It is an established fact that AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) gained proficiency in more that fifty branches of knowledge. With this, AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) wrote many books on various aspects of Islam. AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) was a genius writer. He wrote numerous books and treatises in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu on diversified topics.
To date, it has not been fully ascertained as to exactly how many books he wrote, for in doing so, requires research and many personnel. There has risen, over the past years, many Islamic Scholars in the Indo-Pak Sub-Continent and in other parts of the world, who are making serious attempts in studying or translating the works of this great Mujaddid of Islam.
In 1887, at the age of 30 years, he had completed 75 books and treatises. In 1909, at the age of 43 years, this number increased up to 500. However, It has been estimated that the number of books written by AlaHadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan Alaihir raHmah exceed 1000 on more than 50 branches of Knowledge. Apart from these contributions, he had written annotations and commentaries on more than 150 books pertaining to various branches of learning.
Professor Dr Muhammad Hassan, Shaikh-ul-Adab, Islamia University, Bhawalpur, said:
"Mawlana was a prolific writer. He wrote a large number of treatises. It is due to the fact that his head and heart had surging waves of knowledge which were hard to restrain."
From the many books that were written by him, a table of 549 have been classified. The table is as follows:
Tafseer of the Quran -- 11
Aqaa'id (Belief) -- 54
Hadith and Principles of Ahadith -- 53
Fiqh, Principles of Fiqh, Dictionary of Fiqh, Faraa'idh and Tajweed -- 214
Tassawwuf, Wazifas, Morals -- 19
Reviews of Books -- 40
Language, Arabic Grammar, Dictionaries, History, Poetry and Special Benefits, Traveling -- 55
Inspired Knowledge (Jafar) -- 11
Logarithms -- 8
Astronomy, Astrology -- 22
Mathematics, Geometry -- 31
Philosophy, Sciences, Logistics -- 7
Algebra -- 4
TOTAL AMOUNT OF BOOKS RECOVERED = 549
Professor Abdul Shakoor Shad, Kabul University, Afghanistan, said:
"The research works of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan are worth presenting. There is due need that Historical and Cultural Societies of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran together with other such institutions keep all his writings duly cataloged in their libraries."
