Salafi Research Institute SRI
A Short Biography of Shaykh Irshad al-Haq Athari
He is Irshad al-Haq Athari b. Haji Ghulam Rasul. He was born in 1949/1368H in Chak (village) 72/7-R Kachiwala, in the sub-district of Faqirwali in district Bhawalnagar. In his youth his family moved to Chak 24, Mandi Liyaqatpur, district Rahim Yar Khan, where they eventually settled through starting farming and set up a business. (Tazkirrah Ulama Ahlul Hadith (Vol.2 p.92) of Professor Mian Muhammad Yusuf Sajjad, Jami’in Hadith (p.115) of Shaykh Abdul Rashid Iraqi, Gulistan Hadith (p.459) of Shaykh Muhammad Ishaq Bhatti, The People of Hadith in the Sub-continent; A Study (p.449) of Muhammad Tanzil as-Siddiqi al-Hussaini.
Shaykh Abdul Rashid Iraqi mentions him as the fourth student of Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Ghondalwi and says, “He has extensive knowledge of hadith, asma ar-rijal, fiqh, usul al-fiqh and very extensive knowledge of Hanafi fiqh.” (Jami’in Hadith (p.115).
His Studies
He studied in a local primary school in Chak 24 and then passed his middle school in 1961 in Liyaqatpur when he was 12. He then inclined to Islamic knowledge and thus enrolled in Madrassah Qasim al-Ulum in Liyaqatpur which was a Deobandi madrassah. He studied the basic books for two years with Shaykh Bashir Ahmad and Mawlana Muhammad Hayat. When he was approximately 15-16 years old in 1964, he enrolled at the prestigious Salafi institute of Jamia Salafiyyah Faisalabad for further studies. (Tazkirrah Ulama Ahlul Hadith (Vol.2 p.92), Gulistan Hadith (p.459).
Due to his family background and his early education he was a Hanafi Deobandi. His association with the Hanafi Deobandi school continued for the first two years in Jamia Salafiyyah when he was around 17-18. When he started changing his mindset and was being disillusioned with Hanafi Deobandism, his family gave him Nimawi’s Athar as-Sunan to stop this change. In those days Shaykh Abu Hafs Uthmani used to be the secretary of the Jamia, he advised Shaykh Athari to also read Ibkar al-Minan fi Tanqid Athar as-Sunan. As he continued reading and studying Ibkar al-Minan and Tuhfah al-Ahwadhi both of Shaykh Abdur Rahman Mubarakpuri and A’wn al-Ma’bud of A’zimabadi, his mindset started changing and he eventually abandoned Hanafi Deobandism and became Ahlul Hadith. This is also the reason why when Ibkar al-Minan was published, Shaykh Athari offered copious advice and suggestions. (Tazkirrah Ulama Ahlul Hadith (Vol.2 p.93), Gulistan Hadith (p.460).
After 1967 and three years of study in Jamia Salafiyyah, he went to Jhawk Kaw near Tandalyawala and studied with Shaykh al-Hadith Hafiz Muhammad Binyamin for a year. He studied various sciences, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Qutbi and other books. Then he travelled to Jamia Muhammadiyyah in Gujranwala in 1968 to further complete his studies. Here he studied with the Muhaddith Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Ghondalwi. He studied Sahih al-Bukhari with him and also, Khulasah at-Tafsir, Ulum al-Hadith of Ibn as-Salah, at-Tawdhih wa’l Talwih, Sallim al-Ulum, Sharh Aqa’id an-Nasafi and Siraji. He also studied al-Hidayah with Shaykh al-Hadith Abul Barkat Ahmad. He graduated with a Sanad al-Ijazah around 1969. Thereafter he joined Idarah al-Ulum al-Athariyyah in Faisalabad and studied with Shaykh Muhammad Abdullah and Shaykh Muhammad Abduh Falah. Then he remained at the Idarah until today, where he is the current head. (Tazkirrah Ulama Ahlul Hadith (Vol.2 p.93-94), Gulistan Hadith (p.460).
