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)-1
Al Malibari
IMAM AHMED RAZA’S BIRTH AND NAME
HIS BIRTH
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) was born on a Monday, the 10th of Shawaal 1272 A.H. [14th June 1856], at the time of Zohr Salaah in a place called Jasoli, which is in the city of Bareilly, India.
A few days before the birth of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), his father, Allama Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), narrated a wonderful dream to his father, Allama Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), who interpreted this dream by saying: “This is a sign that you are going to be the father of a child, a boy, who will grow up to be pious and knowledgable. His name will gain prominence from East to West.”
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) was a master of Abjad and he deduced his year of birth from the verse of the Holy Qur'an: “These are they in whose hearts Allah has inscribed faith and helped them with a spirit from Himself.” (58:2)
HIS NAME
The name that was given to him at birth was “Mohammed.” The name corresponding to that year of his birth was “Al Mukhtaar.” His grandfather, Allama Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), named him “Ahmed Raza.” It was by this name that he was famously known. Much later in his life, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) added the title “Abdul Mustafa” to his name signifying his great love and respect for the Messenger of Allah (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Much later, the Grand Mufti of Makkatul Mukarramah, Sheikh Hussain bin Saleh Makki (Alaihir Rahmah), gave him the title of “Zia'udeen Ahmed.”
The followers of the great Mujaddid Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah) call him “A'la Hadrat”. “Hadrat” means “person” and “A'la Hadrat” means “great”, “A'la Hadrat” means “a great person”.
ANCESTRAL TREE OF IMAM AHMED RAZA KHAN BARELWI
The following ancestral tree of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah) is carefully constructed from the authentic Books of Genealogy and meticulously scrutinized with references to other books in this field. The ancestors were compared with dates and periods found in books written by Historians who were masters in this field.
The Ancestral tree is as follows:
Mujaddid-e-A'zam A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan s/o Ra'isul-Atqiya Imam Muhammad Naqi Ali s/o 'Arife-Billah Imam Rida Ali s/o Mawlana Hafiz Kazim 'Ali s/o Mawlana Sha Muhammad A'zam Khan s/o Mawlana Muhammad Sa'adat Yaar Khan s/o Shuja'at Jung Muhammad Sa'idullah Khan Bhadur Qandhari s/o 'Abdur-Rahman Khan s/o Yusuf Khan Qandhari s/o Dawlat Khan s/o Badal Khan s/o Da'd Khan s/o Bar'hech Khan s/o Sharfud-Deen 'Urf Shar'haboon s/o Ibra'him 'Urf Sard'bun s/o Sayyiduna Qais Malik 'Abdur-Rashid Sahabi s/o 'Ays s/o Salool s/o 'Utba s/o Na'eem s/o Marra s/o Malik Jalandar s/o Malik Askandar s/o Zaman s/o 'Unais s/o Bah'lool s/o Sa'lam s/o Salah s/o Qaroon s/o Nasr s/o Ashmu'ail s/o Na'eem s/o Akram s/o Ash'ath s/o Sharood s/o Makhal s/o Nusrat s/o Qalaj s/o Sher s/o 'Atham s/o Faylool s/o Karam s/o 'Amaal s/o Hudayfa s/o Mat'hal s/o Qabal s/o 'Ilm or 'Aleem s/o Ash'mool s/o Haroon s/o Qamar s/o Abi s/o Su'heb s/oalal s/o Lu'ee s/o 'Ameel s/oaraj s/o Arzand s/o Mandool s/o Saleem or Sa'lam s/o Afghana s/o Sarad al-Muqallab bi Malikaloot s/o Qais s/o 'Utbah s/o Alas s/ou'ail s/o Yahoodah s/o Sayyiduna Nabi Ya'qoob s/o Sayyiduna Nabi Ishaq s/o Khaleelullah Sayyiduna Nabi Ibra'him s/o Ta'rikh s/o Makhood or Nahoor s/o Shuroo' or Ash'ragh s/o Sayyiduna Nabi Hood s/o Abir s/o Sha'lakh s/o Araf'khashad s/o Saam s/o Sayyiduna Nabi Nooh [age: 1400 years] s/o La'lak [age:780 years] s/o Malik Matla'shakh [age: 900 years] s/o Sayyiduna Nabi Idris s/o Bayarad s/o Mahla'heel s/o Qay'nan s/o Anoosh s/o Sayyiduna Nabi Sheeth [age: 912 years] s/o Sayyiduna Nabi Adam [age: 900 years]
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah) belongs to the Afghani Bar'hech tribe which was of royal descent. He was from a very respectable and noble tribe in Afghanistan. Great 'Ulama and Mashaa'ikh hailed from his dignified tribe whose Mazaars (Tombs) are still a center of solace and spiritual enlightment for the people both in Afghanistan and Hindustan. A separate detailed book can be written about these great dignitaries. An important point to note is that in the ancestry of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), there are eight Prophets and one Sahabi.
