A'LA HADRAT, IMAM-E-AHLE SUNNAT, MUJADDID-E-DEEN-O-MILLAT, ASH SHAH IMAM AHMED RAZA KHAN MUHADDITH BAREILWI AL-QAADIRI (RADI ALLAHU ANHU)-5
Al Malibari
IMAM AHMED RAZA’S BELIEFS
Imam-e-Ahle Sunnat, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi's (Alaihir Rahmah) beliefs and the correct beliefs of generations of Muslims are mentioned below:
(1) Allah Ta'ala is Supreme, free from all defects and faults, free from the restraints of time, space and location.
(2) The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) was created from the Noor of Allah Ta'ala and is the first and best of all creations.
(3) The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) is the leader of all the Prophets and is the Seal of Prophethood.
(4) The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) is alive and is present and witnessing (Haazir Naazir).
(5) The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) is the last and final Prophet of Allah Ta'ala and no Prophet is to come after him.
(6) The knowledge of the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) is no match for knowledge of Allah Ta'ala and the knowledge of entire creation in no match for the Holy Prophet's (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) knowledge. The knowledge of the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) has no relation or comparison whatsoever with that of Allah, the Most High.
(7) The knowledge of the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) was gifted knowledge from Allah Ta'ala. Ilm-e-Zati (Personal knowledge) is a feature of Allah Ta'ala only. For non-Allah, it is strictly impossible and whosoever accepts even an iota of Ilm-e-Zati for non-Allah, he is a Kaafir.
(8) The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) was granted Knowledge of the Unseen by Allah Ta'ala, that is, certain amount of knowledge not total knowledge.
(9) The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) was granted ascension [Me’raj] with his body.
(10) The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) is the governing authority of the two worlds (Mukhtaar-e-Do Aalam).
(11) To call from far and seeking intercession is lawful and permissible.
(12) To celebrate the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) [Moulood] and to stand up [Qiyam] in his honour.
(13) The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) is the intercessor on the Day of Judgement, etc.
(14) To respect relics [Tabarukaat] of the Prophets and elders and to rever them.
(15) To visit the Mazaars (Tombs) or graves of the Awliya with the intention of tawassul.
(16) To celebrate 'Urs which is free from impermissible practises and sin.
These are beliefs and practices permitted by our predecessors and even today, 90% of the Muslims of the world practice these actions. The Arabic book, Mafaheem Yajib an Tusahhaha [Matters that need to be Clarified], by the late Sayyid Muhammad bin Alawi ibn Abbas al-Maliki al-Makki (Alaihir Rahmah) is a detailed exposition and research on the practices of the Ahle Sunnah. Many contemporary Arab and African scholars have endorsed this book, many of whom are the members of Raabta al-'Aalam-e-Islami, Makka. Mawlana Yaseen Akhtar Misbahi of India has translated this book into Urdu by the name of Islah-e-Fikr-o-I'ytiqad, which has been published both in India and Pakistan.
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) also abided by the following and encouraged his followers to live by these:
(1) Shari'ah is the ultimate law and following it is obligatory for all Muslims;
(2) To refrain from Bid'ah is of utmost importance;
(3) A Sufi without knowledge or a Shaykh without actions is a tool in the hands of the devil;
(4) It is impermissible to imitate the Kuffar, to mingle with the misguided [and heretics] and to participate in the festivals of the Hindus.
(5) It is polytheism [Shirk] to prostrate to any other than Allah Ta'ala with the intention of worship. If such a prostration is out of reverence [Sajdah at-Tahiyyah], it is Haraam.
(6) It is prohibited to ridicule other Muslims and consider oneself higher than others.
(7) The iconography of the Shi'ah [ta'aziyah] and respecting such icons is forbidden.
(8) Qawwali [sama'a] with musical instruments is forbidden.
(9) It is not permissible for women to travel to visit graves [or maqams of Awliya].
(10) It is not permissible to make pictures of living things.
(11) Abbreviating the blessing “Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam” to an acronym “sa'd lam ayn meem”, [in English it is abbreviated as PBUH] is impermissible.
(12) To visit false graves [that have no basis or record but simply the product of folklore] is impermissible.
(13) Feeding the poor and needy with the intention to donate the reward to the dead is permissible; but to hold banquets where even the rich are invited is impermissible.
For further details, see Mawlana Yaseen Akhtar's book, Imam Ahmed Raza aur Radd e Bid'aat-o-Munkaraat, [Imam Ahmed Raza and his refutation of heresies and innovations] published in India and Pakistan.
The Mujaddid A'la Hadrat (Alaihir Rahmah) has written a lot against Bid'ah (innovations). Refer to: Al-Zubda al-Zakiyya li Tahrim-i Sajud al-Tahiyya; Murawwaj al Naja li khuruj al-Nisa; Hadi al-Nas fi Rusum al-A'ras; Jali al-Sawt li Nahi al Da'wat Imam al-Mawf, etc. etc.
A'la Hadrat (Alaihir Rahmah) kindled the torch of the Sunnah in the subcontinents. It is a fact admitted by the scholars of the world. Sunni Islam is the true Islam, true religion and the only religion. The anti-Islam lobby tries their best to disintegrate the unity of Ahle Sunnah. In his last word of advice, A'la Hadrat (Alaihir Rahmah) said: “You are the simple and innocent sheep of dear Mustafa (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) and wolves are around you. They want you to drag you to Hell with them. Beware of them! Be far from them!”
A point of note: Bareilly is no religion. In 1986, Taajush Shari'ah Hadrat Allama Mufti Mohammed Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari, the great grandson of the great Imam, during his Hajj pilgrimage when he was arrested and questioned, declared in Saudi Arabia that Bareilly is no religion. He made it very clear that if it is a religion, he has no part of it. The fact is that neither Bareilly nor Deoband is a religion. Both are different Schools of Thought. Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) was the Torch Bearer of Ahle Sunnah wa Jama'ah. He was deadly against disintegrating the unity of the Ahle Sunnah. He fought for this aim throughout his whole life.