His Divinely bestowed intelligence was such, that when AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) completed a quarter of any given book at the feet of a teacher, he used to study and memorize the remainder of the book by himself. It is recorded that he completed an Arabic commentary on the book, "Hidaayatun Nahw", on Arabic Syntax, when he was only 8 years old!
The names of a 228 books written by AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) have been listed below and all of these books are available for download at http://www.RazaNW.org (alHamduLILLAH)
1. Ajallā al-Iýlām anna’l Fatwā Muţlaqan álā Qawl al-Imām
2. At-Ţirs al-Muáddal fī Ĥaddi Mā al-Mustaámal
3. Jumān at-Tāj fī Bayāni’s Şalāti Qabl al-Miýrāj
4. Nahju’s Salāmah fi Ĥukmi Taqbīli’l Ibhāmayni fi’l Iqāmah
5. Īdhānu’l Ajr fī ِِِAdhāni’l Qabr
6. Ijtināb al-Úmmāl án Fatāwā al-Juhhāl
7. Awfa’l Lumáh fī Ādhāni Yawm al-Jumuáh
8. Surūru’l Ýīd as-Saýīd fī Ĥilli’d Duáa Baáda Şalāti’l Ýīd
9. Wishāĥu’l Jīd fī Taĥlīl Muáānaqati’l Ýīd
10. Al-Ĥarfu’l Ĥasan fi’l Kitābati ála’l Kafan
11. Al-Minnatu’l Mumtāzah fī Dáwāti’l Janāzah
12. Badhlu’l Jawāyiz ála’d Duáāyi Baáda Şalāti’l Janāyiz
13. An-Nahy al-Ĥājiz án Takrāri Şalāti’l Janāyiz
14. Ihlāku’l Wahabiyyīn álā Tawhīni Qubūri’l Muslimīn
15. Barīqu’l Manār bi Shumūýi’l Mazār
16. Jumal an-Nūr fī Nahyi’n Nisā’a án Ziyārati’l Qubūr
17. Ityān al-Arwāĥ li Diyārihim baád ar-Rawāĥ
18. Jalī as-Şawt li Nahyi’d Dáwati Amām al-Mawt
19. Ţuruq e Isbāt e Hilāl
20. Dar’a al-Qubĥ án Darki Waqti’s Şub’ĥ
21. Al-Árūs al-Miýtār fi Zamani Dáwati’l Iftār
22. Şayqalu’r Rayn án Aĥkāmi Mujāwarati’l Ĥaramayn
23. Anwāru’l Bishārah fī Masāyil al-Ĥajji wa’z Ziyārah
24. An-Nayyiratu’l Wađiyyah Sharĥ al-Jawharatu’l Muđiyyah
25. Izālatu’l Áār bi Ĥijri’l Karāyim án Kilābi’n Nār
26. Iýlām al-Aálām bi anna Hindustān Dār al-Islām
27. Dawāmu’l Áysh min al-Ayimmah mina’l Quraysh
28. Radd ar-Rafađah
29. Al Mubīnu Khatam an-Nabiyyīn
30. Al-Jabal at-Thānawi álā Kulliyati’t Tahānawi
31. Sub’ĥān as-Subbūĥ án Kadhibi Áybin Maqbūĥ
32. Damān e Sub’ĥān as-Subbūĥ
33. Qahru’d Dayyān álā Murtadd bi-Qādiyān
34. Al-Jurāz ad-Dayyānī ála’l Murtadd al-Qādiyānī
35. Al-Kawkabatu’sh Shihābiyyah fī Kufriyyāti Abi’l Wahābiyyah
36. Sall as-Suyūf al-Hindiyyah álā Kufriyyāti Bābā an-Najdiyyah
37. Kifl al-Faqīh al-Fāhim fī Aĥkāmi Qirţās ad-Darāhim
