Mawlana Muhammad Rafiuddin Deobandi (c. 1858 – 1927) was an influential Indian Islamic scholar and a prominent figure in the early Deobandi movement. He is best known for being the first Shaikh al-Hadith (head professor of Hadith) at Darul Uloom Deoband, the foundational seminary of the Deobandi school of thought, where he dedicated decades to teaching and scholarship.
Born around 1858 in British India, Rafiuddin Deobandi was among the early generation of scholars associated with Darul Uloom Deoband. He received his early education and advanced studies from some of the institution's founders and leading figures, including Mawlana Muhammad Qasim Nanautawi, a co-founder of Darul Uloom Deoband, and Mawlana Muhammad Yaqub Nanautawi.
Upon the passing of Mawlana Muhammad Yaqub Nanautawi, who had held the esteemed position, Mawlana Rafiuddin succeeded him as the Shaikh al-Hadith of Darul Uloom Deoband. In this pivotal role, he was responsible for teaching Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the six canonical collections of Hadith, to advanced students. His tenure as Shaikh al-Hadith was marked by profound dedication and rigorous instruction, shaping generations of Islamic scholars. Among his most famous students was Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri, who himself would later become a highly influential Shaikh al-Hadith and exegete.
Mawlana Rafiuddin's contributions were central to establishing the academic rigor and Hadith scholarship standards for which Darul Uloom Deoband became renowned. He played a critical role in solidifying the institution's reputation as a leading center for the study of prophetic traditions in the Indian subcontinent. He passed away in 1927, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated teaching and profound influence on Islamic education within the Deobandi tradition.