Mahmood Hasan Gangohi

Mahmood Hasan Gangohi Ibn E Ayyubi Ansari الشيخ المفتي اعظم الهند علامة محمود الحسن گنگوهی‎
Title	Former Head Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband and Saharanpur. The Top Grand Mufti of India
Born	1907 Gangoh, Saharanpur, India
Died	2 September 1996
Resting place	Elsburg, Germiston, South Africa
Ethnicity	Indian
Religion	Islam
Denomination	Sunni Hanafi Chishti Ansari
Movement	Deobandi
Alma mater	Darul Uloom Deoband
Disciple of	Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani, Maulana Muhammad Zakariya Kandhalvi
Influenced Refer to Khulufa List below.

Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi (1907–1996) was an Indian Mufti and Islamic scholar. He served as The Top Grand Mufti of India as well as being The Head Mufti at Darul Uloom Deoband and Mazahir Uloom for many years. He was The Most Senior Khalifa (Deputy) of Shaykh Zakariyya Kandhalwi (1898–1982). He was also the Shaikh (Spiritual Mentor) of recent Mohtamim of Darul Uloom Deoband.

He was born in Gangoh (India) in July 1907 and studied in Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur and Darul Uloom Deoband. Later he taught in Saharanpur and in Deoband along with the service of issuing Fatwas (Islamic Verdicts). His Fatwa collection entitled 'Fataawa Mahmoodiyah' comprises 20 volumes and is copious reference book on Hanafi Fiqh Verdicts.

He died in South Africa where he was touring on 2 September 1996, and was buried in Elsburg about 4 km away from Hazeldene.

Mufti Sahib gave Bay'at (Pledge of Allegiance for Spirituality) in 1349 A.H. to Shaykh Zakariyyah Kandhalwi while Mufti Sahib was at Deoband. When he used to sit in the Gatherings of Hadhrat Raipuri and Hadhrat Dehlawi or Hadhrat Madani, he used to become very inclined toward the Hereafter. However when Mufti Sahib used to sit in the Gatherings of Shaykh Zakariyyah, Mufti Sahib would be so affected, that his own sins and flaws would become manifest to him, as a result of which Mufti Sahib came to the conclusion that his Islaah (Spiritual Reformation) would take place only at the hands of Shaykh Zakariyyah. This was the first reason of Mufti Sahib in giving preference to Shaykh Zakariyyah for Bay'at.

The second reason was that in terms of age, the youngest of the saints was Shaykh Zakariyyah Kandhalwi. Mufti Sahib wanted to be in the Service and Company of his Shaykh for a long time. When he approached Shaykh Zakariyyah Kandhalwi he was told to give Bay'at to Shaykh Allamah Hussain Ahmed Al-Madani. Mufti Sahib replied that “Hadhrat, I have heard that if one gives Bay'at to the Shaykh he is inclined towards it results in a better focus and reformation for the disciple”. For some months, Shaykh Zakariyyah Kandhalwi did not take his Bay'at. Finally, he said if you are not inclined towards Hadhrat Madani then perform Istikhaarah (A Special Prayer Asking for Guidance), if nothing becomes clear in Istikhaarah, then travel to three places: Raipur, Nizamuddin, and Thanhbawan, sit in all the Gatherings of Giant Scholars and Pious Saints and don't say anything.” Mufti Sahib didn't go, so therefore Shaykh Zakariyyah then took Mufti Sahib's Bay'at.

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