Raees al-Ulama, Taaj al-Atqiya, Shaykhul Muhaditheen, Hujjat al-Islam Hadrat Allama Mawlana Hamid Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho is the fortieth Imam and Shaykh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyah Barakatiyah Razaviyah Nooriyah.

HIS BLESSED NAME:

According to the family tradition, he was given the name Muhammed during his Aqeeqa, the value of which in Arabic numerals is nine two. His was affectionately called Hamid Raza, and his title is Hujjat-ul-Islam.

HIS BRIEF GENEALOGY:

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho is the son of the Mujjadid of the fourteenth Century, A’la Hadrat Ash Shah Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Qaadiri Barakaati Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, who was the son of Hadrat Allama Maulana Naqi Ali Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, who was the son of Maulana Raza Ali Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

HUJJATUL ISLAM’S EDUCATION:

He attained his knowledge at the feet of his blessed father, Sayyiduna A’la Hadrat Azeemul Barkat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. He attained proficiency in the fields of Hadith, Islamic Jurisprudence, Tafseer etc. and graduated with distinctions at the tender age of nineteen. His blessed father admired Hujjatul Islam for his sincerity and dedication in gaining knowledge. A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho loved him so dearly, that he said:

حامد مني و انا من حامد
Hamid is from me and I am from Hamid.

INITIATION INTO THE SPIRITUAL ORDER:

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was the Mureed and Khalifa of Noorul Aarifeen, Hadrat Sayyid Shah Abul Husain Ahmad-e-Noori Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. His Spiritual Master was from amongst the great Mashaa’ikh of Marehrah Mutaaharah. Hadrat Abul Husain Ahmad-e-Noori Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho had immense love for his beloved disciple and guided him with his rays of spiritualism along the path of mysticism. Hadrat Noori Mian Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was the mureed and Khalifa of Khaatimul Aakabir Hadrat Sayyid Shah Aale Rasool Marehrwi Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho who was the Peer-o-Murshid of A’la Hadrat, Azeemul Barkat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. He was also blessed with Khilafat by his father Sayyiduna A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

HIS FEATURES:

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was an very handsome personality. He was very fair in complexion and his face shone like a bright light. All those who saw him could not compare him to others they had seen.

HIS EXCELLENCE:

He is the eldest son of Alaa Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Fazil-e-Bareilly Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. He was the image of his father in looks, and the true successor of his blessed father. His personality was a shining example of the Truth of Islam. In addition to his inner spiritual beauty, Almighty Allah has blessed him with outer beauty as well. All those who saw Hujjatul Islam have said that never have they seen in their era, such a handsome and beautiful personality. Scores of non-Muslims accepted the pure religion of Islam only by looking at his blessed face. The excellence of his handsomeness was such, that anybody who saw him would say,

 

“Haaza Hujjatul Islam” meaning, “This is the Proof of Islam”.

When Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho travelled to the Holy cities of Makkatul Mukarramah and Madinatul Munawwarah for Hajj and Ziyaarah, he was blessed with meeting great scholars such as Hadrat Sheikh Sayyid Husain Dabbaagh Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho and Sayyidi Maaliki Turki Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. After meeting Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, both these learned scholars said:

“From the Learned and Talented Personalities in India, we have never met anybody that was more fluent and commanding in the Arabic Language, than Hujjatul Islam.”

He was the combination of many inner spiritual qualities. He was not only a great scholar, but he was the best teacher of his time. He was famous for his lectures on the topics of Hadith and Tafseer. He held a unique position in the command of the Arabic Language. He was an excellent poet and his poetry was pure and gentle. His poems (Naats) were written in the deep love of the Holy Prophet Muhammed Mustafa SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. He served the Maslak-e-Ahle Sunnat, and the Silsila-e-Aaliyah Qaaderiyah Barakaatiyah Razviyah with complete sincerity and humility. He spent his entire life in striving for the upliftment of the Muslim Ummah.

HIS BLESSED HABITS:

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was a bright example of his pious predecessors and his illustrious forefathers. He possessed a beautiful character and all good habits. He was a very pleasant and gentle person, and would always smile when he spoke to anyone. His respect for the elders and love for children was one of his blessed qualities. He always lowered his gaze when in conversation, or when walking in the street. He spent most of his time in the recitation of Durood Shareef, and it was for this reason, that many had witnessed him recite Durood aloud even when he was asleep. Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, like his blessed father strongly opposed the British and their allies. He was always firm in his belief and never compromised his principles, which were based on the Quran and Hadith.

HIS HUMILITY:

Due to his humbleness, his dress was also the same. Not withstanding his status and knowledge his lifestyle remained the epitome of simplicity. Even though he was a great scholar and the son of the Mujjadid of the Century, he never showed any pride over his knowledge. He respected all the Ulama and Masha’ikh and humbled himself in their presence. His humbleness was another example of his exemplary character. An example of his humbleness can be determined from the following statement of Qutbe Madinah Hadrat Sheikh Ziauddin Madani Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho who was amongst the esteemed disciples and Khulafa of A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho:

“Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was a very bright and handsome personality. He was such a humble person, that when I would journey from Madinatul Munawarah to Bareilly Shareef, he would be such an excellent host, that he would even take a cloth and personally shine my shoes. He never allowed anyone else to serve me and he would personally serve my meals to me. I have difficulty expressing the extent of his hospitality. When I would prepare to return for Madinah Shareef, he would humbly say, ‘Please Convey my Salutations in the Exalted Court of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, and pray that He invites me to the Holy City.’”

HIS BLESSED CHARACTER:

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was a radiant personality. Likewise, his character was also admirable. He was exemplary in every way, be it in looks, habits, character, knowledge, piety, actions and in words. He was always generous and merciful. Not only did those who knew him praise his character, but those who opposed him were also forced to accept the blessed nature of his character. Even though he was very gentle and kind, he became very firm and strong against those who insulted Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam.

For those who were true servants of Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, he was like a rose, which brings pleasure at all times, and for the enemy of Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam he was a naked sword.

When Shab-e-Baraat (the eve of the fifteenth of Shabaan, when the Mercy of Allah reaches the sky above the earth) would arrive, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho would ask for forgiveness and pardon from all those around him. He was so sincere in this, that he would even ask forgiveness from children, servants and his disciples by saying:

“If I have been the cause of any pain to you, then please forgive me, and if I owe anything to anybody, then please inform me.”

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was an excellent example of “Al Hubbu Lil Laahi Wal Bughzu fillah” (Love for the sake of Allah and Hate for the sake of Allah) and “Firm against the disbelievers and gentle towards your own”.

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho showed much love and gentleness towards his students and disciples, and every one of his mureeds felt that he was the most loved of Hujjatul Islam’s mureeds.

Once Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho had just arrived home from a lengthy train journey and was still seated on the carriage on which he arrived. A person who lived in Biharipur Bareilly arrived and mentioned that his elder brother was a mureed of Hadrat and he was very ill and was wishing to see his Peer. The person mentioned to Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho that he had come to Hadrat’s home for many days and then left sadly when he was told that Hadrat was out on a journey and had not yet arrived. When Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho heard this, he did not even get off the carriage, but summoned his younger son Hadrat Nu’mani Mian Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho and asked him to remove the luggage. He then told him to inform all at Hadrat=s home that he was on his way to visit a sick person. With this, he immediately went to the home of his ailing mureed and comforted him in his time of ailment and need. Subhaanallah!

On another occasion, one of the mureeds of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho who was a loyal disciple but possessed a bad temper had invited Hadrat to his home for a meal. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was delayed and reached the home of the mureed, which was in Banarus, after quite some time. The mureed who saw that Hadrat had not come to his invitation became upset, and locked the door of his home and left with his family. When Hadrat arrived, he saw that the door of the house was locked and the people of the house were away. Any other person would be annoyed at this type of behavior of a mureed, but Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho knew the disposition of his disciple and without even the slightest disappointment or anger, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho returned home with a smile on his face. After sometime, when Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho met this mureed, and the disciple showed his dissatisfaction, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho still spoke to him with love and apologized for the inconvenience. The mureed on seeing the humbleness of his Master immediately humbled himself in the Court of his Sheikh and showed more respect and love than ever. SubhaanAllah!

The above mentioned incidents verily open the chambers of the heart and soul, bringing freshness to our Imaan. Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho loved both the young and the elderly dearly. He showed deep respect for the learned scholars as we have learnt from Qutbe Madinah Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. From amongst the Ulama, he had much respect for Hadrat Ashrafi Mian, Sadrul Afaadhil Maulana Naeemudeen Muradabaadi, Sadrush Shariah Maulana Amjad Ali Razvi, Sher Bashai Ahle Sunnat Maulana Hashmat Ali Khan, and his son-in-law and Khalifa Maulana Taqadus Ali Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

He also had great respect for Haafiz-e-Millat Maulana Shah Hafiz Abdul Aziz Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, who was the founder and Rector of Al Jamiatul Ashrafiyah Arabic University (Mubarakpur). It was on the invitation of Huzoor Hafiz-e-Millat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho that Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho made his first visit to Al Jamiatul Ashrafiyah accompanied by his younger son Hadrat Nu’mani Mian Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho in 1334 Hijri.

HIS PIETY AND FIRMNESS ON SHARIAH:

Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was a very pious and Allah fearing personality. Whenever he gained any free time from his propagation and other works, he spent this time in the Remembrance of Allah (Zikrullah) and in sending Durood and Salaams upon the Holy Prophet Muhammed Mustafa SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam.

Once there was an abscess on his body, that was very painful and according to the advice of the doctors, needed to be removed. The doctor who was to do the procedure informed Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho that he needed to give him anaesthetic, so that the procedure could be done. Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho refused to take any type of anaesthetic or anything to even numb the area of the operation by saying that he was not prepared to allow anything with alcohol into or on his body. The doctor informed Hadrat that there was no other way to do the procedure, as the absence of anaesthetic would cause him unbearable pain during the procedure. The procedure was finally performed, lasting more than an hour, without any anaesthetic. Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho during this time did not show any signs of discomfort and passed through the entire procedure reciting Durood-e-Paak.

After the procedure, the doctor was completely impressed by the firmness and Taqwa (piety) of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. Allahu Akbar!

SERVICES RENDERED:

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was a great orator, an admirable teacher and a learned Aalim. His life was spent in serving the Deen of Almighty Allah, by propagating Islam, Defending the Exalted pedestal of Prophethood and educating the Muslim masses in accordance with the Pristine teachings of the Quran and the Hadith. This was the real goal in his life. He lived for the sake of the Protection of Islam and Muslims. He passed from this mundane world, upholding the flag of Islam. He was a great teacher as he was taught by none other than his blessed father, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho who was proud of his blessed son. For the purpose of strengthening the Maslak-e-Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama’at, Hujjatul Islam travelled to every corner of his country teaching Muslims and instilling in them the Obedience of Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. He debated and refuted openly the Wahabis and all other false sects that were insulting Almighty Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. He saved the Muslim masses from the destructive forces of dubious politicians, and during the Shudhi Tahreek (A movement of the disbelievers to convert unsuspecting Muslims to disbelievers), he strongly opposed this movement and struggled for the protection of the Imaan of the Muslims.

HIS POLITICAL INSIGHT AND SUPPORT OF THE TRUTH:

By being well informed regarding the political situation in his time, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho became well versed with the schemes of the dubious politicians. He guided the Muslims out of the ruthlessness of the political arena. He was also prepared to challenge and refute all those so-called Ulama and Muslim Leaders who were using Islam as a bargaining tool to gain political success. He had no fear for any person no matter what his political standing was. A’la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho had passed a fatwa against Maulana Abdul Baari Sahib Farangi Mahali due to certain of his political maneuvers and major errors. The very same Maulana Abdul Baari hosted a massive conference in Lucknow to protest against the actions of the Najdi Government that was bulldozing the Mazaars of the Sahaba of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho with a few others learned Ulama, journeyed to Lucknow under the auspices of Jama’at-e-Raza-e-Mustafa. On their arrival, they were given a heros welcome by Maulana Abdul Baari and various other Ulama. When Maulana Abdul Baari came forward to shake the hand of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, he pulled his hand back and said:

“As long as my blessed father’s fatwa is on you, and until you do not repent, I am not prepared to meet with you.”

Hadrat Mawlana Abdul Baari Farangi Mahali (rahmatullah alaih) seeing the firmness of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho immediately repented sincerely at the hands of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho and said:

“Whether my dignity remains or not, I do not care. I repent in the fear of Almighty Allah, as I have to present myself in His Court. Let it be known, that, whatever Imam Ahmed Raza Khan wrote is the truth and the fact.”

HIS FIRMNESS & FEARLESNESS IN IMPLEMENTING ISLAMIC LAW:

An official Conference (at Government level) was held in Lucknow concerning new laws that were to be gazetted by the Government concerning Muslim Marriages and Divorce. Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho and Maulana Taqaddus Ali Khan (rahmatullah alaih) were representatives from Bareilly Shareef at this conference. Many shi’ite and Najdi Molvis were also present at this conference. Shah Sulaiman (Chief Justice of the High Court of India) and the son-in-law of Maulana Abdul Baari Farangi Mahali, Janaab Abdul Waali were also amongst the representatives. During the debate on the issues of Islamic Marriages and divorce, Hujjatul Islam uprooted all those with new ideas from their places, with his immense knowledge, wisdom and debating skills. After this debate, the decision in this matter was made based on the argument presented by Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. Whenever faced with such situations, Huzoor Hujjatul Islam always stood by the Laws of Shariah and never compromised the Teachings of the Shariah. In 1935, a Conference was held in Muradabad to address the religious, social, political and financial position of the Muslims in India. Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was appointed the Head of this conference. During this conference, he delivered a lecture explaining all of the above topics to the Muslims masses. This lecture inspired the Muslims to take a firm stand for the sake of Islam.

AUTHORITY IN THE COMMAND OF LANGUAGE:

Huzoor Hujjatul Islam’s Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho command of the Arabic language was worthy of praise and admiration. His Arabic was praised by both the Ulama of Indo-Pak Subcontinent and Arabia. Once Qutbe Madinah Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho presented a book written by himself on Knowledge of the Unseen to Hujjatul Islam, during the physical lifetime of A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, so that he may write a foreword to the book. The Foreword written by Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho in the Arabic language was so well written that Qutbe Madinah Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was astounded. Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho also wrote the translation and commentary of the world renowned Ad Daulatul Makkiyah, which was written in eight hours by A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho on the topic of AIlme Ghaib.

Once, Hadrat Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho had to go to Darul Uloom Mueenia in Ajmer Shareef as an Examiner during the final examinations. While in Ajmer Shareef, Hadrat Maulana Mueenudeen Saahib Ajmeri (rahmatullah alaih), requested Hujjatul Islam to write something concerning the Darul Uloom. Hadrat agreed and said that he knew three languages namely, Urdu Arabic and Persian, and that he would write in whatever language was necessary. During this time, Maulana Mueenudeen was not very well versed with the immense knowledge possessed by Hujjatul Islam, so he suggested jokingly that the article should be written in Arabic. Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho immediately wrote an article of numerous pages in the Arabic language, while the learned Maulana looked on. After some time, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho handed the article over to the learned Maulana who perused through the document in amazement. After Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho handed over the article, he left. When Maulana Mueenudeen sat down to translate the document, he found that the Arabic language in which the article was written was so pure and deep, that he could not even understand many of the words used. He had to search through advanced Arabic Dictionaries and books of the Arab Ulama to find the meanings to words used by Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho in the article.

KING GAWALYAAR:

Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho as we mentioned earlier was a possessor of great beauty, and many travelled just to make ziyaarah of his blessed face. It has been stated that he once went to a place called Gawalyaar. For as long as he stayed there, the King of Gawalyaar (a hindu) used to come daily to make ziyaarah of the blessed face of Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

Once Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho arrived home from a journey. At the railway station was Ataullah Bukhari. On seeing Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho he enquired concerning him, and was informed by the people that this was Hujjatul Islam Maulana Shah Hamid Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho who was the son and Successor of A’la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. Ataullah Bukhari then said: “I have seen many Molvis, but I have seen none as handsome and bright as him.”

HAJJ AND ZIYAARAT:

Almighty Allah had blessed Hujjatul Islam with the opportunity of visiting the Haramain Sharifain for the purpose of Hajj and Ziyaarah. He travelled for his first Hajj in 1323 B 1905 with his blessed father Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. This was an elevated Hajj for him, and was a journey of much learning and experience. It was during this Hajj, that he put together Ad Daulatul Makkiyah bil Maaddatil Ghaibiyyah, which was written on this journey by A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. The most important part of this journey was Hujjatul Islam’s Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho visit to the

Exalted Court of his and our Beloved Master, The means of Creation Hadrat Ahmad-e-Mujtaba Muhammed Mustafa SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. He relished the opportunity to be present in the Court of Holy Prophet Muhammed SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. Almighty Allah blessed Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho with his second Hajj in 1334 Hijri.

HUJJATUL ISLAM’S VISIT TO PAKISTAN:

In 1925, Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho visited Pakistan, as a representative at the Annual Conference held under the Banner of Hizbul Ahnaaf. During this visit, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho gave a challenge of Munaazira (debate) to the deobandis. At the very last moment, when the debate was about to commence, the deobandis made a lame excuse and refused to debate with Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho also met with the poet and philosopher Dr Iqbal. When Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho informed him of the corrupt and blasphemous beliefs of the deobandis, he was astonished and replied by saying:

“These are such blasphemous statements made by these people, why is the sky not falling on them. The sky should fall in such blasphemous.”

It was during this journey, that a very important event took place. While Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was in Lahore, a young man who was at that time studying at an English school, would visit Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho daily. Everybody else came to ask questions, or request Taaweez etc. but this young man would come daily, sit silently and look at the face of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. When just a few days were left for Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho to return to India, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho asked his reason for coming to visit him daily and yet not requesting anything. The young man replied by saying that his only request was to accompany Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho back to India and become his student in attaining knowledge of Deen. Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho on hearing the request of the youngster was very pleased and immediately agreed to take him with. This young man studied with great sincerity, respect and dedication at the feet of Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho and qualified with distinctions as an Aalim and Muhadith. This young boy grew up to be none other than the world renowned Muhadith-e-Azam Pakistan Maulana Sardaar Ahmad (rahmatullah alaih) who later became the Leader of the Muslims in Lahore. This was definitely the karam of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho on Muhadithe Azam Pakistan that led him to being one of the Greatest Scholars of Hadith in Pakistan.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC SERVICES:

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho served the Muslim Ummah in various ways. He encouraged them to become self-sufficient and not remain laborers and slaves of the West. In 1925 he held a conference in Muradabad under the banner of All India Sunni Conference, in which he explained to the Muslims the importance of being self-sufficient. He delivered an inspiring lecture in which he pointed out the importance of Muslims strengthening their financial positions and removing themselves from dependency. A few excerpts from his lecture are being quoted below:

“Our only means of income today is as laborers or as public servants. The situation has become so bad, that even the Hindu Nawaabs do not employ Muslims anymore. As for jobs in government, our applications never seem to reach the proper authorities, and even if they do, it takes years to process, by which time; a person is soaked in debt. By the time he receives a job, his debts are so vast that the meagre government salary is not enough to pay off these debts. Even if he gets the job, then because of the large numbers of hindus in high positions, he is always being watched (and can be removed for a minor reason). We must realise that our incomes should not be confined to such jobs. We should learn different trades and gain expertise in various fields. We should start businesses and factories, so that our socio-economic conditions may be strengthened. Today all our certificates and diplomas are not accepted. We do not have the proper finances to educate our children. If we had some type of profession or trade, then today we would not have been dependant like the way we are. Today, if a person loses his job, him and his family are destroyed, as he has no other means of dependable income. We should now completely forget the thought of laboring. Laboring has never given success to any nation in the world. Muslims should become professionals and tradesman if they wish to gain economic and financial stability.”

SHUDHI MOVEMENT:

This was a movement of the Hindus to convert unsuspecting Muslims to disbelievers, by using political and financial influence. It was during this time, that Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho protected the Imaan of the Muslims and saved thousands of Muslims from becoming Murtads. He informed the Muslims of the evil schemes of the Kufaar in the following words:

“The movement of converting the Muslims by the shudhi is now not only in the main states, but they have now spread their false movement throughout the country. They are using their schemes in the whole of India and are taking advantage of ignorant and unsuspecting Muslims. Huge groups of people are being destroyed and caught in their web of deceit. Muslims do not have many institutes and organisations to combat this corruption, and wherever there are organisations, then due to a lack of correspondence, they are either not well informed, or do not have the expertise to cope with this dangerous problem. Unless Ulama are summoned from other parts of the country to combat this problem in the affected areas, there will be no success. I already have experience in such situations, and it must be known that these movements of infidelity destroy the propagation work of Muslims. I have been to the effected areas, where thousands of rupees have been given to Muslims to sell their Imaan and they have been promised positions and power. In such places, all that I could use were the words of the Beloveds, reminding Muslims of our religion, and the fear of Allah. This seemed to be the only medicine for those with the illness of weak Imaan. This method was so successful, that the Muslim youth that were being misled immediately repented and kicked away the promises of wealth and power given to them by the disbelievers, and became obedient to the words of Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam.”

Concerning Unity with other Groups, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho said:

“Whenever Sunnis decide to call for unity with others (non-sunnis), they should first remember the opposition from their own. What reason is there to try to unite with those who spend their days and nights scheming to undermine the Ahle Sunnat and increasing their number of mislead followers? Our true brothers have not allowed such movements to be successful. Remember! If these other groups were on Haq, then there would have been no need for them to leave the mainstream and form their own firqas (groups). An example of this is the newly formed khilafat committee, which used the front support of the khilafat movement to call for unity. Even in this Committee, there is a joint Union of the so-called Jamiatul Ulama, which is made up of a majority of wahabis, ahle Hadith and ghayr muqalids. This forefront was only used to win the support of the Sunnis on the name of Unity, but it is the same group of people that are openly opposing the Beliefs of the Ahle Sunnah. I received a letter from Molvi Ahmad Mukhtar, who is the President of Jamiatul Ulama Bombay in which he writes that the huge amounts of money have been collected from the Muslim community and with this, two hundred thousand copies of Taqweeyatul Imaan (this book has been written by Ismaeel Dehlwi, who in it has made statements of blasphemy against the Holy Prophet Muhammed sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) have been printed and distributed free. Now I ask, should we now join and unite with such groups? It is definitely a means of destruction. It is with our own finances that our very religion is being destroyed”

IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION:

Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho had a deep feeling for the importance of knowledge. He spent much time encouraging students and parents alike, to attain knowledge. He tried his utmost to explain the importance of education for females. He travelled throughout India trying to instill the importance of educating females in the hearts of the Muslim Ummah. His words were heeded and opened the doors of religious learning for many females throughout the country. During his talk at the Muradabad Conference, he said:

“It is also of utmost importance, to have educational institutes for females. In Addition to religious education, they should be taught simple home economics, such as dressmaking etc. that they would be able to do from their homes. However in doing this, there must be strict adherence to the laws of pardah.”

His speech at the Muradabad Conference inspired the hearts of many. In reality what he did, was “to gather the ocean into a jar”, so that everybody understood the point that he was making in a simple fashion.

HIS IMMENSE LOVE FOR SAYYIDUNA RASOOLULLAH SALALLAHU ALAIHI WA SALLAM:

Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho loved the Holy Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam dearly and his every action was in accordance with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. Indeed how could he not be a true devotee, when he was groomed at the feet of The Greatest Devotee of His time, Sayyiduna A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. His Haaziri at Madinatul Munawwarah was an important even in his life, when he had the opportunity of presenting himself before the Holy Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. His love for the Holy Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam can be seen in his Naat, which he wrote in Praise of the Most Exalted of all Creation, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam.

Gunahgaro Ka Roze Mahshar Shafi’i Khayr-ul-Anaam Hoga
Dulhan Shafa’at Banegi, Doolha Nabi Alaihis Salaam Hoga

Para Hoo Me Unki Rah Guzar Me Pare Hi Rahne Se Kaam Hoga
Dil-o-jigar Farsh Raah Banenge Ye Deedae-e-ishq Khiraam Hoga

Unhi Ka Moo Sub Takenge Us Din Jo Wo Karenge Wo Kaam Hoga
Duhaa’i Sub Unki Dete Honge Unhi Kar Har Lub Pe Naam Hoga

Khuda Ki Marzi He Unki Marzi, He Unki Marzi Khuda Ki Marzi
Unhi Ki Marzi Ye Ho Raha He Unhi Ki Marzi Ye Kaam Hoga

Jidhar Khuda He Udhar Nabi He, Jidhar Nabi He Udhar Khuda He
Khudaayi Bhar Sub Idhar Phiregi Jidhar Wo Aali Maqaam Hoga

Ussi Tamana Me Dum Para He Yahi Sahaara He Zindagi Ka
Bula Lo Mujko Madina Sarwar Nahi to Jeena Haraam Hoga

Huzoor Roza Huwa Jo Haazir to Apni Saj Dhaj Ye Hogi Hamid
Khamida Sar Aankh Band Lub Par Mere Durood-o-salaam Hoga

BOOKS WRITTEN BY HUJJATUL ISLAM:

In addition to all his other exceptional qualities, Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was a distinguished author of various books, which he wrote on many important topics. His immense knowledge can be gauged by perusing the books that he has written. Some of the more renowned books are listed below:

1. As Saarimur Rabaani alaa Israaf Qaadiyani
2. Translation of Ad Daulatul Makkiyah
3. Translation of Husaamul Haramain
4. Haashia Mulla Jalaal
5. Naatia Deewaan
6. Majmua Fatawa and etc.

