should I call the maid and ask for coal?” He replied, "The poor maid must be exhausted from the day's work and asleep; leave it."1

May Allah Almighty have mercy on Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ and forgive us by his virtue without accountability!

References

¹ Jahan-e-Mufti-e-Azam, p. 328 selected

آمِينْ بِجَاهِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيب      صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

(4)  Reformation by Mufti A‘ẓam رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ

Mawlānā Ghulām Āsī رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ states:

For the sake of blessing, I had included the word 'Muhammad' at the beginning of my name. Upon this, Mufti A‘ẓam Mawlānā Muṣṭafā Riḍā Khan رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ cautioned me that the name of Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم (Muhammad) should not be here. I immediately asked, “Sir, what is the ruling then for Muhammad ‘Abd al-Ḥayy?” In response to this, the Shaykh replied, “How can you compare ‘Abd al-Ḥayy with Ghulam Āsī?” Hearing this reply, I was astonished, and the greatness of the Shaykh’s profound understanding of religious issues (tafaqquh fi al-Dīn) deeply settled in my heart.

By this instruction, he provided the guidance that wherever the word 'Muhammad' is prefixed to a name, if the application of the word 'Muhammad' is appropriate for that name, then it is correct to use it (such as Muhammad Ṣādiq). However, if the application of the name is not appropriate for the word 'Muhammad', then it is not correct to prefix it (such as Muhammad Ghulam Ḥusayn). The Master of the Universe صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم is ‘Abd al-Ḥayy; therefore, saying ‘Muhammad ‘Abd al-Ḥayy’ is correct (Al-Ḥayy is a Name of Allah Almighty, meaning 'The Ever-Living'; ‘Abd al-Ḥayy means 'The servant of the Ever-Living', and surely Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم is the unmatched servant of Allah Almighty).

However, he is not 'Ghulam Āsī', therefore, saying 'Muhammad Ghulam Āsī' is inappropriate.1

May Allah Almighty have mercy on Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ and forgive us by his virtue without accountability!

References

¹ Jahan-e-Mufti-e-Azam, p. 451

آمِينْ بِجَاهِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيب      صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

An Informative Verdict Question:

What is the ruling on calling individuals named ‘Abd al-Qādir, ‘Abd al-Qādir, ‘Abd al-Razzāq, etc., by just calling them Qādir, Qādir, or Razzāq?

Answer:

Mufti A‘ẓam Hind Mawlānā Muhammad Muṣṭafā Riḍā Khan رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ states:

Omitting the word ‘Abd from such names is very bad, and at times it is impermissible and sinful, and sometimes it even borders on disbelief (Kufr). It is permissible to call someone generally Qādir. In this case, calling ‘Abd al-Qādir just Qādir is bad. However, calling anyone other than Allah Almighty Qādir is not permissible, as mentioned in al-Bayḍāwī. And if someone's name is ‘Abd al-Quddūs, ‘Abd al-Raḥmān, or ‘Abd al-Qayyūm, then calling them Quddūs, Raḥmān, or Qayyūm is just like calling someone whose name is ‘Abdullāh by the name Allah — which is a very severe matter. والعیاذبالله. The one whose name is ‘Abd al-Qādir should be called ‘Abd al-Qādir, and the one named ‘Abd-al-Qadir must be called ‘Abd al-Qadir. It is obligatory to call one's full name, i.e., ‘Abd al-Quddūs, ‘Abd al-Raḥmān, ‘Abd al-Qayyūm, and ‘Abdullāh. Omitting ‘Abd here would be a severe degree of haram and kufr, والعیاذبالله.1

References

1 Fatāwā Muṣṭafāwiyah, pp. 89-90

(5)  Precaution Against Exaggeration

The blessed tongue of Mufti A‘ẓam Hind Mawlānā Muṣṭafā Riḍā Khan رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ always uttered precise and measured words. Whenever he heard about someone's passing, he would immediately raise his hands in prayer for forgiveness. Many letters regarding deceased individuals were presented to him. Read his magnificent incident of avoiding exaggeration in condolences:

Once, a reply to a condolence letter had to be written. The beloved son of Imam Aḥmad Riḍā Khan رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ requested Mufti Mujib al-Islam رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ to write the reply and that he would sign it. So, Mufti Sahib wrote: "We received your letter and are extremely sorry to read the news of your son’s demise." After hearing the reply, Mufti A‘ẓam رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ immediately corrected him, saying: “We are not ‘extremely sorry’, yes, we are ‘sorry’.”1

May Allah Almighty have mercy on Mufti A‘ẓam Hind رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ and forgive us by his virtue without accountability!

References

¹ Jahan-e-Mufti-e-Azam, p. 319

آمِينْ بِجَاهِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيب      صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

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