The Complete Life and Legacy: A Brief Biography of Hafiz-e-Millat

Introduction

The history of Islamic scholarship is adorned with luminous personalities who have dedicated their entire existence to the preservation, propagation, and flourishing of sacred knowledge. Among these brilliant stars is Hafiz-e-Millat, Allama Abdul Aziz (rahimahullah). Widely celebrated as the founder of the great Islamic university, Al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya in Mubarakpur, India, his life serves as a beacon of relentless hard work, unparalleled sincerity, and devotion to the Sunnah.

From his humble beginnings in Bhojpur to becoming the revered “Ustād al-Úlama” (Teacher of Scholars), this biography details his educational journey under giants like Sadr al-Shariah, his immense literary contributions, and the global Ashrafiya Movement he spearheaded. By reading through this biographical account, seekers of knowledge can draw profound inspiration from a life perfectly aligned with the Shariah and the love of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

Quick Information Table

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Allama Abdul Aziz (Kunya: Abu’l Fayd)
Well-Known Titles	Hafiz-e-Millat, Ustād al-Úlama, Jalālat al-Ilm
Birth Date	Monday, 1312 AH / 1894 AD
Birthplace	Bhojpur, Muradabad (Uttar Pradesh, India)
Father’s Name	Hafiz Ghulam Nur
Notable Teacher	Sadr al-Shariah Maulana Amjad Ali Aadhami
Major Achievement	Founder of Al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya (Mubarakpur)
Date of Demise	1st Jamadi al-Akhir, 1396 AH (31st May 1976)

Table of Contents

1. About the Author

2. Early Life and Birth

3. Education and Training

4. Oath of Allegiance (Bay’at)

5. Lifelong Services to Islam

6. Distinguished Students

7. The Ashrafiya Movement

8. Literary Works

9. Demise and Miracles

10. The Legacy: Al-Jamiat al-Ashrafiya

11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

12. Conclusion

A Brief Biography of Hafiz-e-Millat

About the Author

Hafiz-e-Millat rahimahullah is a personality of whom the whole ummah can be proud. His efforts are so extensive that by concentrating on only one of them, it becomes clear how tirelessly he worked for Islām and Muslims. One of his specialities is that he seemed so absorbed with his followers that each one of them will claim that Hafiz-e-Millat rahimahullah was more beneficent upon them than anyone else.

Each of his admirers will argue that he loved them most or was most kind to them. Each devotee can give examples from their lives whereby they could provide evidence for their strong relationship with Hāfiz-e-Millat rahimahullah. His manner of dealing and talking with people was such that everyone would claim that he held them in high regard.

Early Life and Birth

Hafiz-e-Millat rahimahullah was born in Bhojpūr, in Murādābād (Uttar Pradesh), on a Monday in the year 1312 AH / 1894 AD. He was born into a poor but respected household. His father, Hafiz Ghulām Nūr, was God-fearing, pious, religious, and a follower of the Sunnah. He named his son after Shāh Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dihlawi. His name is Abdul Ázīz; his kunya is Abu’l Fayd, and his well-known titles are Ustād al-Úlama, Jalālat al-Ilm, and Hāfiz-e-Millat.

He completed his education at the hands of Şadr al-Shariáh Mawlānā Amjad Ali Aadhami (author of Bahār-e-Shariát) and graduated from Dār al-Úlūm Manzar al-Islām in 1351 AH. He was granted Khilafah and Ijazah by Mawlānā Sayyid Áli Husain Ashrafi Miyan and Şadr al-Shariáh álaihi’r rahmah wa’r ridwān.

Education and Training

He received his initial education from his father and in a local school in Bhojpūr. He completed his memorisation of the Holy Qurāán under the guidance of his father. After receiving preliminary education in Urdu and Persian from Abdul Majīd in Bhojpūr, he enrolled at Jāmia Naeīmiyah in Murādābād and stayed there for 3 years.

During his stay, he reached the study of Sharh Jāmi and Qutbi when his thirst for knowledge reached a pinnacle. He was searching for a new teacher and coincidentally, his search led him to Şadr al-Shariáh Mawlānā Shah Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali Aádhami rahimahullah. He arrived at Madrasa Muíīniyah, Ajmer in 1342 AH with a few classmates including:

• Mawlānā Ghulām Jīlānī Merthi

• Mawlānā Qādi Shams al-Dīn Jaunpūri

• Mawlānā Qārī Asad al-Ĥaq

• Hafiz Zamir Husain

Their applications were accepted. The teaching of various books was shared by the teachers. Usūl al-Shāshi was taught by Şadr al-Shariáh during spare time, and this continued till studies finished. Utmost effort and hard work was Hafiz-e-Millat’s motto, and he completed the whole Dars-e-Nizāmi syllabus. His exam was taken by the author of Hāshiya Umūr-e-Áāmmah, Mawlānā Fazl-e-Haq Rāmpūri, which included a written and verbal test. Hafiz-e-Millat answered the questions with such brilliance that the examiner closed the book and stated that he would not examine him any further as his competence had reached a zenith.