HIS KARAMAAT:

Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was also Saahib-e-Karaamat, meaning that he performed various miracles. His greatest Karaamat however, was his firmness on the Shariah and his adherence to the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam. A few of Hadrat’s Karaamats are being quoted for the sake of attaining blessings.

KARAAMAT AS A TEACHER:

Once, a few teachers from the Madrassa decided to resign. They thought that they were indispensable and that none would be able to teach in their absence. The Karaamat of Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was that he taught all the students all the subjects, with even more insight than was given by any other teacher. The scheme of the teachers failed hopelessly and even more students enrolled at the Madressa after becoming aware of the high level of education being attained by students under the tutorship of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

THE GRAVE IS IN THE INCORRECT PLACE:

Haji Muhammad Ismaeel bin Haji Abdul Ghaffar Saahib reported that once Hujjatul Islam went to Madanpura. After Salaah, he was asked to make Fateha at the Mazaar of one of the Awliyah Allah whose Mazaar was on the Musjid property. Hadrat lifted his hands for Duaa, and after a few moments moved back and said that the Grave in the Mazaar was not in its original place. The people were astounded and informed Hadrat that they had moved the spot of the actual grave slightly, due to the shortage of saff space. Hadrat explained to them that this was improper, and that it should be rectified. Subhanallah!

REMOVING JINNAAT:

Hadrat was blessed with the mystical power of removing Jin and Aaseb (evil spirits). Once while Hadrat was in Banarus, many people heard of the mystical power possessed by him and thus crowds of people arrived to take his Duas. He asked for some clothing of all those with such problems to be placed in front of him. He looked once at the clothing and then only removed a few and said, “Only these people are effected, there is nothing wrong with the rest of them.” He then prayed with the clothes in front of him, and in a few days, all those with these problems were fully cured. Also during this time in Banaras, there was a person who had such a strong jinn controlling him that he used to run on the roofs of high buildings, late at night. His family was very worried and brought him to Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, who made dua for him. The Jinn, which was affecting him immediately made touba and left him, and the person was cured for good.

UNSEEN WRATH ON A DEOBANDI BLASPHEMER:

Hadrat Sheikh Abdul Mabood Jilaani Makki (rahmatullah alaih) states:

“When I visited Bareilly Shareef, A’la Hadrat Azeemul Barakat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was writing the eleventh stanza of his famous Naat “Wo Kamaal-e-Husne Huzoor he, ke Gumaan Naqs Jahaa Nahibn”. As I am from the lineage of Ghaus-e-Azam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho I took this to be a good sign for me. While in Bareilly Shareef, I became very close to Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho and I had to accept that he was undoubtedly a Saahibe Karaamat. The reason I am saying this, is because, I left Bareilly Shareef and went to Dehli after sometime. In Dehli I had taken a place to stay, which was right next to where the deobandis were having one of their gatherings. I could thus hear their lectures from my room. During a lecture session, one of their Molvis stood up and said the following in his lecture, This Maulana Hamid Raza is not Hamid, but he is Jaabid (Dumb). After saying this, all those present witnessed that, that Molvi became dumb and could not speak anymore. A few moments after this, he fell to the ground and died an agonizing death. Those present at the gathering say that when he fell to the ground, he tried to say something but could not talk. He signalled for a pen and paper. Those in the gathering quickly brought him a pen and a paper, on which he wrote the following before dying, I repent for my disrespect towards Maulana Hamid Raza Khan.”

MUREEDS AND KHULAFA:

Huzoor Hujjatul Islam’s mureeds run into a lengthy list both in India and abroad. Hadrat had many mureeds in Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Sultanpur, Bareilly and Kanpur. Hadrat also had many mureeds in other countries such as Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Amongst the names of his famous Students and Khulafa are the following:

1. Muhadithe Azam Maulana Sardaar Ahmad Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
2. Huzoor Mujahid-e-Millat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
3. Hadrat Maulana Shah Rifaaqat Husain Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
4. Hadrat Maulana Hashmat Ali Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
5. Hadrat Maulana Ibrahim Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
6. Hadrat Maulana Hamaad Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
7. Hadrat Maulana Ahsaan Ali Saahib Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
8. Hadrat Maulana Abdul Mustafa Saahib Azhari Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
9. Hadrat Maulana Mufti Taqadus Ali Khan Saahib Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
10. Hadrat Maulana Inaayat Muhammad Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
11. Hadrat Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hazarwi Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
12. Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Saeed Shibli Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
13. Hadrat Maulana Wali-ur-Rahmaan Sahib Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
14. Hadrat Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Mian Ashrafi Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
15. Hadrat Maulana Abul Khaleel Anis A’lam Sahib Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
16. Hadrat Maulana Qaari Fazle Karim Sahib Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
17. Hadrat Maulana Razi Ahmed Sahib Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho
18. The famous poet Janaab Akhtarul Hamidi was also a disciple of Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho

HUZOOR HUJJATUL ISLAMS CHILDREN:

Almighty Allah blessed Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho with two sons and four daughters. The names of his sons are:

1. Mufassir Azam Hadrat Ebrahim Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho also known as Jilani Mian. He is the distinguished father of Taajush Shariah Allama Mufti Mohammed Akhtar Raza Khan Qaaderi Azhari.

2. Nu’mani Mian, Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ham’maad Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho

HIS DEMISE:

Hujjatul Islam Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho travelled from this world into the hereafter on the 17th of Jamadil Ulaa co-inciding with 23 May 1943 in the condition of Namaaz, in Tashahud position. The demise of Hujjatul Islam was a sore loss to the entire Sunni community. A loss that was felt throughout the world, as the bright shining sun of A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho had come to set.

JANAZAH:

Hundreds of thousands of devotees and Mureeds gathered for his Janazah Salaah, which was performed, by his Khalifa, Muhadith-e-Azam Pakistan, Maulana Sardaar Ahmad Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

MAZAAR-E-PAAK:

His Mazaar-e-Paak is beside his blessed father Sayyiduna A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. Every year during the Urs, thousands of devotees gather at his Mazaar to pay tribute, to a Faithful Servant of Allah, A True Devotee of the Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam and an Aalim and Saint of his time. May Almighty Allah bless us with his Fuyooz and Barakaat always. Aameen.

Hadrat Shaykh Nizamuddin bin Muhammad bin Ahmed bin Ali Badayuni Bukhari (May Allah shower His mercy on him) is regarded among the greatest of saints.

He was blessed with absolute love, abundance of yearning, true conscience and great courage.  He illuminated the whole world with the radiance of his sainthood and guided a multitude of people towards the right path.

Till date, his words and deeds are considered the final word among the Shaykhs.  The populace remembers him as “Sultan al Mashaaikh” (The King of Shaykhs), “Mahboob-e-Ilaahi” (The Beloved of Allah) and so on.

His antecedents were residents of the great center Islamic learning, Bukhara.  The grandfather of his father, Hadrat Khwaja Ali (May Allah shower His mercy on him) and the grandfather of his mother, Hadrat Khwaja Arab (May Allah shower His mercy on him) both came to Lahore from Bukhara and went to Badayun from there and took up residence there.

In light of the truthfulness, veracity and honesty of Hadrat Khwaja Ahmed (May Allah shower His mercy on him), the king had made him the Judge (Qazi) of Badayun.  Through him, Almighty Allah brought into this world Hadrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him) who is the epitome of divine grace and love.

Once in the childhood of the Khwaja, his father fell ill.  The Khwaja’s mother saw a dream that in which she was being asked to choose any one between Khwaja Ahmed and her son.  She chose her son.  After this, Hadrat Khwaja Ahmed passed away.

The Khwaja was enrolled in a Madarsa.  He finished the recitation of the Holy Quran with a few days and started studying other books and developed mastery over many sciences.

The Khwaja himself says that I studied grammar at the age of 12 years.  Abu Bakr came from Multan to meet my teacher.  He first described the accomplishments of Hadrat Khwaja Bahauddin Zakariyya Multani (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  After this he started mentioning the greatness of Hadrat Baba Fareeduddin Ganj Shakar (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  I became restless on listening to his very name and his love overwhelmed my heart.  When I reached the age of 16, along with my mother and sister, I took residence in Delhi.  By chance, we were living near the house of Hadrat Shaykh Najeebuddin Mutawakkil (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  With his company, the desire to meet Hadrat Baba Fareed (May Allah shower His mercy on him) increased day by day.  I remained in the city for 3, 4 years and worked hard to gain knowledge.  I took the authorization of Hadith from my teacher.

It is mentioned in Siyar ul A’arifeen that when Hadrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him) mastered all the disciplines and became prominent among all the scholars of the city, he paid his respects to Hadrat Khwaja Najeeb (May Allah shower His mercy on him) and said:  I have the desire to become the Judge and benefit the creation.  Shaykh Najeeb (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said:  May Allah forbid that you become a Judge.  You will become what we hope for you to become.

After this, he went to Hadrat Khwaja Fareeduddin Ganj Shakar (May Allah shower His mercy on him) and was honored with Ba’yah and the authorization to accept disciples.  He is the greatest among all the disciples and caliphs of Hadrat Ganj Shakar (May Allah shower His mercy on him).

Hadrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:  Once I was with Hadrat Ganj Shakar (May Allah shower His mercy on him) that I got a thought that whatever I hear from my Shaykh, I will write it down.  Immediately Hadrat Ganj Shakar (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said:  Lucky is that disciple who writes down whatever his Shaykh utters.  There are many blessings for him.

The magnanimity of the Khwaja

Once in the house of Hadrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him), a person was caught with a knife.  Allah Most High knows what his intention was.  When this became known to Hadrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him), he forbade others from hurting him.  Then, he summoned that person and told him:  You promise that you will not hurt others. 

When that person did so, Hadrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him) ordered that money for expenses should be given to that person.

Then, Hadrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said the following about enmity:

Translation: Bear hurt and leave the reprisal to the Lord!

May Allah Most High grant comfort to the person who pains us!  May Allah Most High be the helper of the person who leaves us helpless!  For the person who lays down thorns in our path, may all the flowers in his life be without thorns.

He also said:

Someone lays thorns in somebody’s path and that person in turn also lays thorns in the other person’s path, this is like one to the other.  This is the practice of laymen, but this does not happen among the dervishes.  The dervishes are good with those who are good, but they are not evil with those who are evil.  (Siyar ul Auliya, Pg. No. 578)

With his teachings and his character, Hadrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him) gave the message of peace.  With his wisdom and sagacity, he turned the person who was bent on destroying the peace of the society into a standard bearer of peace and turned him from a terrorist into a pacifist.  Each word of what he said is an invitation to peace. 

Three, four months before his passing away, Hadrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His mercy on him) gave 10 disciples the authorization to accept and train disciples on their own.  Among all his disciples, the Khwaja chose Hadrat Naseeruddin Chiraag Dehlvi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) to be his successor.

• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Zahoor Hussain,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Mahdi Hassan Marehrwi,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Zahoor Hassan Marehrwi,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Abul Hussain Ahmed-e-Noori,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Abul Hassan Khirqani,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Muhammad Saadiq,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Ameer Haidar,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Hussain Haidar,
• Aala Hadrat Mujaddid-e-Azam Ash Shah Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Qaaderi Barelvi,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Ali Hussain Ashrafi Kichawchwi,
• Hadrat Qaazi Abdus Salaam Abbasi,
• Hadrat Shah Ahsaanullah,
• Hadrat Shukrullah Khan,
• Hadrat Haji Haafiz Muhammad Ahmed Badayouni,
• Hadrat Haji Fazl Razaaq Badayouni,
• Hadrat Haafiz Mazhar Hussain Badayouni,
• Hadrat Haafiz Mujahidudeen Siddiqi,
• Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Shareef Ali Siddiqi,
• Hadrat Sheikh Munawwar Ali,
• Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Hassan Khan Barelvi,
• Hadrat Sayyid Shah Tajammul Hussain Qaaderi,
• Hadrat Molvi Abdur Rahmaan Saahib,
• Hadrat Qaazi Molvi Shamsul Islam Abbasi badayouni and
• Hadrat Molvi Ziaullah Khan Abbasi badayouni Barelvi (Ridwaanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajma’een).

A renowned and famous scholar of philosophy, geometry, logic, hadith, and a poet of the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘alayhi wa Sallam, namely Sayyad Muhammad Na’imuddin, titled as ‘Sadr-al-Afadhil’, the son of Mawlana Mu’in al-Din Rahmatullahi alayh, who was born on 21st of Safar-ul-Muzaffar 1300H, on 1st January 1887, in Muradabad, India.

He became a memoriser (hafiz) of the Ennobled Qur’an, at the age of 8. He studied the Urdu, and Persian literature from his father, as the ‘Dars-e-Nizamiyyah’ was studied under Shah Fadl Ahmad Rahmatullahi ‘alayh. He further obtained a degree in granting legal juristic opinion (ifta’) from Shah Muhammad Gul Rahmatullahi ‘alayh, and had also sworn allegiance (bay’ah) to him.

His forefathers were the inhabitants of ‘Mash’had’. At the time of King Aurangzeb, they travelled from there to India. The king gave them great esteem, and granted them with entitlement to land. They travelled many cities when they reached Lahore, and there they stayed near ‘Abul-Hasanat’.

He took part vigorously, in many Islamic Movements, as he was also a part (rukn) of the ‘Khilafat Committee’ which was to establish a Sultanate in Turkey. At this stage, he had made some sensational lectures.

He made ‘impacting’ tours of Agra, Jaipur, Kishan Garh, Gobind Garh, Hawali’-e-Ajmer, Mithar, and Bharatpur against the ‘Show ‘Ali Movement’ whose aim was to destroy Islam, and also sent his delegates there.

In 1343H [1924], he issued the Monthly ‘As-Sawad-al-A’zam’ and by doing so, vigourously supported the ‘View of the Two nations’.

In gaining the independance for Pakistan, on the 18th September 1918, he delivered an oratory masterpiece, at the opening ceremony at the ‘All India Sunni Conference’. He took great part in the passing of the resolutions for a Pakistan at Minto-Park. He was the Chief Organiser (Nazim-e-A’ala), at the Banaras Conference held in 1942.

He fell ill while he was still preparing an Islamic constitution. Life spared him no deferment, and on 18th Dhul Hijjah 1367H [13th October 1948], on a Friday, the world became deprived of him. His sanctuary stands at the left of the Jami’ah Masjid, at Muradabad.

He left 14 works, and lots of treatises including ‘Khaza’in-al-Irfan’ the tafsir of Kanz al-Iman: Ala Hadrat Shah Ahmad Raza Khan alayhir rahman’s Qur’an tranlsation in urdu.

Amongst the most famous works are:

• Tafsir Khaza’in-al-Irfan, [Read Online]
• Kitab-ul-‘Aqa’id,
• Deewan-e-Urdu,
• Sirat-e-Sihabah,
• Sawaneh Karbala,
• Adab-ul-Akhya,
• al-kalimatu’l ‘ulya li iylayi ‘ilm al-mustafa,
• aTyab al-bayan radd e tafwiyatu’l iman,
• and at-taHqiqat li daf’ al-talbisat.
  

He was a khalifa of Imam al-Ahl as-Sunnat A’la Hadrat Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan al-Barelwi and of ‘Ashrafi miya’ Shaykh Allama Sayyad Muhammad Ali Hussain Shah al-Kicchochawi ‘Alayhir rahmah w’al ridwan

Some of his students included:

• Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan Na’imi
• Sarkar-e-Kalan Sayyad Mukhtar Ashraf

Riyaz-e-Na’eem (Poetry Collection):

Sadr al-Afadil, the teacher of teachers in the last century, Mawlana Muhammad Na’eemuddin Muradaabadi is a jurist, scholar, mufti, Quranic Exegete and an Educator. He was also an excellent poet; a collection of his poems is named as ‘Riyaz e Na’eem’ / the ‘Garden of Na’eem’ or the ‘Garden of Comfort.’

Khalifa-e-AlaHadrat, Aalim-e-Jaleel, Fazil-e-Nabeel, Haami-e-Sunan, Maahi-e-Fitan, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Al-Haaj Shah Mehmood Jaan Khan Sahab Sunni Hanafi Qadiri Barakaati Ridawi Jamjodhpuri Peshawari (Alaihir raHmah) was born around the year 1820 in Peshawar. His father Hafidh Ghulam Rasool (Alaihir raHmah) was a distinguished Aalim and teacher of his time. Many would come from, Kabul, Qandahar, Baarqand and Samarkand by travelling lengthy journeys to sit respectfully at his feet and attain knowledge of Deen-e-Islam. Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) also attained his academic knowledge from his father, where upon completion of his Islamic studies, he migrated to Jamjodhpur (Katyawadh, Gujarat, India), where he served the Muslims. Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), like his father Hafidh Ghulam Rasool (Alaihir raHmah) was also popular for his debating skills. He brought many Christian leaders to their feet during debates.

SPIRITUAL GUIDE

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) did not become a mureed until he had reached an advanced age. He later became a Mureed of Sayyidi AlaHadrat Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadiri (Alaihir raHmah). Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) narrates:

“For a long time, this thought was in my heart, that unless and until, I do not find a Kaamil and exalted Shaykh, I will not become a mureed. It was during this time, that I began reading the Islamic Magazine (Touf-e-Hanafiyyah) prepared by Hadrat Maulana Zia’ud’deen Sahab Pilibhiti (Alaihir raHmah), which was filled with gems of knowledge and wisdom and it was in this that I read about Sayyiduna AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). My heart immediately said that in this Era to find such a great personality is not ordinary. Through divine guidance, I travelled to Bareilly Shareef where I presented myself in the Court of AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). The moment I saw His bright face, my heart melted, my Imaan came to life and my heart blossomed like never before.

I had found a Peer (Spiritual Guide) even greater than I had ever imagined. I requested to be initiated into the Silsilah, and my Shaykh accepted me as His disciple (Mureed), blessed me immediately with Ijaazat and Khilafat, and then went into the house, removed what He was wearing at that time and blessed me with His Kurta, Paijamah, Amaama and Waistcoat. This was a great blessing from such a sea of generosity. He blessed this humble servant with the crown of Khilafat in the Silsila Aaliya, Qadiriyah, Barakatiyah, Ridawiyyah, Chishtiyah, Soharwardiyah, Naqshabandiyah and other Salasil. He showed great love and respect for me, and in that time, he bestowed so many titles upon me and showed such love to me, that I will never forget as long as I live.”

It must be noted that Hadrat Allama Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) did not make anyone mureed or give khilafat to anyone. It is related that when anyone came to him for the purpose of becoming a mureed, he would direct them towards Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah).

During 1339 Hijra, Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) wrote a letter to Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah). In it he addressed him as ‘Haami-e-Sunan’ (The Helper of Sunnah) and ‘Maahi-e-Fitan’ (Eradicator of Fitna). He further wrote:

“Due to my busy schedule and my duties, I unintentionally left out your name, which should have been engraved in gold, in the list of names of my well wishers and supporters at the end of Qasidah Al-Istimdaad. I only realized this after it was published, and to this very day I regret my oversight.”

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) commented on this blessed letter (which is still present to this day) by saying:

“Nine or ten months before AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah)’s Wisaal, he wrote a Blessed letter to me, in which He said that in His book Al-Istimdaad, He added the names of all His Khulafa, and my name was unintentionally left out in printing. I say that, by unintentionally missing out my name was a means of great blessings for me, since my Shaykh prayed for me on this occasion.”

LOVE AND FAITH IN HIS SHAYKH

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) was drowned in the love of his Shaykh and had true faith in his Shaykh. During the forty days khatam of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) went to the Mazaar Sharif of his Shaykh and made Dua to Allah Ta’ala, that through the wasila of his chosen servant, Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), Allah Ta’ala bless him with a son. Alhamdulillah within the same year, Allah Ta’ala blessed Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) with a son, whom he named Ahmed Raza. However, Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) had so much respect for his Shaykh that he never called his son by his name, and always referred to him as Hadrat.

VISUALIZER OF THE DOME OF ALAHADRAT ALAIHIR RAHMAH

Very few people know that Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) is responsible for the design of the Gumbad of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) presented his design – which he drew by burning match-sticks as he did not have a pen – to Hadrat Hujjat al-islam (Alaihir raHmah) and Hadrat Mufti-e-Azam Hind (Alaihir raHmah) and said:

“Huzoor, Next to the Gumbad-e-Khazra of Aaqa-e-do Aalam (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) there is a Minaret, and on that Minaret there is white and black design, and since AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) had spent His whole life trying to explain the Exaltedness of Sarkaar (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam), by fighting against the enemies of Sarkaar (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam), therefore it is my wish that the Gumbad of AlaHadrat, should contain that same black and white design that is on that Minarat next to the Gumbad-e-Khazra of the Madani Aqaa (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam).”

Hujjat al-Islam, Mufti-e-Azam, Sadr al-Shari’ah and all the other esteemed Ulama (Radi Allahu Anhum) of the time, had a liking for this design and decided that this design was most fitting for the Dargah Sharif of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), in those days contributed 10000 Rupees and stayed in Bareilly Sharif until the construction of the Dargah Sharif was completed. Hadrat used to say,

“Jaisa yeh Mujjaddid Anokha, waisa unka Mazaar bhi Anokha hona chahiye.”

PERSONAL QUALITIES AND BLESSED HABITS

Although it is almost impossible to pin point which quality or habit of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) was more beautiful, for the sake of Barakat, I will mention a few qualities that I have heard of.

One of the most blessed qualities of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) was that he was firm on Maslak-e-AlaHadrat. In other words he was steadfast on the blessed Shari’ah and did not allow anything to come between him and Islam.

Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) said the following words with regard to Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) in his Khilafat Nama:

“Be Fadhlihi Ta’ala, Mawlana mausoof jumla Mazahid wa Masharib mein is Faqeer ke Qadam ba – Qadam hai. Tamam Biraderaan-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat ke, is Faqeer ke Muhib aur Hum-Mazhab ho! Mawlana ke Masa’ail wa Hidayaat wa Irshaadat pe be-Ta’amul, Amal farmaen”

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) aslo used to remove Jinns from people. One incident that was accounted to me is as follows:

There was once a man who had consulted Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) for the removal of the Jinn within him. He had been brought to Hadrat by his mother. She complained that the Jinn was troublesome to them. Hadrat, after listening to her warned her that he would have to beat her son so much that he would bleed profusely. This had to be done in order to force the Jinn out of him. However even though her son would be beaten, he would not feel any pain. When she had agreed, Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) began to beat her son so much that he indeed began to bleed profusely, until the Jinn himself began to say that he would leave. Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) ordered the Jinn to leave the man immediately to go into a big bottle which was closed after the Jinn had entered it. Thereafter Hadrat would dig a deep hole and bury the bottle containing the Jinn.

One of the blessed habits of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) loved to recite Surah al-Quraish. He would read this Surah seven times and would blow it on any goods that he had for sale. He would also encourage his wife to read this surah and blow it on the food that she would prepare. He used to say that by reading this surah would bring barakat in the home.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

The family genealogy of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) is as follows:

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan Sahab Ibn Hafidh Ghulam Rasool Sahab Ibn Muhammad Isma’eel Sahab Ibn Muhammad Siddiq Sahab Ibn Umar Sahab Ibn Ramzan Ibn Saboor Sahab Meer Ibn Haji Muhammad Akbar Sahab Ibn Maulvi Haamid’duddin Sahab Ibn Maulvi Shahbaaz Sahab Ibn Khush-Haal Sahab Ibn Gohar Ibn Rehmatullah Sahab Ibn Khwaja Ubaidullah Sahab.