38. Ad-Dhayl al-Manūţ li Risālatu’n Nūţ
39. Kāsiru’s Safīh al-Wāhim fī Ibdāli Qirţāsi’d Darāhim
40. Subul al-Aşfiyā’a fī Ĥukmi’dh Dhabĥ li’l Awliyā’a
41. As-Şāfiyah al-Mūĥiyah li-Ĥukmi Julūdi’l Uđĥiyyah
42. Jalī an-Naşş fī Amākin ar-Rukhaş
43. Barakātu’l Imdād li Ahli’l Istimdād
44. Fiqh e Shahinshāh wa anna Al-Qulūb bi Yadi’l Maĥbūb bi Áţā’yillāh
45. Badru’l Anwār fī Ādāb al-Āthār
46. Shifā al-Wālih fi Şuwar al-Ĥabīb wa Mazārihi wa Niáālih
47. Maqāl al-Úrafā bi Iýzāzi Shar’ýin wa Úlamā
48. Al-Yāqūtatu’l Wāsiţah fī Qalbi Íqd ar-Rābiţah
49. Murūju’n Najā li Khurūji’n Nisā’a
50. Şafāyiĥ al-Lujayn fi Kawni’t Taşāfuĥ bi Kaffay al-Yadayn
51. Az-Zubdatu’z Zakiyyah li Taĥrīmi Sujūd at-Taĥiyyah
52. Lamátu’d Đuĥā fī Iýfā’yi’l Liĥā
53. Radd al-Qahţ wa’l Wabā’a bi Dáwati’l Jīrāni wa Muwāsāti’l Fuqarā’a
54. Irā’atu’l Adab Li Fāđili’n Nasab
55. Hādiyi’n Nās fī Rusūmi’l A’árās
56. Al-Adillatu’t Ţāýinah fī Adhāni’l Malāyinah
57. Ĥakku’l Áyb fi Ĥurmati Taswīdi’sh Shayb
58. Khayru’l Āmāl fī Ĥukmi’l Kasabi wa’s Su’āl
59. Masayil e Samāá
60. Al-Ĥaqq al-Mujtalā fi Ĥukmi’l Mubtalā
61. Taysīri’l Māúūn fī Ĥukmi’t Tāúūn
62. Al-Ĥuqūq li Ţarĥi’l Úqūq
63. Mashálatu’l Irshād fi Ĥuqūqi’l Awlād
64. Aájabu’l Imdād fi Mukaffarāti Huqūqi’l Íbād
65. A’áālī al-Ifādah fī Táziyati’l Hindi wa Bayāni’sh Shahādah
66. Al-Áţāyā al-Qadīr fī Hukmi’t Taşwīr
67. An-Nūr wa’d Điyā’a fī Aĥkāmi Báađ al-Asmā’a
68. Ĥaqqatu’l Marjān li Muhimmi Hukmi’d Dukhān
69. Ash-Sharīátu’l Bahiyyah fī Taĥdīdi’l Waşiyyah
70. As-Şamşām álā Mushakkiki fī Āyāti Úlūmi’l Arĥām
71. Al-Fađl al-Mawhibī fī Mána idhā şaĥĥa’l ĥadīthu fa huwa madh’habī
72. Nuzūl e Āyāt e Furqān ba Sukūn e Zamīn O Āsmān
73. Muýin e Mubīn Bahr e Daur e Shams o Sukūn e ZamīN
74. Fauz e Mubīn dar Radd e Ĥarkat e Zamīn
75. An-Nayyiratu’sh Shihābī álā Tadlīsi’l Wahābī
76. As-Sahmu’sh Shihābī álā Khadāýi’l Wahābī
77. Daf’áy e Zaygh e Zāgh
78. Al-Ĥujjatu’l Fāyiĥah li Ţībi’t Ta-áyyuni wa’l Fātiĥah
79. Aţāyibu’t Tahānī fi’n Nikāĥi’t Thānī
80. Izākhatu’l Áyb bi Sayfi’l Ghayb
81. At-Taĥbīr bi Bābi’t Tadbīr
82. Thalju’s Şadr bi Īmāni’l Qadr
83. Tajallī al-Yaqīn bi anna Nabiyyanā Sayyida’l Mursalīn
84. Shumūl al-Islām li Usūli’r Rasūli’l Kirām
85. Tamhīd e Īmān ba Āyāt e Qur’ān
86. Al-Amn wa’l Úlā li Nāáti’l Muşţafā bi Dāfiýi’l Balā’a
87. Nafyu’l Fayy Ámman Istanāra bi Nūrihi Kulla Shayy
88. Al-Hidāyatu’l Mubārakah fī Khalqi’l Malāyikah
89. Ismā’a al-Arbaýīn fī Shafāáti Sayyidi’l Maĥbūbīn
