Shamaa-il Tirmidhi – (English/Arabic)

“This humble servant, at the request of my master Hadrat Maulana Khalil Ahmad Sahib,-May Allah fill his grave with our and make his resting place cool-used to stay in Delhi quite often for a few days, assist in the printing of his kitaab ‘Badhlul Majhud fi Halli Abi Daawud’. There, a kind friend, Janab Muhammad ‘Uthmaan Khaan, urged me to write a short translation of the ‘Shamaa-il Tirmidhi’. Owing to my shortcomings, I knew I was not capable of this. Also, before this, I did not have an opportunity to either write a book or deliver a lecture. Janab Muhammad ‘Uthmaan Khaan, however, did not aCCept any of my excuses, due to certain kind thoughts -he held regarding me. By virtue of my shortcomings I would never have attempted this translation. Since he was a close friend of my late father and, being mindful of the hadith, ‘The best relationship after a father’s death is to treat his friends kindly’, I did not have a way out but to present a short translation aCCording to my understanding and there-after, acknowledging my incapability to the readers, and asking them to forgive me for the complications of the sentences and the dispersion of words and request them to give attention to the aim, that is, the noble character, habits, qualities, virtue, attributes and practices of the emperor of the worlds, Sayyidul Bashr, Sayyidina Muhammadur Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam. A wise person, does not, on aCCount of an ugly and tattered veil, fail to pay attention to a beautiful face; and an understanding person does not, because of a bitter skin, throw away the delicious substance of a fruit.
In this translation a few things have been given special importance:
a. Most of the sayings were taken from the writings of the great ‘ulama of the past, thus I did not resort to my own views.
b. Most of the references in this translation are derived from the following books: ‘]am’ul Wasaa-il’ of Mulla ‘Ali Qaari Hanafi;’Munaawi’ of Shaykh ‘Abdur-Ra-oof Misri; ‘Mawaahib-Ladunniyyah’ of Shaykh Ebrahim Bayjuri and ‘Tah-dhibut Tah-dhib’ of Haafiz lbn Haiar ‘Asqalaani.
c. Since the translation is meant for the layman, literal meanings have been given. Word for word translation has been avoided.
d. In addition to the translation many things have been added serve as a commentary. This has been written separately after the actual translation.
e. At many places in the translation of the ahaadith additional information has been provided.
f. Where there seems to be a contradiction between two Hadith, the differences have been briefly explained.
g. The views of the different madhaa-hib have been mentioned briefly at places. The Hanafi madh-hab has been specially mentioned as the majority of the local population (i.e.` the inhabitants of India) adhere to this madh-hab.
h. The proofs that substantiate the Hanafi madh-hab have been mentioned briefly where deemed necessary.
i. Where a battle or incident is mentioned in a Hadith, that battle or incident is described in the commentary.
j. Where the relation of a Hadith to a chapter is not obvious, an explanation has been provided.
k. To keep the subject matter brief, with regard to those incidents that have not been narrated herein, the readers have been referred to their original sources. The name of the kitaab is given where they can be found in detail so that those who are interested may easily refer to them.
l. Utmost care has been taken to keep the subject under discussion short and precise, as readers may become bored with lengthy discourses.
And divine guidance to me is but from Allah, on Him do l rely and to Him do I return.
Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi.
presently residing in Delhi. (8th ]amadi-uth Thaani 1344)
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