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) was married thrice in his lifetime and had sixteen children in total:

First wife: Marhooma Maryam bai

1. Mawlana Ghulam Mustapha Raza Khan (during Sayyidi alaHadrat’s Alaihir raHmah last illness, when he used to be carried to the masjid on a chair, among the four people who used to carry the chair of sayyidi alaHadrat Alaihir raHmah on their shoulder, was Mawlana ghulam mustapha raza khan)
2. Ayesha bai
3. Ghulam Murtaza Raza (passed on at a young age)

Second wife: Marhooma Halima bai

4. Mawlana Ghulam Mujtaba Raza (buried in Malawi)
5. Hawwa bai
6. Ruqaiyyah bai

Third wife: Marhooma Amatullah bai

7. Raheema bai
8. Kareema bai
9. Hajiani khadija bai
10. Ayesha bai
11. Mawlana Ghulam Ahmed Raza Khan, He was granted khilaafat by Hadrat Mufti-e-Azam Hind . Hadrat Mufti Mehood Jaan used to say, “Hadrat mere Ilm ko jayb mein rakh ke Ghoomtay hain).”
12. Marhooma Jamila bai (passed away during childhood, after an incident that led to a short illness)
13. Mawlana Ahmed Jaan Khan
14. Hajiani fatima bai (Alhamdulillah, she is currently living in Zimbabwe)
15. Hajiani Amina bai (Alhamdulillah, she is currently living in Upleta)
16. Hajiani Jamila bai (it is said she was born when Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan Alaihir raHmah was at the age of 100. That was in 1935.)

KARAAMAAT

When I had asked the daughter of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) if she remembered any Karamat of her father, she replied simply by saying, “Thousands”. However, for the sake of Barakat, I will mention one karamat of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah).

A man named Muhammad, during his childhood had German measles. The doctors had no hope of his recovery and advised his parents to expect the worst. Hearing this Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) came to his parents home and asked them why they had not consulted him, as he was still Alive. Hadrat, put his blessed saliva on the child and prayed for him. He was cured in no time and went on to live a comfortable life.

BOOK CREDENTIALS

Two of the books written by Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) received great success namely:

1. Zikr-e-Raza: Khalifa of AlaHadrat, Malik al-Ulama, Hadrat-e-Allama Mawlana Zafar al-Din Bihari (Alaihir raHmah), mentions in his Sawaneh Hayaat of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), that the first Sawaneh Hayaat written on the life of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) was by Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) under the title of Zikr-e-Raza. The specialty of this book is that it has been written in the form of poetry. It has also been translated into the English language by Sayyid Shah Aulad-e-Rasool Qudsi Misbahi (Daamat Barakatuhum al-Qudsiyyah).

2. Eezah-e-Sunnat: This kitaab was based on the eight questions posed by the Bud-Muzhabs. In this book Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) answered all their questions by providing authentic proof from the Holy Qur’an and the blessed Ahadith. This book was certified and verified by sixty three distinguished scholars by their blessed words and blessed seals, such as Sayyidi AlaHadrat, Hujjat al-Islam, Mufti-e-Azam Hind, Sadr al-Shari’ah, and many other learned Ulama of that time (Radi Allahu Anhum Ajma’een).

Sayyidi alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah)’s verification was as follows:

“O ALLAH, for YOU is ALL Praise! This Blessed book which has been written by my companion and my Beloved Brother in Islam, the Helper of the Sunnah, and Eradicator of the Fitnah, Respected Mawlana Moulvi Mehmood Jaan Saahib Qadiri Barakaati Peshawari, has passed before Me. I found it adorned with great attributes and I have found it to be complete and concise. I thanked ALLAH for blessing the author with such Taufeeq to support the Deen in such a difficult and corrupt time. Verily the Blessing of ALLAH and HIS Rasool (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is upon this Learned Faadhil and Insha-ALLAH, His reward for this effort, through the Blessing of the Holy Prophet (SallAllaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is closeness to ALLAH and a blessed place in the Blessed Paradise. WA ALLAHU AA’LAM.”

This book too, has been translated into the English language by the khalifa of Hadrat Taaj al-Shari’ah and Muhaddith al-Kabeer, Mawlana Aftaab Qasim Qadiri Ridawi (Hafidhahullahu Ta’ala), and is available in three volumes.

CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS ISLAM

Hadrat Taaj al-Shari’ah, Allama Mawlana Mufti al-Haaj Shah Muhammad Akhtar Rida Khan, Sunni Hanafi Qadiri Barakaati Ridwi Noori Azhari (Daamat Barakatuhum al-Aaliyah), during the 61st Urs-e-Razvi Mehmoodi Sharif in Jamjodhpur Sharif said the following words:

“…AlaHadrat ke Sache Khulafa, jin mein Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan Sahab, ek the aur laakhon mein ek the, aur Jamjodhpur ke log aur Jamjodhpur ke Atraaf-o-khoob-o-Jawar ke log, Unki Istiqamat aur Maslak-e-AlaHadrat par sakhti se kaarbandhi aur uski tarweej-o-isha’at mein Unki jo zindagi guzri, woh yahan ke log toh usse waakif hai hi, Africa ke mumalik mein bhi reh kar yahin kaam kiya aur AlaHadrat Azeem-ul-Barkat ke Silsile se, aur Unke Khanwaade se, Unke Gharane se aur subse badi baat yeh hai ke Unke Maslak se logon ko wabista kiya…”

The blessed month of Muharram is celebrated the world over, and in many instances there are many elements in which some of the followers of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), forget his teachings. However, due to the teachings of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), the inhabitants of Jamjodhpur shareef celebrate muharram according to the Maslak of alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). It is said that Hadrat used to burn the ‘Taajias’ that were made.

In gujrat, there is a Muslim clan known as the Meer. In the past the people of this caste used to be looked down upon by the inhabitants of the area. This carried on until Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) had decided to include them in his Jama’at. A little while after, some of these people wished to be initiated into the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyyah Barakaatiyyah Ridawiyyah and hence Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (alahir rahma) decided to take them to Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). When they were introduced to Sayyidi alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), he exclaimed that their dress and appearance did not resemble (they were clad in their traditional gujrati attire) that of a muslim. Sayyidi alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) then inquired the name of one of the men present which coincidently was Raju. Sayyidi alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) then proceeded to re-name the man as Ghulam Muhammad and he was initiated into the Silsila. However since he had no beard, Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) advised him to first go and look at himself in the mirror and then, grows a beard according to the Sunnah and if he thought the beard to be fine, then he should not shave it. Alhamdulillah, the Meer left their orthodox ways and began living as the Muslims that they truly were.

WISAAL SHARIF

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) left this mundane world on the 3rd of Safar-al-Muzaffar 1370 Hijri {14th of October, 1950} at the blessed age of 130. In his last days, he suffered from diabetes and other ailments and his advanced age did not alleviate his situation.

On the morning of the Wisaal of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), he rose early and asked his son, Mawlana Ghulam Ahmed Raza to make him Paak and Saaf while his wife cleaned his bed and laid new sheets. After this he requested his son to purify himself and come and read Yaseen Sharif for him. However, when Mawlana Ghulam Ahmed Raza returned to recite the Yaseen Sharif he found that his blessed father had already read the Yaseen Sahrif. When Shah Sahab from Dhoraji had come to visit Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), he related to him and his son Hadrat Mawlana Ghulam Ahmed Raza, that he had been blessed with the sight of Ssayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) in his dream, in which they had asked him to come along with them. After while Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) requested Shah Sahab to move to another room as he wished to be surrounded by his children.

He called upon each of his daughters who stood at the foot of his bed by their name and advised them to look at him until their hearts were content as his time to leave was near. He told them even though he had surpassed the age of 100 his Nafs still had to taste death.

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan made Du’a for all his children and when he noticed his children had began to cry, Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) told them that he was not dying, but he was only transferring his home. He also told them that his youngest son, Mawlana Ahmed Jaan was going to be married soon and he would be present at his marriage, however they would not see him but he would see them.

After saying all this Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) told his son that there is book on top of the cupboard in which there were some taweez for some of the people who had requested them and he told his family that due to his illness he had made three obligatory fasts and a certain amount of Salaah Qazah, for which the kaffarah must be paid for before his Janazah Salaah was to be performed. He told his son that his son-in-law, Mawlana Abdul Qadir (Alaihir raHmah) was to perform his Janazah Salaah. Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) then recited his Shahadat and just after the Aadhaan of Zuhar he left this world towards the hereafter and like this the light that had brightened the hearts of many by removing the darkness of Kufr and Shirk, had come to rest in the love of the Master. His blessed Mazaar Sharif is in the small town of Jamjodhpur, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. – Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon!!

Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri also known as Hadrat Baba Bulleh Shah Alaihir raHma is universally admitted to have been the greatest of the Panjabi mystics. No Panjabi mystic poet enjoys a wider celebrity and a greater reputation. His kafis have gained unique popularity. In truth he is one of the greatest Sufis of the world and his thought equals that of Jalal al-Din Rumi and Shams Tabriz of Persia. As a poet Bulleh Shah is different from the other Sufi poets of the Panjab, and represents that strong and living pious nature of Panjabi character which is more reasonable than emotional or passionate. As he was an outcome of the traditional mystic thought we can trace some amount of mystic phraseology and sentiment in his poetry but, in the main, intellectual vedantic thought is its chief characteristic.

He was born in a Saiyyid family residing at, the village Pandoki of Kasur in the Lahore district, in the year A.D. 1680. This was during the twenty-first year of Emperor Aurangzeb’s reign. According to C. F. Usborne he passed away in A.H. 1171 or A.D. 1785 (i.e. in the short reign of Alamgir the Second) at the ripe old age of 78.

A large amount of what is known about Bulleh Shah comes through legends, and is subjective; to the point that there isn’t even agreement among historians concerning his precise date and place of birth. Some “facts” about his life have been pieced together from his own writings. Other “facts” seem to have been passed down through oral traditions.

Baba Bulleh Shah practiced the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538 – 1599), Sultan Bahu (1629 – 1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640 – 1724) Alaihim ar-RaHmah.

Baba Bulleh Shah lived in the same period as the famous Sindhi Sufi poet , Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689 – 1752). His life also overlapped with the legendary Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1722 – 1798), and the famous Sindhi Sufi poet Abdul Wahad (1739 – 1829), better known by his pen-name, Sachal Sarmast (“truth seeking leader of the intoxicated ones”).

After completing his education, it is said that Baba Bulleh Shah went to Lahore. Of the two traditions, one says that, as was customary in those days, he came to Lahore in search of a spiritual teacher, while the other relates that he went there on a visit. Each of these two contradictory traditions has a legend to support it. The first relates that while he was busy searching the intellectual circles of Lahore to find out a competent master he heard of Shah Inayat’s greatness and decided to make him his Murshid. He turned his steps towards the house of the Shah, and found him engrossed in his work in the garden. Having introduced himself, Baba Bulleh Shah requested that he might be accepted a disciple and taught the secret of God. Thereupon Hadrat Shah lnayat Alaihir raHmah said:

Bullhia rabb da pan ai
edharo puttan odharo lan hai.

O Bulleh! the secret of Almighty Allah is this; on this side He uproots, on the other side He creates.

‘This’, says the tradition. ‘so impressed Baba Bulleh Shah that, forgetting his family and its status, he became Inyat Shah’s disciple.’

The second tradition says that Shah Inayat was the head gardener of the Shalimar gardens of Lahore. When in Lahore, Baba Bulleh Shah visited them, and as it was summer, he roamed in the mango-groves. Desirous of tasting the fruit he looked round for the guardian but, not finding him there, he decided to help himself. To avoid the sin of stealing, he looked at the ripe fruit and said; ‘ALLAHu Ghani’. On the utterance of these magic words a mango fell into his hands. He repeated them several times, and thus collected a few mangoes. Tying them up in his scarf he moved on to find a comfortable place where he could eat them. At this time he met the head gardener, who accused him of stealing the fruit from the royal gardens. Considering him to be a man of low origin and desirous of demonstrating to him his occult powers, Baba Bulleh Shah said ironically: ‘I have not stolen the mangoes but they have fallen into my hands as you will presently see.’ He uttered ‘ALLAHu Ghani’ and the fruit came into his hand. But to his great surprise the young Saiyyid found that Inayat Shah was not at all impressed but was smiling innocently. The great embarrassment of Bullhe Shah inspired pity in the gardener’s heart and he said: ‘You do not know how to pronounce properly the holy words and so you reduce their power.’ So saying, he uttered ‘ALLAHu Ghani’, and all the fruits in the gardens fell on the lovely lawns. Once again he repeated the same and the fruit went back on to the trees. This defeat inflicted by the guardian, whom the young Saiyyid Bullhe Shah considered ignorant and low, revolutionized his whole thought. Falling at the feet of Inayat Shah he asked to be classed as his disciple and his request was immediately granted.

The above two traditions, though different in detail, come to the same conclusion, that Baba Bulleh Shah, impressed by the greatness of Inayat, became his disciple. Bullhe Shah in his verse often speaks of his master Inayat Shah and thanks his good luck for having met such a murshid.

Bulleh Shah ve nic kamini
Shah inayat tari.

Says Bulleh Shah, O Almighty the Lord Inayat has saved me, low and mean.

And:

Bullhe Shah di suno hakait
hadi pakria hog hadait
mera murshid Shah Inayat
Uh langhaai par.

Listen to the story of Bullhe Shah, he has got hold of the peer and shall have salvation. My teacher, Shah Inayat, he will take me across.

In an account of the Panjabi poets it would perhaps be out of place to speak at great length of Shah Inayat who wrote in Persian. But the influence exerted by him through his teachings and writings has linked him with Panjabi literature. Baba Bulleh Shah the Rumi of the Panjab, came most directly under his influence and, having learnt from him, was inspired to write his remarkable poetry. It will therefore, be proper to give a short account of this wonderful man.

Hadrat Shah Inayat Qadiri and his School

Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Inayatullah, generally known as Shah Inayat Qadiri, was born at Kasur in the Lahore district, of Arais parents. The arias in the Panjab were gardeners or petty cultivators. They are known to be Hindu converts to Islam and are therefore considered inferior.

He was educated after the manner of his time and gained a good knowledge of Persian and Arabic. As he was born with a mystic disposition he became a disciple of the famous Sufi scholar and saint Muhammad Ali Raza Shattari. After he had finished his studies he was created a khalifa. Later on he received the khilafat of seven other sub-sects of the Sufi Qadiri. Soon after this event he left Kasur and migrated to Lahore .The author of Bagh-i-Awliya-e-Hind says that the great enmity of the Hakim Hussain Khan compelled him to migrate, but his descendants assert that it was the order of his teacher that brought him to Lahore. Here after having quelled the jealousy of his famous contemporaries, he established a college of his own. To this college came men of education for further studies in philosophy and other spiritual sciences of the time.

Inayat Shah was a well-known Qadiri Sufi of his time. From the historical point of view the Qadiri Sufis can be traced back to the Sufi Saint Abdul Qadri Jilani of Bagdad. Jilani is also known by the names Peer Dastgeer and Peeran-e-Peer. Bulleh Shah himself has also given a hint that his “Master of Masters” was born in Bagdad but his own Master belonged to Lahore:

My Master of Masters hailed from Baghdad,
but my Master belongs to the throne of Lahore.
It is all the same. For He himself is the kite
and He himself is the string.

Such was the man whom Baba Bulleh Shah made his Murshid. This action of Baba Bulleh Shah, however, was highly displeasing to his family. His relatives tried to induce him to give up Inayat and find another murshid. But Baba Bulleh Shah was firm and paid no attention to them or to their wailings. The following will sufficiently demonstrate the indignation of the family:

Bulleh nu samjhawan aiyaan bhena te bharjhaiyaan
Aal nabi ullad Nabi nu tu kyun leekaan laaiyaan
Manlay Bulleya sada kehna chad de palla raiyaan

To Bulleh sisters and sisters-in-law came to explain (advise). Why, O Bulleh, have you blackened the family of the Prophet and the descendants of Ali? Listen to our advice, Bulleh, and leave the skirt of the aria.

To this reproach Baba Bulleh Shah firmly but indifferently replies:

Jehra sanu saiyad akkhe dozakh miln sazaiya
Jehra sanu rai akkhe bahishti piga paiya
Je tu lore bag bahara Bullhia Talib ho ja raiya.

He who calls me a Saiyyid, shall receive punishments in Hell, he who calls me an arai shall in heaven have swings; O Bulleh, if you want pleasures of the garden become a disciple of the aria.

Raeen saain sabhan thaain rab diyaan be parwaiyaan
Sohniyaan pare hataiyaan te khoojiyaan lay gall laiyaan

Arain and masters are born at every place, God does not discriminate against anyone.
Wise people don’t care for such differences, only the ugly ones do

Je tu loorain baag baharaan chaakar hoo ja raiyaan
Bulleh Shah di zaat ki puchni shakar ho razaiyaan

If you seek to the gardens of heaven, become a servant to the ‘Arains’. Why ask about the caste of Bulleh Shah? Instead be grateful in the God’s will.

Baba Bulleh Shah seems to have suffered at the hands of his family, as he has once or twice mentioned in his poetry. In the end, being convinced of the sincere love and regard of their child for Inayat Shah, the family left him alone. It is said that one of his sisters, who understood her brother, gave him her support and encouraged him in his search for truth.

After the demise of Hadrat Shah Inayat, Baba Bullhe Shah returned to Kasur. He remained faithful to his Beloved and to himself by not marrying. The sister who understood him also remained single and kept him company in his last years. He died in A.D. 1758 and was buried in Kasur, where his tomb still exists.

May Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala elevate his Status and bless with a part from the Divine Love of Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri that he had for HIM (Almighty) and accept our remembrance of the Great Wali and the Sufi Master and make it a medium for us to receive his divine mercy and blessings… Aameen!!

There were many Mureeds (Disciples) & Khulafa (Spiritual Successors) of Syeduna A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. They have spread far & wide over the Indo-Pak and also all parts of the world. Near 35 were in other parts of the world & 30 remained in the Indo-Pak Sub continent. One of the prominent Khalifas of the great Imam was Sher Besha Ahle Sunnat (The Lion of the AhleSunnat), Abul Fath Hadrat Allama Maulana Hashmat Ali Khan Qadiri Razavi Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

Blessed Birth

He was born in 1902 (1319 Hijri) in Ameti, Lucknow, India. From a young age he had a thirst for knowledge. He qualified as a Hafizul Quran at the age of 9, Qualified in Qirat-e-Saba at 12 and as young as 14 was already tackling other fields of learning.

Education

No sooner did his father send him to Dar al-Uloom Manzar-e-Islam in Bareilly Sharief to study under the feet of the Masters. He was only 14 by then, but never too young to take Bai’at at the hands of the great Scholar & Sufi, A’la Hadrat . A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho paid special attention to the young Maulana Hashmat Ali Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho.

Exalted Teachers

He also studied under Sadrush Shariah, Hadrat Maulana Amjad Ali Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho & Hujjatul Islam, Hadrat Maulana Haamid Raza Khan Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho who was the son of A’la Hadrat Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho

As a Teacher

Hadrat Hashmat Ali Khan soon became a lecturer at the Uloom, then as a Mufti of Jamaat-e-Raza-e-Mustafa in Bareilly Sharief & then as Principal of Darul Uloom Ahle Sunnat Miskeenia. Later he took up a Khateeb position at the Zeenat-ul-Masjid in Gojra Waala.

Khilafat from the Great Imam

Due to his great intelligence & learning, he excelled in the field of debating & A’la Hadrat had a special liking and preference toward him. He soon earned the title of “Abul Fatah” from the great Imam who bestowed him with his turban & cloak when Hadrat Allama Hasmat Ali Khan defeated a person of a corrupt sect. It is said that he never lost any debate & was always victorious against the corrupt sects.

His Blessed Mission

He is such a blessed and exalted personality who spread the fragrance and radiance of Imaan and righteousness with complete dedication, until his last breath.

Those who listened to him as an orator were blessed with the riches of Imaan and Aqida which flowed from his words. His lectures were drowned in the love of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) quenching the thirst of those seeking to attain this love.

He adorned the hearts of the people with the love of the Awliyah Allah and in doing so, he warned them of the “Thieves of Imaan” in order to protect the Imaan of the believers against these thieves.

His tongue was like a naked sword and his words dissected the false beliefs of the corrupt sects as he struck them with his bright proofs, yet the very same tongue flowed with words of love and comfort to the true believers.

Wo Apne Khalwat-o-Jalwat me Ku’e Istiqaamat Tha;
Wo Apno Ke Liye Har Lamha Ikhlaas-o-Muhabbat Tha

A’doo-e-Deen’o Imaan Ke Liye Wo Ghaiz-o-Shid’dat Tha
Haqeeqat Me Wo Thaa Ek Jaama’e Awsaf Insaani

Wo Sher Be’sha Ahl-e-Sunnan Maqbool-e-Rab’baani
Laraz Jaata Tha Jin Ka Naam Sunkar Makr-e-Shaitaani

Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat (alaihir rahma), with all his blessed qualities and grandeur, spent his entire life striving against and debating the corrupt sects. He spent all his time battling those who made blasphemy in the Court of Almighty Allah and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam).

He had dedicated his entire life to this mission of protecting the truth and stopping any attacks on the personality of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam).

Wisdom and Debating Techniques

Since his era was the one in which the corruption of the wahabi and najdi menace was rife, he debated and combated this with vigor and with his knowledge and wisdom. He even debated and combatted the other corrupt sects in his era such as the Naichris, Qadianis, Chakralvis, Khaaksaaris, and Bahais etc.

He also fought against the corrupt Arya Shud’hi movement and Alhumdulillah, he was completely successful in every debate. He never failed or lost any debate.

Hazrat was well-known for his wisdom and debating techniques. There was none like him in this field in his era. Approximately sixty of his debates have been recorded in written format and also published and scores of other debates have been narrated by witnesses who heard his debates and informed those after them about these. Based on his determination and dedication, he was as firm as a mountain in his striving.

There were such testing instances where many others did not even dare to enter into confrontation, but he went into these debates without any fear and announced the truth. He had only one policy and he lived by this policy:

Chut Jaa’e agar Daulat-e-Kaunain To Kya Ghum
Choote Na Kabhi Haath se Daamaan-e-Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)

The elders & most intelligent and so called witty debaters of the opposition had no chance against him. He raised the flag of Sunniyat & the name of Razviat! He always kept singing the praises of A’la Hadrat, Ghaus Paak & Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anhum Ajma’een)

Demise

He passed away on the 8th of Muharam 1380 Hijri (3 July 1960) in Pilibhit Sharief, India, where his Mazaar stands today in Hashmat Nagar. He was poisoned. May Allah Ta’ala reward him with the best of rewards for his services to the Deen & may Allah Ta’ala bless him with a special place in His Mercy, granting Him an exalted place in Jannatul Fridous. Ameen!!

A personality who is regarded amongst the best of his era, is not only regarded as being of great stature, respectable and honorable, because his disciples, devotees, well-wishers, friends and relatives pay tribute to him by praising him and honoring him after his passing away, but his actual excellence and status becomes really evident through the views, words and writings of the distinguished and learned Ulama, Masha’ikh and Muftis etc. of his era.

His actual excellence can be seen by the manner in which the learned scholars of Deen turn towards him in their times of need and by the manner in which they address him and the titles that they bestow upon him in their writings and letters.

Hujjatul Islam Hadrat Allama Haamid Raza Khan (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

“From amongst the blessings which Almighty Allah has bestowed upon me, two such great blessings are Hadrat Maulana Sardaar Ahmed and Hadrat Maulana Hashmat Ali Khan Saaheb”

Sarkar Mufti-e-Azam Hind Allama Mustafa Raza Khan (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

“From amongst the Khulafa of A’la Hadrat (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho), the services that Mazhar’e A’la Hadrat, Asadul Millat, Naasir’e Ahle Sunnat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat Hadrat Maulana Hashmat Ali Khan (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) accomplished, will not be able to be done even by one hundred and fifty Molvis together.”

Hadrat Sayyidul Ulama Sayyid Aal-e-Mustafa Qadri Barkaati (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

I have no fear in saying that Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat is also my respected Ustaad. He came to Khanqaah-e-Barkaatiyah once for an entire month and during this time; I studied fourteen lessons from Tafseer-e-Jalaalain, Noorul Anwaar, Qutbi with Meer and Sharah Waqayah from Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat (RaHmatullahi Ta’ala Alaih).

Just four years ago, I went to Darul Uloom Ahle Sunnat Shah Aalam in Ahmedabaad as an examiner. During that time, the Sheikul Hadith was Allama Abdul Mustafa A’zmi. There were just a few days left for Shab’be Baraaat, so he had arranged for a lecture programme there. I delivered a lecture and probably that was the longest lecture I had given in my life. I sat down to deliver my lecture at 8.45pm and stood up at 4am to read Durood-o-Salaam.

Even the little children of Ahmedabaad know that after I had delivered my lecture, Ajmalul Ulama Hadrat Maulana Ajmal Shah Saaheb Sambhali Daamat barkaatuhum said,

“Mia, Today you have reminded me of Maulana Hashmat Ali Saaheb”

I simply replied to him by saying,

“It is true. The mannerism of the father falls upon his son and the mannerism of a great teacher falls upon his student, thus if today you remembered him by listening to me, there is nothing amazing about that.”

Today he is not amongst us; his physical body is not before us. The physical body is only like a cage that is holding the soul, like a bird but realize this fact, that his spiritual blessings will always remain with us and the blessings of his soul shall always be a helper to the Ahle Sunnat Wa Jama’at.

