Darul Uloom Deoband

Darul Uloom Deoband is an Islamic institution located in India in the town of Deoband. Its simplicity and hard work has resulted in spreading knowledge to all corners of the globe.

It was founded in 1866 by Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (RH). The other prominent founding scholar was Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi (RH). Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (RH) established the Darul Uloom Seminary in the town of Deoband to preserve the Islamic culture and teach the children and youth Islamic knowledge. The foundation of Darul Uloom Deoband was laid down in 1283 A.H (21 May 1866 C.E.) beneath a pomegranate tree. Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (RH) stated that he was inspired to do this through a dream in which Prophet Muhammad (SAW) spoke to him.  Darul Uloom Deoband specialises in an eight year Aalim course. The majority of Aalim in England will find that there Sanad traces back to the Ulamma –e-Deoband.

Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (RA)

Hadhrat Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (RH) was born in 1248 AH (1852 AD) in the village of Nanota (Saharanpur district) and passed away at a young age of 49 in 1297 AH (1901 AD). The name of Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (RH) seems older than his life due to his prominence. In reality, this is the Barakah that Allah Ta’ala had granted him due to the life he lived. Hardhat Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (RH) title was Hujjatul Islam (the proof of Islam). He is a descendant of Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA). He was very bright, courageous and intelligent from childhood. He would always outshine his peers in all subjects. When Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (RH) was growing up he saw a dream in which he was standing on top of the Ka`ba and many streams were flowing out of him. He narrated this dream to his teacher, Maulana Mamlook Ali (RH), who remarked that streams of knowledge shall flow out of you benefiting the masses. 
Moulana Qasim Nanotwi (RA) finished the Quran at a very young age. Once he saw a dream that he was sitting above the Kabah Shareef and facing towards Baghdad. There was a stream flowing from there, which touched his feet. The interpretation of the dream was that Hanafi knowledge would spread through Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (RH). Maulana Qasim (RH) possessed only one pair of clothes throughout his life and a lungi; when the pair of clothes got dirty he’d take it off and wear the lungi, wash and dry it and then put it back on. 
Once a group of people who were against Maulana Qasim (RH) planned to mock him. They asked him to perform the Janaazah Salaah of a boy. They told the boy to lie down in a shroud and pretend to be dead, after the Salaah, they would give him a signal and he would get up. The Maulana was aware of their plan due to his connection with Allah, so he refused to perform it. Again they asked him and again he declined. Finally he agreed. After the Salaah was complete the people signaled to the boy to get up but he would not do so. Maulana Qasim (RH) then said, "He will not wake up until the Day of Judgement."
The moral of the story is not to be disrespectful towards the friends of Allah. If you cannot respect them then keep your distance, there is no need to make insulting comments or broadcast your opinion, this is not what Islam teaches. 

The moral of the story is to not disrespect and hold enmity against the friends of Allah and if you cannot respect them, then keep your distance from them.

"And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the Earth easily, and when the ignorant addresses them (harshly), they respond with (words of) peace." (25:63)

Moulana Rashid AhmedGangohi (RA)

Moulana Rashid Ahmed Gangohi (RA) was born on the 10^th May 1829/1826 and he passed away on the 11^th August 1903. His age was 76/79. He was educated by Moulana Hajji Imdaduallah Muhajir Makki (RA). He is from among the descendants of Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA). When Nabi Kareem (SAW) made Hijrah, Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA) hosted him. It is important to mention that Hadhrat Moulana (RA) lost his father at a very young and tender age of seven. Moulana (RA) was actually raised as an orphan. The maternal uncles of Moulana Rashid Ahmed Gangohi (RA) nurtured him and took great care of him and were known to be great Ulamas. Hadhrat Moulana Rashid Ahmed Gangohi (RA) memorized the Quran in approximately one year and in the following year, he performed Taraweeh. It would be surprising to know that apart from Hadhrat Moulana (RA) being a very powerful Aalim, and a person who reached the heights of spirituality, he was also a doctor. Hardhat Moulana passed away in Gangoh in 1905 at a very blessed time on a Friday after the Jummah Azaan.

Moulana Husain Ahmed Madni (RA)

After graduating from the Darul Uloom Deoband, he migrated to Madina with his family. He began teaching Arabic grammar, Usul Al-Fiqh, Usul al-hadith, and other Kitaabs. He spent 18 years teaching these various Islamic literatures in Madinah in front of Nabi Kareem (SAW)'s Rawdhah Mubarak. He was then appointed as a head teacher and "Shaikhul Hadith" of Darul Uloom Deoband. He fulfilled this position for approximately 28/33 years. He was for wearing his kafan on his head as a turban by many people. When Sheikh (RA) was arrested for the Indian subcontinent's struggle for independence, he gave this response, "The most that you can do to me is hang me, shoot me  or martyr me as I have brought my shroud on my shoulder as I am fully prepared for my death."

In regards to the Muslims he mentioned, "If you do not know what we are then let me tell you we are the essence of Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) and the strength of Imam Malik (RA), we are the steadfastness of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (RA); the purity of heart of Hardhat Mujaddid Al-Thani (RA); the insight of Hadhrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi (RA), and we are the heirs of those people who have died and sacrificed to bring us our religion. So you may be able to take our lives but you will never be able to take our Islam from our hearts." 
After this speech they let Sheikh (RA) go as they didn't know what to say to him.

May Allah grant us all the tawfeeq to follow in the footsteps of the Ulamma e- Deoband. May Allah grant them all Jannatul Firdaus and fill their qabr with Noor. May Allah grant the knowledge they have taught people as a means of Sadaqah Jaariyah until the Day of Qiyaamah.

Ameen.