He completed his studies of hadīth in Ajmer Sharif at the hands of Şadr al-Shariáh, but due to some reasons, his graduation ceremony did not take place. He received his certificate of graduation (sanad-e-farāghat) in Bareilly Sharif in 1351 AH.

Oath of Allegiance [Bay’at]

Hafiz-e-Millat swore the oath of allegiance on the blessed hands of Sheikh al-Masha’ikh in the time of his educational career in Dar al-‘Ulum ‘Uthmaniyyah, Ajmer Sharif.

Hafiz-e-Millat blessed al-Jami’a al-Ashrafia by becoming its head teacher in Shawwal 1351. Hadrat Shaykh al-Masha’ikh would come annually to Mubarakpur. Once, during Hafiz-e-Millat’s stay at Mubarakpur, Hadrat Shaykh al-Masha’ikh arrived and wanted to make him the Accredited successor by blessing him with Khilafat.

However, Hafiz-e-Millat’s unprecedented humbleness and piety requested: “I do not possess any capability and aptitude… I am not worthy of receiving Khilafat from you?!” In answer to this, Hadrat Sheikh al-Masha’ikh stated these words of great esteem and honour for Hafiz-e-Millat: “It is not a condition for a pious and a true man (like you) to be ‘capable’ of being given Khilafat.”

Lifelong Services to Islam

During the month of Sha’bān in 1352 AH, Şadr al-Shariáh rahimahullah summoned Hāfiz-e-Millat to Bareilly Sharif and said that because he (Şadr al-Shariáh) had spent so much time away from his home district of Aádhamgarh, it had become corrupted. Hence, he wanted Hafiz-e-Millat to take up a teaching post at Madrasa Ashrafīya Mişbāḥ al-Úlūm.

Hāfiz-e-Millat replied that he wished not to work. Şadr al-Shariáh replied, “When did I ask you to work? You will not be working; rather, you will be serving the religion. Do not look at what you will get.” The student accepted the instruction of his benevolent teacher. History is witness that Hafiz-e-Millat accepted a monthly salary of Rs.35 whereas he was offered Rs.100 in Agra and Rs.500 in Calcutta.

On 29th Shawwāl, 1353 AH (14th January, 1934 CE) he was appointed as the head teacher at Madrasa Ashrafiya Mişbāḥ al-Úlūm. Pupils were taught up to Fārsi, Nahw Mir and Panj Ganj. The total budget of the madrasa was Rs.275, 7 āna, 14 pāi.

Distinguished Students

Hafiz-e-Millat had numerous students who were fortunate to have quenched their thirst for Sacred knowledge from the vast ocean of knowledge which Hafiz-e-Millat possessed. From amongst his students, some of the most distinguished personalities who have earned much honour, respect, and prominence throughout the globe are:

• Hadrat Allama Maulana ‘Abd al-Rauf Balyawi

• “Bahr al-‘Ulum” Hadrat Allama Maulana Mufti ‘Abd al-Mannan Aa’zmi

• “Faqih-e-‘Asr” “Sharih-e-Bukhari” Hadrat Allama Mufti Muhammad Sharif al-Haque

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Qari Muhammad Uthman Aa’zmi

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Qari Muhammad Yahya Mubarakpuri

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana Muhammad Shafi’i Aa’zmi

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Sayyid Hamid Ashraf Kichauchvi

• “Badr-e-Millat” Hadrat Allama Mufti Badr al-Din Ahmed Razvi

• “Shaykh al-Qur’an” Hadrat Allama ‘Abdullah Khan ‘Azizi

• Hadrat ‘Allama Mohammad Ahmed Misbahi Aa’zmi

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana Iftikhar Ahmed Qadri

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Sayyid Kumail Ashraf Baskhari

• Hadrat Allama Maulana ‘Abd al-Shakur Giyawi

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana Sayyid Maqsud Ashraf Ja’isi

• Hadrat ‘Allama Dr. Shakil Ahmed Aa’zmi (M.A.)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Husaini Ra’ichori

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana Warith Jamal Bastawi

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Anwar ‘Ali Bastawi

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Sayyid Mujtaba Ashraf Kichauchavi