Mujaahid-e-Millat, Hadrat Allama Maulana Habeebur Rahmaan (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

The evident status and excellence of Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat are clearly evident and well known and as for his hidden excellences, then this is known to the specially blessed servants.

In this era, the most dangerous and harmful movement to Imaan, is that of deobandism and wahabism, which is trying to show kufr to be Imaan and misled ones to be believers and in doing so causing hundreds and thousands of unsuspecting believers to be misled.

In this special service of combating these forces, the personality of Hadrat (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) is unique in his method of approach and combating this. His passing has left such a vacuum, that to fill it will be very difficult.

Where Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat was well known as Mazhar’e A’la Hadrat and as being the example of Ashidaa’u alal Kufaar, the condition of him being the example of Ruhama’u Bainahum was such that he showed so much kindness and mercy upon a person like myself.

The Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said that the Demise of an Aalim is the Demise of the entire nation and the demise of an Aalim leaves a huge vacuum in the Deen.

Maut-e-Aalim, Maut-e-Aalam Thalma-e-Deen-e-Nabi
Jaan-e-Too Jaan-e-Jahaa, Jaan-e-Jahaan Bar Too Nisaar

Malikul Ulama Hadrat Allama Zafrud’deen Bihari Razvi (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

Haami-e-Deen-e-Mateen, Maahi-e-Sher-e-Mubtadi’een Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat Naasir-e-Deen Millat Abul Fatah Maulana Molvi Hashmat Ali Khan Saaheb Daamat Fuyuzukum Barkatukum

Taajedaar-e-Kichaucha Hadrat Muhadith-e-Azam Hind (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

My feelings about the life and services of Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat Maulana Hashmat Ali Khan (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)… for me, is to gather the sea into a jug. The knowledge and excellence of Hadrat has been in the hearts of all and now even on the tongues of the opposition.

His character and behavior was such that not only did he show honour and respect to his seniors, but he also respected those younger than himself. The manner, in which he conducted himself with every Sunni Sahihul Aqida Muslim, is a minaret of guidance for all, even today. His piety and obedience to the Sunnat is clearly evident from his entire life.

Another angle of Maulana’s (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) life is the he went through hardships and difficulties, but he remained steadfast and was a strong and firm as a mountain in his mission of righteousness, no matter what the circumstances were. He never feared or winched and remained a shining example of the pious predecessors.

Hadrat Qaazi Shamsud’deen Ahmed Jaunpuri (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

There is no doubt that the demise of an Aalim is the demise of an nation and no doubt leaves a vacuum in the Deen. The vacuum that has been left by the passing away this Lion of Righteousness can never be filled, for those of us who leave in reality do not leave a successor equal to him self. In this difficult and testing time, his services are those which are worthy of being inscribed in gold letters and that which he did for the benefit of the Ummah can never be forgotten, especially, announcing the truth and combating the corrupt sects.

He was never afraid of anyone when it came to saying that which was the truth and there was none who could stop him from doing this. His intelligence and knowledge was such that he even knew the actual quotations from the books of the opposition by memory. When in confrontation with the opposition, each one of them, even the ones regarded as eloquent amongst them, seemed like a kindergarten child before him.

Haafiz-e-Millat Allama Mufti Ash Shah Abdul Azeez (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

The reality of the matter is that it is such a feeling and condition I am feeling by his demise, that I cannot find words to describe this. The emotions that I am feeling cannot be put into words, but I will try to write a few words. The passing of Haami-e-Sunnat Maahi-e-Bid’at Sar Shikne Najdiyat Sultaanul Muqarireen Imamul Munaazireen Shaheed-e-Millat Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat Al Haaj Maulana Shah Abul Fatah Muhammad Hashmat Ali Khan Saaheb Qibla (alaihir rahmatu wa ridwaan) is such a great sadness that it has caused much grief in the world of the Ahle Sunnat.

It feels as if a mountain has fallen upon us and it is a sadness that has left such a wound on the heart that it will remain forever. His demise has caused a huge vacuum. The world can be seen mourning. In’na lil laahi Wa In’na Ilaihi Raaji’oon

In which ever direction Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat went, he openly announced the truth and spread righteousness. His services to Islam are such that even though he has passed on, his services will remain known and praised forever.

Hadrat Allama Abdul Aziz Qaadri Razvi (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

Mustaqeemul Maslak Muqeemul Muneeh Mahsoodul Mu’aasireen Mabghoodul Maraqeen Anid Deenil Qaweem Aziz Muhtaram Maulana Molvi Hashmat Ali Khan Saaheb Salamahul Maulal Musta’aan

Hadrat Allama Mufti Mohammed Imaad’dud’Deen Hanafi Qaadri (Mufti A’zam Sambhal – Muradabad)

May Almighty Allah bless Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat Haafiz wa Muhaafiz-e-Deen-o-Millat Molvi Abul Fatah Ubaidur Raza Haafiz Muhammad Hashmati Ali Khan Saaheb with a wonderful reward on behalf of the Ahle Deen and Ahle Taqwa.

He is a personality who protected the unsuspecting Muslims from the corruption of the corrupt and the mischief of the enemy. His fearlessness and boldness against the enemies shows that undoubtedly he was the flag bearer of Razviyat and one of the true representatives of A’la Hadrat (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho).

My heart, my mind, my justice and intellect tells me that in his last advise to the people, when A’la Hadrat said that, “Allah will definitely send someone to stand up for the protection of the Deen”, I think he referred to Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

Hadrat Allama Maulana Mahmood Jaan Peshawari (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

I pray that Almighty Allah blesses Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat Mazhar’e-e-A’la Hadrat Maulana Molvi Haafiz Qaari Mufti Muhammad Hashmat Ali Khan Saaheb Qadri Barkaati Razvi Qibla Daamat Barkaatuhumul Aaliyah with immense reward and blessings for the services which he has rendered.

Hadrat Allama Syed Ahmad Saeed Kaazmi (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

In the July 1960 issue of “As Saeed” magazine, he said the following: “Imamul Munaazireen Hadrat Maulana Alhaaj Al Haafiz Muhammad Hashmat Ali Khan Saaheb Qaadri Razvi lucknowi (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) was ill for a lengthy time and then on the 3rd July 1960 he passed away in Philibit.

Hadrat Maulana (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) was the example of A’la Hadrat (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) in knowledge, wisdom, piety and firmness in Maslak. In other words, he was Mazhar’e A’la Hadrat. In the field of debating and combating the misled sects, none can be seen who would really be able to take the special position which was awarded to Hadrat Maulana (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho).”

Hadrat Allama Noorullah (Sheikhul Hadith, Madrassa Fareedia, Basarpur Pakistan)

He says as follows in his magazine Mukabirus Saut: “From all the references provided, it is evident that the personality of Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat Hadrat Maulana Hashmat Ali Khan (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) is not unrecognized and the Learned Scholars and distinguished Ulama and Masha’ikh Ahle Sunnat have acknowledged his blessed and great services and all are praising his memorable works.”

Ahle Sunnat Ki Tujh Se Yahi he Dua
Baagh Maulana Hashmat Ali Ai Khuda
Taa Qiyaamat Rahe Yun Hara aur Bhara
Faiz Paate Rahain Un se Sunni Sadaa
Mazhar-e-Shah’e Ahmad Raza Aap Hain
Waaris-e-Sayyidul Ambiya Aap Hain

Hadrat Allama Mufti Shareeful Haq Amjadi (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) was such a blessed personality that he possessed so many great qualities that there are very few people of this stature that can be found. He was such a dynamic orator that he would make a crowd of thousands emotional and passionate with his words.

He had such a beautiful character that if a person met him just once, he would be in his thoughts forever. He was so steadfast in his adherence to the Shariat that leave alone Faraaid and Waajibaat, he never left out Mushtahibaat either at home or whilst on journey. He was so open hearted and content that he never raised his sight to look towards the materialistic wealth of this world.

He was so kind and generous that whatever he earned he spent. He never thought of saving anything for the next day. With all these qualities, there was that one special quality that caused him to shine, causing the world to remember him by the title of “Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat” and this was his steadfastness on Haq (righteousness), His firmness in Deen and him being the example of loving for the sake of Allah and hating for the sake of Allah.

He was unique in his time in clearly and openly announcing the truth and unveiling the corruption of the corrupt. That which he regarded as Haq, he announced it without fear and that which he regarded as corrupt, he went against it and never looked around to notice if anyone supported him or not.

Like a bold and brave Lion he fearlessly caused disarray amongst the corrupt, by firmly announcing the truth and challenging the corrupt beliefs. He did not care if anyone was with him or what others were saying about him or whether anyone was jealous of him or if someone was slandering him.

All this never caused him to move one step back, but rather he moved forward and never allowed any complaint to be heard from himself.

The reality is that Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat was rightfully worthy of being called “Mazhar’e A’la Hadrat” (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

Tauheed to Ye He Ke Khuda Hashr me Keh De
Ye Banda Do Aalam se Khafa Mere Liye He

Hadrat Allama Arshadul Qaadri (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho)

From all the Khutbas which I have heard and from all the orators, the Khutba of Hadrat Sher Be’sha Ahle Sunnat (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) held a very special place.

When he complete rendering the Na’at, the audience would feel as if they had just woken from a highly spiritual dream.

His lectures had such an effect on the audience that the eyes of the audience would be filled with tears, and his words of advice and encouragement would cause thousands of individuals to turn their lives around.

Grand Son of AlaHadrat, Qamr al-Aarifeen, Umdat al-Mufasireen, Mufassir al-Azam Hind Jilani Mia Hadrat Allama Mawlana Muhammad Ibrahim Rida Khan was born on the 10th of Rabi ul Aakhir 1325 Hijri (1907) in Bareilly Shareef. His birth pleased his grandfather AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma dearly. Ala Hadrat Alaihir RaHma called the Azaan and Iqaamah in his ears and chewed a date and placed it in his mouth. AlaHadrat’s Alaihir RaHma brother Ustaz-e-Zaman Hadrat Hassan Raza Khan Alaihir RaHma was also very pleased when he heard of his birth.

AQEEQA:

AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma prepared a great feast for his Aqeeqah. All the students of the madrassa were fed according to their taste. In other words, those from Africa were fed according to their taste and those from India were fed according to their taste. AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma made sure that all the students were very happy during this invitation.

NAME:

According to the family tradition, he was named Muhammad. His father then added the name Ibrahim. His mother always called him Jilani Mia, and his title was Mufassir-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma.

HIS POSITION IN THE SILSILA:

Umdatul Mufassireen Hadrat Jilani Mia Alaihir RaHma is the forty second Imam and Sheikh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qaaderiyah Barakaatiyah Razviyah Nooriyah.

EDUCATION:

When he was four years, four months and four days old, then on a Thursday, the 14th of Shabaan 1329, AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma held a programme for his Bismillah Khwaani (commencement of Islamic studies). AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma also invited many people and Niyaz was distributed. He studied the Holy Quran and the Urdu language under the care of his beloved mother. When he was 7 years old, he was enrolled into the world renowned Darul Uloom Manzar-e-Islam in Bareilly Shareef. He studied under great Ulama such as Maulana Ahsaan Ali Saahib Muhadith Faizpuri, his father Hujjatul Islam Maulana Haamid Raza Khan and Hadrat Maulana Sardaar Ahmed Muhadith-e-Pakistan (Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajmaeen). He qualified as an Aalim and Faadil at the age of 19 years and four months, in the year 1344 and Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Alaihir RaHma tied the turban on his head and blessed him with the Khilafat.

HIS HABITS & CHARACTER:

Hadrat was very kind and generous. His life was an example of the great Masha’ikh. He always oiled his hair and beard after taking a bath. He wore a loose Punjabi kurta. He sometimes wore a badami colored Kurta, but usually he wore white. His diet was roti, braised meat, Kalabash, herbs and Bhindi. He loved to use itar and if anyone gave him itar, he made sure that it was not some kind of contaminated perfume. He always used both his hands to apply the itar onto his chest and under his arms. He always slept on his right hand side. He never preferred anyone to lie flat on his or her face when sleeping.

HIS NIKAH:

Hadrat Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma married the daughter of his uncle, Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma. AlaHadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Alaihir RaHma arranged this marriage.

IJAAZAT AND KHILAFAT:

Once Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma said,

“When Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Alaihir RaHma passed away, then Jilani Mia Alaihir RaHma was not here. When he returned, then some people had reservations about his Khilafat, so I said, that if some of them have reservations concerning wheter his blessed father gave him the Khilafat, and I too hereby bestow the Khilafat upon him. Now, none should have any objections. Because of my support for him, many people now supported him and the Madrassa was given into his control.”

ZIYAARAT OF HARAMAIN SHARIFAIN:

In 1372, he made Ziyaarat of Haramain Sharifain. The Ulama of Makkah al-Mukarrama and Madinah al-Munawwarah showed great respect to him, due to his relationship to AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma and he was blessed with various Ijaazats, for Hadith, Dalaail-e-Khairaat and Hizbul Bahr etc.

AS A TEACHER:

He was a very well qualified and experienced teacher. After Fajr Salaah, he would spend some time reading his wazeefas etc. He would then take breakfast and go directly to his classroom. He always entered the Darul Uloom before the students prayed the Salaami to commence classes and he would join them in sending salaams to the Prophet ù. He would then make dua with great sincerity. He used to teach Muslim Shareef, Tirmizi Shareef and Mishkaat Shareef. He also presented the false beliefs of the Najdis and then refuted them with very bright proofs. When teaching Muslim Shareef, he often entered a very highly spiritual state. He used to speak most often in Arabic, and he encouraged the students to do the same.

A DYNAMIC ORATOR:

Hadrat was also a very dynamic orator. Once, there was a two-day programme. He delivered a very dynamic lecture on the first day, and then left. The next day, was the lecture of Hadrat Muhadith-e-Azam Kichauchwi Alaihir RaHma. He says, “In the morning, 20 wahabis, came to me and said that the lecture which was delivered the night before inspired them so much that they realized their beliefs were corrupt, so they made tauba and accepted the (true) Islam.”

MONTHLY ALAHADRAT MAGAZINE:

He started the monthly AlaHadrat Magazine for the propagation of the teachings of the Ahle Sunnat. This magazine gained great success. Alhumdulillah, this magazine is still in circulation even today.

HIS KARAAMATS:

Hadrat Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma was also a very powerful Saahib-e-Karaamat. A few Karaamats are being presented for Barkat. Once a man was bought to Hadrat who was dumb since birth. Hadrat made dua for him, and he began to speak immediately. Many of the tableeghis in that town saw Hadrat’s karaamat and made tauba from their false beliefs.

Once, a couple came to Hadrat and said that their brother-in-law had been false accused of murder and that he was the breadwinner of the family. They requested Hadrat to make dua for his release. Hadrat asked if he was Sunni and they answered in the positive. Hadrat took a piece of paper and wrote the following on it: “Allahu Rabbu Muhammadin Sal’laa alaihi wa sal’lama Nahnu Ibaadu Muhammadin Sal’laa alaihi wa sal’lama” Hadrat said that the prisoner should learn this Durood and recite it in abundance. Hadrat then said that he should tie the taweez with the Durood on his right arm and if Allah Wills, then he will be released. Ten days later, both of them returned with sweets and Niyaz. They also brought a third person with them. They told Hadrat that he was their brother-in-law and that he had been released as he was found not guilty, but the two others who were with him have been given the life sentence. Hadrat entered them both into the Silsila and then advised them to continue with their Salaah and Durood Shareef.

BOOKS AND TREATIES:

Some of the books written by him are:

• Zikrullah
• Nematullah
• Hujjatullah
• Fazaail-e-Durood Shareef
• Tafseer Surah Balad
• Tashreeh Qasida Nau’mania

HIS CHILDREN:

Almighty Allah blessed him with five sons and three daughters.

Hadrat Allama Rehan Raza Khan (Rahmatullah Alaih): Born on the 18th Zilhajj in Bareilly Shareef. He is the Mureed and Khalifa of Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma. He was a great teacher, and a very powerful personality. He passed away on the 18th of Ramadaan 1405 (1985). And his Mazaar Shareef is in Bareilly Shareef.

Hadrat Allama Mufti Mohammed Akhtar Raza Khan Hafidhahullah: Taajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan Qibla is the present Torch bearer of the Khandaan-e-AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma. Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma appointed him as his successor during his lifetime. Hadrat still lives in Bareilly Shareef (India).

Dr. Qamar Raza Khan: He lives in Bareilly Shareef and is a very kind and loving personality. He resembles Taajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan very closely.

Mawlana Mannan Raza Khan Manaani Mia: He is a very well read personality and is the founder of Jamia Nooria, a Darul Uloom constructed in memory of Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma.

Hadrat Tanweer Raza Khan: He was older than Hadrat Akhtar Raza Khan, and was always in a very highly spiritual state even as a child. He disappeared (Mafqood-ul-Khabr) as a child and has never be seen or heard from since.

GEMS OF WISDOM:

His words were always full of knowledge and wisdom. Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma always said:

• My own faults stop me from finding faults in others
• Slight Absence makes the heart grow fonder and an extensive absence kills the love.
• The respect of every nation depends on its Ulama
• Allah gave us two ears and one tongue, so that we listen more and speak less
• Piety is through good character and not through family ties
• One who is not the beloved of Allah cannot be your beloved
• Sabr (patience) is more bitter than poison and sweeter than honey
• Knowledge without practice is a burden to ones soul
• Allah gives comfort in the world, to one who does deeds for the hereafter
• When you have done everything, then you should still think that you have done nothing

WISAAL:

He passed from this world on a Monday, the 11th of Safar 1385 Hijri (12 June 1965). The next day, his Janaaza Salaah was prayed at the Islamia Inter College. Mufti Sayyid Muhammad Afzal Hussain performed the Janaaza Salaah Mufti Muhammad Afzal Hussain, Maulana Muhammad Ahsaan Ali, Maulana Sayyid Aarif Ali, Janaab Sayyid Ijaaz Hussain and Janaab Muhammad Ghaus Khan lowered Hadrat into his Mazaar.

MAZAAR SHAREEF:

His Mazaar Shareef is in the Dargah of AlaHadrat Alaihi raHma wa ar-Ridwan in Bareilly Shareef.

My heart yearns to show it’s bleeding scars
And to teach everyone on earth the laws
Which might make blessed life’s u
This is my yearning and this is my aim
This is my intention and this is my claim
With this I yearn to scan the globe
And deliver to humanity the message of Hope

(An extract from a poem by Mawlana Shah Abdul Aleem Siddiqui written in his college years)

Blessed Birth

“Roving Ambassador of Islam”, Mawlana ‘Abd al-‘Alīm Siddiquī al-Qadirī Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was born on 15th Ramadan 1310 Hijrī in Meeruth, India. He hails from the noble Siddiquī family who are direct descendants of Ameer al-Mo’minīn Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Al-Siddique Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho in the 37th generation.

The Spiritual Chain of Succession / Spiritual Genealogy

1. Hadrat Muhammad Mustapha Sallallahu Alaihe wassallam
2. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
3. Hadrat Hasan Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
4. Shaykh Habibbe Nil Ajamiyi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
5. Shaykh Dawood Datt Ta’irri Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
6. Shaykh Marouf Fil Karoukhiyi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
7. Shaykh Sirriyi Nis Saqa – Tiyyi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
8. Shaykh Sayyidit twa-I-fatti Abil Qasim Junaid Baghdadi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
9. Shaykh Abi Bakr Nis Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
10. Shaykh Abdil Wahidi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
11. Shaykh Abdil Azeezi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
12. Shaykh Abil Farahi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
13. Shaykh Abil Hasani Aliyil Qurayshi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
14. Shaykh Abi Saidi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
15. Sayyidina Shaykh Abdul Quadeer Jilani Ghawse Azaam Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
16. Shaykh Sayyidi Abdil Razzaq Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
17. Shaykh Sayyidil Abdil Swalihil Faqeeri Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
18. Shaykh Sayyidi Ahmad Shah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
19. Shaykh Sayyidi Shihabbiddin Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
20. Shaykh Sayyidi Shamsid Deene Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
21. Shaykh Sayyidi Alaa-id Deen Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
22. Shaykh Sayyidi Nouri Muhammad Shah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
23. Shaykh Sayyidi Abdil Jalaalis Sahra-yi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
24. Shaykh Sayyidi Bahaawal Shee Qalandar Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
25. Shaykh Abil Ma’ali Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
26. Shaykh Muhkamid Deeni Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
27. Shaykh Shah Amir Baa Laa yayru Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
28. Shaykh Abdil Lateef Fil Bourriyyi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
29. Shaykh Durweishi Muhammadin Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
30. Shaykh Shah Ahmad Shah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
31. Shaykh Abdil Lateefi Thani Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
32. Shaykh Madhe Shah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
33. Shaykh Sayyiddi A’azam Ali Shah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
34. Shaykh Sayyidi Muhammad Ghawse Ali Shah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
35. Shaykh Mawlana Muhammad Abdil Hakeem Al Quaderi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
36. Shaykh Ahmad Mukhtaar Siddiqui Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho
37. Shaykh Mawlana Shah Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Al Quaderi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho

Early Education

His father, Hadrat Mawlana ‘Abd al-Hakim Siddiquī al-Qadirī Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was a distinguished scholar and a high ranking ‘Alim of Dīn. He was also a devout Sufi Master of the Qadiriyyah Spiritual Order. He took special care in the education of his son who completed his Nazara (visual recitation) of the Holy Qur’an at the tender age of 4. He studied elementary Arabic and Persian under the guidance of his father at home and was then enrolled at the local Madressa ‘Arabiyyah Qoumiyyah where he graduated as an ‘Alim. He then pursued his Secular studies at the Islamiyah High School until Matric (Grade 12). His classmate was the former president of India Dr. Zakir Hussain. In 1917, he then enrolled at Meerut University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree with distinction.

Spiritual Development

His elder brother, the great ‘Alim Hadrat Mawlana Sha Ahmed Mukhtar Siddiquī Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho then took him to Bareilly and handed him over to the great Mujaddid, ‘Arife Billah A’la’Hadrat Imam al-Akbar Qutb al-Irshad Muhaqqiq Ahmad Rīda al-Qadirī Muhaddith Bareilwi Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho. Here he was groomed in many Islamic sciences including strenuous spiritual training in Tasawwuf under the able supervision of the Sufi Master and ‘Arif of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala. After spiritual perfection, the Imam bestowed on him the Khilafah of the Qadiriyyah Barkatiyyah Silsilah. It was here that the ardent love of the Beloved Habīb Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam was injected into his heart that transformed him into a perfect human (Insan al-Kamil).

Hadrat Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui (Radi Allah Ta’ala Anho) was already swimming in the ocean of Ishq (love) that led him to adhere to a stable spiritual life. His mission started when he was ordered by his spiritual teachers to visit the Holy Land of Mecca. His journey to Mecca was the culmination of his spirituality, it was at that pinnacle moment that his lessons in ‘Baatin’ (inner) had to be lived in “zahiri’ (exterior). He set himself, body & soul to the pilgrimage in 1919. His life took a different turn when he stepped on the doorway of our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam. He was warmly welcomed, as our Beloved (Sallahu Alaihe Wassallam) blessed the heart of Hadrat Saheb. Immediately he was convinced and inspired that he was a man chosen by Allah The Almighty and our Beloved prophet (Sallahu Alaihe Wassallam) to sacrifice his entire life to the service of humanity. His mission was handed over by beloved Prophet (Sallahu Alaihe Wassallam) to his heart and soul. This was when his real journey commenced.

He endured many painful obstacles and tribulations, but continued to persist through them with admirable patience. His heart was set to acquire the inner knowledge that he was taught during his early years. His approach to Tassawuf and spirituality was a distinctive feature that differentiated Shaykh (Radi Allah Ta’ala Anho) from other living scholars. The desire to spread the teaching of Islam became so intense, that he traveled far and wide not only to spread Deen Islam and to enrich people’s conception about spirituality but also for the gratification of his soul.

Dunya Chaani Alaam Mein Phira, Par Tera Shuragh kahin Na Mila
Jab Chashm-e-Baseerat se Dekha, hay Dil ke Andar Tu Hi Tou.

He traveled through out the entire globe for 30 years with that sacred inspiration and mission to revive humanity and reveal the truth to everyone’s heart. He was not only a scholar, but also a highly endowed spiritual master conveying the message. He brought spiritual illumination to the hearts of thousands; Muslims and Non Muslims. His prayers had given hope to many that were struck by incurable illnesses. People around the world felt the sweetness of his presence. Many were attracted by his sincerity, others by the manifestation of a divine light, which encompassed his entire being and many others, by his friendly and compassionate attitude. His blessed presence and spiritual magnetism had given new impetus to the religious and social lives of thousands. He had gained a high esteem in everybody’s heart and continues to be remembered by so many as a great Sufi and spiritual leader.