The Prophets are:
1) Sayyiduna Nabi Ya'qoob (Alayhis Salaam)
2) Sayyiduna Nabi Ishaq (Alayhis Salaam)
3) Sayyiduna Nabi 'Ibrahim (Alayhis Salaam)
4) Sayyiduna Nabi Hud (Alayhis Salaam)
5) Sayyiduna Nabi Nuh (Alayhis Salaam)
6) Sayyiduna Nabi Idris (Alayhis Salaam)
7) Sayyiduna Nabi Sheeth (Alayhis Salaam)
8) Sayyiduna Nabi Adam (Alayhis Salaam)
The one Sahabi is Sayyiduna Qais Malik ‘Abdur-Rashid Sahabi (Radi Allahu Anhu). He is the 43rd descendant of Afghana and 45th descendant of Hadrat Malik Taloot. Qais bin 'Ays lived in the mountain of Ghour. In one of the expeditions of Sayyiduna Khalid ibn Walid (Radi Allahu Anhu), he became interested in Islam. So he took some of the leaders of Afghanistan and wen to Madina al-Munawwarah. They met the beloved Prophet of Allah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) and immediately accepted Islam on his sacred hands. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) then said to him: “Qais is a Hebrew word and I am an Arab.” The Prophet of Allah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) gave him the Islamic name “'Abdur-Rashid”. The beloved Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) further said: “You are the Awlad of Malik Taloot whom Allah blessed with the title of Malik (King). In the future you too will be remembered with the title of 'Malik'.” This is how he got the title of “Malik” from the office of Prophethood.
It was in the Madinan period that the Beloved Nabi (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) was planning for the conquest of Makka and appointed Sayyiduna Malik 'Abdur-Rashid (Radi Allahu Anhu) and the other Afghani Sahabi as the leaders of the secret service scouts of the army led by Sayyiduna Khalid ibn Walid (Radi Allahu Anhu). The Afghani Mujahids displayed their astonishing bravery in the battle of Makka. Sayyiduna Malik 'Abdur-Rashid (Radi Allahu Anhu) himself killed 70 Kufaar in this battle. His role and bravery in this war brought great joy to the heart of the Beloved Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) who predicted that a great family will emerge from the off-springs of this Sahabi. They will be steadfast on religion and will strengthen the Deen of Islam like “Bataan” (conqueror with great bravery or Military Advisor). It was the effects of this Du'a of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) that great 'Ulama and Mashaa'ikh were born in the lineage of Sayyiduna Malik 'Abdur-Rashid (Radi Allahu Anhu).
Since the Beloved Nabi's (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) Du'a for the Awlad of Sayyiduna Malik 'Abdur-Rashid (Radi Allahu Anhu) was that they will strengthen the Deen and their strength will be like “Bataan”, from that day on he became famous by the title of “Bataan”. This word “Bataan” in later days changed to the present day name “Pathaan”. Eventually, the Awlad of Sayyiduna Malik 'Abdur-Rashideen (Radi Allahu Anhu) became synonymous by the word “Pathaan”. This is how the word “Pathaan” can into existence. Sayyiduna Malik 'Abdur-Rashid (Radi Allahu Anhu) married Mutahira, the daughter of Sayyiduna Khalid ibn Walid (Radi Allahu Anhu), and he passed away at the age of 87 years.
The services of the great Mujaddid Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) is known to the Muslim World and precisely the manifestations of the Du'as of the Beloved Prophet of Allah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam).
FATHER & GRANDFATHER
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah), was the son of Allama Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan, who was the son of Allama Mawlana Raza Ali Khan, who was son of Allama Mawlana Mohammed Kaazim Ali Khan, who was the son of Allama Mawlana Shah Mohammed Azam Khan, who was the son of Allama Mawlana Sa'adat Yaar Khan, who was the son of Allama Mawlana Sa'eedullah Khan (Alaihimur Rahmah).
The great forefathers of Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) migrated from Qandhar (Kabul) during the Mogul rule and settled in Lahore. Allama Mawlana Sa'eedullah Khan, the first forefather of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi, held a high government post when he arrived in the Indo-Pak subcontinent. His son, Allama Mawlana Sa'adat Yaar Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), after gaining victory in the city of Ruhailah, was elected as the Governor of that city.
Allama Mawlana Hafiz Kaazim Ali Khan, the son of Mawlana Mohammed Azam Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), was a Tax-collector in the city of Badayoun. His son, Allama Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), the illustrious grandfather of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), did not serve in the Government. It was from this generation that the heads of the family began to adopt Tassawuf as their way of life.
We have included a very brief history of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi's (Alaihir Rahmah) father and grandfather.
HIS FATHER: Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi's (Alaihir Rahmah) father, Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), received his education at the hands of his father, Allama Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah). He wrote more than 50 books, among them, Suroorul Quloob fi Zikri Mouloodul Mahboob, which received a very high distinctive position amongst Islamic literature. The treatise is characteristic in its condemnation of the enemies of Islam, both internally and externally. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan's father passed away in 1297 A.H. (1880) when Imam Ahmed Raza was 24 years old.
HIS GRANDFATHER: One of the greatest Sufis of his time, Allama Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (Alaihir Rahmah) was born in the year 1224 A.H. He was also a great warrior and fought with General Bakht Khan against English invaders in the year 1834. He received his early education at the hands of Molwi Khaleerur Rahman. At the age of 23, he had already completed his Islamic education, earning certificates of distinction in various fields of knowledge. He passed away in the month of Jamaadi-ul-Awwal in the year 1282 A.H. (1866). Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelwi (Alaihir Rahmah) was at this time only 10 years old.