(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM) By. ‘A.H Siddique’
The legecy of late Molana Qasim Natautvi (the founder of world famous Deoband Darulool) A family of greate scholars of Islam in India and the world. great grand son of late Molana Qasim Natautvi and son of Hakilmul ummah late Molana Tayyab Qasmai “Molana Salim Qasmi” A renowned Muslim scholar, chancellor of Deoband Darul uloom (wakf) and member IMPLB passed away today after a brief illness at Deoband (Distt) Saharanpur UP.

late Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi was one of the most distinguished theologians, one of the most respected religious leaders and one of the most followed guides of the current Islamic world. Maulana Salim Qasmi was the current rector (Nazim) of Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband, the Vice President of “The All India Muslim Personal Law Board”, the president of advisory board of Mazahirul Uloom (Waqf) Saharanpur, the chairman of the Supreme Guidance Council of the unified All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat and is the permanent member of “the Fiqh Council of Al-Azhar”, Cairo (Egypt). He was awarded with Imam Mohammad Qasim Nanotvi International Islamic Award on 20 January 2014 in a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, only second such award the first recipient being Sheikh Mahmood Afindi of Turkey. The great grandson of Hujjatul Islam Imam Muhammad Qasim Nanatawi and only living disciple of Hakimul Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi, Maulana Salim was widely regarded as the only surviving religious scholar in the Deobandi tradition who links the present with the glorious past of the founders of the greatest Sunni institution of education in the subcontinent.

Early life and education:

“Maulana Mohammad Salim Qasmi was born on 8/01/1926 = 22/06/1344 H. Friday in Deoband. He took admission in Darul­ Uloom Deoband in 1351 and completed his studies from beginning till the end. He learnt Nazirah and Hifz under Peer JiShareef Hasan Gangohi, Farsi books under Maulana Aaqilsb, Maulana Zaheersband Maulana Hasan sb. Besides, he learnt Kanzul Daqaaiq from Maulana Akhtar Husain, Maybuzi from Qari Asgharsb, Mukhtasar and Sullamul Uloom from Maulana Abdul Sameesb, and Hidaya from Maulana Abdul Ahad Sb. He studied Hadith books in the final year of Fazeelah Course under Shaikhul Islam Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani, Allama Ibraheem Balyavi, Maualana Aizaz Ali Amrohvi, Maulana Fakhruddin Sb.

He completed Fazilat course in the year 1948 = 1367H, and was appointed as a teacher in the same year in Darul Uloom Deoband. He got chance to teach all important books of Darse Nizami like Nurul-Eizah, Tafseer e Quran, Hidaya, Sharh Aqaaid, Mishkat, Abu Dawud, Bukhari, and many other important books. His Sharh Aqaaid class was largely admired.”

In 1982, when Darul Uloom Deoband witnessed a dispute, bordering on almost a turmoil, ultimately leading to the division of the Madrasa into two,
Maulana Mohammad Salim Qasmi became the administrator of Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband. The Waqf faction was the smaller of the two, and had difficult times with a big question mark on its very survival. If it could survive and then gained reputation and recognition, the credit entirely goes to Maulana Salim Qasmi.  He still continues to be the Rector and ultimate guide for the Madrasa.