90. Al-Qawl al-Masúūd al-Maĥmūd fī Mas’alati Waĥdati’l Wujūd
91. Ad-Dawlatu’l Makkiyah bi’l Māddati’l Ghaybiyyah
92. Al-Wažīfatu’l Karīmah
93. Al-Mīlād an-Nabawiyyah fi’l Alfāž ar-Riđawiyyah
94. Ĥaqīqat e Bay’át
95. At-Tabşīr al-Munjid bi anna Şaĥna’l Masjid Masjid
96. Mirqātu’l Jumān fi’l Hubūţi án Minbari li Mad’ĥi’s Şulţān
97. Riáāyatu’l Madh’habayn fi’d Duáāyi bayna’l Khuţbatayn
98. Al-Hādi al-Ĥājib án Janāzati’l Ghāyib
99. Ĥāyatu’l Mawāt fī Bayāni Samā’áyi'l Amwāt
100. Al-Wifāqu’l Matīn bayna Samāáyi’d Dafīn wa Jawābi’l Mubīn
101. Tajallī al-Mishkāh li Ināri As’yilati’z Zakāh
102. A-ázz al-Iktināh fī Raddi Şadaqatin Māniý az-Zakāh
103. Rādiýu’t Ta-ássuf áni’l Imām Abī Yūsuf
104. Afşaĥu’l Bayān fī Mazāriý Hindustān
105. Az-Zahr al-Bāsim fī Ĥurmati’z Zakāti álā Banī Hāshim
106. Azkā al-Ihlāl bi Ibţāli mā Aĥdatha’n Nāsa bi Amri’l Hilāl
107. Al-Budūr al-Ajillah fī Umūr al-Ahillah
108. Al-Iýlām bi Ĥāli’l Bukhūri fi’s Şiyām
109. Tafāsīru’l Aĥkām bi Fidyati’s Şālāti wa’s Şiyām
110. Hidāyatu’l Jinān bi Aĥkāmi Ramađān
111. Úbāb al-Anwār an Lā Nikāĥa bi Mujarradi’l Iqrār
112. Māĥī ad-Đalālah fī Ankiĥati’l Hindi wa’l Bangālah
113. Hibatu’n Nisā’a fī Taĥqīqi’l Muşāharati bi’z Zinā
114. Al-Jalī al-Ĥasan fī Ĥurmati Waladi Akhi’l Laban
115. Tajwīz ar-Radd án Tazwīj al-Ab’ád
116. Al-Basţ al-Musajjal fī Imtināýī’z Zawjati Baád al-Waţyi li’l Muájjal
117. Raĥīq al-Iĥqāq fī Kalimāti’t Ţalāq
118. Ākidu’t Taĥqīq bi Bābi’t Tálīq
119. Al-Jawhar ath-Thamīn fī Ílali Nāzilati’l Yamīn
120. Nābighu’n Nūr álā Su’ālāti Jabalfūr
121. Al-Maĥajjah al-Mu’taminah fī Āyāti’l Mumtaĥinah
122. Anfasu’l Fikar fī Qurbāni’l Baqar
123. Abĥās e Akhīrah
124. Ad-Dalāyil al-Qāhirah ála Al-Kafarah an-Nayāshirah
125. Tadbīr e Falāĥ o Najāt o Işlāĥ
126. Al-Qamú’l Mubīn li Āmāli’l Mukadh’dhibīn
127. Bāb al-Áqāyid wa’l Kalām
128. As-Sū’u wa’l Íqāb álā Al-Masīĥ al-Kadh’dhāb
129. Ĥajb al-Úwār án Makhdūmi Bihār
130. Jazā’a Allāh Áduwwah bi Ibānati Khatmi’n Nubuwwah
131. Jawwāl al-Úluww li Tabyīn al-Khuluww
132. At-Taĥrīr al-Jayyid fi Ĥaqqi’l Masjid
133. Ibānatu’l Mutawārī fi Muşālaĥati Ábd al-Bārī
134. Anşaĥu’l Ĥukūmah fī Faşli’l Khuşūmah
135. Al-Hibatu’l Aĥmadiyyah fi’l Wilāyati’s Sharýiyyah wa’l Úrfiyyah
136. Fat’ĥ al-Malīk fī Ĥukmi’t Tamlīk
137. Ajwadu’l Qirā Li Ţālibi’s Şiĥĥati fī Ijārati’l Qurā
138. Kitābu’l Munā wa’d Durar liman Ámada Money Order
139. Hādī al-Uđĥiyyah bi’sh Shāt al-Hindiyyah
140. Ar-Ramz al-Muraşşaf álā Suāli Mawlānā As-Sayyid Āşīf
