In Logic he achieved perfection. In this regard he says himself in an expression of gratitude:
“Al-Hamdulillah! I am proficient in Mantiq. And why must I not say something that is true as I am neither one who flaunts humility nor one who shows arrogance. Why should I deny something which Haq Ta’ala bestowed? It is the Deen of Allah Ta’ala; none of my greatness. And, in fact, I do not regard it to be anything great because by virtue of straightening the shoes of Buzrugs it has become embedded in my mind that:
فہم و خاطر تيز کردن نيست راہ Sharpening the mind and intelligence is not the way جز شکستہ می نگيرد فضل شاہ Only a broken-heart gains the grace of the Almighty
5.5 Comfortable With the Rational Sciences
He had a much interest and understanding of the rational sciences [philosophy, maths, geometry, physics, etc.]. On account of this he would peruse intricate kitaabs such as Sadra, Shams-e-Baazighah without need for translating. Challenging texts would appear straightforward to him. However, notwithstanding this skill he never stopped at the rational sciences like others. On the contrary, he always regarded it to be a tool for Deeniyyaat [Islamic Sciences/Deeni Studies]. Since moderation and sound-thinking was part and parcel of his nature and hence he would maintain everything on equilibrium, in comparison to the traditional sciences [Tafseer, Hadeeth, Fiqh, etc.] he would always dislike the rational sciences in spite of his profound ability in those subjects. Therefore, when commencing a lesson of Philosophy, instead of Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem, he would recite A’oothu Billaahi Minash Shaitaanir Rajeem. This is proof of his foresightedness because Shaitaan invariably makes inroads through this path [the path of rational and modern science]. As a matter of fact, he would say: “Al-Hamdulillah! I never allow my feelings to dominate my intelligence and I never allow my intelligence to dominate the Shariat.” The above episode testifies to his foresightedness being divinely bestowed, not personally earned.
5.7 Qiraat Training
He did Hifz of the Qur’aan-e-Kareem at an early age. Mashq of Qiraat, however, he did by the renowned, Qaari Muhammad Abdullah Muhaajir-e-Makki at Madrasah Sowlatiyyah in Makkah Mu’azzamah. Qaari Muhammad Abdullah Saheb was an excellent and accepted expert in the Art of Qiraat, even among the Qurraa of Arabia.
In regard to Qiraat his Ustaad disclosed to him an exceptionally wonderful rule: “Don’t pay any attention to the tune. All your attention must be focused on the correction of the Makhaarij, because after correcting the Makhaarij the tune that is produced will be meritorious.”
Hazrat, in consequence, never focussed his attention on tune, whereas, by and large the Qurraa are at great pains to enhance their tunes. As a result of not focussing his attention to tune, his sound became so captivating that when he would practice Qiraat on the top-storey of the Madrasah, pedestrians would halt at the attraction of the sound. Furthermore, they would be unable to say whether the Ustaad was reciting or the student.
5.7 Power of Debating
In his student days he found the power of debating within him. During the course of his education in Deoband when he was still a youth he scaled such heights in instinctive replies, articulate speech, intelligence, brilliance and logic that whenever any preacher would come there to debate he would immediately make his way to him. In a matter of minutes he would render the opponent speechless.
Ustaads on the one side would be apprehensive of him being overawed due to his young age, yet he would be fired up to floor his opponent. It was as if during his student years he was training in:
هُوَ الَّذِيْۤ أَرْسَلَ رَسُوْلَه بِالْهُدٰى وَدِيْنِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَه عَلَى الدِّيْنِ كُلِّه He (Allah) sent His Messenger with guidance and the True Deen
to raise it (the Deen of Islam) above all other religions. (Surah Baraa-at, 33)
He engaged in dynamic debates in his student days with Christians, Aryans, Shiahs, Ghair Muqallids and the lot. However, there wasn’t a time in any debate when he discarded the rules of debating or did he ever evade accepting of the truth.
Upon hearing his logical reasoning the Chief of Debaters, Moulana Sayyid Murtaza Hasan would become ecstatic and he would proclaim:“You have such skill in Munaazarah [debating] that top debaters cannot hold their seat against you.”
