السيد المحدث ميان نذير حسين الدهلوي وموقفه عن التصوف

Al-Sayyid al-Muhaddith Miyan Nazir Husain al-Dehlawi and His Perspective on Sufism

Abstract

Al-Sayyid al-Muhaddith Miyan Nazir Husain al-Dehlawi (1805–1902) was a distinguished hadith scholar, researcher, and teacher of the Indian subcontinent, widely known in the scholarly world by the title “Muhaddith of Delhi.” He devoted more than half a century to the teaching and dissemination of hadith, and his services in this field provided the scholars of the subcontinent with a firm intellectual and academic foundation. Among his students were many eminent scholars and hadith experts who later carried forward the mission of promoting hadith sciences across the region. Thus, he is regarded as one of the pivotal figures who played a decisive role in the preservation and development of hadith studies in nineteenth-century South Asia. Regarding to Sufism, Miyan Nazir Husain al-Dehlawi’s perspective was both balanced and scholarly. He emphasized that true Sufism is essentially the purification of the soul, the refinement of character, and spiritual elevation—provided it remains in harmony with the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. However, he strongly rejected those practices and doctrines which, under the guise of Sufism, led to deviation from the Shari‘ah and gave rise to innovations—such as the un-Islamic interpretations of wahdat al-wujud unity of being or unorthodox rituals associated with graves and shrines. In his view, Sufism that adheres to the Qur’an and Sunnah invigorates faith and embodies the spirit of religion, whereas detachment from Shari‘ah renders it a path of misguidance and deviation.

The scholarly contributions of Miyan Nazir Husain al-Dehlawi were not confined to the teaching of hadith; his intellectual outlook also reinforced the academic and theological foundations of Ahl al-Sunnah in the subcontinent. His stance on Sufism reflects his broader vision that religious life must be rooted in moderation, balance, and unwavering adherence to the Sunnah.

This study will therefore present a detailed account of both his scholarly services and his perspective on Sufism.