141. Naqā’a as-Sulāfah fī Aĥkām al-Bayáti wa’l Khilāfah
142. An-Namīqatu’l Anqā fī Farqi’l Mulāqī wa’l Mulqā
143. Al-Hanī’i al-Namīr fi’l Mā’a al-Mustadīr
144. Ruĥb as-Sāĥah fī Miyahin lā Yastawī Wajhuhā wa Jawfuhā fi’l Misāĥah
145. Hibatu’l Ĥabīr fī Úmqi Mā’ayin Kathīr
146. An-Nūr wa’r Rawnaq li Isfāri’l Mā’a al-Muţlaq
147. Áţā’a an-Nabiyy li Ifāđati Aĥkāmi Mā’a as-Şabiyy
148. Ad-Diqqati wa’t Tibyān li Ílmi’r Riqqati wa’s Saylān
149. Ĥusn at-Támmum li Bayāni Ĥadd at-Tayammum
150. Samĥu’n Nudarā fīmā Yūrithu’l Ájza Mina’l Mā’a
151. Až-Žafar li Qawli Zufar
152. Al-Maţar as-Saýīd álā Nabati Jins as-Şaýīd
153. Al-Jidd as-Sadīd fī Nafyi’l Istiýmāl áni’s Şaýīd
154. Qawānīn al-Úlamā’a fī Mutayammimin Álima índa Zaydin Mā’a
155. At-Ţalabatu’l Badīáh fī Qawli Şadru’sh Sharīáh
156. Mujalli’sh Shamáh li Jāmiýi Ĥadathin wa Lumáh
157. Salabu’th Thalb áni’l Qāyilīna bi Ţahārati’l Kalb
158. Al-Aĥlā mina’s Sukkar li Ţalabati’s Sukkari Rūsar
159. Ĥājizu’l Baĥrayn al-Wāqī án Jāmiýi’s Şalātayn
160. Munīr al-Áyn fī Ĥukmi Taqbīl al-Ibhāmayn
161. Al-Hādi’l Kāf fī Ĥukmi’đ Điáāf
162. Hidāyatu’l Mutáāl fi Ĥaddi’l Istiqbāl
163. Niýmu’z Zād li Rawmi’d Đād
164. Iljām as-Şādd án Sunani’d Đād
165. An-Nahyi’l Akīd áni’s Şalāti Warā’a Ádda’t Taqlīd
166. Al-Qilādatu’l Murassa-áh fī Naĥri’l Ajwibatu’l Arba-áh
167. Al-Quţūf ad-Dāniyah liman Aĥsana’l Jamāáh ath-Thāniyah
168. Tījān as-Şawāb fī Qiyāmi’l Imām fi’l Miĥrāb
169. Anhāru’l Anwār min Yammi Şalāti’l Asrār
170. Az’hāru’l Anwār min Şabā Şalāti’l Anwār
171. Waşşāfu’r Rajīĥ fī Basmalati’t Tarāwīĥ
172. Al-Jūd al-Ĥuluww fī Arkān al-Wuđū’u
173. Tanwīr al-Qindīl fī Awşāf al-Mindīl
174. Lumaá al-Aĥkām án lā Wuđū’u Mina’z Zukām
175. At-Ţirāzu’l Málam fīmā huwa Ĥadathun min Aĥwāli’d Dam
176. Nab’hu’l Qawm Anna’l Wuđū’u Min Ayyi Nawm
177. Khulāşah Tibyān al-Wuđū’u
178. Al-Aĥkām wa’l Ílal fī Ishkāl al-Iĥtilāmi wa’l Balal
179. Bāriqu’n Nūr fī Maqādīri Mā’a at-Ţuhūr
180. Barakātu’s Samā’a fī Ĥukmi Isrāfi’l Mā’a
181. Irtifāá al-Ĥujub án Wujūhi Qirā’ati’l Junub
182. At-Ţayyib al-Wajīz fi’l Amtiáti’l Waraqi wa’l Ibrīz
183. Abarr al-Maqāl fī Istiĥsāni Qiblati’l Ijlāl
184. Al-Kashfu Shāfiyā Ĥukmi Fūnūjrāfiya (phonograph)
185. Al-Fiqhu’t Tasjīlī fī Ájīni’n Nārjīlī
186. Al-Maqşadu’n Nāfiý fī Úşūbati’s Sinf ar-Rābiý
187. Ţayyibu’l Imáān fī Táddudi’l Jihāti wa’l Abdān
188. Tajliyatu’s Silm fī Masāyilin min Nişfi’l Ílm
189. Nuţq al-Hilāl bi-Arkhi Wilād al-Ĥabīb wa’l Wişāl
