Qazi Sanaullah Panipati رحمہ اللہ

Biography of Author Qazi Sanaullah Panipati was one of the great jurists, Hadith scholars, researchers, and Qur’anic exegetes of his time. Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlawi used to refer to him as the Bayhaqi of his era, acknowledging his remarkable scholarship in Hadith. Birth He was born in 1143 AH, corresponding to 1730–1731 CE, in Panipat, in eastern Punjab. Name and Lineage Qazi Sanaullah Panipati was a descendant of Sheikh Jalaluddin Kabir al-Awliya. His father, Qazi Muhammad Habibullah Usmani, was a distinguished Islamic scholar and an accomplished Sufi, while his mother’s name was Badshah Begum. His father was a spiritual successor (Khalifa) of Sheikh Muhammad Abid Sanami. Acquisition of Knowledge He memorised the Holy Qur’an at the age of seven. Thereafter, he devoted himself to the study of both the transmitted sciences (Ulum Naqliyyah) and the rational sciences (Ulum Aqliyyah). For this purpose, he travelled to Delhi, where he studied Hadith under Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi. He completed his studies at the age of sixteen or eighteen. Subsequently, he returned to his hometown and spent the remainder of his life issuing religious verdicts (Fatwas), writing and compiling books, and disseminating Islamic knowledge. Scholarly Status Qazi Sanaullah Panipati authored numerous beneficial and widely acclaimed books. He attained a high level of expertise in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) and its principles (Usul al-Fiqh), reaching the rank of independent legal reasoning (Ijtihad). He possessed exceptional mastery of Qur’anic exegesis (Tafsir), Islamic theology (Kalam), and Sufism (Tasawwuf). He served as a Qazi (Islamic judge) in Panipat and fulfilled the responsibilities of this office with distinction and dedication. Death Qazi Sanaullah Panipati passed away on 1 Rajab 1225 AH, corresponding to 2 August 1860 CE.