A Brief Biography of Imaam Sideeq Hasan Khaan

Author: Shaikh 'Alee Hasan Al-Halabee
Source: Jahannam: Ahwaaluhaa wa Ahluhaa, which is an abridgement of Imaam Sideeq Hasan Khaan's book: "Yaqdhatu Uleel-'Itibaar mimmaa warada fee Dhikr-in-Naar wa Ashaab-in-Naar" (Awakening those who reflect about what is reported concerning the Hellfire and its Inhabitants).
Translated: Abu Maryam for www.al-manhaj.com 

His Lineage:
He is the Imaam, the great scholar, the Usoolee, the Muhaddith, the Mufassir, the noble Sideeq Ibn Hasan [1] Ibn 'Alee Ibn Lutfullaah Al-Husaineee Al-Bukhaaree Al-Qinnawjee.  His lineage traces back to Imaam Al-Husain, the youngest grandchild of 'Alee Ibn Abee Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him. [2]
 
His birth and upbringing:
He was born on the 19th of Jumaadaa Al-Oolaa in 1248H in the land of Brailee, the native country of his close grandfather, from his mother's side.  Later, his family moved to Qinnawj, the homeland of his parents.  When he was only six years old, his father passed away onto Allaah's mercy.  So he remained in his mother's home as an orphan and he was brought up as a pure and upright person, having much love for knowledge and the scholars.
 
His Knowledge and Achievements:
He traveled to Delhi to complete his studies and he strove hard to gain mastery in the Sciences of Qur'aan and Sunnah and to record their various sciences.  He had great enthusiasm for acquiring books and he had profound understanding in reading them and capturing their points of benefit - especially books on Tafseer, Hadeeth and Usool.  Then he traveled to Bahubaal, seeking some means of livelihood, and there he succeeded in achieving abundant wealth and riches.  This was due to his marrying the queen of Bahubaal.
 
His Teachers:
They were many, including: Shaikh Muhammad Ya'qoob, the brother of Shaikh Muhammad Ishaaq who was the grandson of the Muhaddith 'Abdul-'Azeez Ad-Dihlawee.  And among them was Shaikh Al-Qaadee Husain Ibn Al-Muhsin As-Saba'ee Al-Ansaaree Al-Yemeni Al-Hadeedi, a student of Imaam Muhammad Ibn Naasir Al-Haazimee who was a student of Imaam Ash-Shawkaanee.  Also among them was Shaikh 'Abdul-Haqq Ibn Fadl Al-Hindee, who was also a student of Imaam Ash-Shawkaanee.  And there were many others.
 
His Written Works:
He had a unique talent in authoring books, such that he would write numerous small booklets in one day and large, voluminous books in only a few days.  The number of books he wrote in several different languages reaches the amount of 222.[3]  His books were spread widely and distributed to all parts of the Muslim world.  Many of the scholars of Tafseer and Hadeeth wrote letters to him expressing their praise for his books and making supplication for him.  He was counted as one of the men from the mujaddideen (revivalists) who contributed to the Islaamic Resurgence.  Among his printed books in the Arabic Language are:

1.      Fath-ul-Bayaan fee Maqaasid Al-Qur'aan
2.      Nayl-ul-Maraam min Tafseer Ayaat Al-Ahkaam
3.      Ad-Deen-ul-Khaalis
4.      Husn-ul-Uswah bi-maa thabata 'anillaah wa Rasoolihi fee An-Niswah
5.      'Awn Baaree fee bi-Halli Adillat-il-Bukhaaree
6.      As-Siraaj-ul-Wahhaaj min Kashf Mataalib Saheeh Muslim Ibn Al-Hajaaj
7.      Al-Hittah fee Dhikr As-Sihaah As-Sittah [4]
8.      Qatf-uth-Thamr fee 'Aqeedati Ahl-il-Athar [5]
9.      Al-'Alam-u-Khaffaaq fee 'Ilm Al-Ishtiqaaq
10. Abjad-ul-'Uloom
 
And there are many other books. [6]
 
His Death:
He died in 1307H (1889 CE), thus having lived his life for 59 years, according to the lunar calendar and 57 years, according to the solar calendar.  May Allaah shower him with immense mercy.
 
 
 Footnotes:
[1] His biography can be found in Tabaqaat Al-Usooliyeen (3/160), Fahras Al-Fahaaris (2/1055), Nuzhat-un-Nawaadhir (8/187), Al-A'alaam (6/167) and other sources.
[2] He mentioned this himself in his autobiography recorded in At-Taaj Al-Mukallal (541)
[3] This was the number calculated by Shaikh 'Abdul-Hakeem Sharaf-ud-Deen, the one who checked and commented on the book At-Taaj-ul-Mukallal (542).  He said: "In Arabic, he has 54 books, in Persian, 42, and in Urdu, he has 107."  But he did not list the correct number.
[4] Two lone printings of this book in India from Khidmah 'Ilmiyya were produced.  And there was also a third printing, similar to those two, produced in Beirut.  Allaah enabled me to provide a knowledge-based checking that is befitting of this book.  And it is now in print.
[5] Our noble brother, Dr. 'Aasim 'Abdullaah Al-Qaryutee has provided a checking for it
[6] Dr. Jameel Ahmad has investigated and thoroughly examined all of Al-Qinnawjee's books in Arabic in his book: "Harakat-ut-Ta'leef fee Al-Lughat-il-'Arabiyyah."  See pages 274-281 of it, for it is important.