Hujjatul Islam: The Triumph of the Truth – Moulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi Alayh) and the Shahjahanpur Debate

Hujjatul Islam (Defender of Islam): The Triumph of the Truth – Moulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi Alayh) and the Shahjahanpur Debate

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Introduction: The Proof of Islam

Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi Alayh), the towering scholar and founder of Darul Uloom Deoband, was a living fortress of Islamic knowledge and logic. His title, “Hujjatul Islam” (The Proof of Islam), was not merely honorary—it was earned through his devastatingly precise defense of Tawheed against the onslaught of Christian missionaries and Hindu polemicists.

One of his most legendary victories was the Shahjahanpur Debate (1867), where he dismantled falsehood with the sword of intellect and divine truth.

The Shahjahanpur Debate: A Clash of Civilizations

 The Participants:

1. Christian Missionaries:
   • Pastor Nolls (or Nolis), a prominent Christian preacher.
   • British-appointed scholars, including a renowned logician awarded by the colonial government for his book on Mantiq (Logic).
2. Hindu Pundits: Defenders of idolatry and polytheism.
3. Muslim Side: Spearheaded by Moulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi Alayh)—armed only with the Quran, Hadith, and a razor-sharp intellect.

While Hujjatul Islam Moulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (رحمه الله) was the primary respondent and most renowned figure, contemporary sources (e.g., Tarikh-e-Darul Uloom Deoband, Sirat-e-Qasimi) confirm he was accompanied by other ‘Ulama of Deoband, including:

1. Moulana Rafiuddin Deobandi (رحمه الله) – A specialist in Ilm al-Kalam (Islamic theology).
2. Moulana Sayyid Ahmad Dehlawi (رحمه الله) – Expert in comparative religion.

However, Moulana Qasim (رحمه الله) emerged as the star debater due to his:

• Mastery of logic (he authored treatises on rational proofs for Islam).
• Unmatched ability to dismantle the Trinity using the missionaries’ own Bible.

Team Effort, One Victor

The Muslim side operated strategically:

• Other scholars provided references, but Moulana Qasim (رحمه الله) delivered the final, decisive arguments.
• When the British logician (awarded for his book on Mantiq) challenged Islam’s rationality, Moulana Qasim alone exposed his fallacies, famously stating: “You use logic to deny Allah, yet your logic depends on His existence!”

Why This Matters for Students of Deen

1. Collaborative Scholarship: Even giants like Moulana Qasim (رحمه الله) relied on teamwork—a lesson for today’s students to study in groups.
2. Specialization Matters: Each scholar had a role (e.g., Moulana Rafiuddin on theology, Moulana Qasim on logic).

 The Challenge:

The missionaries and Hindus united to attack:

• Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) vs. the Trinity.
• Prophethood of Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) vs. Christian and Hindu claims.

 Moulana Qasim’s (Rahmatullahi Alayh) Unbreakable Arguments

1. Debunking the Trinity:

• Logical Inconsistency: Moulana Qasim asked: “If God is ‘three-in-one,’ how can He be indivisible? If Jesus is God, why did he pray to the Father? Can God die on the cross?”
  • Quoting John 17:3 (“This is eternal life: to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”), he proved even the Bible rejects Trinity.

2. Establishing Tawheed with Reason:

• The Argument of Necessity (Burhan-e-Tamanu’): “If there were multiple gods, they would compete for dominion, leading to chaos. Since the universe is orderly, there must be One Supreme Controller.“ (Qur’an 21:22)

3. Humiliating the British Logician:

• The missionary’s “expert logician” claimed Islam’s teachings were “illogical.”
• Moulana Qasim exposed his circular reasoning and lack of first principles, saying: “You use logic to deny the Necessary Being (Allah)—yet logic itself depends on His existence!”

 The Outcome: Truth Prevails

• Pastor Nolls was left speechless. Moulana Qasim advised him: “Repent and embrace Islam—the only faith that aligns with reason and revelation.”
• Hindus withdrew, unable to defend idol worship against the Qur’an’s “Do you worship what you carve?” (37:95).
• British officials admitted defeat, with one reportedly saying: “We came to break Islam’s logic but found it unbreakable.”

 Lessons for Students of Deen

Moulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi Alayh) did not rely on emotions—he mastered:

1. Quranic Exegesis (Tafsir) – To dismantle falsehood with divine proof.
2. Hadith Sciences – To silence opponents with Prophetic authority.
3. Logic (Mantiq) & Philosophy – To crush flawed reasoning.
4. Fearless Oratory – To speak truth to power.

 Action Steps for Students:

• Study Moulana Qasim’s works on logic.
• Practice structured debates (munazara) with classmates.
• Memorize Qur’anic arguments against shirk (e.g., 21:22, 112:1-4).

Final Motivation: The Legacy of Hujjatul Islam

Moulana Qasim (Rahmatullahi Alayh) proved that Islam does not fear intellect—it perfects it. To today’s students:

“You are the heirs of the Prophets. Arm yourselves with knowledge, and never let falsehood go unchallenged!

 Moulana Qasim Nanotwi’s (رحمه الله) 5 Debating Secrets –

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

1. Master the Opponent’s Sources

• He mastered key Bible passages to dismantle Christian claims and  debunk Christians with their own texts (e.g., John 17:3 on Tawheed).
• Action: Study flawed ideologies better than their followers.

2. Logic is Your Sword

• His famous quote: “You deny Allah using logic, yet logic itself depends on Him!”
• Action: Learn Ilmul Kalaam (Islamic logic) from his works.

3. Stay Calm, Let Them Unravel

• In Shahjahanpur, he listened first, then dismantled arguments with surgical precision.
• Action: Practice active listening before responding.

4. Use Analogies Laymen Understand

• To refute Trinity: “Can one candle split into three flames yet remain one? If not, how can God?”
• Action: Simplify complex topics with daily-life examples.

5. End with Dawah, Not Just Victory

• He advised Pastor Nolls: “Repent and embrace Islam—the truth you now recognize.”
• Action: Always conclude with compassion, not arrogance.

“The believer’s heart is stronger than a mountain—it crushes falsehood without crumbling.” — Moulana Qasim Nanotwi (رحمه الله)

ختم شد “Allah will perfect His Light, even if the disbelievers hate it.” (Qur’an 61:8)