Shaykh al-Hadith Fazlur Rahman Azmi was born in 1356/1946 in Maunath Bhanjan (Mau), Uttar Pradesh, India. After memorizing the Qur’an at an early age by his father, Shaykh Hafiz al-Rahman Azmi, Shaykh al-Hadith embarked on an intensive period of studying during which he mastered Arabic, Persian and Urdu.

Upon completion of the rigorous Shari’ah program (‘alim course) at Madrasah Miftah al-‘Ulum, Mau in the traditional Islamic sciences, he studied the various modes of Qur’anic recitation (qira’ah),thereafter specializing in hadith and answering legal questions (ifta) under the great scholar of hadith,Shaykh Habib al-Rahman Azmi. Shaykh al-Hadith’s illustrious teaching career began in his home town of Mau. On the advice of his teacher he moved to Madrasah Mazhar al-‘Ulum, Varanasi where he taught for four years. In 1395/1975 he moved to the renowned seminary, Jami’ah Islamiyyah Dabhel, Gujarat where he taught the major books of tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis), hadith, fiqh (Islamic law) and qira’ah.

In 1406/1986 he was invited to Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, South Africa and was offered the post of Shaykh al-Hadith (‘Senior Lecturer of hadith’). To date he has been teaching Sahihal-Bukhari, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Mishkat al-Masabih and other major books at this institute. Shaykh al-Hadith is a prolific writer and has authored over forty books. His most famous works include introductions to Sahih al-Bukhari and Sunan al-Tirmidhi. He has also been active in the field of da’wahand tablighand has benefited many as a distinguished disciple (khalifah) of Shah Hakim Muhammad AkhtarSaheb (R.A) in the field of spiritual reformation (tazkiyah)