Hadhrat Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyās Kāndhalawī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh

Hadhrat Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyās Kāndhalawī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh was born in 1303 AH (1885) in a village near Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His family was renowned for producing pious, righteous, and ascetic personalities, and their lineage joined with that of Hadhrat Abū Bakr Siddīq Radiyallāhu ʿAnhu. He was the youngest of three sons of Mawlānā Ismāʿīl Kāndhalawī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh, an erudite and astute ʿĀlim. His brothers were Mawlānā Muhammad Sāhib and Hadhrat Mawlānā Yahyā Sāhib, the father of Hadhrat Shaykh al-Hadīth Mawlānā Muhammad Zakariyyā Sāhib Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh.

Childhood & Education
Hadhrat Mawlānā Ilyās Sāhib spent much of his childhood at his maternal home in Kandhla and also in Nizāmuddīn, Delhi, with his father. From a young age, piety and asceticism were evident in him. His maternal grandmother would affectionately remark about the fragrance and qualities of the Sahābah she perceived in him.

Following his family tradition, he memorised the Noble Qur’ān at a young age in the local maktab. In 1311 AH (1893), his elder brother Mawlānā Muhammad Yahyā went to Gangoh to live with Imam Rabbānī Mawlānā Rashīd Ahmad Gangohī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh. Mawlānā Ilyās would alternate between Nizāmuddīn and Kandhla, but his education suffered due to his father’s affection and his deep engagement in worship. His brother eventually received permission to take him to Gangoh and supervise his studies.

He arrived in Gangoh in 1314 AH (1896) or early 1315 AH (1897), where his brother began teaching him regularly. During his studies, he frequently suffered from illness. At one point, severe headaches prevented him from bending his head, and he performed sajdah on a pillow for months. Despite these difficulties, he remained determined to continue his studies.

After the passing of Hadhrat Gangohī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh in 1323 AH (1902), he studied Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Sunan al-Tirmidhī under Shaykh al-Hind Mawlānā Mahmūd al-Hasan Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh in Deoband. He later revised the books of Hadith with his elder brother.

Bay‘ah & Spiritual Reformation
Mawlānā Ilyās possessed deep piety from a young age and benefited greatly from the company of the scholars and spiritual personalities of Gangoh. He developed a profound love for Hadhrat Gangohī and later described the deaths of his father and Mawlānā Rashīd Ahmad Gangohī as the two most painful shocks of his life.

Although Hadhrat Gangohī normally did not take bay‘ah from children or students, he made an exception for Mawlānā Ilyās because of his exceptional spiritual aptitude. After Hadhrat Gangohī’s passing, Mawlānā Ilyās sought spiritual guidance from Shaykh al-Hind, who, out of humility, directed him to the senior khalīfah of Hadhrat Gangohī, Hadhrat Mawlānā Khalīl Ahmad Sahāranpūrī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh. Under his guidance, Mawlānā Ilyās excelled in tazkiyah and eventually received khilāfah and ijāzāt.

Teaching
In 1337 AH (1910), many senior teachers of Mazāhir al-ʿUlūm, Saharanpur, left for Hajj, creating a need for new teachers. Mawlānā Ilyās was appointed to teach secondary books. When the senior teachers returned, the temporary teachers were dismissed except for him.

He had to teach some books he had not previously studied, partly because of his earlier illnesses and the teaching methodology of his brother, who did not always complete every text. Mawlānā Ilyās worked tirelessly to fill these gaps and prepared his lessons with great care. His teaching style resembled that of his brother, requiring students to prepare thoroughly and constantly seeking ways to stimulate their understanding.

During this period, his elder brother Mawlānā Muhammad Yahyā passed away on 10 Dhū al-Hijjah 1334 AH (19 August 1915). This was a devastating loss for Mawlānā Ilyās, as his brother had been his teacher, mentor, and guide. Within two years, his eldest brother, Mawlānā Muhammad Sāhib, also passed away in Delhi.

Moving to Nizāmuddīn
When his eldest brother became severely ill, Mawlānā Ilyās travelled to Delhi to care for him. Mawlānā Muhammad Sāhib was based in Nizāmuddīn, where he continued their father’s legacy by running a small madrasa in the masjid later known as Banglawālī Masjid.

After his brother’s passing, the people of Delhi and Mewāt urged Mawlānā Ilyās to take over the work. He initially refused because of his commitment at Mazāhir al-ʿUlūm, but eventually agreed on the condition that Hadhrat Mawlānā Khalīl Ahmad Sahāranpūrī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh approved the move. After receiving permission, he prepared to relocate but suddenly fell ill with pleurisy in Kandhla. His condition became extremely severe, but he recovered and eventually moved to Nizāmuddīn.

The Tablīghī Movement
South of Delhi lay Mewāt, inhabited by the Meos. For decades, the region had suffered from lawlessness and had received little Islamic education. Although the people were Muslims by name, many practised Hindu customs and celebrated Hindu festivals, with Jumuʿah and ʿĪd among their main Islamic practices.
Mawlānā Ilyās initially focused on removing ignorance by establishing maktabs throughout Mewāt. He personally offered to provide salaries for teachers if the people would give their children to the maktabs. On his first journey, ten makātib were established, and over time many more opened, spreading Qur’ān recitation and basic Dīn throughout the region.

