HAZRATH MOULANA MOHAMMED KHURSHEEDULLAH SAHIB (RAH) - A SCHOLAR OF HADITH FROM MELVISHARAM

Hazrath Moulana Mohammed Khursheedullah Sahib – A Scholar of Hadith (Muhaddis) and The Principal of Madarsa E Khaire Jaree, Melvisharam

 

Our elders often say that real knowledge comes from spending time in the company of scholars. Books can teach us a lot, but some lessons and wisdom are passed only from heart to heart.

One such scholar who had deep knowledge about Melvisharam’s history was Janab Late Haji Aaoor Abdul Azeez Sahib (1936-2021). He was always willing to share what he knew. Around ten years ago, he shared an interesting story about the Big Mosque in Melvisharam.

He spoke about a teacher from Madarsa-e-Khaire Jaree, (Estd. 1870s by Alanji Mohammed Usman Sahib) Moulana Khursheedullah Sahib. After every prayer, Moulana would go to the graveyard beside the Big Mosque and pray for the people buried there (Isaal-e-Sawab). Though he was from Madras, he had a strong connection with Melvisharam.

Moulana had even written a will (wasiyatnama) asking his family to make sure he is buried in the Big Mosque graveyard when he dies. He always kept a copy of that will in his pocket.

When someone asked him why he wanted this, he explained that he saw something special in Melvisharam. After every congregation prayers, many people visit the graveyard to pray for the deceased. Even those who didn’t go inside would stand near the mosque window towards graveyard and make dua for the departed souls. The women of the town also regularly made Isaal-e-Sawab. He said, this tradition is very rare in other places particularly, in bigger cities, where graveyards are far from mosques.

Except the above information, I had no knowledge of Moulana Khursheedullah sahib's personality. Recently, Dr. Rahi Fidai Sahib, a scholar and a historian of our region, informed me about Khursheedullah Sahib and also gave refrerence from his book Tazkira E Muhaddiseen E Junoob, a repository of Hadith Scholars of South India. In this book, he has recorded a brief note on the above personality. 

Hazrath Moulana Mohammed Khursheedullah Sahib (Rah) Madrasi served as Sadarul Mudarriseen at  Madarsa E Khaire Jaree, Melvisharam. He was a great scholar of Islamic sciences. He took oath (baith) from Hazrath Mohammed Gesu Daraz Qadiri (Rah). He also learnt the Hadith and other Islamic sciences from his sheikh. 

While Khursheedullah Sahib was teaching in Melvisharam, many other scholars would come to him to get permission and certificate of narration on Hadith. One such personality was Hazrath Moulana Abdul Hadi (Rah), who met Hazrath Moulana Khursheedullah Sahib in Melvisharam and got the certificate of Hadith from him. Moulana Abdul Hadi was one of the earliest graduates of Madarsa E Madinul Uloom, Vaniyambadi and also a reputed scholar of hadith.

It was only after reading the above account from Dr. Rahi Fidai Sahib that I truly came to appreciate the stature of Moulana Khursheedullah Sahib , a distinguished scholar and saintly personality who served at Madarsa Khaire Jaree. 

It is quite possible that Aaoor Abdul Azeez Sahib heard this information from his father, Ziauddin Mohammed Sahib, whose own father, Moulana Aaoor Abdul Azeez Sahib Baqvi (Rahmatullah Alaih), was a close student of Hazrath Moulana Abdul Wahab Sahib (Rahmatullah Alaih, the esteemed founder of Baqiyatus Salihat. It is recorded that Moulana Aaor Abdul Azeez Sahib was one of the founding members of Madarsa-e-Khaire Jaree.

I searched further, to get details of Hazrath Moulana Khursheedullah Sahib's life but I didn't get any information. Insha Allah, until the content is available, search will continue......

I would like to record here a few anecdotes related to our Qabarastan as narrated by Aaoor Abdul Azeez Sahib:

1. Visit of Hazrath Moulana Hussain Ahmed Madani (Rah)

   When Hazrath Moulana Hussain Ahmed Madani (Rahmatullah Alaih) visited Melvisharam in 1957, he stayed for a few days, during which he visited Islamiah High School and Niswan Madarsa. Upon visiting the Big Mosque, he expressed his desire to see the graveyard. At the Qabarastan entrance, he stood silently in prayer for a while before returning. Known for his deep spiritual insight and ability in Kashf al-Quboor, he remarked that many saintly souls were resting there.

2. Visits of Hazrath Moulana Qari Thyub Sahib (Rah)

   Hazrath Moulana Qari Thyub Sahib (Rahmatullah Alaih) frequently visited Melvisharam over a span of nearly three decades (1956–1983). He often stayed for extended periods at "Thyub Manzil," the residence of Chinmeera Fakheer Mohammed Sahib. According to Aaoor Abdul Azeez Sahib, during Qari Sahib’s final illness, he was in Melvisharam but later taken by flight to Delhi. Aaoor Abdul Azeez Sahib received him at the airport, where Qari Sahib, though semi-conscious, expressed his displeasure upon realizing that he was in Delhi and insisted he should have been left in Visharam itself.

He also said that when Hazrath Moulana Mufti Mahmoodul Hasan Sahib (Rah) visited our town in 1994, he gave similar opinion as Hazrath Madani (Rah) stated.

Doing isaal e sawab in the form of charities, feeding poor, reciting the Holy Quran and asking for their forgiveness is a tradition of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamath. May Allah give taufeeq to follow Sunnath of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

 Melvisharam has produced numerous distinguished Islamic scholars whose contributions had played a pivotal role in shaping the community which needs to be recorded.

These are some interesting glimpses from the past. I thank Almighty Allah for giving me opportunity to write this article. I thank Dr. Rahi Fidai Sahib Damatbarkatuhum for his resourceful guidance on Moulana Khursheedullah Sahib (Rah). May Allah grant forgiveness to Janab Late Aaoor Abdul Azeez Sahib and elevate his position in Jannah. I also thank Janab Hazrath Moulana Mufti Hafiz Puttu Abu Bakr Sahib Damatbarkatuhum for reviewing the article and blessing with duas.

 I consider myself truly fortunate to be surrounded by elders who generously share precious historical insights preserved in their hearts. Alhamdulillah.

It's hgh time to learn from our elders. As time passes, they depart one after another.  Even yesterday, Malack Mohammed Shahabuddin Sahib passed away, a prominent personality, a Politician, and a former worker of Indian Union Muslim League from whom I have heard about  local political history. Whenever he saw me in the mosque, he would call and share history of political leaders of Melvisharam. May Allah grant him jannnah.

S. Mohammed Sadathullah, 

                23.09.25