190. Jam-úl Qur’ān wa bima Ázzūhu li Úthmān
191. Iqāmatu’l Qiyāmah ála Ţāyini’l Qiyāmi li Nabiyyi’t Tihāmah
192. Kashf e Ĥaqāyiq o Asrār e Daqāyiq
193. Maqāmiý al-Ĥadīd álā Khaddi’l Manţiq al-Jadīd
194. Al-Kalimatu’l Mulhamah fi’l Ĥikmati’l Muĥkamah li Wihā’yi’l Falsafati’l Mash’amah
195. Ĥusām al-Ĥaramayn álā Manĥari’l Kufri wa’l Mayn
196. Waşāyā Sharīf
197. Aĥkām e Sharīát
198. Írfān e Sharīát
199. Malfūzāt e Ālāĥazrat
200. Shamāyim al-Ánbar fi Adabi’n Nidā’a Amām al-Minbar
201. Fatāwā Karāmāt e Ghawsiyah
202. Az-Zulāl al-Anqā min Baĥri Sabqati’l Atqā
203. Ţard al-Afāýī án Ĥimā Hādi Rafá’r Rifāýī
204. Tanzīhu’l Makānatu’l Ĥaydariyyah án Wasmati Áhdi’l Jāhiliyyah
205. Ghāyatu’t Taĥqīq fī Imāmati’l Áliyy wa’s Şiddīq
206. Qawāriýu’l Qahhār ála’l Mujassamati’l Fujjār
207. Khālişu’l Iýtiqād
208. Inbā’a al-Muşţafā bi Ĥāli Sirrin wa Akhfā
209. Anwāru’l Intibāh fi Ĥilli Nidā’yi Yā RasūlAllāh
210. Sharĥ al-Maţālib fī Mabĥathi Abī Ţālib
211. Iýtiqād al-Aĥbāb fī Al-Jamīl wa’l Muşţafā wa’l Āli wa’l Aş’ĥāb
212. Umūr e Íshrīn [Dar Imtiyāz e Áqāyid e Sunniyyīn]
213. Rimāĥu’l Qahhār álā Kufri’l Kuffār
214. Munyatu’l Labīb Anna’t Tashrīý Bi Yadi’l Ĥabīb
215. Munabbih al-Munyah Bi Wuşūl al-Ĥabīb ila’l Árshi wa’r Ru’yah
216. Şallāt as-Şafā’a fī Nūri’l Muşţafā
217. Qamru’t Tamām fī Nafyi’z Žilli án Sayyidi’l Anām
218. Hadyu’l Ĥayrān fī Nafyi’l Fayy án Sayyidi’l Akwān
219. Al-Ijāzātu’l Matīnah li Úlamāyi Bakkah wa’l Madīnah
220. Aţāyib as-Sayyib álā Arđ at-Ţayyib
221. Sayf al-Muşţafā álā al-Adyān al-Iftarā
222. An-Nuktah álā Mirāyi Kalkatta
223. Charāgh e Uns
224. Qaşīdatān Rāyiyatān
225. Zikr-e-Aĥbāb O Duáā-e-Aĥbāb
226. Ižhār al-Ĥaqq al-Jaliyy
227. Masāyil e Miýrāj
228. Fatāwā Āfrīqah
Some people object that these 228 books are already included in Fatawa ar-Ridawiyyah published in 30 volumes by the year 2007. Some others gripe that these are small 'booklets' which consists of only a few pages. here is the retort:
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Ali al-qari in his sharH of fiqh al-akbar who noted that our elders were 'qaleel al-kalam katheer al-barakah' / spoke less, yet told more. and we are 'katheer al-kalam qaleel al-barakah' / we tell less even though we talk a lot more. he was alluding to the relatively small size of fiqh al-akbar which is no more than eight or ten pages. consider the following:
- 37 of ibn abidin's 'books' which are rasayil are collected in two average sized volumes named rasayil ibn abidin.