Shaykh was such a highly endowed Sufi that his intelligence conquered eminent persons such as leaders and statesmen of different religious beliefs. His spiritual achievements were enormously admired and many political leaders and businesses sought his guidance in their matters. He had instilled purity and spirituality in the hearts of those he met. Even the celebrated intellectuals of the west had the opportunity of admiring this great saint of Islam. We cannot forget the infamous encounter between Shaykh (A Theologian) and George Bernard Shaw (A Scholar).
Exalted Teachers

Besides his noble father and Imam Ahmad Rida Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, some of his other notable teachers were:

a) BaHr al-‘Ulūm Mawlana ‘Abd al-Hayy Farangī Mahellī.
b) ‘Arif Billah Shaykh Ahmad al-Shams Shamil Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho of Morocco.
c) Shaykh Al-Sanusee Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho of Libya.
d) Hakim Ah’tasham al-Dīn (taught him Tibb : Unani Medicine).

Man of Superb Qualities

In Madina al-Munawwarah he was lovingly called “Tabeeb al-Hindi” (Indian Physician). Mawlana was also a celebrated poet and used “Aleem, عليم” as his poetic pen name. He inherited this science from his noble father. Since childhood, he was an influential orator and addressed a huge crowd of Muslims at a Mawlid celebration in Meerut, India at the tender age of 9 years. This was his first public speech and he spoke on the excellence of Sayyiduna Rasūlullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam. His speech had the audience spellbound.

His noble father passed away when he was only 12 years old. Since his mother was a very knowledgeable and pious woman, she undertook the initiative to educate and groom her son to the peak of perfection. Since he was raised in a cradle of knowledge and piety, he possessed a refined character with an impeccable personality. His ancestral Siddiqī blood generated a great sense of awe in his personality that subdued intellectuals and peasants alike.

Expert in more than 15 Languages

He also studied at the Punjab University where he obtained a degree in Oriental languages. Mawlana was fluent in many languages, namely, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, English, German, Japanese, Indonesian, Suhailee ant etc.

Roving Ambassador of Islam

Till this day, Hadrat Mawlana is recognised and accepted as the “Roving Ambassador of Islam” for his invaluable services to Islam and the Muslims internationally. He travelled extensively to the four corners of the globe and preached Islam. Numerous persons embraced Islam on his hands and millions benefited from his services of Dīn. Some of the countries he frequented were:

1) United Kingdom
2) United States of America
3) Germany
4) France
5) China
6) Japan
7) Indonesia
8) Malaysia
9) Vietnam
10) Burma
11) Ceylon
12) Mauritius
13) Reunion
14) Madagascar
15) Portugal
16) South Africa
17) Canada
18) Thailand
19) Lebanon
20) East Africa
21) Kenya
22) Tanzania
23) Uganda
24) Congo
25) Egypt
26) Arabia
27) Syria
28) Palestine
29) Jordan
30) Iraq
31) South America
32) Holland
33) Italy
34) Belgium
35) West Indies
36) Singapore, etc.

In his tours, he met with leaders of every religion and faith exchanging views not only on religion but also on political and social dimensions. His approach and presentation of Islam won the hearts of many intellectuals and statesmen, who reverted to Islam on his hands. He not only propagated Islam wherever he went, but he also established socio-religious centres that to this day are rendering invaluable services to the masses.

His Eminence was also responsible for establishing various Mosques (Masaajids) and Islamic Educational Centres throughout the world. Three of the famous Mosques are the Hanafi Masjid in Colombo, the Sultaan Masjid in Singapore and the Naagarya Masjid in Japan.

The Inter-Religious Organization was founded in the ’40s by Mawlana Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Qadiri (may Allah be pleased with him), who also founded the All Malaya Muslim Missionary Society in 1931 and who was the first Muslim “missionary” to travel around the globe a number of times to spread the word of Islam. Jamiyah Singapore was founded in 1932 as an offshoot from this organization.

Thousands Embraced Islam at his Hands

Thousands embraced Islam at his hands including the well-known thinker Maria Levinskya and her husband the nuclear scientist Dr. Antonoff. An interesting account of Mawlana Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddique’s great work for Islam is found in the account of his world tour written by Dr. Tahir bin Ahmad’s father – Professor Dr. Ahmad bin Ibrahim presently at the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

During his tour of the world, he met with various western dignitaries and had lengthy discussions with them on Islam. He met the world-renowned Irish dramatist and Philosopher, George Bernard Shaw, on 17th of April 1935 during his visit to Mombassa, Kenya and discussed many religious problems with him. He was very much impressed by Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi and said, “I have been very pleased to make the acquaintance, and it will be the most precious of all memories of this trip of mine.” (Ref: “Shavian and Theologian” published by Genuine Islam and World Federation of Islamic Missions, Karachi)

World Islamic Mission in Trinidad

The work of World Islamic Mission (WIM) in Trinidad began with the arrival of His Eminence Mawlana Shah Abdul Aleem Siddiqui al-Qadiri at the opening of the Intercolonial Muslim Conference, held at the Jama Masjid Hall, Queens Street, Port of Spain in 1950.

Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui visit to Trinidad in 1950 accompanied by his student and secretary, Dr. Muhammad Fazlur Rahman Ansari al-Qadiri, lasted for six months as part of his world tour. The presence of His Eminence for such as sustained and intensive period had a profound impact on Islam in the West Indies and indeed it created a generation of highly skilled Muslim Theologians, Imams, leaders and intellectuals most of whom became the spiritual disciples (murideen) of His Eminence.

His Eminence visited neighboring countries in the region including: Guyana (then British Guiana), Suriname, Barbados, etc. The idea of the conference came from His Eminence himself and it gave birth to the Inter-colonial Muslim Organization. Officers of this organizations were:

* Mohammed Hosein Shah (President – Trinidad)
* Moulvi M.A. Nasir (Vice President – British Guiana)
* Wahid Ali (Secretary – Trinidad)
* Tawfiq-ur-Rahman (Ass. Secretary – Trinidad)
* H.I. Hussein-Ali (Treasurer – Suriname).

The welcome function for His Eminence was held at Queen’s Park Savannah on Sun. March 12th 1950. Many thousands attended – Muslims and non-Muslims. In the audience there were government representatives and members of the diplomatic corp. At this event a soul stirring recitation of al-Qur’an was rendered by Br. Ali Bin Khamis of Zanzibar who then became a regular at His Eminence’s gatherings. Another regular was Br. Jameel Bin Ahmed of Malay (now Malaysia). Both were students at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture at St. Augustine (now part of the University of West Indies). After graduating they returned to their respective countries and both became highly acclaimed leaders.

Throughout his stay in Trinidad, and through tireless effort and dedication, Islamic propagation was always at the foremost priority and to the Muslim masses His Eminence expounded on the the principles of the Ahl Sunna wal Jamaah. In particlular, His Eminence Mawlana Shah Abdul Aleem Siddiqui made a significant contribution to Islam in the following areas:

1. Hundreds of non-muslims embraced Islam. Prominent amongst them were Haji Yusuf Mitchell, Ahmed Rifae Scope, Abu Bakr (a humble shoe maker of Santa Cruz) and Sr. Muriel Donawa Mc Davidson.

2. His Eminence’s lectures captivated Muslims, Christians, and Hindus who paid glowing tributes to him as the “Roving Ambassador of Peace”.

3. His regular dars (Islamic classes) at Jama Masjid Hall, Port of Spain, produced some of the leading thinkers in the Muslim community. Amongst his students were:

* Haji Mohammed Ibrahim (President of Anjuman Sunnah wal Jamaah Association – ASJA)
* Haji Mohammed Yusuff Mitchell (Government architect and prominent Islamic worker)
* Haji Kamaluddin Mohammed (long standing govt. Minister and acting Prime Minister)

Visit to Canada

In 1939 Hadrat Abdul Aleem Siddiqui became the first Sufi saint to spread Islam and explain the meaning of Tassawuf in Canada. He initiated the project of the first Masjid that was built in Edmonton , Canada. He successfully carried out his mission by converting thousands of non-Muslims in North America. He was also given the opportunity of expressing his thoughts in Toronto where he once again captivated his audience. He instilled the Sufi traditions which are still kept alive by many other Sufis and muhibeens. Hadrat Sahab (Radi Allah Ta’ala Anho) was deeply convinced that Tassawuf and spirituality was the gateway for non-Muslims to comprehend Islam. He also firmly believed that the Sufis are most suitable successful in converting people to Islam. He performed the opening ceremony of the first mosque to be built in Canada in Edmonton in 1939. He also visited Toronto, the largest metropolis in Canada, where he presented Islam as a gift to a largely non-Muslim gathering.

Alhamdollillah through his prayers, Allah has accepted this land to be blessed by other Sufis and the light of Noor-e-Mohammadi (Sallahu Alaihe Wassallam) continues to burn North America.

Visit to Singapore

He came to Singapore in 1930 to spread the message and beauty of Islam. He laboured intensively in the cause of Islam and delivered numerous lectures in Singapore and attracted many people to Islam. He pioneered the establishment of the All Malaya Muslim Missionary Society, now known as Jamiyah, in 1932. He also pioneered the establishment of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) to foster greater understanding between the faiths and to promote the spirit and message of peace amongst the people of Singapore. In IRO’s inauguration ceremony, on 18 March 1949 at Victoria Memorial Hall, Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddique gave an inspiring speech, in which he said,

“As far as the common evils and accepted moral principles were concerned, no religion could have any difference, and in the spirit of tolerance and sympathy and the desire to establish peace, all of them were as one. The task of the religious leaders was to let the followers of each and every religion know the teachings of other religions, so that a spirit of fellowship could work together to spread the accepted moral principles and to fight the common evils.”

In 1953, the land of Abdul Aleem Siddique Mosque was conveyed to several trustees and office-bearers of the All-Malaya Muslim Missionary Society (now known as Jamiyah Singapore). Prior to this, Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddique had identified and chosen the land to be developed as a Mosque. In 1954, Abdul Aleem Siddique Mosque was subsequently built on the land from donations collected through the society.

The Mosque was named after Mawlana Shah Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddique, as recognition for his immense contribution to Islam and the social development of a plural society in Singapore. The contributions of Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddique are in itself historic and seminal efforts that deserve to be carved in stone. Abdul Aleem Siddique Mosque is a testimony and recognition of Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddique’s immortal work of spreading the faith of Islam and the message of hope and peace.

Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui visits to Mauritius

Between 1928 to 1953, his Eminence Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui made five visits to Mauritius. Sir Abdul Razzack Mohammed, then a Muslim leader in Mauritius met his eminence in Colombo and invited him to come to Mauritius which his Eminence accepted without hesitation.

First visit: In December 1928 he arrived in Mauritius at Port Louis Harbour where thousand of Muslims were waiting to welcome him. His lectures (waez) worked wonders in the hearts of Muslims and other communities as well. His Eminence created the Hizbullah in order to revive Islam in Mauritius.

Second visit: On 26 September 1931 he paid his secon visit on the requests of several Muslim leaders.

Third visit: On the 30 March 1939 he paid his third visit. Some of his speeches were relayed by radio from the Jummah Mosque.

Fourth visit: He was expected to arrive in Plaisance on 5 May 1949 on board a plane KLM of Batavia at 6hrs 45 am. His flight was delayed by twenty four hours and he reached Mauritius only on 6 May 1949. The Jummah Mosque invited all the Muslims to welcome the Mawlana. His Eminence delivered several waez (Lectures) in Urdu and English throughout the Island.

A Great Politician

Hadrat Mawlana was also a great politician and took an active part in local and international politics. He was very instrumental in abolishing the Hajj Tax then introduced by the Saudī Regime. The introduction of the Hajj Tax infuriated him as it was against the Sharī’ah and affected millions of incoming Hujjaj to the Holy land. It is also ethically incorrect to charge a Hajj Tax on pilgrims who spend thousands and undertake such a strenuous journey only to be welcomed at Jeddah seaport and airport by an unjustified tax instead of being given a warm welcome to the Holy Land as the guest of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala and His Rasūl Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam.

His Request for Verdict from Mufti Aazam al-Hind

He consulted with the most senior Jurist of the Muslim World, the great ‘Arife Billah, Qutb al-‘Alam, Muftī al-A’zam, Imam Mustafa Rīda al-Qadirī Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, and requested him for an Islamic ruling (Fatwa) on the Hajj Tax. The Grand Mufti issued an Islamic decree in the Arabic language condemning the Hajj Tax as un-Islamic which was later published by the title “Tard al-Shaytan un Sabeel al-Rahman al-Muqallib bihi Omdat al-Bayan fi Hurmate Koshan”. This Fatwa was acknowledged by many Giants of the Islamic world, namely Sadr al-Afadil Mawlana Sayyid Naī’mudīn Muradabadī Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, Sadr al-Sharee’ah Mawlana Amjad ‘Alee al-Qadiree Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho, etc.

Hadrat Mawlana ‘Abd al-‘Aleem Siddiquee Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho took this Fatwa and set out to meet the Saudi authorities. He met with the King in Hijaz and debated the Hajj Tax and presented the Fatwa. He convinced the King who then abolished the Hajj Tax. But unfortunately, the Saudi authorities later reinstated this un-Islamic Tax again to exploit the pilgrims to the Holy Land. It is indeed unfortunate that the Muslim world has forgotten the services of this great Ambassador of Islam.

His Body rests in Jannat al-Baqee

Hadrat Mawlana Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho was an ardent Lover of the Beloved Habīb, Sayyiduna Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam and always prayed to die and be buried in the sacred city of Madinah al-Munawwarah. The compassionate Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam was fully aware of his ardent lover’s desires and hence granted him his wish. Sadly, this brilliant son of Islam finally departed at the age of 63 years in 1373 Hijree and was laid to rest at the feet of Umm al-Mo’minīn Sayyidah A’iesha Siddiqah Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anha in Jannat al-Baqee.

Tabhleegh in form of Literature

Although he was extremely busy in his international mission of Tableegh, he still found time to write numerous books in Urdu and English. Some of them are:

1) Zikr-e-Habīb (Urdu)
2) Ahkam-e-Ramadan wa Eid al-Fitr (Urdu)
3) Qadyanī Haqiqat ka Izhar (Urdu)
4) Bahar-e-Shabab (Urdu)
5) Quest for True Happiness (English)
6) Principles of Islam (English)
7) Forgotten Path of Knowledge (English)
8) Muslim Contribution to Science (English)
9) Kitabbut Tassawuf ( Urdu)
10) Elementary Teaching of Islam (Hanafi) (English)
11) Elementary Teaching of Islam (Shafa’ī) (English)
12) The Mirror (English)
13) A Shavian and Theologian (English)
14) History of The Codification of Islamic Law Cultivation Of Science By Muslims (English)
15) A Short Catechism Of Islam (English)
16) The Universal Teacher (English)
17) The Universal Religion (English)
18) The Islamic Ideal (English)
19) The Meaning Of Worship (English)
20) Women And Their Status In Islam (English)
21) Islam’s Answer To The Challenge Of Communism (English)
22) The Preservers of Hadith (English)
23) Ijtahad and Mujtahid (English) etc.

He was also the founder of various newspapers and Islamic magazines from amongst which are, “The Muslim Digest” (South Africa), “Trinidad Muslim Annual” and the “Pakistani News” and was author of numerous books such as the “Cultivation of Science by the Muslims”.

Insha-Allah, Barkatur-Raza Publications (Durban, South Africa) intends gathering as many books as possible of this great scholar and publishes them so that the wealth left behind by him once again enlightens the hearts of the people.

Muballigh-e-Aazam (The Greatest Propagator of Islam)

His Eminence spent most of his remaining life traveling to the most obscure corners of the world to spread the message of Islam and imparting spiritual teachings to adherents of various sufi orders. It is said that he traversed the world seven times over and has no doubt earned the title – Mubaligh-e-Azam (The Greatest Propagator of Islam).

Sayid Ayoob Ali narrates, “The distinguished orator, Allamah Mawlana Haji Qaari Shah Abdul Aleem Siddiqi Qadiri Razvi Meerti, on returning from the Haramayn Shareefayn presented himself to the Great Imam and recited the following Manqabat in praise of Sayyiduna Ala Hadrat (RadiAllahu Anhu).

You are more than what is said in your praise,
O Sha Ahmad Raza! You are the distributor of Irfaan.

You are drowned in the Ocean of love and intoxicated from the goblet of Tawheed,
You are the accepted of He who is the Beloved of Allah.

You are the centre of Shariah,
The orbit of those on the path of Tariqah and the axis of Haqiqah.
Such a Qutbul Awliya are you!

The oceans of Shariah and Tariqah join here.
Your chest is the confluence of those oceans.
Such a guide are you!

The people of the Haram have accepted you as their Qibla and Kabaah,
You are the ‘people of the Qibla’s’ Qibla.
Such a Qibla are you!

Through whom the Crowns of the Eminent are decorated,
You are such a radiant emerald and priceless gem!

I went to the land of the Arabs and saw with my eyes your activities;
undoubtedly, you are the direction of the Ajam (Non Arab)!

The people of the path of Tariqah travel for you,
Such a Qutb of the time and Leader of the Awliya are you!

The glory of Siddique Akbar is demonstrated through your taqwa,
Why should I not call you the most pious when you are the most virtous!

The awe of Farooq-e-Azam is demonstrated from you,
You are the epitome of harshness on the kuffar,
You are the courageous lion of whom the dissentors fear!

You have collected the secret Quranic points,
This is your inheritance from Uthmaan!

In the sincerity of Ali, mannerism of Hassan and the resolve of Husayn,
By Allah you the most unique of the times and someone unfound!

You are spreading the knowledge of truth into the corners of the globe,
You are the Imaam of the Ahle Sunnah and the Successor to Sayyiduna Gauth-e-Paak!

Beggars beseech and spread their bags before you,
Fill the bags of the mendicant because you are their hope!
No one is ever returned empty handed, such a generosity is yours!

This unfortunate Aleem is a humble beggar of your court,
You are his King who will show favour on his condition!

Once the Mawlana had recited these verses, Sayyiduna Ala Hadrat asked him, “Mawlana, What can I present to you? The Imam pointed to his turban (which was very expensive) whilst he asked this to the Mawlana. Even if I had to present this turban to you, it still would not be worthy to be placed at your feet as you have come from the most sanctified of places. However, I have a very expensive jubba (Cloak) which I shall present to you.” Sayyiduna went into his home and returned, carrying in his hands a velvet jubba. He gifted this jubba which could not have been less than 250 Rupees to the Mawlana who stood up to receive it. He received it with both his hands, kissed it and placed it upon his eyes and then upon his head. Then he held it against his chest for a very long time. (Hayat-e-Ala Hadrat by Malikul Ulema, Shah Zafarudeen Bihaari)

We pray to the Bounteous Lord through the Waseela of His Compassionate Rasūl, Sayyidun wa Mawlana MuHammadur Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam to shower the grave of the author with choicest blessings and through him, bless us all and let his struggle be a source of guidance to the Mankind. Ameen

Hadrat Shah Abul Hussain Ahmad-e-Noori alias Miyan Sahab, the last Qutub of Marehra dynasty became the Sajjadah Nasheen of Marehra Sharif after the demise of Shah Aal-e-Rasool Ahmadi. Following is Noori Miyan’s family tree:

Sayyid Shah Abul Hussain Noori Miyan Sahib s/o Sayyid Zahoor Hasan s/o Sayyid Shah Aal-e-Rasool s/o Sayyid Shah Aley Barkaat Suthrey Miyan s/o Sayyid Shah Hamza s/o Sayyid Shah Aley Muhammad s/o Sayyid Sayyid Shah Barkatullah s/o Sayyid Shah Uwais s/o Sayyid Shah Abdul Jaleel s/o Sayyid Shah Mir Abdul Wahid Bilgrami s/o Sayyid Shah Ibrahim s/o Sayyid Shah Qutubuddin s/o Sayyid Shah Mahro s/o Sayyid Shah Bade s/o Sayyid Shah Kamaal s/o Sayyid Shah Qasim s/o Sayyid Shah Hasan s/o Sayyid Shah Naseer s/o Sayyid Hussain s/o Sayyid Shah Umar s/o Sayyid Shah Muhammad Sughra s/o Sayyid Shah ali s/o Sayyid Shah Hussain s/o Sayyid Shah Abul Farah II s/o Sayyid Shah Abu Firas s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Abul Farah Wasti s/o Hazrat Sayyid Dawood s/o Hazrat Sayyid Hussain s/o Hazrat Sayyid Yahya s/o Hazrat Sayyid Zayd III s/o Hazrat Sayyid Umar s/o Hazrat Sayyid Zayd II s/o Hazrat Sayyid Ali Iraqi s/o Hazrat Sayyid Hussain s/o Hazrat Sayyid Ali s/o Hazrat Sayyid Muhammad s/o Hazrat Sayyid Issa alias Motam-ul-Ashbaal s/o Hazrat Sayyid Zayd the Shahid s/o Sayyid-us-Sadaat Imam Zainul Abidin Sajjad s/o Sayyidush Shuhada Imam Hussain s/o Hazrat Ameer al Momineen Mawla Ali Murtaza the husband of Sayyidatun Nisa Fatima az-Zahra d/o Sayyid al Ambiya Ahmad-e-Mujtaba Muhammad-e-Mustafa Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam wa Ridhwanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajama’een.

Hadrat Noori Miyan Saheb was born on 19th of Shawal 1255 hijri (corresponding to 26th December, 1839) in Marehra. He was barely 2½ years when he lost his mother. He was taken over by his grandmother Nisar Fatima and Grandfather Shah Aal-e-Rasool Ahmadi. Hadrat Khaatim al-Akaabir Shah Aal-e-Rasool never allowed him to be out of his sight. He educated him and trained him in the family traditions and legacies. At the age of eleven years he lost his father Shah Zahoor Hasan who died on 26th of Jamadi al-Awwal at Dhari in Kathiawad. That was the time when his grandfather put him to hard training in mystic rituals. Hadrat Khatim al-Akabir used to say:

“Miyan Sahib has nothing to do with worldly pleasures. He is something and is deemed to be something in the spiritual world. He is one of the seven Qutubs whose glad tiding has been given by Hadrat Bu-Ali Shah Qalandar and Hadrat Shah Badiuddin Qutb-e-Madar and he is the last Qutub of the chain of seven Qutubs.”

Hadrat Noori Miyan sahib became the Mureed of Shah Aal-e-Rasool in 1267 hijri and was declared the Sajjadah Nasheen of the Dargah. He received his worldly education at the hands of renowned Scholars like Maulvi Shah Turab Ali of Lucknow, Maulvi Fadhlullah Jalesari, Maulvi Noor Ahmad Badauni, Maulvi Muhammad Saeed Badauni, Maulvi Abdul Qaadir Badauni, Maulvi Fadhl-e-Rasool Badauni, Maulvi Ahmad Hasan Sufi Muradabadi and Maulvi Hussain Shah Bukhari. The spiritual education was imparted to him by great seers like the Khatim al-Akabir Shah Aal-e-Rasool Ahmadi and Shah Ghulam Muhiyuddin Amir-e-Alam. His other mentors were Shah Shams al-Haq alias Tinka Shah, Mufti Sayyid Ainul Hasan Bilgrami and Hafiz Shah Ali Hussain Muradabadi. After the completion of spiritual training, Shah Aal-e-Rasool Ahmadi conferred upon Hadrat Noori Miyan the Khilafat and Ijazat of all the five silsilas of his family including the Qadriyah, Chishtiyah, Naqshbandiyah, Suhrwardiyah and Maddariyah. He spent most of his time in Dhikr and meditation.

Noori Miyan’s court was always full of Mureeds and Khalifas who put forth their problems to him and got delivered from these problems immediately. He always visited the houses of poor people and consoled them. The rich Mureeds yearned for his visit to their homes but he preferred the poor ones.

Hadrat Miyan Sahab was the Spiritual Master of Great Sunni Scholar of Bareilly, Hadrat Mustafa Rida Khan, known as Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind. Hadrat Noori Miyan was the author of many books on various subjects:

Al-Aslul Musaffa fi Aqaid-e-Arbab-e-Sunnatil Mustafa – a journal in simple Urdu for children on the basics of faith.
Risala Sawal-o-Jawab – a journal in Urdu on the wrong beliefs of misguided Rafidhi Sect.
Ishtihar-e-Noori – an essay against Sunni Ulema’s joining the Nadwa group.
Tehqeequl Tarawih – a journal testifying the twenty rak’ats of Tarawih during Ramadhan,
Dalil-ul-Yaqin – proving that Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar were superior beings among the Companions of the Holy Prophet. A journal on the beliefs of Ahl-e-Sunnat regarding the battles of Jumal, Siffin and Naharwan.
Lataif-e-Tariqat Kashful Quloob – a journal in Urdu on the early phases of mysticism.
An-Noor-o-Wal-Baha fi-Asaneedil Hadith wa Salasilil Awliya – a journal containing the hierarchy of the traditions of the Holy Prophet.
Sirajul Awarif fil-Wasaya wal Ma’raif – a book on Urdu on various information regarding the Sufi practice.
Al-Jafar – a brief journal in Urdu on the method of Jafar.
Takheel-e-Noori – collection of Arabic, Persian and Urdu poetry. His pen name was Saeed in early days. Later he adopted Noori as his pseudonym.

