Identity: Eminent Qur’anic commentator, jurist, scholar of Hadith, Sufi saint, and author of “Tafsir-e-Mazhari”

Qazi Sanaullah Panipati was born in 1143 AH (1730/1731 CE) in the Qazian quarter of Panipat. He is regarded as one of the great Islamic scholars of the Indian subcontinent who attained distinction in Qur’anic exegesis, Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, Sufism, and scholastic theology. His father, Qazi Muhammad Habibullah Usmani, was a respected religious scholar and Sufi. His lineage traces back to Sheikh Jalaluddin Kabir-ul-Auliya. After the death of his father, his elder brother Qazi Muhammad Fazlullah took charge of his upbringing and education.

Qazi Sanaullah memorized the Holy Qur’an at an early age and later devoted himself to the study of both rational and transmitted sciences. For higher religious learning, he traveled to Delhi, where he studied Hadith and other Islamic sciences under Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi. After completing his education, he returned to Panipat and devoted his life to teaching, issuing religious verdicts, writing scholarly works, and spiritual reform.

He enjoyed a distinguished position both intellectually and spiritually. Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlawi referred to him as “Bayhaqi of the Age,” while his spiritual guide Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janan honored him with the title “Ilm al-Huda.” He was affiliated with the Naqshbandi Sufi order. Initially, he pledged allegiance to Hafiz Muhammad Abid Sanami and later received spiritual guidance from Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janan.

Qazi Sanaullah Panipati reached the rank of ijtihad in Islamic jurisprudence and principles of law. He possessed profound expertise in Qur’anic exegesis, Hadith, Sufism, and theology. He authored more than thirty books, the most renowned of which is “Tafsir-e-Mazhari,” considered a comprehensive, scholarly, and spiritually rich commentary on the Qur’an. His other important works include Irshad al-Talibin, Jawahir al-Qur’an, Haqiqat al-Islam, Shihab-e-Saqib, Tadhkirat al-Mauta wal-Qubur, Al-Saif al-Maslul, and treatises on sama‘ and wahdat al-wujud.

Throughout his life, he remained devoted to the service of knowledge and spirituality and served as a judge in Panipat with great integrity and justice.

Death: Qazi Sanaullah Panipati passed away on 1 Rajab 1225 AH, corresponding to 2 August 1810 CE.