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Shah Siraj al-Huda Giyawi

• “Shaykh ul Islam” Hadrat Allama Maulana Sayyid Madani Kichauchavi

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Mushahid Raza Pili Bhiti

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Wajih al-Din Pili Bhit

• “Muhaddith-e-Kabir” Hadrat Allama Mufti Ziya ul-Mustafa Qadri

• “Aziz-e-Millat” Hadrat Allama ‘Abd al-Hafiz (son of Hudur Hafiz-e-Millat)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Sayyid Rukn al-Din Asdaq

• “Ra’is al-Qalam” Hadrat Allama Arshadul-Qadiri

• “Lisan al-‘Asr” Hadrat Allama Qamruz Zaman Khan Azmi

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana Muhammad Kamil Sehsarami

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana ‘Abd al-Mubin No’mani

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana Zafar ‘Ali No’mani (Pakistan)

• Hadrat ‘Allama Qari Muslihud-Din (Pakistan)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Khalil Ashraf (Pakistan)

• Hadrat Allama Qari Raza al-Mustafa (Pakistan)

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana Jalal al-Din Ahmed (Baghdad – ‘Iraq)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana ‘Abd al-Karim (Turkey)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Muhammad Jaysh (Nepal)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Muhammad Badrul Qadri (Holland)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Mumtaz Ahmed (U.K.)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Qari Muhammad Isma’il Misbahi (U.K.)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana ‘Abd al-Ghaffar (Bangladesh)

• Hadrat Allama Maulana Muhammad Mehbub Khudabakhsh (Africa)

• Hadrat ‘Allama Maulana ‘Abd al-Hamid (Dubai – U.A.E.)

The Ashrafiya Movement

From being an empty madrasa, the words QālAllah and Qālar Rasūl soon began to reverberate around it. Students began to flock from far and wide and in a short period, Indian and international students came to participate in the lessons of Hafiz-e-Millat.

Eleven months later in Shawwal 1353 AH, the foundation of Dār al-Úlūm Ashrafīya Mişbāḥ al-Úlūm was laid under his instruction. The first brick was laid jointly by Mawlānā Sayyid Ali Husain Ashrafi Miyan and Şadr al-Shariáh álaihi’r rahmah wa’r ridwān. Soon, this building reached capacity. Therefore, a plot of land outside Mubārakpūr was purchased for this institute of knowledge and in May 1972 (Rabi’ al-Awwal 1392 AH), the inauguration ceremony of al-Jāmiatul Ashrafīya was celebrated and work began swiftly.

Only a year in, teaching began at the new site. It was Hāfiz-e-Millat’s greatest wish that instead of serving just India, the institute should serve the whole world. He wanted it to challenge mischief and innovations the world over and sought to establish an institute that would be comprehensive to cater for all Islamic needs.

Hafiz-e-Millat once said that it is his desire that his madrasa will cater for branches of Islamic knowledge and sciences regardless, but he also wants graduates to have such a strong grounding in Arabic and even the English language, and be of such a high competency that they could perform their duties of tabligh and spreading knowledge in any part of the world.

Literary Works

Apart from services rendered in building Islamic institutes, written works were also amongst his efforts. Many a time he would exclaim that in the beginning, he wrote extensively but due to engagements in teaching, he had little time left for writing. Nevertheless, he still managed to produce the following works:

• Máārif-e-Hadith

• Irshad al-Quráān

• al-Irshad

• Anbā’ al-Ghayb

• al-Mişbāḥ al-Jadīd

• Firqa-e-Nājiya

• Fatāwā Ázīzīya

• Hāshiya Sharh Mishkāt

Apart from this, the launch of the monthly Ashrafiya is his major contribution to literature. The periodical is still in circulation. The number of students that he has left are so many that there are more of them serving in educational establishments around the world than anyone else’s students.

Demise and Miracles

On Monday, 1st Jamādi al-Akhir, 1396 AH (31st May 1976), he gave his lesson of Şahih al-Bukhāri. He taught from Kitāb al-Janāyiz and lectured on the topic of death. During the lecture, he mentioned that today is Monday and this is the day that RasūlAllāh (şallAllāhu álaihi wasallam) was born and the day he demised. On the night of 31st May, 1976 at 11:55 pm, this mountain of knowledge left this world. Innā lillāhi wa inna ilayhi rajiúūn.

His life was a shining book of the Shariáh, by following which people learned the rules of life and the mode of living. The pages of this book are golden and so brilliant that they outweigh volumes that talk about miracles and inspirations.

In 1976, he performed Hajj without having a photograph taken due to his compliance with the Sharīáh. He spent eleven days in Madina Munawwara and was blessed in the court of the Beloved with inward and outward branches of knowledge during this short period. Performing Hajj without a photograph is nothing less than a miracle.