He died on 11th Rajab al-Murajjab 1324 Hijri (31st of August 1906). His first wife was Ruqaiyya Begum the daughter of his uncle Shah Zahoor Hussain and the second wife was Altaf Fatima the daughter of Sayyid Muhammad Haider. He had a son Sayyid Muhiyuddin Jilani who died at an early age.

This is the story of Sayyiduna Hussain Ibn Mansur al-Hallaj who was born in Madina al-Bayda, a little village in the ancient province of Fars, in southern Persia, in the year 224 A.H./857 C.E., two years before his Master Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi, may Allah be pleased with them both.

He grew up in Wasit and in Tustar where the cultivation of cotton was the main occupation of most of the people. His father was a cotton-carder from which he gained his name of al-Hallaj .

Even when he was a young child Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj felt drawn towards a spiritual life, and at the age of sixteen he attached himself to the Shaykh Sahlat-Tustari whom he accompanied when he moved from Tustar to Basra in `Iraq. He served this Shaykh for two years and then, when he was eighteen years old, he left him and went to Baghdad.

However, the young Hallaj did not stay long in Baghdad, and soon returned to Basra where he became a student of `Amr al-Makki. This Shaykh, a companion of Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi, was a scholar to whom the great Master wrote some of his well-known Rasa’il.

Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj remained with `Amr al-Makki for a period of about eighteen months, until an estrangement came between them when his Master offered Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj his daughter in marriage. He preferred to marry a lady who remained his only wife, the daughter of another holy person, Ya`qub ibn Aqta. They had three sons, one of whom was Hamid who recorded much of the existing information about Hallaj’s later life.

As a result of this estrangement with his Shaykh `Amr al-Makki, Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj again left Basra and once more travelled to Baghdad, where this time he went to see Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi and asked his permission to become his student. Junayd accepted him and became his Guide and Master and the guardian of his spirit. As his Guide, Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi came to know everything about Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj’s heart, which was very sensitive and exactly like that of a child. He knew his soul and what Allah, Most High, had created in his spirit. He saw that this new student was a specially ecstatic and passionate (`ashiq) lover with a very pure Eye, who was completely in love with everything about his Beloved from Whom he feared to be separated for a moment.

Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi’s Way, as we know, was that of perfect sobriety, in which the Secret of God’s Love had to be deeply contained, and only revealed to whoever could be trusted to guard It. In accepting Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj as his student, he knew that he was committing himself to a difficult responsibility. But he also knew that Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise, had created Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj’s spirit just as He had created his own spirit, and that whatever He Ordered and Willed must come to pass.

In Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj’s case the Secret of the Love seized and intoxicated his entire being. His longing and yearning for Allah was such that only in his total destruction by Him could he find the Union which was the sole purpose and goal of his life. This was the Beauty (al-jamal) and the Majesty (al-jalal) of his bondsmanship to Allah, and like a great river flowing from its source to the ocean, nothing could hinder or stop its course.

Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi, his Master and teacher, counselled Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj to seek solitude and silence for himself, but at the same time he knew that his student’s heart was full of yearning to help all the people whom he met, and to whom his spirit was moved to speak to about the One Beloved and His Love. Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi also knew that it was for this reason that Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj could not remain in any one place for long. But he was always urged to go here and there, so that he travelled further and further from his native land, his outward journeys inspired by his inward searching and walking with his Beloved.

In all his travels Junayd’s spirit never left his holy student, and he was surrendered to what Allah wanted of him. For he knew that every soul which He has created is in His Hands, and he whom He has chosen for Himself does not choose for himself, but it is Allah, through the heart of His slave, Who chooses for him.

Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj, may Allah be pleased with him, while he was still a youth said, “And already love had engraved Him in my heart with its red-hot iron of desire-what a branding!”

Then he said, speaking with the Tongue of the Truth:

“I am He Whom I love, and He Whom I love is I.
We are two spirits dwelling in one body.
If you see me, you see Him;
And if you see Him, you see us both.”

These words can be compared with what `Abdu’l-Karim al-Jili, several centuries later, was to say: “We are the spirit of One though we dwell by turns in two bodies.”

In his heart Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj knew that he could see Allah, the Beloved everywhere in His Creation. Although he saw that the people were blind, dumb, animal-like and they could not recognize Him, yet as he said, “The beloved does not drink a single drop of water without seeing His Face in the cup. Allah is He Who flows between the pericardium and the heart, just as the tears flow from the eyelids.”

He said about this in a poem:

“I saw my Lord with the Eye of my heart,
And I said: Truly there is no doubt that it is You.
It is You that I see in everything;
And I do not see You through anything (but You).
You are the One Who owns all places.
And yet no place is You.
And if there were a place given by You for the place,
That place would know where You are.
And if there were an imagination for the imagining of You.
That imagination would know where You are.
I understand everything, and everything that I see
In my annihilation is You.
My Lord, bless me and forgive me,
For I seek no one but You.”

For a while Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj remained with Junayd in Baghdad and then he travelled to the Hijaz for the Pilgrimage after which he stayed in Mecca for a year, living a very hard life and all the time giving himself difficult spiritual practices to fulfill.

After that year in Mecca he returned to Baghdad and immediately went to see Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi. It was said that when he knocked on the Master’s door, Junayd asked, “Who is there?” and the reply came, “I am the Truth.” (ana al-haqq).

But Junayd said to him, “Beloved Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj, be careful about the Secret of Allah. Do not give It to those who cannot understand It.” Then he added, “The time will soon come when you will set fire to a piece of wood.”

Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj replied, “The day when I set light to that piece of wood, you will be wearing the clothes of the orthodox.” And so in fact it happened as will be seen later, if Allah wills.

Hallaj was now widely acclaimed and loved by the people. But the religious scholars could not accept him, and they doubted the reports of his miracles and took exception to his utterances, such as when he said: “I wonder at You and me. You annihilated me out of myself into You. You made me near to Yourself, so that I thought that I was You, and You were me.” They also grew angry when they heard him say: “My spirit mixes with Your Spirit, in nearness and separation, so that I am You, just as You are I.” They could not understand how anyone could utter such sayings. Then, one by one, they began to turn against him and to shun his company.

At other times the religious authorities and scholars accused him of being a heretic (zindiq) when he said such things as: “Your Spirit mixed in my spirit just like wine and clear water, and if something touches You it touches me, for You are I in every state.”

Attacks now mounted against him in Baghdad and grew in frequency so that he left the city, and for five years travelled far from his homeland. He also left his Sufi clothes, and put on those of the people amongst whom he went. But this did not mean that he had left the Path of Allah because no matter where he went, or what he did, he remained a beloved of the Path. Nothing could make any difference to his heart, nor quench the flame of his spirit, for he saw that his Beloved God was in every face around him, and he found Him in every place where he happened to be.

For part of the five years that he spent away from Baghdad, he was in Khurasan, Transoxania and Sistan. He then returned to Ahwaz in south west Persia where he was accepted and loved, both by the elite and by the people who drank from his words. He used to speak of the secrets in men’s hearts, and for that reason they called him Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj of the secrets. It is related that once, while he, may Allah be pleased with him, was on his travels, he met up with Ibrahim al-Khawass whom he asked what he was doing. Al-Khawass told him that he was travelling to increase his trust in Allah, and for his general well-being. Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj then said to him, “You spend your whole life in cultivating your own inner self. Where then is the well-known forgetting of self in the Unity?”

The Love of Allah meant for Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj that: “You remain standing in front of your Beloved when your qualities are destroyed, and when your existence has disappeared in His Existence.” Remembering the hadith of the Prophet, prayers and peace be upon him: Nothing loves Allah by any action which is more pleasing to Him than loving Him, Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj said, “Suffering is He Himself, whereas happiness comes from Him.”

However Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj, who accustomed himself to suffering, did not mean by the necessity of suffering that this was the returning of the human being, through Allah’s Majesty (jalal) to be as he was before he was, which was how Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi had spoken about the Love. Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj saw the meaning of suffering through the Love as the way by which the human being could come through the deep Secret Love (al-`ishq) to taste the essence of the Essence of Allah, and the meaning of the Secret of the Creation. Passionate overflowing love (`ishq) meant for Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj the ever-moving, creating and recreating Love by which all is destroyed in order to be brought back again to further tasting of the Essence, and a higher state of ecstasy and annihilation.

When he spoke in this way and used these terms, many people, especially the orthodox Muslims of Bagdad, and even some of the moderate Sufis themselves, considered him dangerous and turned away from him. Because in this he was walking with and tasting of a knowing that was reserved for very few, and only acceptable when contained, as was the case of Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi, in the perfect baqa’ and subsistence amongst created beings. Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“Is it You or I? That would be two gods in me;
But far be it from You to manifest as two-
The He-ness that is Yours is in my One-ness forever;
My all added to Your All would be a double existence.
But where is Your Essence, from my place of looking,
when I see You?
Since my essence has become plain, in the place where I am not.
And where is Your Face, which is the Object of my gaze,
Whether in my inmost heart, or in the glance of my eye?
Between You and me there is an I am that battles with me,
So take away, by Your Grace, this I am from in between.”

He said, “Love is in the pleasure of possession, but in the Love of Allah there is no pleasure of possession, because the stations of the Reality arewonderment, the cancelling of the debt which is owed, and the blinding of vision. The Love of the human being for God is a reverence which penetrates the very depths of his being, and which is not permitted to be given except to Allah alone. The Love of Allah for the human being is that He Himself gives proof of Himself, not revealing Himself to anything that is not He.” This was the meaning for Hallaj of the Words of Allah, the All-Mighty: “I have chosen thee for Myself.” (20:41).

Then he, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Love (mahabba) is from the seed (habba) of the heart. The seed of the heart is its pith (lubb), and the pith is the place of the subtlety (latifa). The subtlety is the place of Allah, and the place of Allah is the complete freedom (tamalluq) with Him.” Now again for the second time Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj left for the Pilgrimage dressed in the ragged clothes of the darwish and with a large number of followers accompanying him, all dressed like him.

It is said that when they reached Mecca, one of the authorities there denounced him as a heretic and a magician; so he returned to Basra, and from there he went to the town of Ahwaz in south west Persia where he remained for a period of time.

But Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj’s spirit would not allow him to stay for long in any place, and he felt called again to travel to distant places. He said, “Now I am going to the lands of many gods to call men to Allah.” So he took a boat to India and from there he travelled to China.

His enemies said that he went to India to learn magic, and especially the secret of how to perform the Indian rope trick. But he, may Allah be pleased with him, did not need any of those things. Allah, the All-Mighty, gave him everything, and there was nothing that he needed from any human being. His only desire was for his Beloved in his heart. He told his family that he wanted to go to India and to the Far East to call the unbelievers to God.

So he travelled to Gujarat, and from there he wandered through the Sind and the lower Indus valley, which had been part of the Muslim Empire since 711 C.E. He met many people in all his journeying and spoke to thousands; and many people loved him and followed him in those distant lands. The seeds which he sowed there grew and remained with the people, and it is said that they can still be found in the religion and the poetry of those who claim to descend from them in that province.

From Sindh, he travelled to the northern borders of India, then to Khurasan, and to Turkestan, and eventually to Turfan. It is suggested that he may have gone with the caravans carrying brocade from his home town of Tustar to the East, and returning with Chinese paper to the Islamic countries. Some say that his teachings were written down on precious paper which was decorated in the style of the Manichaen manuscripts from Central Asia. Also, he was said to have entered into relationships with the Carmathian people, who were supposedly Shi’ites, but who were in truth original Arabs of Arabia.

In 900 C.E. they had revolted against the despotism of the Persians and the militarism of the Turks. The Carmathians were described as being puritan and democratic, and came from the same tribes which, in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace be upon him, had formed the spear head of the great Arab conquests. Now their rebellion, which had begun in Arabia, led them out further and further until they captured Damascus, Homs and Hama, all of which they were occupying at that time. Afterwards they were to seize the Yaman and in the year 906 C.E., a year before the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj, they captured Kufa, and were threatening Baghdad. At the time when al- Hallaj was journeying across India and Asia Minor, the Carmathians ruled in Bahrain and also in the northern Sind and in Multan.

These last two places Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj had recently visited on his travels. When later he, may Allah be pleased with him, was faced with hostile accusations, one was that he had stirred up feelings in these outlying eastern places hostile to the Caliph of Baghdad.

What is certain is that Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj was loved and sought by many people wherever he travelled, and when he returned to Baghdad many of them wrote him letters; the Indians addressing him as Abu ‘l-Mughith, the Chinese as Abu ‘l-Mu’in, and in all the places which he visited he was given a special name by which he was known.

All this, and particularly the fact that he had vast followings amongst the people of all the places where he had travelled, made the government of Baghdad very suspicious of Hallaj, and not only suspicious, but they began to look upon him as a threat to the security and stability of their power.

In Al-Akhbar Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj there are many stories which give a good idea about his life in Baghdad, both before and after he returned from his long second journey to the East. He is said to have taught the people and called them to Allah with intense love and asceticism.

When someone asked him about the Unity of Allah (at-tawhid), he answered him: “Allah, Most High, is the very One Who Himself affirms His Unity by the tongue of whomsoever of His creatures He wishes. If He affirms His Unity in my tongue it is He Who does so, and it is His Affair. Otherwise, my brother, I myself have nothing to do with affirming Allah’s Unity.” Here Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj was not speaking from any humanity, but with the tongue of the Unity. In his presence he was in fact always affirming Allah’s Unity, but in his heart he knew that no matter to how many different places he travelled to bring the people to Allah, still his witnessing would not be completed. So it was that, moved by this burning desire which he saw could not be fulfilled except in the total destruction of his very existence, he broke his discipline of silence, and tore aside the Veil to reveal the hidden Secret. Thus his need and longing to eliminate the I am between himself and his Beloved God took on a more open form. His fellow ecstatics and companions, ash-Shibli, an-Nuri or Bayazid al-Bistami, although they did not always keep silent, managed, nevertheless, to stay away from the anger and the stones of the people. Ash-Shibli said, “Sayyiduna Mansoor al-Hallaj and I are of one love and one belief, but my madness saved me, while his intelligence destroyed him.”

السید الشیخ عبد القادر الجیلی رضی الله تعالٰی عنه یقول غیر مرة عثر اخی حسین الحلاج
فلم یكن فی زمانه من یاخذ بیده ولو كنت فی زمانه لاخذت بیده وانا لكل من عثربه مركوبه
من اصحابی و مریدی و محبی الٰی یوم القیمة اخذ بیده۔ والحمد ﷲ رب العلمین۔

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Asad al-Din Abu Mahfuz
Ma’roof al-Karkhi Radi ALLAHu Anho

HIS POSITION IN THE SILSILA:

Hadrat Asad al-Din Abu Mahfuz Shaykh Ma’roof Ibn Feroz al-Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho is the ninth Imam and Shaykh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyah Barakatiyah Razaviyah Nooriyah.

BIRTH:

Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho was born in Karkh.

NAME:

His name is Asad al-Din and is famously known as Ma’roof Karkhi and Abu Mahfooz.

HIS FATHER:

His father’s name was Feroz. [Safinat al-Awliyah]

EDUCATION:

He attained all his knowledge under the watchful eye of Hadrat Imam Ali Rida Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho. [Tadhkirat al-Awliya]

HIS EARLY LIFE:

Initially, he was a non-Muslim, but even as a child, he had great love for Islam. He used to always spend his time in the company of Muslim children, and often talked to his parents about accepting Islam. His father was not pleased with this, and enrolled him to study under a Christian Priest. The first question the priest asked him was,
“Tell me my son, how many people are there in your family?” He said, “Myself, my father and my mother.” The priest then said, “Very well, now say Esa Alaihis Salam is the third god of three (trinity).” Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho says, “Even during my time as a non-Muslim my heart did not accept to say what he commanded me to. When I refused to say this, he began to beat me severely. The more he beat me, the more I rejected his teaching. He finally became weary of me and asked my father to imprison me. I was thus locked in a room for three days and every day, I was given one bread, which I did not even touch. When I was taken out, I ran away. As I was the only child to my parents, they were very sad and they sent a message to me saying that I should return to them and I would have the right to accept whichever faith I wished, and that they too will accept the same faith. I then went to Hadrat Ali Rida Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and accepted Islam at his hands. I then went home with this most valuable gift of Islam, and alHumdulillah, my parents also accepted Islam.” [Tadhkirat al-Awliya, Page 221]

SHAYKH-E-TARIQAT:

He became mureed of Hadrat Habeeb Raa’ee Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and was blessed with Khilafat from Hadrat Habeeb Raa’ee Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho , Hadrat Ali Rida Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and Hadrat Dawood Taa’ee Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho.

HIS TEACHERS:

He studied under the care of Hadrat Ali Rida Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and also attained education from Hadrat Imam al-Aa’zam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho . He attained spiritual training in the care of Hadrat Habeeb Raa’ee Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho .

HIS EXCELLENCE:

He was a very pious personality and one of the most distinguished Aarifs of his time. He also served many great personalities such as Hadrat Dawood Taa’ee Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho , who also blessed him with Khilafat. He used to call out the Adhan with true love, and when he would reach the words Ash hadu An Laa Ilaaha illa-Allah, the hair on his body would stand up and his entire beard would become stiff and he would begin to tremble to such an extent in the fear of Allah, that it seemed as if he would fall to the ground.

He would spend lengthy nights in the Masjid making ibaadat, Istighfaar and weeping in the Court of Allah. Hadrat Sirri al-Saqti Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho say, “Whatever I have attained, is through the Sadqa of Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho .”

Sayyidi Abdul Wahab Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho says, “I have not seen anyone who divorced himself from the world, like Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho . His excellence is such, that even his blessed grave is a means of attaining blessings.” [Kashf al-Mahjoob]

HIS HABITS AND CHARACTER:

He possessed deep love for the poor and the orphans. Hadrat Sirri al-Saqti Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho says, “I once saw Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho gathering dates on the day of Eid, so I stopped and asked the reason for this. He said, ’That young boy is crying because all the other children have new clothes and he has nothing new on Eid day. I thus, decided to collect some dates, sell them and then buy something for him, so that he is kept busy playing and does not feel uncomfortable on the day of Eid.’” Hadrat Sirri Saqti Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho says, “I said, Huzoor there is no need for you to do this, I will make sure he gets something on Eid. I then took the boy with me and bought him a new set of clothes. After I did this, a Noor (light) entered my heart, which caused me great pleasure and my condition became very different.” [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol. 1, Page 287]

ALWAYS IN WUDHU:

Once his wudhu broke, so he immediately made tayammum. Those who saw him do this said, “Huzoor! The river Tigris is right in front of you. Why did you make tayammum?” He said, “It is possible that I may pass away by the time I reach the river Tigris”

HIS ABSTENTION FROM THE WORLD:

Once one of Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi’s Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho friends asked him the following, “What is it that has caused you to abstain from the world and from the creation of Allah, and remain in seclusion, remembering Almighty Allah? Is it the fear of Death and the grave, or the fear of Hell, or the enthusiasm of attaining Jannat?” Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho said, “O My Friend! You discuss such minor things. What are all these worth in front of the creator Almighty Allah? All these are but humble subjects of Almighty Allah. Once you taste the pleasure of his closeness, then you will not think of any of the other things (you have mentioned).”

KARAMAAT:

Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho is also a Sahib-e-Karaamat Wali. He has performed many charismatic marvels, of which only a few are being discussed. Once there was a bandit who was captured by the Governor and sentenced to being hanged. As per the command of the governor, the bandit was hanged and died due to hanging. His body was still hanging from the noose, when Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho passed by. When he saw this scene, he was very troubled, and began to make dua for forgiveness of the deceased. He said, “O Most Compassionate, Most Merciful! This person has attained his punishment for his actions in this world. O Allah! If you forgive him and bless him with respect in Deen, there it shall cause no shortage in Your Treasures of forgiveness.” Immediately an unseen voice was heard saying, “Whomsoever prays the Janazah Salaah of the man on the noose, shall attain an exalted status in the hereafter.” This voice was heard by the people in the entire town. On hearing this voice, people in town gathered quickly. They removed him from the noose, and gave him proper ghusl and kaffan. Then with much respect, they prayed his Janazah Salaah and buried him. That night a man dreamt that it was the Day of Reckoning, and the man who was hanged, was dressed in the best of clothing and was present in the ranks of the Namaazis. He asked him, how he received such excellence and the man replied, “Almighty Allah accepted the dua of Ma’roof Karkhi and pardoned me.” [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol. 1, Page 288]

Hadrat’s uncle was the Governor of the city. Once he was passing through the jungle, when he saw Hadrat Maroof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho sitting on the ground eating bread and there was a dog sitting not far away from him also eating bread which he had thrown to it. His uncle saw this and said, “Why are you having your bread so close to the dog?” On hearing this, Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho looked up and saw a bird flying in the sky. He commanded it to come and sit on his hand. The bird perched itself on his hand but out of respect and modesty, it covered its face and eyes with its wings. Hadrat said, “See, Everything is modest before a man who is modest before Allah.”

Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and some of his disciples were passing by the River Tigris, when they saw a group of youth who were engrossed in openly committing sin. On seeing this, some of Hadrat’s disciples requested that he make dua for their destruction, so that they evil habits do not pass over to others. Hadrat asked them all to lift their hands and say Aameen to his duas. He then said, “O Allah! Like you have given them the luxuries and freedom of this world, bless them with freedom and luxury in the hereafter.” Everyone was amazed at his dua. He then said, “Do not be hasty. Wait a while and observe.” The disciples saw that after a while, the youth saw Hadrat Maroog Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and immediately broke their musical instruments and and threw away their alcohol. They all began to weep and came to Hadrat and repented sincerely at his hands. Hadrat then looked at his disciples and said, “Did you see, that which I wished for was fulfilled.”

HIS KHULAFA:

Some of the names of His famous Khulafa are being quoted below:

• Hadrat Shaykh Sirri al-Saqti,
• Hadrat Shah Muhammad,
• Hadrat Shah Qaasim Baghdadi,
• Hadrat Uthman Maghribi,
• Hadrat Hamza Khiramani,
• Hadrat Abu Nasr Abraar,
• Hadrat Shah Musta’aani,
• Hadrat Shah Abu Saeed,
• Hadrat Abu Ibrahim Daloori,
• Hadrat Abul Hassan Harooni,
• Hadrat Shah Jaafar Khalidi,
• Hadrat Shah Muhammad Roomi,
• Hadrat Shah Mansoor Aarif Abu Kaatib,
• Hadrat Shah Abdul Haq Haqaaiq Agah and
• Hadrat Shah Ali Roodibaar (Ridwaanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajma’een)

• There are three signs of a true man, to fulfill ones promise, to praise without a motive and to give without being asked to give.
• Protect the tongue from self praise, like you protect it from sinning.
• He who is not a faqeer, is not a man of tasawwuf.
• Close your eyes from all angles even if there is something in front of you.
• Love is not attained through education and training, but is bestowed by Allah.
• The solution to hardships and difficulties is to keep it hidden.
• Even though an Aarif does not keep the bounties, but he is always engulfed by it.
• Without deeds to hope for paradise is a sin. Without the completion of your sunnah to wish for intercession is a betrayal and boastfulness and without being subservient to have expectations of mercy is ignorance and foolishness.
• Those that are hungry for wealth will never attain complete satisfaction.
• To elaborate on a topic that benefits nobody is signs and proofs of being astray.
• Just as you find it distasteful to listen to bad, so too you should safeguard yourself from singing praises.
• Whenever the creator wishes well upon his servant he opens the doors of good deeds upon him.
• Close your eyes to everyone especially never ever look with ill intent towards anybody.
• Love is such a thing that cannot be shown or taught.
• When you forsake this World, leave behind everything for if you have in your heart but even an atom of what belongs to the World then even in prostration you should not be able to forget it.
• Whatever afflicts you from misfortunes and calamities its success is in its secrecy?
• Open shirk is devotion to speech and hidden shirk is to rely on the creation.
• Humbleness is when you meet anyone then regard that person as better than you, whether he be big or small, an ‘Alim or a Jahil (ignorant) or a Muslim or a Kafir.
• An intelligent person is he who would do on the first day that which he would do on the third day when he is struck by misfortune.
• It had been asked, “What is the remedy for the troubles of the World?” It was said: “Stay far away from the creation and be close to the creator.”
• It has been said a dervish never is greedy for anything. If somebody gives without asking them he never refuses. When he takes he never hoards or stores.
• A woman’s mentor is her husband, in the search of truth although he himself is not a seeker of the truth.
• If anybody betrays or cheats me in the name of ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala then I will accept the betrayal.
• Even if you see an innovator of religion fly in the air then too you should never accept him.
• Even if a pious person is found committing a sin then too it does not become lawful or permissible.
• The destruction caused by associating with the rich are beyond the boundaries of writing, safeguard yourself! Safeguard yourself!!
• Knowledge is male while action is its opposite i.e. female. Religion is obtained by doing work in the World.
• The person who does a good deed with the intention of rewards in the hereafter is a merchant. The person who does a good deed because of the fear of hell is a slave, just as a slave out of fear of a whipping continues to work. The person who does a good deed for ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala alone is noble and free.
• To associate with a sinner is to sanction his sins, and to sanction sins is equivalent to committing it.
• Worship is useless without firm belief.