His Teachers
Shahid Faruq Nagi introduces and lists Shaykh Irshad as the first student of Shaykh Muhaddith Hafiz Muhammad Ghondalwi in Jamia Islamiyyah Gujranwala as,
Shaykh Irshad al-Haq Athari – Fazil Dars Nizami, secretary of research and legal verdicts of Markazi Jamiat Ahlul Hadith Pakistan, the great researcher, author of many books, head of Idarah al-Ulum al-Athariyyah, Khatib of Jami’ Masjid Mubarak Ahlul Hadith Montgomery Bazar Faisalabad (Tazkirrah Hafiz Muhammad Ghondalwi (p.175).
His teachers include,
Muhaddith Hafiz Muhammad Ghondalwi
Shaykh al-Hadith Abul Barkat Ahmad Madrasi
Shaykh al-Hadith Muhammad Abdullah Budhyamalwi
Shaykh al-Hadith Muhammad Binyamin
Shaykh al-Hadith Muhammad Abdullah Amjad Chathwi
Shaykh al-Hadith Muhammad Abduh Falah
Shaykh Muhammad Sadiq Khalil
Shaykh Ali Muhammad Muslim
Shaykh Pir Muhammad Ya’qub
Shaykh Muhammad Hanif Salafi
(Tazkirrah Ulama Ahlul Hadith (Vol.2 p.94), Gulistan Hadith (p.461), Jami’in Hadith p.115), (The Academic Achievements of Ahlul Hadith Scholars of the Sub-continent p.59-61), the latter two both of Shaykh Abdur Rashid Iraqi.
Some of his Works
The Shaykh authored and checked numerous books in Arabic and Urdu. Shaykh Abdur Rashid Iraqi mentions,
Shaykh Irshad al-Haq Athari is from the major researchers and authors of this era, his academic and research articles are published regularly in the various Ahlul Hadith magazines and journals. He is from the well-known students of Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Ghondalwi. His knowledge, research and discussions surrounding hadith is extensive. He is an excellent researcher and unique amongst the Ahlul Hadith, all his writings and research are knowledge based and he is no doubt a great muhaqqiq and an exemplary author in this era (The Academic Achievements of Ahlul Hadith Scholars of the Sub-continent p.59-61).
ARABIC
His works include checking and annotating,
Al-I’llal al-Mutanahiyyah Fi’l Hadith al-Wahiyyah of Ibn al-Jawzi (2 Vol.)
Musnad Abu Ya’la (6 Vol.)
Kitab al-Mu’jam of Abu Ya’la
Ghayah al-Maqsad fi Zawa’id al-Musnad Imam Ahmad of al-Haythami
Musnad as-Siraj of Muhammad as-Siraj
al-Ahadith al-Eidiyyah al-Musalsalah of Abu Tahir As-Silafi
Mukhtasar Hashiyyah Alat-Taqrib at-Tahdhib of Ibn Hajr
Itmam al-Manfa’ah bi-Ta’jil al-Manfa’ah of Ibn Hajr
Izalah al-Khafa an Khilafah al-Khulafah of Shah Waliullah
I’lam Ahlil Asr bi-Ahkam Rak’ah al-Fajr of A’zimabadi
Jala’ al-Aynayn Fi-Takhrij Riwayat al-Bukhari Fi Juz Raf al-Yadayn, of Badi ud-Din Shah Rashidi
al-Amr al-Mubram li-Ibtal al-Kalam al-Muhkam of Abul Qasim Sayf Banarsi
al-Qawl al-Jali Fi Tahqiq Sama’ al-Hasan b. Ali. At-Ta’rif Bima Iftira’at Ra’id al-Malla Min at-Tahrif.
He also compiled the following works,
Faharis Mu’ajam as-Saghir Imam at-Tabarani,
Faharis Ahadith Akhbar Asbahan,
Faharis Ahadith al-Faqih wa’l Mutafaqih,
Faharis Ahadith Mawdheh Awham al-Jam’ wa’t-Tafriq
URDU
He has numerous Urdu works some of which include,
Imam Daraqutni
Sihah Sittah Awr Unke Mu’allifin
Tawdhih al-Kalam Fi Wujub Qira’h Khalf al-Imam, over 1000 pages in reply to a Deobandi’s book.
