The Disciplined Life and Scholarly Zeal of Shaykh Ashraf Ali al-Thānawi During His Student Life

Translated and Paraphrased by Umer Ansari

Grand Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani writes about the student life of Hakeem al-Ummah Shaykh Ashraf Ali al-Thanāwi, which he often heard from his own father who was a classmate of Shaykh al-Thānawi, that he was very particular about his schedule in his student life, he would never miss his classes.

He would not engage in another activity in a specified time slot, it showed his discipline and it made his life smooth because he wouldn’t get distracted.

After attending all the classes, he would utilize the extra time in between the classes or after the classes to review the lessons of the day, traditionally called “takrar.”

After the lunch in the afternoon, he used to take a short power nap, and after Asr salah (late -evening prayer) he would either go out in the wilderness or he would head out to the urban center to debate with the Christian or Arya Samajh (Hindu) missionaries or the missionaries of other sects. Shaykh Al-Thānawi, as a student, used to avidly debate and engage in munāẓarah.

Mufti Shafi Usmani particularly adds that after Shaykh Al-Thanāwi completed his studies and took Shaykh Hāji Imdādullah Muhājir Makki as his spiritual guide, he began to find these debates reprehensible, and after sometime he completely abandoned munāẓarah. (I say: This highlights the importance of taking upon a spiritual guide for one’s own spiritual rectification and tazkiyya).

Between Maghrib (post-sunset prayer) and Isha (night prayer) he would review the next day’s lesson of all of his books, traditionally known as “muṭāla’ah“. Then after Isha, he would always sleep and rest, until the last third of the night, when he would always wakeup for the tahajjud (pre-dawn voluntary prayers) in his student life.

Neither was he ever seen absent from any of his classes, nor was he found engaged in any activity that would jeopardize his sleep schedule in the night. During the exams, Mufti Shafi Usmani’s father and Shaykh Al-Thānawi would review the books for exam together. However, after Isha, Shaykh Al-Thānawi would excuse himself to bed while others would continue studying for the exam.

On a Friday, he would engage in the preparation for the Friday prayer by performing ghusl (ritual bath) and dressing up for the prayer. After performing the Friday prayer, he would spend his time in voluntary service (khidmah) of his teachers.

[Makātīb Ḥakīm al-Ummat Banām Mufti Shafi Usmani. Idaratul Ma’arif Karachi, Karachi 2005]

[Graphic: Gemini AI]