Before commencing to translate and explain any hadeeth, a brief introdution about the author and the book (kitaab) itself is needed. This book is called:
زاد الطالبين
"Zaadut Talibeen" known as Provisions for the Seekers in English.
About the Kitaab (Book) -
This book is a collection of 327 sayings (ahadeeth) of the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم. This is one of the first books of ahadeeth to be taught in the 'ilmiyyah course. When this book is taught students are often required to memorise each hadeeth off by heart as well as learn their gramatical structures. Insha'Allah this blog can be a means of anyone and everyone accessing the ahadeeth to memorise them and understand them fully. The Ahadeeth from this book have been selected from the famous book of hadeeth Mishqaat Al Masabeeh. Insha'Allah I will post the references to each hadeeth for those wanting to study the hadeeth in more depth.
About the Author-
The full name of the author is Moulana 'Ashiq Ilaahi al-Bulandshehri ibn Muhammad Siddique ibn Asadullah رحمة الله عليه. This respected author had an uncle (whose name was Muhammad Isma'eel رحمة الله عليه who pledged allegiance to Hadhrat Gangohi رحمة الله عليه. I have mentioned this to let readers understand what sort of a pious background the author had. Moulana 'Ashiq ilaahi was blessed with the presence of his father for quite some time in his life. His father read many of his kitaabs that he had written as well as going to Darul 'Uloom Karachi with him where he passed away. His father was buried in darul 'uloom Karachi's graveyard.
His father was a very hardworking person who strived hard in the upbringing of his children. The fruit of his hard work can be seen in the excellent works of his children. It was his father that ensured he memorised the Qur'an, learnt Arabic, and even went to the extent of sending him to out of town Madaaris to further increase his 'ilm. Even though the family were not well off and lived in hard conditions his father still ensured he carried on trying to learn and broaden his knowledge.
Moulana 'Ashiq Ilaahi al-Bulandshehri (رحمة الله عليه)'s mother passed away when he was only five years of age. For this reason he was brought up by his grandmother and father. Moulana 'Ashiq Ilaahi al-Bulandshehri رحمة الله عليه was born in 1343 a.h and completed the memorisation of the entire Qur'an in 1355 a.h by the tender age of eleven. Due to the hard efforts of his father he was also later enrolled at various institutes to complete his studies in Islam where he later graduated as an 'Aalim.
When Moulana Ashiq رحمة الله عليه enrolled at Madrassah Imdaadiyah in Muraad-abaad his grandmother passed away [May Allah shower his mercy over her grave]. Moulana Ashiq Ilaahi رحمة الله عليه upon gaining his 'ilm taught at many Darul 'Ulooms as well as writing many kitabs. Later on in his life he also went on to writing fatawa.
Here is some more about the author written by whitethreadpress.com:
A prolific writer and eminent scholar of the Indian Subcontinent, Shaykh ‘Ashiq Ilahi al Bulandshehri (or al-Barni) رحمة الله عليه was born in 1343 ah in Bulandshehr of Uttar Pradesh. After attaining his primary education at Madrasa Imdadiyya Moradabad and Jami‘ Masjid Aligarh, he traveled to Mazahir ‘Ulum Saharanpur in pursuit of higher knowledge.
After completing his studies, he taught various subjects at Ferozpur Jhirka, Hayat al-Ulum Moradabad, and at different madrasas throughout Calcutta. He later taught at Dar al-‘Ulum Karachi for several years at the request of Mufti Muhammad Shafi’ رحمة الله عليه, where he assumed responsibility of the fatwa department and taught students hadith and tafsir. The Shaykh later migrated to Madina, wherehe spent the last 25 years of his life.
He was a disciple of the hadith scholar Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi رحمة الله عليه. ozens of his books have been well received in many countries. Tohfa-e khawatin (Gift for omen), Marne ke bad kya hōga? (What is going to happen after death?), Islami adab (Islamic conduct), Huquq al-walidayn (Rights of parents), and Anwar al-bayan (Illuminating discourses on the Holy Qur’an), a voluminous commentary of the Qur’an, are among the well-known books he authored. In the field of hadith, he authored Zad al-talibin (Provisions for the seekers) and Al-Fawa’id al-saniyya fi sharh al-Arba‘in al-Nawawiyya (The lofty beneficial points in the explanation of Nawawi’s Forty Hadiths).
As for jurisprudence, he is the author of Al-Tashil al-daruri fi masa’il al-Quduri (The necessary facilitation of the laws of Quduri), as well as dozens of reformative booklets and articles. He passed away in the illuminated city of Madina at the age of 80 and was buried there in the Baqi‘ graveyard, as had been his desire.