Lectures & Spiritual Reform
Realising that makātib alone were insufficient, Mawlānā Ilyās began delivering heartfelt and spiritually charged lectures that deeply affected the masses. At the request of Mawlānā Ilyās and the people of Mewāt, Hadhrat Khalīl Ahmad Sahāranpūrī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh visited Mewāt in 1344 AH and addressed a large gathering where many people took bay‘ah.

The Birth of Gasht and Jamā‘āt
Initially, Mawlānā Ilyās emphasised Tawhīd and Salāh. From this developed the method of gasht, or local visitation. The first jamāʿah was formed in Nooh and was tasked with travelling a set route to call people towards Allah and the masjid. Soon, jamāʿāt began travelling beyond Mewāt into Uttar Pradesh, and the work spread rapidly.

In 1356 AH, Mawlānā Ilyās travelled for Hajj with a small group, intending to spread the effort among the Arabs. During the journey, he taught the rituals of Hajj and the principles of Tablīgh. In Minā, he delivered lectures, and many Hujjāj pledged to begin the work in their own homelands.

Through his sincerity and tireless effort, the work of Tablīgh spread rapidly. During his lifetime, jamāʿāt began travelling throughout the Indian subcontinent. Hadhrat Mawlānā Sayyid Sulaymān Nadwī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh described how Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyās, through simplicity and unwavering dedication to daʿwah, transformed the Mewātīs into sincere and pious Muslims over a period of twenty-five years.

Absorption in Prayers
During his stay in Gangoh after the passing of Hadhrat Mawlānā Gangohī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh, Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyās generally remained silent and spent much of his time in deep meditation and devotion. Hadhrat Mawlānā Muhammad Zakariyyā Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh relates that he studied elementary Persian from Mawlānā Ilyās during those days.

Mawlānā Ilyās would sit in complete silence on a coarse mat behind the tomb of Shāh ʿAbd al-Quddūs. Students were expected to prepare their lessons thoroughly, and if they made mistakes while reading, he would close the book, indicating that they should return after preparing properly. During this period, Mawlānā Ilyās also engaged abundantly in nafl prayers, spending the period from Maghrib until shortly before ʿIshā’ entirely in nawāfil. He was between twenty and twenty-five years old at the time.

Leading the Ṣalāh in the Presence of Elders
Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyās was sometimes asked to lead the Ṣalāh even in the presence of renowned theologians and spiritual masters. On one occasion, Shāh ʿAbd al-Rahīm Raipūrī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh, Mawlānā Khalīl Ahmad Sahāranpūrī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh, and Mawlānā Ashraf ʿAlī Thānvī Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh were present in Kandhla. When Mawlānā Ilyās was requested to lead the Ṣalāh, a senior member of the family humorously remarked about such a small engine being attached to many big carriages. One of the elders replied that it depends on the power, not the size of the engine.

Abstinence
Once, someone presented a purse to Mawlānā Ilyās Sāhib and requested that he use it exclusively for his personal needs. Mawlānā Ilyās replied that if they did not regard the work of Allah as their own, they could not claim to be His bondmen. He then expressed his regret that people did not truly appreciate the worth of the Sacred Prophet ﷺ.

Following the Sunnah
Mawlānā Ilyās Sāhib was a staunch follower of the Sunnah. His adherence was evident even during the final stages of his life. Qārī Ridā Hasan Sāhib relates that although Mawlānā Ilyās had become weak and frail, he continued coming to the masjid for Ṣalāh with the support of two people, wishing to emulate the manner in which Nabī ﷺ came to the masjid during his final days.

Restlessness and Heartfelt Grief
Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyās Sāhib possessed a heart filled with concern for the Ummah. His deepest desire was that every soul become attached to Dīn and attain success in the Hereafter. His days were spent in restlessness and concern, repeatedly saying, “Yā Allāh, what can I do? I am not able to do anything.”

Many nights he would lie down carrying this burden in his heart. His concern would sometimes become so intense that he could not sleep, causing him to rise and pace around the room. When his wife once asked what was troubling him, he replied that if she knew the reason, there would not be one person awake, but two.

Demise
This embodiment of tireless effort, selfless sacrifice, and service to the Dīn spent his life striving for the faith of Allah. As his health deteriorated, people travelled from across India to see him. Hadhrat Shaykh al-Hadīth Mawlānā Muhammad Zakariyyā Sāhib and Hadhrat Mawlānā ʿAbdul Qādir Raipūrī also travelled to Nizāmuddīn, and their arrival brought happiness to his blessed face.

During his final days, despite being barely able to speak, he continued encouraging those around him to engage in dhikr and advised them to remain in the company of Hadhrat Mawlānā ʿAbdul Qādir Raipūrī. On the night of 21 Rajab 1363 AH (Wednesday, 12 July 1944), he asked whether the following day was Thursday. He then asked that his clothing be checked for najāsah and expressed his desire to perform wudhūʾ and offer ʿIshāʾ Ṣalāh with jamāʿah. Despite the doctors advising against it because of his fragile condition, he insisted and prepared for the prayer.

After completing the Ṣalāh, he advised those around him regarding the importance of remaining with him that night. Around midnight, his condition worsened, and doctors were summoned. Throughout the night, the words “Allāhu Akbar” continued to flow from his blessed lips. Just before Fajr, during the moments of Tahajjud, Mawlānā Muhammad Ilyās Rahmatullāhi ʿAlayh breathed his final breath and returned to his Lord.