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)-2
Al Malibari
IMAM AHMED RAZA KHAN_CHILDHOOD YEARS_EDUCATION
MEETING WITH A MAJZOOB
At the age of 3, Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) was once standing outside the Raza Musjid in Bareilly Shareef. An “unknown” person, attired in an Arab garb, approached him and spoke to him in the Arabic language. Those who witnessed this incident heard the young Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) converse with the person in pure Arabic. They were surprised. The person who spoke to the young Imam Ahmed Raza was never seen again in Bareilly Shareef!
A Majzoob (one drowned in his love for Allah Ta'ala) by the name of Hadrat Basheeruddeen Sahib (Alaihir Rahmah) used to live at the Akhoon Zada Musjid in Bareilly Shareef. He spoke harshly to anyone who visited him. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah) wished to meet this Majzoob. One night, at about 11 o'clock, he set off alone to meet him. He sat respectfully for about 15 minutes outside the Majzoob's house. After some time, the Majzoob became aware of him and asked, “Who are you to Mawlana Raza Ali Khan.” Imam Ahmed Raza replied that he was the grandson of Hadrat Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah). The Majzoob immediately embraced him and took him into his little room. He asked Imam Ahmed Raza Khan if he had come for any specific matter, but Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) said that he had come to ask him to make Du'a for him. On hearing this, the Majzoob, for approximately half an hour, made the following Du'a: “May Allah have mercy on you, May Allah bless you.”
PIETY AS A CHILD
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) was 4 years old when this incident took place. On that particular day, he was dressed in a long Kurta. As he stepped out of his house, a few female prostitutes walked past him. In order to cover his eyes, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan quickly held the bottom of his Kurta with both his hands and lifted the Kurta over his face. When one of the prostitutes saw what he did, she said, “Well! Young man. You covered your eyes, but allowed your Satr to be shown.” With his face and eyes still covered, the young Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah) replied, “When the eyes are tempted, then the heart becomes tempted. When the heart is tempted, then the concealed parts become tempted.”
Another incident which happened in the Month of Ramadaan also shows Imam Ahmed Raza's (Alaihir Rahmah) piety and fear of Allah. Fasting was not Fardh (obligatory) upon him because he was still a child, but he still intended to keep fast. Now, for a little child to keep fast in India during the summer season was very difficult as temperatures sometimes soared to 50 degrees Celsius. On that day, the heat of the sun was intense. Allama Naqi Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah) took the young Imam Ahmed Raza Khan into a room where sweets were kept. He closed the door and said, “There, eat the sweets.” Imam Ahmed Raza Khan replied that he was fasting. His father then said, “The fasting of children is always like this. The door is closed and no one is looking. Now you may eat.” On hearing this, the young Imam Ahmed Raza respectfully said, “Through Whose command I am fasting, He is Seeing me.” On hearing this answer from a little child, tears began to flow from the eyes of Allama Naqi Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah). They both then left the room.
HIS FIRST LECTURE ON THE MOULOOD
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) delivered his first lecture at the age of 6 years. It was during the glorious month of Rabi-ul-Awwal. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan stood on the Mimbar (Pulpit) and delivered a 2 hours lecture before a very large gathering which also consisted of many 'Ulema. He spoke on the Wilaadat (Birth) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam) which affected the hearts of the listeners. They were thoroughly impressed by the maturity and eloquence of this lecture.
HIS INTELLIGENCE AS A CHILD
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) was so gifted and intelligent that there was no need for him to study beyond the fourth Kitaab of his course under the tutorship of any of his teachers. He studied the remaining Kitaabs by himself and used to later ask his teachers to test him.
Once, his teacher asked him, “Mia! Are you a Jinn or a human being? It takes me much time to teach a lesson, but it does not take you much time to learn the same lesson.” Imam Ahmed Raza Khan answered, “Praise be to Allah that I am a human.”
When he was 8 years old, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) wrote a Mas'ala concerning Fara'idh (Fards). When his father looked at the answer, he happily remarked, “If only some adult could answer in this manner.”