Tanqih al-Kalam Fi Ta’id Tawdhih al-Kalam, this a counter reply to the Deobandi student of the author of the first Deobandi book
Asbab Ikhtilaf al-Fuqaha
Ahadith Hidayahi Ki Fanni wa Tahqiqi Hethiyyat
Ahadith Sahih al-Bukhari Awr Muslim Mein Parwezi Tashkik ka Ilmi Ja’izah
Imam Bukhari Par Ba’d Itirazat ka Ja’izah, Maslak Ahnaf Awr Mawlana Abdul Hayy Lukhnowi,
Mushajarat Sahabah Awr Salaf ka Mawqaf
Maqam as-Sahabah
I’la as-Sunan fi’l Mizan
Mawsu’ah Marwiyyat Abi Hanifah Ki Ilmi wa Istinadi Hethiyyat
Khutbah Ghadir Khum Awr Ahlul Bayt Keh Huquq
two books refuting a well-known Deobandi Mawlana
two books answering doubts on music and many more.
He also has a book series explaining Surah’s of the Quran of which six have been published.
Also published are 7 volumes of his Maqalat, a collection of his articles and booklets on a range of subjects from the usual sciences and biographies.
(Tazkirrah Ulama Ahlul Hadith (Vol.2 p.94-95), Jami’in Hadith (p.115), The Efforts of the Scholars of Ahlul Hadith in Printing and Spreading Hadith (p.120) of Shaykh Abdur Rashid Iraqi, The Academic Achievements of Ahlul Hadith Scholars of the Sub-continent (p.60-61), Gulistan Hadith (p.460+).
The Shaykh currently continues to publish books and articles while the head of Idarah al-Ulum al-Athariyyah in Faisalabad. May Allah protect and preserve him, Amin.
The People of Knowledge Regarding Shaykh Irshad
We can determine the level of Shaykh Irshad’s knowledge that when Shaykh Zubayr Ali Za’i visited him, he photocopied all his annotations on Siyar A’lam an-Nabula!
Shaykh Abu’l Ashbal Ahmad Shagif referred to him as,
“My brother and friend, Shaykh al-Muhaqqiq, well-known among the scholars, Muhaddithin and students of knowledge of our times, al-Muhaddith Irshad al-Haq Athari, May Allah protect him from all evil and trials, (Amin)..” (Foreword, Ghayah al-Maqsad fi Zawa’id Musnad al-Imam Ahmad (Vol.1 p. ha), Itmam al-Manfa’ah bi-Ta’jil al-Manfa’ah p.5).
Shaykh Muhammad Uzayr Shams said about him,
“He checked this book, my brother al-Allamah al-Muhaddith al-Hafiz Irshad al-Haq al-Athari, who is known for his knowledge and checking of books, his research publications and his lectures. Furthermore, his defence of hadith and its people and his refutation of the rejectors of the Sunnah and their doubts. His discussions with the people of opinion where he mentions how their principles oppose the Manhaj of Ahlul Hadith and his clarification of their contradictions on hadith grading and narrators…” (Foreword, Ghayah al-Maqsad fi Zawa’id Musnad al-Imam Ahmad (Vol.1 p. Ha).
Shaykh Wasiullah Muhammad Abbas refers to him as,
“al-Ustadh al-Kabir al-Akh al-Fazil al-Allamah Irshad al-Haq al-Athari…..ash-Shaykh Irshad al-Haq is from the major scholars of the Ahlul Hadith of Pakistan and India, he has numerous works in Urdu. He has great efforts in the service of the Sunnah and its defence and his support of the Salafi Manhaj.” (Foreword, Ghayah al-Maqsad fi Zawa’id Musnad al-Imam Ahmad (Vol.1 p. Alif and Ba).
Shaykh Muhammad Tanzil as-Siddiqi al-Hussaini said,
“From the jayyid scholars of hadith of this time.” (The People of Hadith in the Sub-continent; A Study (p.450).
Abu Khuzaimah Ansari
