Mirajul Haq Deobandi

Mirajul Haq Deobandi (; 1910 – 18 August 1991), also transliterated as Merajul Haq Deobandi or Mairajul Haq Deobandi, was an Indian Islamic scholar associated with the Deobandi movement. He served at Darul Uloom Deoband for nearly five decades, including as principal and deputy vice-chancellor.

Early life and education Mirajul Haq Deobandi was born in 1910 (1328 AH) in the Kotla neighborhood of Deoband, India. His father, Munshi Nurul Haq, was a devout and pious individual who worked in Punjab at the time of his son's early education.

He received his primary education in Barnala, Punjab, where his father was posted. He later continued his middle-level education in Deoband and joined the Diniyat section of Darul Uloom Deoband, initially studying under scholars including Muhammad Yasin Deobandi. In 1345 AH, due to his father's transfer to Saharanpur, he enrolled in Mazahir Uloom Saharanpur, where he studied a wide array of subjects for approximately five years, including logic, grammar, jurisprudence, and Arabic literature.

He was particularly known for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), especially his teaching of the final volumes of al-Hidayah, which gained widespread recognition among students. He also taught classical Arabic literature, including texts such as Dīwan al-Hamasah and the Dīwan of al-Mutanabbi, offering detailed commentary on grammar, rhetoric, and pre-Islamic Arab culture. In the final years of his life, he also taught books of hadith, including Jami' at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Majah.

In addition to his teaching duties, he was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Naib Mohtamim) of Darul Uloom Deoband in 1966 (1386 AH), a position he held until 1976 (1396 AH). In 1981 (1401 AH), following the death of Fakhrul Hasan Moradabadi, he was appointed Principal of the Faculty, the highest academic position at the seminary, and served in that capacity until his death.

His administrative capabilities were widely recognized, and he was known for resolving students’ issues with diligence and care.

Legacy Over the course of nearly five decades, Deobandi taught a wide array of Islamic sciences including fiqh, Arabic literature, and hadith. Thousands of students benefited from his instruction, many of whom went on to become scholars and educators across the world.

Despite his administrative and academic responsibilities, he lived a simple and ascetic life. He remained unmarried and resided in a modest room within the Darul Uloom Deoband campus, dedicating himself wholly to teaching, institutional service, and student welfare. He considered the seminary not only his place of work, but also his home and spiritual center.

Deobandi was also a spiritual disciple of Wasiullah Fatehpuri, a senior Khalifa of Ashraf Ali Thanwi. He was known for his discipline, punctuality, and commitment to regular spiritual practices, particularly during the last portion of the night.

In recognition of his lifelong dedication, one of the main entrances of Darul Uloom Deoband was named the Miraj Gate in his honor.

Death Deobandi died on 18 August 1991 (7 Safar 1412 AH) at the age of 83. He had been in declining health for several months prior to his death. He died peacefully at Darul Uloom Deoband, the institution to which he had dedicated his entire adult life. His funeral was attended by numerous students, colleagues, and admirers, and he was buried in the Qasmi cemetery within the seminary grounds.