The Legacy: Al-Jamiat al-Ashrafiya

It is not just an institute; rather it is a major university of the subcontinent. It is a flag bearer of truth, a memoir of the akābir scholars, a guardian of the Hanafi madhhab and the teaching of Imām Ahmad Razā, the heartbeat of millions of Muslims, the shield of Islām, an unsheathed sword against the enemies of Islām, the life mission of Hāfiz-e-Millat, his final wish, and the result of 40 years of his sacrifices and those of the Muslims of Mubārakpūr, and an Islamic fortress that will produce scholars who will wave the flag of Islām in the face of falsehood till the final day.

al-Jāmiatul Ashrafiya has made Mubārakpūr into a unique centre of knowledge. Every year, a team of Huffaz, Qurrā’ and scholars leaves here as an army that is ready for the opponents of Islām. This magnificent university is another name for Hāfiz-e-Millat’s sincerity. This torch of knowledge and science is indeed a Mişbāḥ al-Úlūm and in 1972, it was renamed al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya after being known as Dār al-Úlūm Ahle Sunnat Madrasa Ashrafīya Mişbāḥ al-Úlūm.

Graduates of the institute are spread far and wide from Asia to Europe serving the religion. The monthly Ashrafiya is published regularly and punctually and is representative of the culture of the Jāmia. Graduates affiliated with al-Jāmiatul Ashrafiya attach “Mişbāhī” to their names to introduce themselves.

al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya has become synonymous with its founder and benefactor, Hafiz-e-Millat, such that benefiting it is the same as benefiting knowledge, its progression is the nation’s progression, promoting it is the promotion of the teachings of Aálā Hazrat, loving it is love for Hāfiz-e-Millat, and helping it is aiding the Muslim ummah. Hence, come, move forward and support this centre of Islamic learning by contributing and calling upon others to do the same.

(Translated from the Monthly Ashrafiya, Mubarakpur. July 2007)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Who was Hafiz-e-Millat?

Hafiz-e-Millat, Allama Abdul Aziz, was a highly revered Islamic scholar, teacher, and the founder of the world-renowned Islamic university, Al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya in Mubarakpur, India.

Q2: When and where was Hafiz-e-Millat born?

He was born in the year 1312 AH / 1894 AD in Bhojpur, located in the Muradabad district of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Q3: Who was his primary teacher?

His most distinguished teacher was Sadr al-Shariah Maulana Amjad Ali Aadhami, the celebrated author of the comprehensive fiqh manual, Bahar-e-Shariat.

Q4: What is the significance of the title “Hafiz-e-Millat”?

“Hafiz-e-Millat” translates to the ‘Protector of the Nation (Community).’ It reflects his lifelong dedication to safeguarding and propagating authentic Islamic teachings.

Q5: What is Al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya?

Al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya is one of the largest and most prestigious Sunni Islamic universities in the Indian subcontinent, founded by Hafiz-e-Millat to cater to comprehensive Islamic and modern educational needs.

Q6: What was Hafiz-e-Millat’s starting salary as a teacher?

Despite being offered much higher salaries like Rs.100 in Agra and Rs.500 in Calcutta, he accepted a humble monthly salary of just Rs.35 at Madrasa Ashrafiya to fulfill the noble command of his teacher.

Q7: From whom did Hafiz-e-Millat receive Khilafat (spiritual succession)?

He received Khilafat and Ijazah from Maulana Sayyid Ali Husain Ashrafi Miyan and his teacher, Sadr al-Shariah.

Q8: What are some notable books authored by Hafiz-e-Millat?

Some of his well-known literary works include Ma’arif-e-Hadith, Irshad al-Qur’an, Al-Irshad, Anba’ al-Ghayb, and Fatawa Aziziya.

Q9: When did Hafiz-e-Millat pass away?

He departed from this world on Monday, 1st Jamadi al-Akhir, 1396 AH, corresponding to the 31st of May, 1976.

Q10: What is the Monthly Ashrafiya?

The Monthly Ashrafiya is a highly regarded Islamic periodical launched by Hafiz-e-Millat. It is still in circulation today and represents the rich academic culture of Al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya.

Conclusion

The biography of Hafiz-e-Millat, Allama Abdul Aziz, is a remarkable chapter in the annals of Islamic history. His life embodies the perfect harmony between profound intellectual achievement and deep spiritual humility. Sacrificing personal financial gains, he devoted his entire life to the service of the Deen, yielding the magnificent Al-Jamiatul Ashrafiya—an institution that continues to produce scholars (Misbahis) worldwide. Through his renowned students, invaluable books, and enduring movement, Hafiz-e-Millat’s legacy continues to enlighten the global Muslim Ummah, standing tall as a beacon of truth and a fortress of the Shariah.