Muhammad Zakariya Al-Kandahlawi - Teaching Career

Teaching Career

After completing his academic studies, Muhammad Zakariya was appointed as a teacher in Mazahir Uloom on 1 Muharram 1335 AH (29 October 1916), mainly at the recommendation of Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri. At the age of 18, he was one of the youngest members of the staff. He was initially assigned to teach books on Arabic grammar, morphology, and literature, as well as some primary texts of Islamic jurisprudence. Some of these books were transferred to him from more senior teachers. Usulu'sh-Shashi was previously taught by his uncle, Muhammad Ilyas, and `Ilmu's-Sighah by Zafar Ahmad Usmani. Despite not having studied either of these books, he was able to lecture capably on the subjects. He quickly developed rapport with the students and satisfied the school's principal, who had held reservations about appointing someone at such a young age.

The initial books assigned to him were: Usulu'sh-Shashi (usul al-fiqh), `Ilmu's-Sighah (morphology), Mi'ata `Amil Manzum (syntax), Sharh Mi'ata `Amil (syntax), Khulasah Nahw Mir (syntax), Nafhatu'l-Yaman (literature), Munyatu'l-Musalli (fiqh of prayer), and Qala Aqulu (logic).

After a promotion, he taught Mirqatu'l-Mantiq (logic), Sharh Tahdhib (logic), Al-Kafiyah (Arabic grammar), Sharh Mullah Jami (Arabic grammar), Mukhtasar al-Quduri (fiqh), Nuru'l-Idah (fiqh), Usulu'sh-Shashi (usul al-fiqh), and Bahth fa`l, Bahth Ism.

In 1336 there was further promotion. Some of the books he was assigned were Maqamat (literature), Sab`ah Muallaqah (literature), Qutbi (logic), Mir Qutbi (logic), and Kanzu'd-Daqa'iq (fiqh)

During and after 1336, he also taught Hamasa (literature) and the first volume of Al-Hidayah (fiqh).

In 1338 he accompanied his shaykh, Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri, for Hajj. They returned in Muharram 1339. He then taught Nuru'l-Anwar for three years.

Beginning in 1341, he was given important books of hadith to teach. From Rajab 1341 (February/March 1923), the responsibility to teach three chapters of Sahih al-Bukhari was transferred to him. He was also responsible for teaching Mishkatu'l-Masabih from Shawwal 1341 (May/June 1923) to Sha'ban 1344 (February/March 1926).

In Shawwaal 1344 AH, he again accompanied Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri for Hajj. In 1345 AH, he traveled to Medina, where he taught Sunan Abu Dawud at Madaris al-`Ulum ash-Shar`iyah for a year. While in Medina, he commenced the writing of Awjaz ul Masalik ila Muwatta Imam Malik. He was twenty-nine at the time. It was also in Medina that Saharanpuri conferred upon Muhammad Zakariya khilafah (spiritual succesorship), authorizing him in all four main tariqas (Chishtiya, Naqshbandiya, Qadiriya, and Suhrawardiya).

Upon returning to India on 18 Safar 1346 AH (17 August 1927), he resumed teaching at Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur and was given the responsibility to teach Sunan Abi Dawud and half of Sahih al-Bukhari. In that year he also taught Sunan an-Nasa'i and Muwatta Imam Muhammad.

For approximately the next 30 years he continued to teach Sunan Abi Dawud and half of Sahih al-Bukhari. During this period he also often taught Jami` at-Tirmidhi and Sahih Muslim.

After the death of the school's principle around 1375 AH, Muhammad Zakariya was given responsibility to teach the full Sahih al-Bukhari, and the responsibility to teach Sunan Abi Dawud was given to another teacher.

He continued to teach until 1388 AH, when he developed cataracts. In total, he taught half of Sahih al-Bukhari 25 times, the complete work 16 times, and Sunan Abi Dawud 30 times.