Mamluk Ali Nanautawi | |
|---|---|
 Gravestone of Nanautawi | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1789 |
| Died | 7 October 1851(1851-10-07) (aged 61–62) |
| Resting place | Mehdiyan, Delhi, India |
| Children | Muhammad Yaqub Nanautawi (son) |
| Citizenship | Mughal India |
| Relatives | Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri (grandson) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni Islam |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Creed | Maturidi |
| Muslim leader | |
Mamluk Ali Nanautawi (also written asMamluk al-Ali Nanautawi) (1789 – 7 October 1851) was anIndian Sunni Muslim scholar who served as the head teacher of Arabic language at theZakir Husain Delhi College. His notable students includeMuhammad Qasim Nanautawi,Rashid Ahmad Gangohi andMuhammad Yaqub Nanautawi.
Mamluk Ali Nanautawi was born in 1789 into theSiddiqi family ofNanauta.[1][2] Not much has been found on the primary education of Nanautawi. However it is said that he may have completed his primary education from the elders of his family. Nūr al-Hasan Rāshid Kāndhlawi assumes that Nanautawi's studies might have taken place under the supervision of Nanautawi students[a] of Mufti Ilāhi Bakhsh namely Abdur Rahmān and Abdur Raheem.[2] He completed his middle studies under Mufti Ilāhi Bakhsh Kāndhlawi and Muhammad Qalandar Jalālābadi. He is reported to have studied one discourse withShah Abdul Aziz. There is another narration stating that he studied from Abdullah Khan Alvi. He completed his higher studies under Rasheed-ud-Dīn Khan.[3]
After completing his studies, Mamluk Ali started teaching in Delhi.[4] In June 1825, he was appointed as a lecturer of Arabic inZakir Husain Delhi College and was promoted to the post of head teacher on 8 November 1841.[5] He continued as the head teacher of this college throughout his life. Besides teaching the books on rational sciences, Arabic language, andfiqh, he also taught the books ofSihah Sittah.[4]
According toAsir Adrawi, Nanautawi spent his entire career teaching in Delhi. The known scholars of that era are reported to have studied alongside him.[6]
His notable students include:[7][8][9]
Nanautawi died of jaundice on 7 October 1851 and was buried inMunhadiyan,New Delhi near the graveyard ofShah Waliullah Dehlawi.[10][11] His son Muhammad Yaqub Nanautawi served as the first Principal ofDarul Uloom Deoband.[12] Muhammad Qasim Nanautawi, the founder of Darul Uloom Deoband studied most of his books with Mamluk Ali.[13]Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri, the author ofBadhl al-Majhud, an eighteen volume commentary onSunan Abu Dawud was Nanautawi's grandson.[14]
Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Aligarh Muslim University commended him saying that, "the memory that Mamlūk Ali possessed was so profound that if per chance the entire library of knowledge was lost, Mawlāna would have once again written it all down from the treasure chest of his memory."[15]
