Description

Abay Hayat

Ab-e-Hayat is a scholarly work by Hujjat al-Islam, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (رحمة الله عليه), which was studied by Hazrat Sheikh al-Hind (رحمة الله عليه) in a step-by-step manner. This fact testifies to the deeply scholarly, intricate, and most complex nature of this work.

To understand this academic masterpiece, the reader must be a well-versed scholar who is familiar with Hazrat Nanotwi’s method of reasoning and style of writing, particularly the philosophical debates and logical approach he uses.

The background of this book is that when Hazrat Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (رحمة الله عليه) wrote Hadiyat al-Shia in response to the objections raised by the Rafidis regarding the issue of Fadak, he approached the issue with a completely new perspective. The Hadith “We do not inherit what we leave behind as charity” (لا نورث ما ترکناہ صدقۃ) inspired Hazrat Nanotwi’s reasoning.

This Hadith led him to conclude that the matter of inheritance arises only when the deceased passes away, and the inheritance from the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not take place because the Prophet is still alive in his grave. This is why it was forbidden for the wives of the Prophet (رضی الله عنهن) to marry after him.

During the composition of Hadiyat al-Shia, as these facts came to light, Hazrat Nanotwi became certain that the real reason behind both the issue of the Prophet’s life (Hayat al-Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the issue of Fadak was the continued life of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Consequently, he began providing evidence for this matter, leading to the compilation of Ab-e-Hayat, which is filled with Qur’anic verses, Hadiths, and numerous rational arguments.