Mufti Mahmoodul Hasan Gangohi Rahmatullahi Alayh

Mufti Mahmoodul Hasan Gangohi (rah) was the senior most khalifa of Hadrat Shaykh ul Hadith Maulana Zakariyyah Kandhalwi (rah).

Life Sketch

Mufti Mahmoodul Hasan Gangohi (rah) was the senior most khalifa of Hadrat Shaykh ul Hadith Maulana Zakariyyah Kandhalwi (rah). In addition he was the Head Mufti at Dar ul Uloom Deoband and Mazaahir ul Uloom for many years. Along with the responsibilites of Ifta (Fatwa writing) he taught the 2nd Volume of Sahih Bukhari at Dar ul Uloom Deoband, supervised the running of numerous madaris in India and also compiled Fataawa Mahmoodiyah, a copious reference book on Hanafi Fiqh rulings. A man of extreme piety and learning, he was not only a Faqih and a Sufi but also a Zaahid (ascetic). Every month not only would he return his salary to Dar ul Uloom Deoband, but also add something from his own pocket also.

Bayat with Shayh ul Hadith Maulana Zakariyyah Kandhalwi (RA)

Mufti Sahib gave bayat in 1349 A.H. to Shaykh ul Hadith Maulana Zakariyyah Kandhalwi (rah) while he was at Deoband. When he used to sit in the majlis of Hadrat Raipuri (rah) and Hadarat Dehlawi (rah), he used to become very inclined toward the Hereafter. However when Mufti Sahib (rah) used to sit in the majlis of Shaykh ul Hadith (rah), Mufti Sahib (rah) would be so affected, that his own sins and flaws would become manifest to him, as a result of which Mufti Sahib (rah) came to the conclusion that his Islaah (spiritual reformation) would take place only at the hands of Shaykh ul Hadith (rah). This was the first reason of Mufti Sahib (rah) in giving preference to Shaykh ul Hadith (rah) for bayat.
The second reason was that in terms of age, the youngest of the saints was Shaykh ul Hadith Maulana Zakariyyah Kandhalwi (rah). Mufti Sahib (rah) wanted to be in the khidmat and suhbat of his Shaykh for a long time. When he approached Shaykh ul Hadith Maulana Zakariyyah Kandhalwi (rah) he was told to give bayat to Shaykh Husayn Madani (rah). Mufti Sahib (rah) replied that "Hadrat, I have heard that if one gives bayat to the Shaykh he is inclined towards it results in a better focus and reformation for the disciple". For some months, Shaykh ul Hadith Maulana Zakariyyah Kandhalwi (rah) did not give bayat. Finally, he said if you are not inclined towards Hadrat Madani (rah) then do istikhaarah, if nothing becomes clear in istikhaarah, then travel to three places: Raipur, Nizamuddin, and Thanhbawan, sit in the majalis and dont say anything." Mufti Sahib (db) didnt go, so Shaykh ul Hadith then gave him bayat.

(Extracted from introduction to the "Ulema of Deoband".)