Hazrat Maulana Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpuri Rahmatullahi Alayh

Hazrat Maulana Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpuri (RA) was born in 1293 AH in Azamgarh. He spent most of his life in Phulpur and thus became known as ‘Phulpuri.’ His father sent him to Jaunpur, India to start his religious education. He started his studies under Maulana Abu Al-Khair Makki, son of Maulana Sakhawat Ali, who was the Khalifah of Sayyid Ahmad Shaheed (RA). Two years later, he studied under Maulana Sayyid Ameenuddin Naseerabad. He then went to Jami’ul Uloom Kanpur and completed his studies. After graduating, he decided to become bay’at to Hazrat Thanwi (RA). He started teaching in Madrasah Arabiah Sitapur for some time, then went to Jaunpur and taught as the Sadr Mudarris for five years. It was during this time that he presented himself in the service of Hazrat Thanwi (RA) and formally started on the path of sulook. Hazrat Thanwi (RA) went to Sara-e-Meer, Azamgarh where Hazrat Thanwi (RA) had to deliver a lecture. It was then in the Eid-Gah (plane where the Eid Salat is prayed) where Hazrat Thanwi (RA) had granted Maulana Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpuri (RA) Khilafat. Before that had occurred in 1336 AH Hazrat Thanwi (RA) had advised him to establish a madrasah, Raudhat-ul-Uloom in Phulpur. Hazrat Thanwi (RA) himself had laid the foundation for this institute. Maulana Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpuri (RA) had founded another madrasah in Sara-e-Meer by the name of Bait-ul-Uloom in 1340 AH. Hazrat Thanwi (RA) had accepted to supervise this madrasah as well. In order maintain this madrasah, Maulana Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpuri (RA) would travel five miles to and from his home in Phulpur to Sara-e-Meer. He would take his own flour and salt and would not even take a salary. Solely for the pleasure of Allah, he would travel ten miles everyday. Hazrat Thanwi (RA) used say regarding his simplicity, “Maulana Abdul Ghani Phulpuri (RA) Masha Allah is like a soldier and is very competent. Setting his ‘ilmi and ‘amali achievements aside, one would not be able to tell just by looking at him that he is someone of great caliber.”

From the very beginning, Hazrat Phulpuri had a great interest in jihad and striving in the path of Allah. For this very reason, he had acquired military training on how to be a soldier. He even taught some ‘Ulamaa in Thanabhawan how to fight with a staff. On seeing his talent in this field, Hazrat Thanwi (RA) would remark with joy, encouragement and enthusiasm saying, “Our Molvi Abdul Ghani alone is enough to face an army of a thousand men, and if we ever were in need of an army, then our army is in Azamgarh” (referring to Hazrat Phulpuri by referring to Hazrat Phulpuri’s place of residence).