At the age of 10, when he was studying the Kitaab, 'Ilm-us- Thuboot, under the guidance of his father, he noticed a few objections and answers of his father on the side of the page. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) studied this book carefully and wrote such a well- explained footnote that even the need for an objection was ruled out. His father came across his research on that objection. He was so delighted that he stood up and held his son to his heart and said, “Ahmed Raza! You do not learn from me, but you teach me.”
COMMENCEMENT OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION
HE LESSON OF 'LAAM' AND 'ALIF'
During Imam Ahmed Raza Khan's “Bismillah Kwaani” or “Commencement of Islamic Education” a very strange incident occurred.
His Ustaadh asked him to read the Tasmiyah, and then told him to read “Alif, Baa, Taa, . . . .” Imam Ahmed Raza did so until he came to the word “Laam Alif” at which point he became silent. When his teacher asked him once more to read “Laam Alif”, he remained silent. The teacher instructed him, “Say, 'Laam Alif'”. Imam Ahmed Raza then replied, “I have already read them earlier on. What need is there for me to repeat it?”
Allama Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), who was witnessing this incident, said, “Son! Listen to what your Ustaadh is saying.” Upon further reflection, Allama Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), realised the reason for the objection of the young Imam Ahmed Raza. It was because the teacher was teaching Imam Ahmed Raza the lesson on single alphabets. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan felt that how was it possible that a complete word like “Laam Alif” should be found in such a lesson that only dealt with single alphabets!
Allama Mawlana Raza Ali Khan knew that it was a very delicate matter that could not be understood by a child. Nevertheless, he explained, “Son! It is true that which you are thinking of. But the 'Alif' which you had earlier read, in reality, is 'Hamza' and this which you are reciting now is 'Alif'. 'Alif' is always 'Sakin' and one cannot commence with an alphabet which is 'Sakin'. Therefore, it is for this reason that the alphabet 'Laam' is brought before the 'Alif'.”
When Imam Ahmed Raza Khan heard this answer, he replied, “If that be the case, then any other alphabet could be joined to the 'Alif'. Why the 'Laam'?” Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), out of sheer happiness and excitement, embraced Imam Ahmed Raza and made Du'a for him. He then explained the answer to Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) in the following brilliant manner: “In looking at them they both appear to be very much alike, since they are both empty. Even when writing them together they look very much alike. When it comes to their qualities then 'Laam' is the heart of 'Alif' and 'Alif' is the heart of 'Laam'.”
Allama Mawlana Raza Ali Khan was in reality opening the doors and the treasures of knowledge and spiritual insight to Imam Ahmed Raza Khan.
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) was only 4 years old when he completed the recitation of the Holy Qur'an.
COMPLETION OF STUDIES
Due to the extraordinary intelligence bestowed upon him by Almighty Allah, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan completed his Islamic education at the very young age of 13 years, 10 months and 5 days. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) states that, “I completed my religious education during the middle of the month of Shabaan in the year 1286 A.H. I was 13 years, 10 months and 5 days old at that time. It was also at this time that Salaah became Fard upon me and I began to have great interest in the Laws of Shari'ah”. [Al 'Ijaazatur Radawiyya]
His Divinely bestowed intelligence was such, that when Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) completed a quarter of any given book at the feet of a teacher, he used to study and memorize the remainder of the book by himself. It is recorded that he completed an Arabic commentary on the book, Hidaayatun Nahw, on Arabic Syntax, when he was only 8 years old!
HIS TEACHERS
His initial education was taught by:
1. Mirza Qadir Baig Barelwi (d.1297 AH) and
2. He completed his education with his father, Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan Barelwi.
He also took knowledge of Islam and 'Ijazahs in Hadith from the following scholars:
1. Mawlana Abdul Ali Khan Rampuri (d.1303 AH) student of 'Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi
2. Shah Abul Husain Ahmad Noori Marahrawi (d.1324 AH) student of Mawlana Noor Ahmad Badayouni
3. Shah Aale Rasool Marahrawi (d.1297 AH) student of Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlwi (d. 1239 AH)
4. Imam al-Shafi'iyah Shaykh Husain Salih (d.1302 AH)
5.Mufti Hanafiya Shaykh Abdur Rahman Siraj (d.1301 AH)
6. Mufti Shafi'iyah Shaykh Ahmad bin Zayn Dahlan (d.1299 AH) Qadi al-Quddat, Makka