Hazrat Mufti Saeed Aḥmad Palanpuri (RA) - Aashiq of the Holy Quran (عاشقِ قرآن)

By Mufti Noman Daji, UK

I pray Allah Ta’ala engulf and enshroud my respected and mushfique teacher Hazrat Aqdas Moulana Mufti Saeed Aḥmad Sahib Palanpuri (RA) with divine mercies. Aameen Ya Rabb!

Hazrat Mufti Saeed Aḥmad Sahib Palanpuri (RA) is the former Sheikh-ul-Hadeeth & Sadr-ul-Mudarriseen of Ummul Madaris (أم المدارس) and Azhar-ul-Hind (ازهر الهند) Darul Uloom Deoband.

The life of Hazrat-ul-Ustaz had many dimensions and I have discussed some of those in my eulogy on my respected and mushfique Ustaz. One of those dimensions (not mentioned there explicitly) is that Hazrat Mufti Saeed Aḥmad Sahib (RA) was a
an ‘Aashiq of the Holy Quran (عاشقِ قرآن)’. The deep attachment, connection and intellectual and practical engrossment with the Holy Quran was evident on those who knew Hazrat closely. It so happened during my studying years at Darul Uloom Deoband that I had to go to Delhi from Deoband. I was already on the train at Deoband station when my respected and mushfique Ustaz also embarked on the same carriage. Hazrat sat down and immediately took out his copy of the Holy Quran and started to recite in an inaudible manner. Four hours passed by (entire journey) but Hazrat did not look up whilst reciting and contemplating on the recitation. I kept looking at Hazrat and admiring this scene of immense engrossment with the Holy Quran. When the train reached Delhi Hazrat stopped reciting and closed the Holy Quran. I witnessed incredible Khushoo (خشوع) and Khudoo (خضوع) in the recitation and for this long in the journey. This is my Personal witnessed incident.  

Below is the Urdu as I had shared primarily in Urdu which I have now loosely translated to English. Some friends had suggested it be in English so the wider audience can benefit too.

Note: I’d like to add a note here that the concepts of ‘Khushoo (خشوع) and Khudoo (خضوع)’ - in a nutshell to be fully engrossed in a serene way in the devotion or act - are not limited and restricted to Salah. They apply to all aspects of worship (عبادة). In the Holy Quran the mention of Khushoo (خشوع) and Khudoo (خضوع) is with Salah as Salah is the highest and most complete form of worship as it encompasses recitation and much more i.e. the highest case (جزء أعظم) of these concepts and rule - Khushoo (خشوع) and Khudoo (خضوع) - is mentioned.

Another point I would like to mention (for completeness) is that Khushoo (خشوع) and Khudoo (خضوع) are a key component of the State of Ihsan (صفت احسان) - Islamic goal in life. And it should be noted that the State of Ihsan (صفت احسان) applies to all spheres of one’s life whether direct acts of worship (Salah, Zakaat, Fast, Hajj, etc) or indirect acts of worship (like eating, drinking, earning, etc). State of Ihsan (صفت احسان) encompasses both and is not restricted or limited to direct acts of worship. Hence, by default Khushoo (خشوع) and Khudoo (خضوع) applies to both types too.

These are highly important points.

حضرت الاستاذ مفتی سعید احمد صاحب - اللہ تعالی انکو غریقِ رحمت کرے آمین!
حضرت کے بڑے پہلو تھے اور اس میں سے ایک کہ وہ عاشقِ قران تھے- میرے طالب علمی کے زمانہ کا واقعہ ہے- ایک مرتبہ اتفاق ہوا کہ میں دیوبند سے دہلی اپنے کام سے جارہا تھا  اور حضرت اپنے کام سے- میں پہلے سے ٹڑین کے ڈبے میں موجود تھا- حضرت الاستاذ ڈبے میں چڑھے اور اپنا قرآن کریم نکالا اور آہستہ سے تلاوت کرنا شروع کردیا- پورے چار گھنٹے گذر گۓ مگر سر اٹھا کر نہی دیکھا - میں حضرت کو دیکھتا رہا- جب دہلی پہنج گۓ تو قرآن کریم بند کیا اور اپنا سر اٹھایا- تلاوت میں عجیب خشوع دیکھا - راقم کا چشم دید واقعہ ہے-

Muhammad Noman Daji
(Before Zuhr, Saturday 11 September 2021 –  4th Safar Al-Muzaffar 1443 A.H)