Mulla Mubin and his Commentary on the Sullam al-Ulum
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Mulla Mubin, a direct descendant of the renowned Mulla Qutb al-Din al-Sihalwi, was a towering figure in the 19th century. Born in 1810 CE (1225 AH), he inherited the intellectual legacy of the Farangi Mahalli tradition.
His lineage is as follows: Mulla Muhammad Mubin (1810CE - 1225AH) b. Mulla Muhibb Allah b. Mulla Ahmad Abd al-Haq b. Mulla Muhammad Saโeed b. Mulla Qutb al-Din al-Sihalwi al-Shahid.
Mulla Mubin's education was exceptional. He had the unique privilege of studying the entire curriculum under his uncle, Mulla Hasan Farangi Mahalli, mastering it. This tutelage prepared him to become a worthy successor within the Farangi Mahalli tradition. When Mulla Hasan left for Rampur, his students seamlessly transitioned to Mulla Mubin's guidance.
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Mulla Mubin's exceptional teaching skills and profound knowledge drew a vast following. He wasn't just revered by students; scholars, community leaders, and the general public alike held him in high esteem.
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Beyond his scholarly pursuits, Mulla Mubin was known for his deep spirituality and piety. A devoted admirer of al-Shaykh al-Akbar, he delivered counsels on Fridays at the Farangi Mahall Mosque. His talks were immensely impactful, moving audiences to tears, including himself. He would recite thousands of Hadith in his counsels, further exemplifying the knowledge of Hadith possessed by scholars of the FarangI Mahall.
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Mulla Mubin's contribution to Islamic scholarship was prolific. He authored numerous commentaries and super-commentaries, becoming second only to the illustrious Bahr al-Ulum Mulla Abd al-Ali. He left his explanatory notes on nearly every text of the curriculum, with his commentary on Mulla Bihari's Sullam al-Ulum being particularly noteworthy.
Mulla Mubin on Sullam al-Ulum
During the latter half of the 17th century (before 1698), the Sullam al-Ulum witnessed a surge in commentaries within the Indian subcontinent, surpassing any other logic text in popularity. Over the next two centuries, this trend continued, resulting in over 100 commentaries and super-commentaries on the work. The Sullam established itself as the most advanced textbook on logic within the Nizami curriculum, often studied alongside its most celebrated commentaries.
One unique aspect of these commentaries is their seamless integration with other disciplines, including legal theory, rhetoric, and logic/Kalam. Mulla Mubin's commentary on Mulla Muhibb-Allah Bihari's, Sullam al-Ulum falls within the second wave of primary and foundational commentaries.
Notably, Mulla Mubin's work is renowned for its exceptional clarity. In fact, teachers would sometimes advise students to wait before reading this text early in their studies, as they wanted them to engage with more challenging commentaries first in order to develop their scholarly training. They would remark, โMubin is Mubinโ (Mubin is clear), highlighting the remarkable lucidity of his commentary.
We look forward to delving deeper into the life of Mulla Mubin and his influential commentary on the Sullam al-Ulum in the near future. Insha'Allah.
In the photo, Ustad Muhammad Mubashir Iqbal presenting a 118-year-old manuscript of Mulla Mubin's commentary to Shaykh Fazl-i-Subhan al-Qadiri, a living heir of the Farangi Mahalli tradition.
