(Part One – Introduction)
Qari Sayyid Siddeeq Ahmad Baandwi (rahimahullah) was a great personality of the recent past, who had visited South Africa as well. The senior ‘Ulama of our country had a very high regard for him and also derived much benefit from him. He passed away on 28th August, 1997.
Such was his calibre that his ustaaz, the great Mufti of India, Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi (rahimahullah) once mentioned regarding him, “If Allah Ta‘ala has to ask me what I have brought on the Day of Qiyaamah, I will reply, ‘Siddeeq and Abraar’”, referring to Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah) and Moulana Abraarul Haqq (rahimahullah).
Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah) had been offered teaching posts with lucrative salaries in many institutes of higher learning. He declined their offers, however, and accepted a post in Madrasah Islaamiyyah of Fatehpur. His decision to serve Deen here was based on the fact that the madrasah was close to his mother and also close to the people of his own area. Being based in this madrasah would thus enable him to both serve his mother and attend to the Deeni needs of the people of his own area.
During his third year of teaching there, Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah) received the news that the people of an area close to his home village had left the fold of Islam. At this crucial juncture, Qari Siddeeq (rahimahullah) thought to himself, “On the Day of Qiyaamah, Allah Ta‘ala will not ask me whether or not I taught the ahaadeeth of Saheeh Bukhaari. Rather, will I be able to answer if Allah Ta‘ala asks me what did I do for the people of my area when they turned away from Islam?”
It was this concern and pain for the Deen of his people that caused him to thereafter undergo great difficulties in propagating Deen in and around his hometown, until he finally established a great institute, which even attracted students from South Africa.
As is the case with most other great personalities, the women of his family played a very important role in him achieving this success. Below are a few inspiring and thought provoking incidents from the lives of his grandmother, mother, wife and mother-in-law.