Muhammad Yusuf al-Kandahlawi

Muhammad Yusuf al-Kandahlawi (1335–1384 AH / 1917–1965 CE) was an Indian Islamic scholar, hadith specialist, and the second leader (amir) of the Tablighi Jamaat, renowned for his biographical compendium Hayat al-Sahaba (The Lives of the Companions) al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1.

Early Life and Education

Muhammad Yusuf ibn Muhammad Ilyas was born on Wednesday, 25 Jumada al-Ula 1335 AH (1917 CE) in Kandhla, in the Muzaffarnagar district of India, though another account states he was born in Delhi al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. He memorized the entire Quran by the age of ten, after which he undertook preliminary studies in Arabic grammar and literature, reading fundamental treatises as well as poetic texts such as the Burdah and Banat Su'ad al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…. He studied the hadith compilations of al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim's al-Mustadrak, along with al-Tahawi's Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar and Mishkat al-Masabih, under the direct instruction of his father, Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandahlawi al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. He also studied Hanafi jurisprudence through Kanz al-Daqaiq under Maqbul Hasan, and Quranic recitation and tajwid under the reciter Mu'in al-Din al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar….

He first enrolled at the Mazahir al-Ulum seminary in Saharanpur in 1351 AH, where he read advanced rational and legal texts including al-Hidayah, al-Mir Qutbi, Sullam al-Ulum, al-Rashidiyyah, and al-Maybudhi al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…. In 1354 AH, he returned alongside his lifelong colleague In'am al-Hasan al-Kandahlawi to complete the advanced curriculum in prophetic traditions al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. There, he studied Sahih al-Bukhari under Abd al-Latif, Sunan Abi Dawud under his cousin and brother-in-law Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandahlawi, Sahih Muslim under Manzur Ahmad Khan, and Jami' al-Tirmidhi under Abd al-Rahman al-Kamilpuri al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1.

Leadership and Da'wa

In 1363 AH, his father granted him formal authorization (ijaza) and pledge (bay'a) in spiritual purification (ihsan and tazkiya) al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…. Following his father's death, Muhammad Yusuf assumed the general leadership of the Tablighi Jamaat, operating from the Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. Under his tenure, he traveled extensively across the Indian subcontinent and made multiple journeys to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, as well as tours throughout East and West Pakistan, expanding the outreach of the movement al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. On 18 Sha'ban 1382 AH, he was appointed supervisor (mushrif) of Mazahir al-Ulum following the death of Abd al-Qadir al-Raipuri al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar….

Scholarly Contributions

Alongside his preaching activities, al-Kandahlawi remained engaged in hadith scholarship and authorship throughout his life al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…. He composed Hayat al-Sahaba, a three-volume thematic compilation documenting the virtues, missionary efforts, and sacrifices of the Prophet's Companions al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1. At his father's behest, he also authored Amani al-Ahbar, an extensive Arabic commentary on al-Tahawi's Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar aimed at resolving problematic textual variants, elucidating narrator criticism, and articulating the Hanafi legal methodology; the work reached four substantial volumes before his passing al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. Additionally, he compiled al-Ahadith al-Muntakhabah, a hadith collection arranged around the movement's core principles al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar….

Death

Muhammad Yusuf al-Kandahlawi died on Friday, 29 Dhu al-Qi'da 1384 AH (1965 CE) in Lahore, Pakistan al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. His body was transported back to Delhi, where Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandahlawi led the funeral prayer, and he was buried within the grounds of the Nizamuddin Markaz beside his father al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. Following his death, In'am al-Hasan al-Kandahlawi was appointed as the third leader of the movement, while his son Muhammad Harun continued along his scholarly path al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1.