Shaykh Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Kandhlawi

Sheikh Yusuf Rahmatullahi 'alaihi, son of Sheikh Ilyas Rahmatullahi 'alaihi, dedicated his whole life striving relentlessly with a directed zeal to promote the work in this direction and raise a group of workers equipped with these qualities. These qualities have been derived from reputable books of Ahadith, biography, and history, he compiled a three- volume book, Hayat-us-Sahabah (The Lives of the companions of the Prophet), which gives a representative glimpse of the life of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam and his companions. By the grace of Allah, this book was published during his lifetime.

The Sheikh had compiled another book of hadlth, Muntakhab Ahadith, in respect of these six qualities (six points). However, prior to the final compilation of this book, he left for his heavenly abode. [Inna llilahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji'oon]

Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf Rahmatullahi 'alaihi, spoke to numerous close friends and colleagues about this collection of ahadith He used to thank Allah, in gratitude and was well pieased with this collection. Allah alone knows what aspirations were in his heart and how he wanted to present the collection, to make it illuminating and effective. This is how it was destined by Allah.

By the grace of Allah, the Urdu rendering of Muntakhab Ahadith has already been presented (Jamadiul-Auwal  1421 or September 2000). Now this collection of ahadith with its English translation is being presented. In translating this book, it has been tried that the language remains simple and easy to grasp. For the clarification of  the meanings of certain ahadith, some sentences have been added in brackets. Besides this, some explanatory notes have also been added.

Since, the Sheikh could not review the draft of the book, considerable effort had to be made to, correct the text of ahadith, and to make a critical analysis of the transmitters, and to classify the ahadith as Sahih, Hasan, or Dhaif (technical terms used in the classification of hadith) and an explanation of the difficult words of hadith. All the sources consulted have been referred to at the end of the book.

All precautions were taken in accomplishing this task and a group of scholars have substantially shared the burden. May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala bless all those associated with this venture with an excellent recompense. However, human error is always there. It is an earnest request to the scholars of Deen that they may kindly inform us of any amendments that may be needed. This collection was compiled by Sheikh Yusuf RahmatuHahi 'alaihi for a specific objective, the importance of which has been adequately explained by Sheikh Sayyad Abul Hasan AH Nadvi RahmatuHahi 'alaihi. It is, therefore, important to save this collection from any amendments or brevity.

I begin this book with an excerpt from the Preface of the book, Amaniyal Ahbar Sharh Ma' aniyal Athar by Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf Rahmatullahi 'alaih. This book is a commentary on Imam Tahawi Rahmatullahi 'alaih' s famous book of hadith Ma'anil Athar, on the life and sayings of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam and his companions.