الداعية الكبير الشيخ محمد إلياس الكاندهلوي

al-Da'iyah al-Kabir al-Shaykh Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandahlawi

DESCRIPTION/OVERVIEW: A unique insight into the personality of Sheikh Mawlānā Ilyās and a look at the effort he revived and spearheaded till his demise. He remained relentless, putting his body and mind on the line in promoting this effort for the preservation of the īmān of the masses of all spheres.

The book in our hands highlights the plight of the Muslim masses during a tumultuous time that eventually led to the Sheikh being guided towards this priceless and principled effort, in resemblance and emulation of the pattern and methodology of Nabī صلى الله عليه وسلم.
The book does point out to an undoubted reality; that his humble and Islamic nurturing did play a significant role in what he later was to achieve and illuminate the world with.

READERSHIP: Arab origin speaking Sheikhs/individuals may find the Arabic moderate and easy to understand. Non-Arab ‘Ulamā’ and Mashāyikh may require a dictionary for some words.
We would suggest that the book be read gradually to allow one to digest the words of the author and to permit us to spare moments to reflect on how this work developed from its initial stages to a fully-fledged world-wide effort, against all expectations.
The book is certainly worth all the while, comprising of a blend of appreciative teachings with numerous practical tips.

Just to provide a feel, below are a few selected beneficial excerpts from the book with summarized English translations:

• Page 140 - The Adhān for the newborn: The objective of the child being made to listen to the Adhān upon birth is so it may 'hear the declaration of Allāh's greatness; it may also perceive it in the heart, and it may see the Adhān with its very eyes'.
• Page 105 - The precaution of Mawlānā Ilyās : He would avoid taking finances in the initial stages from those who would not take practical part in the effort. This was done to safeguard the principles and pattern of the effort in its initial stages.
• Page 143 - Relentless with the effort in health and sickness: Health and Sickness are necessary components of a man's life and ultimately life rotates between the two, so what then is meant by peace and safety or the absence of the two in this respect? True peace and safety imply fulfilling the duties always binding upon one and this is what will cause comfort to the soul of Nabī صلى الله عليه وسلم.
• Page 171/172 - Rights of People: His level of consideration for the rights of people was indeed exemplary. Once, whilst on a train journey, it happened to be the time for Ṣalāh so one of his travelling companions attempted to prevent other passengers in the train from walking in front of the Muṣallīs.
  Mawlana disapproved of that and remarked that walking in the train is the right of all train passengers, so rather put a sutra and let them walk ahead of the sutra.
• Page 236 - Adhān and Jamā'ah on journey : Mawlānā Ilyās was very particular with Adhān, Iqāmah and Jamā'ah on journey too. The compiler writes that he does not recall Mawlānā Ilyās ever performing any Ṣalāh without Adhān and Iqāmah in all his trips together with him .

Prepared by: Munir Adam, Madrasah Aaisha Siddiqa