Our inspirational founder was Shaykh Al-Hadith Hazrat Maulana Naseeruddin of Ghorghushti (RA), son of Maulana Bahauddin (RA) and grandson of Maulana Saaduddin (RA). His origins were from the Kakar tribe of Afghanistan, within the Kandahar region of Afghanistan, although he was born in the village of Ghorghushti, District Attock, Pakistan. He truly was an esteemed Islamic scholar and teacher with a reputation throughout the Asian sub-continent.
He received his early education from his elder brother Hazrat Maulana Shahabuddin (RA). Later, he studied some books on Sarf and Nahw in the village of “Sarwaiya” in District Attock. Upon completion, he traveled to Multan “Lame” for further education and received higher instruction in Islamic sciences. After graduating from Multan, he went to the village of “Nauthiya” in Attock for advanced studies, where his father’s student, Hazrat Maulana Ghulam Rasool (RA), a master in Islamic sciences, was a teacher.
When Maulana Ghulam Rasool (RA) learned that the son of his respected teacher had come to study, he welcomed him with great warmth and treated him like family. Maulana Naseeruddin completed his studies in Nahw, Mantiq, and Ma’ani under his tutelage. Maulana Ghulam Rasool (RA) would often say:
“Maulvi Naseeruddin is highly intelligent and sharp.”
After completing his studies in Uloom Aaliyah (auxiliary sciences), he went to Chakralah, District Mianwali, to study under the renowned Muhaddith Sheikh-ul-Hadith Hazrat Maulana Qazi Qamaruddin Chakralwi (RA), a scholar of comprehensive knowledge. There, he studied Hadith and completed his Dora-e-Hadith.
After completing his Dora-e-Hadith, Sheikh-ul-Hadith Naseeruddin (RA) returned to his village and began teaching in the ancestral mosque, known as Masjid Khajoor Wali Ghorghushti. Initially, he focused on teaching Sarf, Nahw, and other Uloom Aaliyah. (In the beginning, he paid more attention to the Uloom Aaliyah and excelled in teaching them. However, later on, he devoted himself entirely to the teaching of Hadith.) Through Maulana Sultan Mahmood (RA) of Nauthiya, he traveled to Rangoon for teaching, where his nephew Maulana Qutbuddin (RA) was already teaching. He taught there for a while, but his heart was not completely content. However, due to certain commitments, he stayed there for some time to teach.
He said: “Rangoon had a very large library, which contributed to my knowledge, and I had some debts, so I remained there until they were settled. After clearing my debts, I left for Hajj from Rangoon, which was my first pilgrimage during the time of Sultan Abdul Hamid and World War I.”
After Hajj, he stayed in Makkah Mukarramah for a while and engaged in teaching. His intention was to remain in Makkah Mukarramah and continue his teaching duties there, but due to health issues, he had to return to his family. He once said: “After returning from Makkah Mukarramah, I was troubled because I felt I should not have left, but I now understand that many scholars were already serving Hadith in Makkah. However, in my region, there was no one teaching Hadith, and Allah had decreed for me to serve Hadith here.”
Sheikh-ul-Hadith Naseeruddin (RA) was the first to start teaching Hadith in the Pashto language. Before him, only the Uloom Aaliyah were taught in Pashto. When he returned from Makkah, he first went to Rangoon, and on his way back to his village, he stopped in Deoband with the intention of benefiting from the learning there. At that time, Sheikh-ul-Hind Hazrat Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi (RA) was teaching there. Sheikh-ul-Hind tested him and remarked: “The student seems capable,” and admitted him. After staying for some time in Deoband, he returned to his village with the intention of settling there permanently.
This marked the beginning of a golden era for him, which spanned almost 50 years, during which he raised the call of “Qaal Allah” and “Qaal Rasool Allah ﷺ” in Pashto-speaking regions and directed the attention of Pashto speakers to Hadith. When the news spread that Hadith and Tafseer were being taught in Pashto, seekers of knowledge began flocking to Ghorghushti. During different years, the number of students in his Dora-e-Hadith ranged from 60 to 150. He once remarked that about 5,000 students had studied Hadith under him. He taught Hadith for approximately 50 years, without taking any monetary reward for his services.
His teacher in Hadith, Hazrat Maulana Qazi Qamaruddin (RA), was connected in Bai’ah and Islah to Hazrat Khwaja Sirajuddin (RA) of Musa Zai Sharif. Following in his teacher’s footsteps, he also took Bai’ah from Hazrat Khwaja Sirajuddin (RA) in the Naqshbandi Mujaddidi order. However, since Khwaja Sirajuddin (RA) passed away at a young age, their spiritual connection did not last long. After his demise, Sheikh Naseeruddin (RA) felt inclined to take Bai’ah from either Hakim-ul-Ummat Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) or Rais-ul-Mufassireen Hazrat Maulana Hussain Ali (RA) of Wan Bhachran. Due to proximity, he chose Hazrat Maulana Hussain Ali (RA) as his spiritual guide.
He would regularly visit his Sheikh for about 35 years and received abundant spiritual blessings. His Sheikh held him in high regard and once said: “If God asks what capital I am bringing with me, I will present Maulvi Naseeruddin.”
Once, his Sheikh said: “Come, Maulvi Naseeruddin, I grant you permission in all matters.”
On the 4th of Dhu al-Qi’dah 1388 AH (January 23, 1969), he passed away and returned to the mercy of his Lord. He is buried in his birthplace, the village of Ghorghushti, District Attock. His legacy is beyond our words.
