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)-7

[Al Malibari]

VISIT TO THE HARAMAIN SHARIFAIN

 

IMAM AHMED RAZA'S FIRST HAJJ

 

Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) performed his first Hajj and Ziyaarah on the 26th of Shawwal 1295 A.H. [1876] at the age of 20.

 

One day, after completing his Hajj, he went to perform his Maghrib Salaah before the Maqaam-e-'Ibrahim. Having completed his Salaah, the Shafi'i Imam of Makkatul Mukarramah, Shaykh Hussain bin Saleh Kamaal, who was observing him, came to him, took his hand and led him to his house. The great Imam then placed his hand on the blessed forehead of Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) and said: “Verily, I am observing the Noor of Allah Ta'ala on this forehead.”

 

Without hesitation, he blessed Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) with the Sanad (Certificate) of Sahih Sitta (six compilers of Hadith: Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood, Tirmizi and Nisa'i). He also began addressing Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) by the title of “Zia'uddeen” or “The Light/Splendour of Deen.”

 

Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) was also blessed with the Sanads of Ahadith from the Hanafi Muftis in Makkatul Mukarramah, Allama Abdur Rahmaan Siraaj and Mufti Shaykh Sayed Ahmad Dahlaan Shafi'i (Alaihimur Rahmah).

 

It was also during this historical visit that Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi informed the Ulema-e-Haramain Sharifain concerning the blasphemous and corrupt beliefs of the Ulema of Deoband.

 

IMAM AHMED RAZA'S SECOND HAJJ

 

Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) performed his second Hajj in 1323 A.H. [1905] when he was 49 years of age.

 

On the 25th of Zil-Hajj, Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza once again had the opportunity of meeting the great Imam, Shaykh Saleh Kamaal. He also met Allama Sayed Isma'il and many other Noble Ulema, who showed great respect towards him.

 

It was on this occasion that Shaykh Saleh Kamaal presented Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza with five questions pertaining to I'lm-e-Ghaib (Knowledge of the Unseen). These questions were posed on behalf of the Wahabi Ulema of Makkatul Mukarramah. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) had to answer these five questions in two days.

 

In so happened that on the following day, Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza(Alaihir Rahmah) contracted a heavy fever. In spite of his illness, he managed to answer all the questions relating to I'lm-e-Ghaib. In fact, Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) presented such a detailed answer to the question of I'lm-e-Ghaib that it turned out to be a complete book on its own. He named this book, Al Daulatul Makkiyah Bil Maadatil Ghaibiya.

 

The learned Ulema of Haramain Sharifain were totally astounded when Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) presented this book to them on time. He completed this 400 pages book in only 8 hours. It was in the pure Arabic language. If one totals the numerical values of the Arabic letters in the context of this Kitaab, Al Daulatul Makkiyah Bil Maadatil Ghaibiya, one would discover that they amount to 1323. It was the same year, that is, 1323 A.H., in which Imam Ahmed Raza Khan performed his second Hajj!

 

IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY PROPHET (SALLAL LAAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM)

 

It was during Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi's (Alaihir Rahmah) second visit to the Haramain Sharifain that his yearning to see the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam) became very great. He continued reciting the Durood Shareef in front of the Rauda-e-Shareef and felt confident of seeing the exalted personality of his Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam).

 

It was during the second night of his visit to the doorstep of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam) that he was given the opportunity of actually seeing the blessed personality of the Master of both Worlds, Muhammad-e-Mustafa (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam). On that night, Imam Ahmed Raza, in a state of total submission, lifted his pen and began writing a Na'at in praise of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam). The first line of that Na'at is: “Wo Soo'e La'la Zaar Phirte hai ...” The beautiful Na'at continues praising the most Beloved of Allah (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam) and ends with the following verse: “Koyi Kyu Pooch teri baat Raza, Tujh se kutte hazaar phirte hai.”

 

Here, Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) lowers himself to the extremes and addresses himself as the “dog” of the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam). At this point, he was given the opportunity of seeing his Master, the Mercy unto the Worlds, Muhammad-e-Mustafa (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam) standing beside the Rauda-e-Mubaarak. The great Imam recites:

“Ar're Ai Raza tere dil ka pata chala ba mushkil

Darre Roza Ke Muqaabil wo hume Nazar to Aaya

Ye na pooch kaisa paaya, Ye Na pooch kaisa paaya

Tuje humd he khuda ya, Tuje humd he khuda ya.”