TheRamadanOfShaykhAl-hadithMuhammadZakariyyaKandhelviAndOurEldersByShaykhDrMuhammadIsmailMemonMadani

the ramadan of shaikh muĤ ammud zakariyyĀany other staple diet throughout the month of Ramadan or evenon the last day of Sha‘bān.Before the adhān for ‘Ishā, the curtains of Ĥađrat’s quarterswere removed and Ĥađrat sat against the wall observing the guestsand people in ‘itikāf. It was such an inspiring scene. Newcomerscame and met with Ĥađrat. When the adhān was given, Ĥađratattended to his personal needs, and then began his voluntary śalāt.He remained in salat until ‘Ishā and tarāwīĥ śalāt began.During this particular Ramadan he listened to three ĥuffāż(memorizers of Qur’an) in tarāwīĥ. The first was Muftī Yaĥyā,second Ĥāfiż Furqān, and then Miāń Salmān [Muftī Yaĥyā’s fatherin-law].He and most of the guests performed i‘tikāf the whole ofRamadan. Since most people were in i‘tikāf, it was difficult findingsomeone to pick up the mail from the post office. Only three orfour of Ĥađrat’s special devotees were seen outside of i‘tikāf.In the last ten days or shortly before, some friends broughtsweetmeats and kabobs and insisted that Ĥađrat have some too.Ĥađrat occasionally took a bite or two of sweetmeat or kabob butmostly gave it out to others around him. It was announced in thevery beginning of Ramadan [upon Ĥađrat’s orders] that the readingsession [ta‘līm] would be held after tarāwīĥ. Thereafter, the readingsession became a part of the daily program after tarāwīĥ, whichreplaced the earlier gatherings of ifţār [in the previous Ramadan]when people sat and had snacks in Ĥađrat’s company. Ĥađratcommented about these gatherings that, “it is a waste of time”.After the reading session, Ĥađrat would say, “Brothers, go andvalue your time”. Therefore, most were seen either in recitation orśalāt while Ĥađrat busied himself in worship.When resting, he sometimes uttered something to his helper,Abū al-Ĥasan, who stood nearby. Ĥađrat would say, “I am notdisturbed by your śalāt or recitation of Qur’an.”Despite the rigorous worship, strenuous devotions, and littlefood, Ĥađrat recited 32 parts of Qur’an daily. The following washis daily routine:24