Author: Shah Isma’il Shaheed
The author refers to the Qur’anic verses and Ahadith by interpreting them in a very simple and comprehensible style, and also brings to light the true status of all the unlawful customs and rituals which are commonly practiced in the society and are detrimental to the faith of Tauhid. Tauhid (Oneness of Allah) is the basis of the Islamic religion.
Brief Biography of the Author – (Rahimahullah) – by the Publisher
At a time when the general milieu in the subcontinent of India was overwhelmed by the powers of darkness, and the soundness of Faith was reeling under the potentially threatening squalls and the blinding forages of superstitions and paganism, Allah the Almighty, by dint of His special blessing, sent a personality, who, by the strength of his Faith, knowledge and rhetoric, dissipated the redoubtable forces of depravity and smashed the self-made idols of Shirk (polytheism) and Bid’ah (innovations in religion) and established the base of pure Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism). This great personality was Shah Ismail Muhaddith Dehlawi (May Allah have mercy on him), who was the grandson of Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, a man of profound knowledge and great name to be reckoned with in terms of his authentic scholarship among the most qualified and famous celebrities of his time. The services which he has rendered for the reformation of Ummah and his undertaking the task of Da’wah (the mission of propagating Islam); especially after the previous works of Shaikhul-Islam Imam Ibn Taimiyah and Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, are absolutely unforgettable and shall always be cherished in our minds. His status is specially far more prominent and elevated due to the fact that he not only carried on with his struggle on the strength of his pen and tongue, but he practically joined Tahreek-ul-Mujahidin (the first Islamic Mujahid movement) under the inspiring leadership of Sayid Ahmad Shaheed and achieved martyrdom in his armed struggle against the Sikhs at Balakot and hence set an ideal example for the weak, incapacitated and oppressed Muslims of India.
The age of Shah Ismail Shaheed was infested and contaminated with the poisonous atmosphere of Shirk and innovations. The Indian Muslims, under the influence of the Hindu mythological faith, had entered such rituals and beliefs in Islam that they even surpassed the ones observed during the pre-Islamic period (in terms of their polytheistic rituals).
Taking the above facts into consideration, Shah Ismail Shaheed’s religious sense of honor and the integrity of his Faith could not tolerate the spectacle that Islam which has been choiced for the slaves of Allah to confirm His Oneness (which is also the purpose of affirming one’s faith in the Prophethood), should be infiltrated with and gnawed by the concept of associating partners to Allah. In order to achieve this august and noble purpose, he compiled Taqwiyat-ul-Iman (the strengthening of faith), wherein he, along with construing and elaborating on Qur’an and Ahadith, also expatiated at length about the pure Islamic beliefs, and declaring all the innovations and rituals the source of ignorance in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah, he emphatically enjoined upon the Muslims to avoid being involved with them. Apart from bearing such exalted and elevated aims, this book, on account of its elegant, breezy, simple and elaborate style of prose (according to the requirement of its age), proved to be so much popular among the peoples that it has so far been published in millions and has enlightened trillions of delinquent and strayed people and has guided them to the Right Path.
It must be brought to the attention of our readers that a preface written by Maulana Ghulam Rasool Mehr (the late), encompassing an eloquent description and a mighty rhetoric on the comprehensive benefits and profitability of Taqwiyat-ul-Iman is also included in this book and hence we presume that writing anything further in this regard shall be amounting to proverbially carrying coals to Newcastle.
However, the only thing we would like to add here is, that this book is being published with all its former qualitative characteristics along with the corrections and castigations effected by Moulana (the late).
However, some minor changes in words and style have been made keeping in line with the call of time. We are optimistic that the readers of this book shall be kind enough to tolerate these changes, as the same shall make it a lot easier for them to understand the facts which this book comprises.
However, we have spared no effort in making Taqwiyat-ul-Iman more presentable and appealing to our readers. May Allah bless us with a guidance to be led on the Right Path. Amin.
Shah Muhammad Ismail the author of Taqwiyat-ul-.Iman was the solitary son of Shah Abdul-Ghani, the grandson of Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi (May Allah have mercy on him), and the nephew of Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith, Shah Rafiuddin Muhaddith and Shah Abdul-Qadir Muhaddith.
According to an authentic source, Shah Ismail was born in 1193 H (corresponding to 1779 A.D). It means that he was almost seven years older than his religious preceptor and mentor, the Amir-ul-Muminin (the head of the believers) Saiyid Ahmad (May Allah have mercy on him). The name of his mother was Bibi Fatimah, Shah Ismail Shaheed has several works to his credit.
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