TheRamadanOfShaykhAl-hadithMuhammadZakariyyaKandhelviAndOurEldersByShaykhDrMuhammadIsmailMemonMadani

the ramadan of shaikh muĤ ammud zakariyyĀsomeone as blind as myself could feel the illuminations descendinglike rain across the room as if the sun was rising. I thought aboutthis for a long time, in fact, all the way to up to ‘Aśr time.Some people have so much blessing in their ifţār, you will notsee it in the fasting of millions of people. I never felt and saw theseilluminations before or after that ever again. Even now, when Ithink about that time, it fills me with joy. Ĥađrat insisted that Iinform him when I arrive in the room, but I told all the helpersand others [who wished to inform Ĥađrat of my presence] that itwould divert Ĥađrat’s attention. I became friends with my sincereand loving friend, al-Ĥāj Abū al-Ĥasan, this Ramadan. He enjoysnarrating the details of these first days of our budding friendshipevery now and then. I also remember many details of that timebut should I begin narrating them, it will easily fill up seven toeight sides. As they are irrelevant to the subject of Ramadan of ourelders I will note it down at some other time.This year, Ĥađrat’s affection for Shāh Masūd gave him the opportunityto lead tarāwīĥ, who recited beautifully and passionately. Hecompleted the Qur’an on the 25th, and different people led on theremaining four days. Tarāwīĥ began immediately after ‘Ishā timecame in [in Bahit House] and since Qārī Mużaffar led in the oldschool [in Sahāranpūr], I would catch two to four rak‘as behind himonce I prayed tarāwīĥ in Bahit house and returned to Sahāranpūr.In those days, I had to have tea after tarāwīĥ and never missed itfor anything. Toasted rice was always cooked in the house for aftertarāwīĥ and if anything else came in it was also presented at that time.Shaikh al-Ĥāj Abū al-Ĥasan ‘Alī Miāń and Sufi ‘Abd al-Ĥamīd, whois Sir Raĥīm Bakhsh’s nephew, also spent most of his Ramadan withĤađrat in Bahit House. It was routine for the devoted helpers tocome sit and drink tea with me after praying tarāwīĥ with Ĥađrat.My second Ramadan with Ĥađrat was Ĥađrat’s last Ramadan of1379/1962. Ĥađrat had insisted many months prior to Ramadan thatthe school and Bukhārī will go on, but we will not always be around.So, please come for Ramadan. From that point on, I made it my habitto leave immediately after Jumu‘a [skipping lunch] for Raipūr. I154