WISAAL SHARIF: He passed away on a Friday or Saturday, on the 2nd of Muharram, 200 Hijri. After his demise, Hadrat Muhammad bin Abul Hussain Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho says, that he saw Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho in his dream and he asked him how Almighty Allah had treated him. He said, Almighty Allah pardoned me, not because of my piety but because of what I heard from Hadrat Samaak Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho in Kufa, when he said, ’He who leaves all ties and turns towards Allah, then Allah Almighty Allah sends his Mercy towards him and he turns all his servants in his direction.’ I followed this advice of his and turned completely towards Allah, and with the exception of the Khidmat of Hadrat Ali Rida Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho I left everything else.

Hadrat Sirri al-Saqti Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho says, “I dreamt that Hadrat Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho was seated totally absorbed in the love of Allah, under the Arsh and Almighty Allah said, ‘O Angels! Who is this?’ the Angels said, O Allah You are All Knowing. There is nothing hidden from You.’ Almighty Allah said, ‘This is Ma’roof Karkhi who is drowned in My love and closeness and until he does not make my Deedar he will not regain his consciousness and neither will he gain contentment without my Deedar.’”

MAZAAR SHARIF: His Mazaar Sharif is in Baghdad Sharif. Hadrat Sirri al-Saqti Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho says, “When you are faced with any difficulty, then say, “O Allah! Assist me through the Sadqa of Ma’roof Karkhi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho .” All your problems shall be solved (inshaALLAH).

1. Shaikh Ruknuddin Alauddoula Simnani,
2. Mir Syed Ali Hamdani,
3. Makhdoom Syed Jalal Uddin Bukhari,
4. Khwaja Hafiz Sherazi,
5. Shaikh Najmudin Asfahani,
6. Khwaja Bahauddin Naqushbandi,
7. Syed Shah Badiuddin Madar,
8. Quazi Shahabuddin Doulat Abadi and
9. Gesu Daraz Banda Nawaz

1. Hadrat Syed Abdur Razzque Noorul Ain
2. Shaikh Kabirul Abbasi
3. Shaikh Darreyatim Sarwarpuri
4. Shaikh Shamsuddin Faryad Ras Awadhy
5. Shaikh Osman
6. Shaikh Suleman Mohaddis
7. Shaikh Maroof
8. Shaikh Ahmad Quttal
9. Shaikh Ruknuddin Shahbaz
10. Shaikh Quayamuddin
11. Shaikh Asiluddin
12. Shaikh Jamiluddin Supid baz
13. Moulana Qauazi Hazzal
14. Shaikh Arif makrani
15. Shaikh Abul Makarim Khujandi
16. Shaikh Abul Makarim Harwi
17. Shaikh safiuddin rudoulwi
18. Shaikh Samauddin Rudoulwi
19. Mulla Karim
20. Shaikh Khairuddin Sudhowri
21. Quazi Muhammad Sudhowri
22. Quazi Abu Muhammad
23. Moulana Abul Mozaaffar Lukhnawi
24. Alamuddin Jaisi
25. Shaikh kamal Jaisi
26. Syed Abdul Wahab
27. Syed Reza
28. Jamshed Beg Qualandor Turk
29. Quazi Shahabuddin Doulat Abadi
30. Moulana Haji Fakhruddin Jaunpuri
31. Moulana Shaikh Daud
32. Moulana Ruknuddin
33. Shaikh Adam Osman
34. Shaikh tajuddin
35. Shaikh Nooruddin
36. Shaikhul Islam Ahmadabad Gujrat
37. Shaikh Mobarak Gujrat
38. Shaikh Hossain Dawezwi
39. Shaikh Safiuddin
40. Masnad Ali Saif khan
41. Shaikh Ahmad kanlouri
42. Moulana Abdullah Dayar Banarsi
43. Moulana Nooruddin Zafarabadi
44. Malik Mahmood, Baba Hossain kitabdar
45. Syed hasan Alam Barada
46. Shaikh Jamaludddin Rawat
47. Hesamuddin Zanzani Punwi
48. Moulana Khaggi Mohamed
49. Shaikh Abubarkar
50. Shaikh Safiuddin Arweli
51. Syed Ali Lahori
52. Shaikh Ludhan
53. Shaikh nizamuddin Brelwi
54. Shaikh Ali Dosti Simnnani
55. Shaikh Omnar
56. Shaikh Abu Said Khigri
57. Khwaja Abdur rahman
58. Khwaja Saduddin Khalid
59. Quazi Shudha Awadhi
60. Shaikh Zahid Noor
61. Shaikh Peer Ali Arlat Tarki
62. Shaikh Nizamuddin Labir
63. Shaikh Ali Simnani
64. Shaikh Ghouhar Ali
65. Shaikh Taquiuddin
66. Moulana SharafullahImam
67. Shaikh Nizamuddin
68. Shaikh Yahya Kaldadar
69. Shaikh Meer Moallah
70. Quazi Beg
71. Shaikh Qutbuddin Yahya
72. Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulla
73. Shaikh Mohiuddin
74. Amir Nangar Quli

HIS POSITION IN THE SILSILA: Waaqif-e-Rumooz-e-Khafi wa Jali, Hadrat Shaykh Jaafar Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho is the twelveth Imam and Shaykh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyah Barakatiyah Razawiyah Nooriyah.

BIRTH: He was born in Samarrah in the year 247 Hijri [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol. 1, Page 316]

NAME: His name was Jaafar, and he was also known as Abu Bakr. The name Jaafar bin Yunus is engraved on his blessed Shrine. His title was Mujaddid. He was known as shibli, because he came from a place called Shibla or Shabeela. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen]

EDUCATION: He says as follows about himself, “I studied and attained the knowledge of Fiqh and Hadith for thirty years. The sea of knowledge flowed in my heart. I presented my self before many of those who were known as people of great knowledge and learning. I asked them to bless me with the knowledge concerning the journey towards Allah, and yet not one of them knew anything about what I asked. They all said, ‘that the sign of something will be found in something, but there is no sign of Ghaib’ I heard their words and was amazed. I said, you are all in the dark and Alhumdulillah, I am the light. I then thanked Almighty Allah, and then gave my wilaayat to a thief, until he did with me as he did.”

HIS SHAYKH-E-TARIQAT: He is the mureed and Khalifa of Sayyid al-Taaifa Hadrat Junaid al-Baghdadi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho.

HIS EXCELLENCE: He was the Muqallid of Hadrat Imam Maalik Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and he knew the entire Muwatta of Imam Maalik Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho by heart. He spent most of his time in the Ibaadat of Almighty Allah. He visited all the great Masha’ikh of his era, and spent time with all of them. He gained a very exalted position in spiritualism. His spiritual position had become so great, that the ordinary mind could not understand him. It is stated that for a very long time, he lived under a tree. He would walk around the tree, making the zikr of “Hoo – Hoo” People who saw him, asked him concerning his condition. He said, “There is a dove on this tree which is saying “Koo – Koo” I am thus following its pattern and making the Zikr of Hoo Hoo. Those who saw this noticed that the dove would not remain silent until he stopped his zikr. For as long as he was in Zikr, the dove also went on cooing. [Shahrat al-Kaamileen, Page 206]

HIS POSITION IN THE COURT OF THE BELOVED PROPHET: Hadrat Abu Bakr bin Mujahid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho was a very great saint and a great Imam of Hadith and Fiqh. Many Ulama and Masha’ikh sat in his gatherings to listen to the knowledge he imparted. Once Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho went to one of his gatherings. On seeing Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, he immediately stood up in respect. He embraced him with great love, and then kissed his forehead. A man from those present at the gathering (who did not know Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli) stood up and said, “Sayyidi! This man is a insane (One who does not seem to be in the right state of mind), why do you treat him with such respect?” Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho said, “O People! I have done with him as I saw the Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him do with him.” He then narrated a dream by saying, “I dreamt that it was the most exalted gathering of the Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him. Then, when Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho entered the gathering, the Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him stood up, and kissed his forehead. I said, Ya Rasoolallah Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him, Why such a great amount of love and affection for Shibli? And the Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him said, ‘After Namaaz, he reads from Laqa Jaa Akum Rasoolun until Azeem, and he then says SallAllahu Alaika Ya Rasoolallah three times.’” [Raah-e-Aqidat, Page 19/20]

Once, Hadrat Imam Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho was accused of being insane (as none knew the reality of his spiritual condition). He was admitted to a mental facility for treatment. Some of his disciples and well wishers heard of this and came to meet with him. He asked who they were and they said that they were amongst those who had great love for him. He then launched stones at them, which caused them to run away from him. He said, “If you are from amongst those who love me, then why do you run away from me when I launch stones at you? Those who truly love somebody will not run away from his pain.”

HIS SHAYKH’S LOVE FOR HIM: Once a few disciples of Hadrat Junaid al-Baghdadi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho were seated together praising Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli. They said, “There is none that is more respected and honest amongst us than Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho” As they were having their discussion, Hadrat Junaid al-Baghdadi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho entered and said, “What are you discussing about Abu Bakr Shibli? All that you have said is improper. He is not as good as you all say. Now remove him from the room.” After Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho left the room, Hadrat Junaid-e-Baghdadi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho addressed his disciples and said, “I have a hundred times more respect and love for Shibli, compared to that which you were discussing. When you were praising him in his presence, it was like you were striking him with a sword. It was [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol. 1, Page 323]

for this reason, that I had no option but to say what I said, so that it may be a shield against that which you were saying, if not he would have been devastated (for he could not accept being praised, due to his humility).” [Kashf al-Mahjoob, Page 193]

HIS KARAAMATS: Once Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho had taken very ill. Ali bin Esa informed the Khalifa of this, and the Khalifa sent a Christian doctor to treat Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho. This doctor was the royal specialist physician. He treated Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, but he could not help in making him feel better. The doctor once said to Hadrat, “If I felt that your cure was in a piece of my flesh, then I would not even mind cutting of a piece of flesh.” Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho said, “My medicine is in something else.” The Doctor said, “In what is it?” Hadrat said, “In this, that you leave kufr and accept Islam.” The doctor immediately read the kalima and accepted Islam. When the Khalifa heard of what had happened, he began to weep. He said, “I thought that I had sent a doctor towards one who was ill. Little did I realize that I had sent one who was ill towards a doctor.”

Hadrat Ambaazi states that once he wore a beautiful shawl and went to visit Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho. When he reached there, he saw that Hadrat was wearing a very beautiful hat. On seeing the hat, he thought that the hat would be very well suited for him. He wished that the Shaykh would present the hat to him. He was still thinking of this, when Hadrat asked for his shawl. The Shaykh then took both the chaadar and the hat, and threw them into a fire. He said, “With the exception of the Deedar of Almighty Allah, a person should not have any other desire in his heart.” [Tazkirat al-Awliyah]

GEMS OF WISDOM:

• If you come to me on a Friday after one week, and you find that you thought of other than Allah during the week, then you should know that you have the desire of the world in your heart. What can the one who desires the world gather for the hereafter? Thus, for as long as you are in the world, prepare for the hereafter.
• It has never been such, that I remained hungry for Allah, and Allah had not entered the Noor of secrets into my heart.
• A Sufi is one who is away from the people and close to Allah.
• If a person claims to have love, yet he spends his time in other things, then, he does not desire his beloved, but he desires something else, in other words, he is making a mockery of his beloved.
• Love means, that you should give up everything for the sake of the beloved.
• Shariah is this, that you should follow it, Tariqah is this, that you should desire and Haqeeqah is this, that you should see.

WISAAL SHARIF: Various highly spiritual incidents occurred during the time of his wisaal. Many people asked him to read the Kalima and one person proclaimed the Shahaadat aloud, so as to remind him. On hearing this, he said, “The dead have come to remind the living.” He passed away on the 27th of Dhul-Hijjah, 334 Hijri on the eve of a Friday, at the age of 88 years.

HIS KHULAFA: The names of only two of the Khulafa of Hadrat Abu Bakr Shibli could be found.

1. Hadrat Khwaja Abdul Waahid Abul Fadhl Tameemi
2. Hadrat Abu al-Hasan Neemalam.

AFTER HIS WISAAL: After his wisaal, a pious man saw him in his dream, and asked, “Sayyidi! What transpired with the Angels of the grave?” He said, “When the angels came to me, and asked about my Lord, I said, ‘It is He, who created Adam Alaihis Salam and commanded the Angels to prostrate before him. All of them prostrated but Iblees, who turned his face away from the command of Allah and showed pride. At that time, I was in the spine of Hadrat Adam Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho.” The Angels said, “He has answered on behalf of all the children of Adam Alaihis Salam.” [Shajrat al-Kaamileen, Page 203]

MAZAR SHARIF: His Mazaar Shareef is in Saamarrah, which is in Baghdad Shareef (Iraq).

Sultan al-Suharward; Shahab ul-Din
Abu Hafs Umar Bin Muhammad Suhrawardi

The Founder of the famous Sufi Order, “Suhrawardi” is Shaykh al-Shayyukh Shahab al-Din Abu Hafs ‘Umer Bin Muhammad al-Bakari Al-Suhrawardi, al-Shafi’i, Mohadith Baghdadi. He was born in “Suhraward” A town at that time situated near Zanjan in Iran, Unfortunately today it is impossible to even identify the site of this ancient town for certain. His date of birth is most probably at the end of “Rajab”(7th Islamic month) or the beginning of “Sha’ban” (8th month) in 539/1145.

His lineage starts from Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique (the first caliph of Islam). According to “Munaqib-e-Ghawthia” his parents did not have a child. Disappointed enough one day his mother took an opportunity and reached the holy “khanaqah” (Sufi centre) of Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Gilani al-Hasani popularly known as Ghawth al-Azam (the founder of “Qadri” Sufi order D.561/1167), and requested him to pray to God for her to bear a child. At this the Shaykh made a prediction about a very special son for her. According to another assumption Shaykh also suggested the good name of the child as Shihab al-Din Umer.

Shihab al-Din Umer took his early education at home, Like his uncle Shaykh Dia al-Din Abu al-Najib Abd al-Qahir Bin Abdullah al-Bakari al-suhrawardi (D.563/1165), in his Child hood he traveled to Baghdad for studies. There he had an apportunity to study The Quran (The holy book of Islam), Hadith (sayings of Prophet), Fiqh (juridco-canonical system of Islam) and other on going subjects which were essential at that time, from famous, authentic, skillful and centrally figured teachers of that age, including his uncle. After the completion of his studies, he then came under his uncle’s supervision for spiritual knowledge and the development of his inner-self. He also had Shaykh Abd al- Qadir al-Gilani as his spiritual benefactor, and he wore the khirqah-e-khilafat (khirqa:a dervish’s patched garment, symbol of his vows of obidience to the rule of his order, khilafa: vicarship) in Qadria, from shaykh Abd’al-Qadir al-Jilani in 560/1162. On the other hand According to “Qala ‘d al-Jawahir” “He is one who has been approached by the Great Shaykh Jilani himself who said ‘O, Omar! you will be well renowned in the later saints of Iraq.’

Apart from these two great sufis he also benefacted from many other “Musha’ikhs” (Sufis) of that certain age. For many days he spent his time with “Abdals” (a categary of saints) in the island of ‘Abbadan’ (Persian Gulf). He also had the opportunity to acompany” Khidr”. (a Prophet or saint immortalized by the fountain of life). He performed the “Hajj” (pilgrimage) on a number of occasions. And in 628/1231 he performed his last “Hajj”, while in Mecca (the holy place of Muslims, situated in Saudi Arabia, where they perform Hajj) he met the great Egyptian poet and Sufi ” Shaykh Abu Hafs Umar bin ali known as Ibn al-Farid.D.632/1235. On that occasion the two sons of Ibn al-Farid “Shaykh Kamal al-Din Muhammad & Shaykh Abd al-Rehman”, with the permission of their father, took “Bay’a” (oath of allegiance) and wore “Khirqa” (patched frock, sign of a dervish) from Shaykh al-Shayyukh.

After the sad demise of his uncle in 563/1165, he became his successor in his uncle’s “khanaqah”(Sufi center). He established three more “Ribats”(religous hostel) (1) Ribat-e-Nasri, (2) Ribat-e-Bistami, (3) Ribat-e-Mamoonia, for the students.

His Bounty spread all over the world, due to his wide spread popularity, people across the globe came to benefit from his kind-self. A good story is told of the practical wisdom which lay underneath his spirituality light, a Sufi wrote to him, “I gave up working, I find my self inclined to a life of idleness, where as if I work I am overcome with pride: which had I better do? “He replied briefly and to the point ” work and ask God’s forgiveness for your pride”. He spent most of his life in Baghdad were he enjoyed the favour of then caliph al-nasir: He was appointed “Shayakh al-Shayyukh” (master of masters) by the caliph. There he received visitors & letters from all parts of the Muslim world.

On many occasions he became the ambassador of peace between Muslim emperors. He was respected evenly throughout the Muslim world by each and everyone. Ibn-e-Khalikan [608-681H.D.] (The Historian of the time of Shaykh Suharawardi) wrote “In his last age no body was able to compete with him”. Every day millions presented “Nazranas” (a gift by the wealthy people to their spiritual master) which was distributed among the poor and needy in the evening. He led an absolutely simple life, although millions came into his hand. Even when he died, there were no sufficient funds for his funeral.

He had love and affection for Sufis of other “Tariqahs” (Sufi orders) and was well respected by those Sufis as well, like Hadrat Mu’in al-Din Hasan Sijzi Chishti [D.633/1235] (the founder of Chishti Sufi order in the subcontinent), Shaykh Abu al-Janab Najm al-Din Ahmed Bin Omar al-Kubra entitled as Shaykh-e-Wali Trash (D.618/1221)[the founder of kubraviyyah, Firdawsiyyah Sufi order], Shaykh Baha al-Din Walad [D.628/1231.(Father of famous Persian Sufi poet Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi) and many others. Hadrat Farid al-Din Masood Gunj-e-kkar[D.664/1265] (famous Chishti Sufi of the subcontinent). traveled to Baghdad for Shaykh al-Suhrawardi and lived many days in his khanaqah, and gained sacred fortunes through his personality.

Imam Yafi’i (D.678/1367) has written in his book that Ibn ‘Arabi (D.638/1240) accidentally met with Shaykh al-Suharwardi, they had eye contact with each other and separated with out uttering a single word. Later somebody enquired about Skaykh Suhrawardi from Ibn ‘Arabi, answering he said “he (Shaykh Surawardi) is a person who, from top to toe is filled with SUNNA (traditions, customs) of the Holy Prophet”. And, when Shaykh Suhrawardi was asked about his opinion of Ibn ‘Arabi, he replied, ” He is an ocean of realities”. In “Risala Iqbaia” it is stated that people asked Shaykh Sa’d al-Din Hamuya (D.650/1252), how he describes Ibn ‘Arabi in his words, at this his answer was that ” He can be compared with a stormy ocean with who’s area is infinite”. Then again was asked about Shaykh Suhrawardi, he replied, “The noor (light) of Prophets Following on his forehead is in such a manner which is quite a different thing”.

Due to his motivation many great mystics merged on the scene. Sufi’s from all over the world flocked to his Khanaqah to obtain initiation from him. He sent his vicegerents to all parts of the world.In “Akhbar al-Akhiyar-Fi-Asrar al-Ibrar” it happened to be Shaykh Suhrawardi’s statement that ‘In the subcontinent I have many vicegerents’. According to my latest research he sent approximately 20 vicegerents in the subcontinent. Some of his renowned vicegerents in the Subcontinent are “Sheykh al-Islam Sayyid Nur al-Din Mubarak bin Abd ‘Allah bin Sharf al-Hussaini al-Ghaznavi, entitled as Mir-e-Dehli (D.632/1234) who was shaykh al-Islam of Dehli in the period of Sultan al-Tutmish (D.633/1236), Shaykh al-Islam Baha al-Din Abu Mohammad Zakaria Multani (D.661/1262), Shaykh Qadi Hamid al-Din Muhammad Bin Atta Al-Faruqi Nagauri (D.643/1274), Shaykh Jalal al-Din Muhammad Tabrazi (D.642/1244), Shaykh Nuh Bhakari sindhi, Shaykh sayyid Ahmad known as Sultan Sakhi Sarwar (D.577/1181), Shaykh Dia al-D in Rumi(D.721/1323), shaykh Majd al-Din Muhammad Haji Jajermi (D.623/1226), Shams al-Aarfeen Shah Turkaman Bia’bani Dehlvi, Shaykh sayyid Qadi Shihab al-Din bin Muhammad al-Hussaini known as “Jagjote”(nur.e.alam, light of world, D.666/1267-68, he is the maternal grand father of shaykh Sharf al-Din Ahmed bin yahya Munyari.D.872/1380 ), Shaykh sayyid mo’iz al-Din sandailvi “Abdal”, Shaykh Mir sayyid Ila al-Din jawarri, Shaykh Sharaf al-Din Iraqi, Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim Ansari, Shaykh Ahmad Bin Zain Multani, Shaykh Sulaman Bin Abd ‘allah Al-abasi Al-Hashmi etc. He also sent his vicegerents in other parts of the world. Few of his vicegerents are: The famous persian poet Shaykh Muslihuddin Sa’di of Shiraz (D.691/1292) (sheraz-Iran), Shaykh Najib al-Din Ali Bin Buzghush Sherazi (D.678/1279) (sheraz-Iran)

Shaykh Shams al-Din Safi Sherazi (sheraz-Iran), Shaykh sayyid Muhammad Shujah Mashadi (Mashhad-Iran), Shaykh shah Sharf al-Din Mehmood Bin Husain Tustri (shoukara-Iran). Shaykh Muhammad Yemni (yeman), Shaykh Ahmed of Damascus(Damascus-Syria), Shaykh Najam al-Din al-taflissi(baghdad-Iraq), Shaykh sayyid Muhammad Baghdadi (Baghdad-Iraq), Shaykh Rasheed al-Din Abu abd Allah Muhammad bin Abu al-Qasim Al-Maqri al-Sufi al-Baghdadi (baghdad-Iraq), Shaykh Ahmed al-Faruqi al-Kabuli (Kabul, Afghanistan), Shaykh Izz ‘al-Din Abu al-Abass Ahmed Faruqi etc. According to some books, famous Persian Poet Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafiz of Sheraz(D.791-92/1389) (if this date of death is correct then it is not possible) and Shaykh Ahmed Al-alvi Al-Yassvi (D.562/1166)(founder of Yasviyya Sufi order) are also the vicegerents of Shaykh Suhrawardi. Till now through latest research only the names of his three sons have been discovered. One of them is Shaykh Zain al-Din, second is shaykh Imad al-Din Mohammad (D.655/1257), he became his successor after him, he was his companion in his last pilgrimage in 628/1231 and third is Shaykh jamal al-Din.

He wrote several books on different topics in his life. The famous German Orientalist Brockelmann in his book “Geschichte der arabischen literature” tells us about the 21 books written by the Shaykh. One of them is “Awa’rif al-Ma’arif” (Bounties of divine knowledge) which for centuries has been very popular amongst the Sufi’s. And taught it to their disciples. It was written in Mecca, Shaykh narrates that whenever he faced any difficulty in writing, he turned towards Allah, had “Tawaf” (circumambulation around the Ka’ba) of the “Bait Ullah”. The book is written in Arabic, and in every period it was translated in different languages. Famous Suharawardi Sufi Shaykh Sayyid Jalal al-Din Hussain bin Ahmad Kabir known as Makhdum-i-Jahaniyan Jahan gusht (D.785/1384) spoke many times about this book “if somebody does not have a “Murshid” (Spiritual Master) and if he reads this book “Awa’rif al-Ma’arif” carefully and abides by it, he will become a perfect Sufi.”

According to some books, in his last age he became blind and he passed away in 1st Muharam 632/1234 in Baghdad.The Imam of his Janaza prayer was Hadrat ohd al-Din Hamid bin abu al-Fakher kimani(D.635/1238), and he gave him last Ghussal (bath), clothed him “Ka’fan (shroud)” also according to some books Hadrat kirmani also benificted from Hadrat suhrawardi and vicegerent of Hadrat suhrawardi in suhrawardi sufi order.