- A number of rasayil are collected in fatawa imam as-subki
- More than 70 rasayil are collected in imam suyuTi's al-hawi li'l fatawi.
- Recently some 60 different books of imam al-ghazali were printed in two large volumes named as 'rasayil al-ghazali'
- Ditto with 'rasayil ibn arabi'
- Fatawa al-fiqhiyyah of ibn Hajar al-haytami contains many of his epistles
- There is a volume printed by dar kutub al-ilmiyyah which has 94+ 'books' on various topics titled: 'al majmu'u al-kamil li'l mutun': fiqh, usul al-fiqh, hadith, aqidah, poetry, naHw, prosody, etc. and many of these 'books' are no more than four or five pages. for example, 'Aqayid an-Nasafi' is a mere three pages.
- Even novelists and poets have their own collections; check collected works of any major author: wells, twain, Iqbal's kulliyat and not to mention [the person/s writing as] Shakespeare. Almost all of Shakespeare's works are found - including his sonnets and poems - in one volume.
When a prolific author writes many books, it makes sense to put them in one volume as a collection. it is easy for readers and researchers to find all or most of them in one place. for a bibliophile/librarian, easy to store and retrieve. this does not mean that one volume is ONE book. only a fool would suggest that.
Yet, these rasayil have been referred by scholars as 'books' without vehement hair-splitting.
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Coming back to the rant of some folk who cannot probably even pronounce the names of AlaHadrat's books who attempt to downplay them as 'small' booklets. I would challenge them in a confrontationist tone to try and read these small booklets if they can; because if they have, they wouldn't talk so naively. Only the ignorant shrugs away the diamond in comparison with a rock; just because it is big does not make it valuable - just as the diamond's small size does not make it insignificant.
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AlaHadrat's fatawa - legal rulings are collected in one place. some legal rulings require lengthy explanations and in my humble opinion anything more than five-ten pages can be classified as a booklet as opposed to 'an essay' or an article.
Those unaquainted with fatawa ar-ridawiyyah might think that AlaHadrat started writing fatawa from Vol. 1 and ended with Vol. 30 [one can quibble that the original fatawa was only 12 volumes - and takhrij made it double the size]
In reality, AlaHadrat issued fatawa from a young age, many of which were never recovered. he also issued lengthy rulings/fatawa and published in the form of booklets giving them exquisite names instead of simply numbering them. in the later part of his life, his students and associates suggested that his fatawa being so insightful and valuable ought to be preserved; it was only then people began to collect the fatawa. when fatawa razwiyah was being edited by AlaHadrat himself, it was only fitting that lengthy fatawa issued as epistles be included under appropriate sections.
Even in today's world these epistles are self-contained and are convenient to be published as separate works. for example take the issue of moon-sighting. how many people will buy thirty volumes, each of about 800 pages each to read those two or three epistles? naturally, it makes sense to print them separately and more so for online reading, where flipping pages to browse is not possible.
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Even the names of his books impart knowledge. Try reading them in the arabic script and if you don't understand the meaning, look it up in a dictionary. in the process, you will learn a lot of other words along with etymology and usage. I am sure there are not many - if there are any - who can understand all the words used in these names without a dictionary.
Compiled by:
Abu Hasan Ridawi
Admin @ SunniPort.com
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