He is burried in the grave yard of “Vardia”. His shrine is situated near Bab-e-Wustani. This tomb is one of the oldest in Vardia and is surrounded by graves. In 1273/1856 Ismael Pasha, Governer of Shehroze modernized the tomb and decorated it. In 1320/1902 some parts of the tomb which were damaged were renovated. On his grave there stands a tomb build by the “Salguuk” style of construction.

Note: It is to be noted that there are two different personalities by the names of Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi. One of them is he who is described above and is the founder of the “Surawardi Sufi Taraqah” and the other one named Shaykh Shihab al-Din Abu ‘al-Futuh Ahmad (Or Yahya) Ibn Habaish (or Ya’ish) Ibn Amirak called al-Maqtul (D, 578/1191). Also called Shaykh Al-Ishraq. He was one of the greatest master and presenter of the philosophy of “Illumination”. According to Some books he (Shaykh Suhrawardi Maqtul) was the nephew of the great Shaykh Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi, but it is doubted that this is correct.

Golden Lineage 

Hadrat Syyidna Imam al-Anbia MUHAMMAD Ibn Abd Allah

Hadrat Syyidna Imam al-A’ima, Ali al-Murtada

Hadrat Syyidna Imam Hussain bin Ali al-Murtada

Hadrat Syyidna Imam Zayn al-Abidin Ali bin Imam Hussain

Hadrat Syyidna Imam Mohammad al-Baqir

Hadrat Syyidna Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq

Hadrat Syyidna Imam Musa al-Kazim

Hadrat Syyidna Imam Ali al-Rida

Hadrat Syyidna Abu al-Mehfooz Asad al-Din Ma’ruf al-Karkhi

Hadrat Syyidna Abu al-Hasan Sari bin Mughalas al-Saqti

Hadrat Syyid al-Taifa Abu al-Qasim Junaid bin Mohammad al-Khurraz al-Baghdadi

Hadrat Syyidna Abu Bakr Jahfar bin Yunas al-Shibbli

Hadrat Syyidna Rahim al-Din Ayad

Hadrat Syyidna Abd al-Aziz bin Harith bin Asad al-Yemani al-Tamimi

Hadrat Syyidna Abu al-Farah Mohammad Yusaf bin

Abd Allah bin Yunas al-Tartusi

Hadrat Syyidna Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Ahmad

Hadrat Syyidna Abu Sa’id Mubarak bin Ali al-Mukharrimih

Hadrat Syyidna Muhyi al-Din Shaykh Abd al-Qadir bin Mosa al-Gilani al-Hasani

Hadrat Syyidna Shaykh al-Shayyukh Shahab al-Din Abu Hafs Umar bin Mohammad al-Bakri al-Suhrawardi

[Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam / Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho]

Blessed Birth

Hadrat Baba Farid al-Din Ganj-e-Shakar Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho was born on the 29th Sha’ban in 569 A.H. [April 4, 1179 C.E.] in Khotwal, a village near Lahore . He is the direct descendant of Hadrat Umar Farooq Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, the second Caliph of Islam.

Genealogy tracing back to Hadrat Umar Ibn al-Khattab

1. Hadrat Umar Bin Khattab, second Caliph
2. Hadrat Abdullah Ibn Umar
3. Nasir
4. Sulaiman
5. Adham, King of Balkh and Bukhara
6. Ibrahim Bin Adham aka Abou Ben Adham
7. Ishaq
8. Abul Fatah
9. Abdullah Waa’iz Kobra
10. Abdullah Waa’iz Soghra
11. Masood
12. Sulaiman
13. Ishaq
14. Muhammad
15. Naseeruddin
16. Farrukh Shah Kabuli, King of Afghanistan
17. Shahabuddin Kabuli
18. Muhammed
19. Yousuf
20. Ahmed, died fighting Hulaku Khan
21. Shoaib
22. Jamaluddin Sulaiman
23. Baba Fareed Gunj Shakar

Childhood

It is narrated that a miracle occurred before his birth proving his Saintship. One day, during the pregnancy of his mother, she wanted to pluck some plums from her neighbour’s tree without his permission, but the child in her womb (Hadrat Baba Farid) created a severe pain in her stomach that forced her to abandon the idea of plucking. After a few years after Hadrat Baba Farid’s Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho birth, his mother lovingly expressed: “My dear son, during your confinement I never ate anything which was unlawful.” Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, however, smiled and said, “But, my dear mother, you wanted to pluck some plums from our neighbour’s tree without his permission when I had created a severe pain in your stomach which saved you from this unlawful act.”

Hadrat Shaikh Nizamud Deen says that once while Hadrat Shaykh Faridud Deen’s mother was performing Salaat, a thief entered. When he gazed at her, he immediately became blind. The thief cried out: “I came with the intention of stealing and have become blind. I pledge never to steal again.”

At this time Hadrat’s age was approximately 6 years. He made dua and the man’s sight was restored. In the morning he came with his entire family and accepted Islam. He was named Abdullah. He remained in Hadrat’s service to the end.

Early Education

After he had completed his early religious education at the age of 7 in Khotwal, his mother sent him for higher education to Multan. Here he stayed in a masjid where he learnt the Holy Qur’an by heart and studied Hadith, Fiqh, Philosophy and Logic under the tutorship of Mawlana Minhajuddin.

Under Spiritual Guidance of Khwaja Qutbuddin Baktiar Kaki Alaihir raHmah

During his studies, Hadrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Baktiar Kaki Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho of Delhi visited Multan where Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho became his Murid (disciple) in the Chishtiyya Silsila. Upon the instructions of his Pir-o-Murshid, he undertook a tour of Islamic countries, for about 18 years from 593 A.H. to 611 A.H. [1196 C.E. to 1214 C.E.] he traveled to Ghazni, Baghdad Sharif, Jerusalem, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Makkah Mukarrama and Madinah al-Munawwarah meeting many great saints and Sufis. After the demise of Hadrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho the mantle of spiritual leadership in the Chishtiyya Silsila fell on the shoulders of Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho when Khwaja Qutbuddin Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho nominated him to be his Khalifa or spiritual successor.

Baba Farid’s Sufi Order

1. Hasan al-Basri
2. Abdul Waahid Bin Zaid
3. Fudhail Bin Iyadh
4. Ibrahim Bin Adham
5. Huzaifah Al-Mar’ashi
6. Abu Hubairah Basri
7. Mumshad Dinawari
8. Abu Ishaq Shami
9. Abu Ahmad Abdal
10. Abu Muhammad Bin Abi Ahmad
11. Abu Yusuf Bin Saamaan
12. Maudood Chishti
13. Shareef Zandani
14. Usman Harooni
15. Moinuddin Chishti
16. Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki
17. Fariduddin Ganj Shakar

Journeys and Mujahida

It is narrated that when Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho visited Madina Sharif he was spiritually commanded by the Holy Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam to visit Baghdad Sharif and meet Hadrat Abdul Wahab, son of Hadrat Ghaus-al-Azam Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho. He was to receive some sacred relics from him. Accordingly, when he reached Baghdad Sharif, he received a box from Hadrat Abdul Wahab Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho which contained the following holy relics: Two flag-poles which were used by the Holy Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam in some of the battles fought by him; one wooden bowl in which the Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam used to eat from; one pair of scissors and one turban which was used by the holy Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam.

Because of political upheavals in Delhi, he was obliged to shift the centre of the Chishtiyya mission from Delhi to Ajodhan now known as “Pak Patan”. The Khanqah of Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, with his patronage, became a great university of “moral and spiritual training.” Thousands of aspirants, scholars, dervishes and Sufis reaped benefit from this spiritual university. Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho reached the pinnacle of spiritual glory through extremely hard Mujahidas (spiritual striving) to gain mastery over the Nafs.

Why Called “Ganj Shakar”?

There are several views for him being known by his famous title of Shakar Ganj. When he decided on mujaahidah, his Shaikh advised hunger. He therefore began fasting. After three days a man came and presented some bread. Thinking this to be by divine direction, he accepted and ate the bread. Within a few moments he became nauseous and vomited out whatever he had eaten. He reported this incident to his Shaykh who said:

“After three days you ate the food of a drunkard. Shukr unto Allah that the food did not remain in your stomach. Now remain hungry for another three days and then eat what comes from the Ghaib.”

After three days nothing came. He was overcome by weakness. On account of the extreme hunger he put some pebbles into his mouth. The pebbles turned into sugar. Fearing that this may be some deception, he spat it out. A short while later, the extreme hunger again constrained him to put pebbles into his mouth. These too became sugar which he again spat out. This happened again for a third time. In the morning he reported to his Shaykh who said:

“It would have been good if you had ate it.”

Since that day he was called Shakar Ganj.

It is also narrated that once a trader was taking a caravan of camels laden with sugar from Multan to Delhi. When he was passing through Ajodhan, Hadrat Baba Fariduddin Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho enquired casually as to what he was carrying on his camels. The trader sarcastically replied, “It is salt.” Hadrat Baba Fariduddin Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho also affirmed, “Yes, it may be salt.” When the trader reached Delhi, he was awfully perturbed to find that all his bags of sugar had turned to salt. He immediately returned to Ajodhan and apologized before Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho. Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho said: “If it is sugar then it shall be sugar.” The trader returned to Delhi and was pleased to find that the salt had turned back to sugar by the Grace of Almighty Allah. This is how Hadrat Baba Sahib Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho received the title of “Ganj-e- Shakar.”

An staunch devotee of Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam

He fasted throughout his life and maintained his nightly prayers and devotions. Fear of Allah always dominated him. He was an staunch devotee of Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam and dedicated his entire life to the veneration of the beloved Prophet’s Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam immortal glory. At the mention of the Holy Prophet’s Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam character he would often weep out of his love and devotion. Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho avoided kings, government officials and the rich. He also warned his Khalifas, devotees and Murids to avoid their company. He was a living picture of humility. Whatever he received was spent in the name of Allah and his chest overwhelmed with mercy and forgiveness. Many miracles are attributed to him during his lifetime and after his passing away.

Anecdotes of Hadrat Baba Farid

One of the devotees of Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho named Mohammed Nishapuri lived in Gujrat and was going to Delhi with three other companions. On their way through the jungle, robbers encountered them. Mohammed Nishapuri and his companions had no weapons to defend themselves. In such a helpless state, Mohammed Nishapuri remembered his Pir, Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, and also offered prayers seeking Allah’s help in their predicament. Surprisingly, the robbers threw away their weapons and offered an apology to the party and went away.

—————

One day some poor people came from Arabia to see Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and said that they were strangers to the land and that all their money was spent before the end of the journey. Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho gave them some dried dates which were lying in front of him at the moment and said, “Take them and go. Your journey shall be completed by the Grace of Allah.” Apparently, these persons were very disappointed with such a “cheap gift”. After leaving the Khanqah, they wanted to throw away the dates, but just as they were about to do so, to their amazement, the dates turned into gold. Regretting their thoughts, these people left happily uttering their heartfelt gratitude and prayers for Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho.

—————

Once seven hundred holy men were sitting together. An inquirer put them four questions to which Baba Farid replied.

Q.1 Who is the wisest of men?
A.1 He who refrain from Sin.

Q.2 Who is the most intelligent?
A.2 He who is not disconcerted at anything.

Q.3 Who is most independent?
A.3 He who practices contentment.

Q.4 Who is the most needy?
A.4 He who practice it not.

—————

Once an old woman came to Baba Fairid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and said that her son had disappeared some twenty years ago and that his whereabouts had not been traced since then. She requested him to pray for her son’s return. Baba Farid Radi Allah Anhu went into a trance and after some contemplation told to the old woman:” Go, your son has reached home.” The old woman was overjoyed to learn this and met her son on her way home.

—————

The Officer-in charge of Lahore sent Baba Fairid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho one hundred Dinars through someone. The man kept fifty Dinars for himself and offered the remaining fifty to him. Accepting the fifty Dinars he told him: “Indeed, you have divided them equally well.” The man was ashamed. Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho returned the fifty Dinars to the man too, warning him that criminal breach of trust is a sin that render’s all prayers futile and ineffective.

—————

Once, due to utter weakness, Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho helped himself to walk with the aid of a staff. But after a few steps, the colour of his face suddenly became purple, as if he was under heavy pressure. He threw away the staff. When Hadrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, who was escorting him, inquired the reason for this, Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho replied, “I wanted to take help of the staff, but Allah’s Displeasure frowned upon me for depending on other’s help instead of His. I, therefore, threw away the staff and felt highly ashamed of this weakness in my faith in Lord, the Almighty.”

A man came to Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho once and submitted that he had no son, and requested Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho to pray for one. Thereupon, Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho said that he had given him seven sons. After some years, the person came to him again, but this time, He was not alone, but accompanied by his seven sons.

Journey to other World

On the 5th of Muharram, during the Isha prayer while in the act of Sajdah, he uttered “Ya Haiyyu Ya Qauyum” [O Self-Subsisting, O Eternal] and with these words on his lips his soul disappeared into the eternal bliss of his Lord Almighty.

An old woman that was one of the devotees of the Saint presented a piece of cloth for the kaffan of Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho. She implored:

“I have not spun even a single thread of this cloth without having Wudu . I had prepared it for my own coffin but if it is accepted for the kaffan of this great Saint, I feel confident, Allah would be pleased with to pardon my sins and grant me salvation.”

Hadrat Baba Farid’s Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho son accepted this cloth as the Kaffan.

Mazar Sharif

His Mazar Sharif is in Pak Patan, Pakistan. Hadrat Sabir Pak, Hadrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Hadrat Jamaluddin Hansi rehmatulla alaihim are among his favorite Murids and Khalifas. It is generally recognized that he had three wives and many children. Hadrat Baba Farid Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho was indeed one of the most brilliant stars of the Chishtiyya Order and is held in high esteem by one and all.

My restlessness has reached such a level – I spend morning and evening in your love.
Look upon me now with a merciful eye! Salutations to you, do now make my heart pleased, O Faridudeen Gunj e Shakar!

• Stay away from jealousy if you want tranquility in your heart.
• The termination of self consciousness occurs with that ibaadah in which both the head and heart bow down.
• Only that heart can become the treasury of wisdom and intellect in which there is no love for this World.
• That which people regard as trouble is but only a gift from the beloved Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala, regard it as a demand made by love.
• The completion of man occurs with 3 things – Fear, Expectation and Love. The fear of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala stops one from sin. Expectation keeps on steadfast on following commands and orders. Love makes one see only the pleasing of the beloved.
• A Dervish is that person who keeps his eyes, mouth and ears closed, i.e. He hears, sees or speaks no evil.
• Never forget Death under any circumstances.
• Avoid all quarrelling & polemics.
• Non-violence is the most beautiful ornament of Peaceful life.

Al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Hasan al-Basri was born at Madina al-Munawwarah in 21 (642), the son of a slave captured in Maisan who afterward became a client of the Prophet Mohammad’s Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him secretary Zaid ibn Thabit. Brought up in Basra, he met many Companions of the Prophet including, it is said, seventy of those who fought at the Battle of Badr. He grew up to become one of the most prominent figures of his generation, being famous for his uncompromising piety and outspoken condemnation of worldliness in high places. Whilst the Mo’tazelite theologians claim him as the founder of their movement (and ‘Amr ibn ‘Obaid and Wasel ibn ‘Ata’ are counted amongst his pupils), in Sufi hagiography he is revered as one of the greatest saints of early Islam. He died at Basra in 110 (728). Many of his speeches —he was a brilliant orator— and sayings are quoted by Arab authors and not a few of his letters have been preserved.

The conversion of Hasan of Basra

The beginning of Hasan of Basra’s conversion was as follows. He was a jewel merchant and was called Hasan of the Pearls. He traded with Byzantium, and had to do with the generals and ministers of Caesar. On one occasion, going to Byzantium he called on the prime minister and conversed with him a while.

“We will go to a certain place,” the minister told him, “if you are agreeable.”

“It is for you to say,” Hasan replied. “I agree.”

So the minister commanded a horse to be brought for Sayyiduna Hasan al-Basri. He mounted with the minister, and they set out. When they reached the desert Hasan perceived a tent of Byzantine brocade, fastened with ropes of silk and golden pegs, set firm in the ground. He stood to one side. Then a mighty army, all accoutered in the panoply of war, came out; they circled the tent, said a few words, and departed. Philosophers and scholars to the number of nigh four hundred arrived on the scene; they circled the tent, said a few words, and departed. After that three hundred illumined elders with white beards approached the tent, circled it, said a few words, and departed. Thereafter more than two hundred moon-fair maidens, each bearing a plate of gold and silver and precious stones, circled the tent, said a few words, and departed.

Sayyiduna Hasan relates that, astonished and filled with wonder, he asked himself what this might be.

“When we alighted,” he went on, “I asked the minister. He said that the Caesar had a son of unsurpassable beauty, perfect in all the branches of learning and unrivaled in the arena of manly prowess. His father loved him with all his heart.”

Suddenly he fell ill so Hasan related on the authority of the minister. All the skilled physicians proved powerless to cure him. Finally he died, and was buried in that tent. Once every year people come out to visit him. First an immense army circles the tent, and they say: “O prince, if this circumstance that has befallen thee had come about in war, we would have all sacrificed our lives for thee, to ransom thee back. But the circumstance that has befallen thee is at the hand of one against whom we cannot fight, whom we cannot challenge.” This they say, and then return.

The philosophers and the scholars come forward, and say: “This circumstance has been brought about by one against whom we cannot do anything by means of learning and philosophy, science and sophistry. For all the philosophers of the world are powerless before him, and all the learned are ignorant beside his knowledge. Otherwise we would have contrived devices and spoken words which all in creation could not have withstood.” This they say, and then return.

Next the venerable elders advance, and say: “O prince, if this circumstance that has befallen thee could have been set right by the intercession of elders, we would all have interceded with humble petitions, and would not have abandoned thee there. But this circumstance has been brought upon thee by one against whom no mortal man’s intercession profits anything.” This they say, and depart.

Now the moon-fair maidens with their plates of gold and precious stones advance, circle the tent, and say: “Son of Caesar, if this circumstance that has befallen thee could have been set right by wealth and beauty, we would have sacrificed ourselves and given great moneys, and would not have abandoned thee. But this circumstance has been brought upon thee by one on whom wealth and beauty have no effect.” This they say, and return.

Then Caesar himself with his chief minister enters the tent, and says: “O eye and lamp of thy father, O fruit of the heart of thy father, O dearest beloved of thy father, what is in thy father’s hand to perform? Thy father brought a mighty army, he brought philosophers and scholars, intercessors and advisers, beautiful maid-ens, wealth and all manner of luxuries; and he came himself. If all this could have been of avail, thy father would have done all that lay in his power. But this circumstance has been brought about by one before whom thy father, with all this apparatus, this army and retinue, this luxury and wealth and treasure, is power-less. Peace be upon you, till next year!” This he says, and returns.

These words of the minister so affected Hasan that he was beside himself. At once he made arrangements to return. Coming to Basra, he took an oath never to laugh again in this world, till his ultimate destiny became clear to him. He flung himself into all manner of devotions and austerities, such that no man in his time could exceed that discipline.

Hasan of Basra and Abu Amr

It is related that Abu Amr, the leading authority on the reading of the Qur’an al-Karim, was teaching the Quran one day when suddenly a handsome boy arrived to join his class. Abu Amr gazed at the child improperly, and immediately he forgot the whole Quran, from the Alif of “al-Hamd” to the Seen of “wa al-Naas”. A fire possessed him, and he lost all self-control. In this state he called on Hasan of Basra and described to him his predica-ment.

“Master,” he wept bitterly, “such is the situation. I have forgotten the whole Quran.”

Sayyiduna Hasan was most distressed to hear of his situation. “Now is the season of the pilgrimage,” he said. “Go and perform the pilgrimage. When you have done that, repair to the mosque of Khaif. There you will see an old man seated in the prayer-niche. Do not spoil his time, but let him be until he is disengaged. Then ask him to say a prayer for you.”

Abu Amr acted accordingly. Seated in a corner of the mosque, he observed a venerable elder and about him a circle of people seated. Some time passed; then a man entered, clad in spotless white robes. The people made way before him, greeted him, and conversed together. When the hour of prayer arrived, the man departed and the people departed with him, so that the elder remained alone.

Abu Amr then approached and saluted him. “In Allah’s name, help me,” he cried.

And he described his predicament. The elder, much concerned, raised his eyes to heaven.

“He had not yet lowered his head,” Abu Amr recounted, “when the Quran came back to me. I fell down before him for joy.”

“Who recommended me to you?” the elder asked. “Hasan of Basra,” Abu Amr replied.

“Anyone who has an Imam like Hasan,” the old man commented, “what need has he of another? Well, Hasan has exposed me. Now I will expose him. He rent my veil, and I will rend his as well. That man,” he went on, “in the white robes who entered after the afternoon prayer and left before the rest, and the others did him reverence — that man was Hasan. Every day he prays the afternoon prayer in Basra and then comes here, converses with me, and returns to Basra for the evening prayer. Anyone who has an Imam like Hasan, why should he ask me for a prayer?”

Hasan of Basra and the Fire-worshiper

Hasan had a neighbor named Simeon who was a fire-worshiper. Simeon fell ill and was at death’s door. Friends begged Hasan to visit him; he called, to find him in bed, blackened with fire and smoke.

“Fear God,” Hasan counseled him. “You have passed all your life amid fire and smoke. Accept Islam, that God may have mercy on you.”

“Three things hold me back from becoming a Muslim,” the fire-worshiper replied. “The first is, that you speak ill of the world, yet night and day you pur-sue worldly things. Secondly, you say that death is a fact to be faced, yet you make no preparation for death. In the third place, you say that God’s face shall be seen, yet today you do everything contrary to His good pleasure.”

“This is the token of those who know truly,” Hasan commented. “Now if believers act as you describe, what have you to say? They acknowledge the unity of God; whereas you have spent your life in the worship of fire. You who have worshiped fire for seventy years, and I who have never worshiped fire — we are both carried off to Hell. Hell will consume you and me. God will pay no regard to you; but if God so wills, the fire will not dare so much as to burn one hair of my body. For fire is a thing created by God; and the creature is subject to the Creator’s command. Come now, you who have wor-shipped fire for seventy years; let us both put our hands into the fire, then you will see with your own eyes the impotence of fire and the omnipotence of God.”

So saying, Hasan thrust his hand into the fire and held it there. Not a particle of his body was affected or burnt. When Simeon saw this he was amazed. The dawn of true knowledge began to break.

“For seventy years I have worshiped fire,” he groaned. “Now only a breath or two remains to me. What am I to do?”

“Become a Muslim,” was Hasan’s reply.

“If you give it me in writing that God will not pun-ish me,” said Simeon, “then I will believe. But until I have it in writing, I will not believe.”

Hasan wrote it down.

“Now order just witnesses of Basra to append their testimony.”

The witnesses endorsed the document. Then Simeon wept many tears and proclaimed the faith. He spoke his last testament to Hasan.

“When I die, bid them wash me, then commit me to the earth with your own hands, and place this document in my hand. This document will be my proof.”

Having charged Hasan thus, he spoke the attestation of faith and died. They washed his body, said the prayer over him, and buried him with the document in his hand. That night Hasan went to sleep pondering what he had done.

“How could I help a drowning man, seeing that I am drowning myself? Since I have no control over my own fate, why did I venture to prescribe how God should act?”

With this thought he fell asleep. He saw Simeon in a dream glowing like a candle; on his head a crown, robed in fine raiment, he was walking with a smile in the garden of Paradise.

“How are you, Simeon?” Hasan inquired.

“Why do you ask? You can see for yourself,” Simeon answered. “God Almighty of His bounty brought me nigh His presence and graciously showed me His face. The favours He showered upon me surpass all description. You have honoured your guarantee; so take your document. I have no further need of it.”

When Hasan awoke, he saw that parchment in his hand.“Lord God,” he cried, “I know well that what Thou doest is without cause, save of Thy bounty. Who shall suffer loss at Thy door? Thou grantest a Guebre of seventy years to come into Thy near presence because of a single utterance. How then wilt Thou exclude a believer of seventy years?”

Gems of Wisdom by Sayyiduna Imam Hasan al-Basri Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho

• That work that is free from wisdom becomes a burden. That silence that is free from wisdom is inattentiveness. That sight that is free from wisdom is disgraceful.
• The magnificence of knowledge is with tolerance and that of tolerance is with knowledge.
• The person who lives in the World safeguarding himself from the love of the World, has benefited himself and others.
• Sorrow gives the soul strength.
• The freedom of sight and tongue imprisons the soul.
• Whoever ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala wished to disgrace becomes engrossed in the search of wealth.
• Those people are truly afraid who are truly afraid of ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala.
• The punishment of this World is that your heart becomes dead.
• There is no greater or bigger animal that is more foul mouthed ruder and harsher than the Nafs.