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)-6
Al Malibari
BAY’AT AND KHILAFAT
TAKING BAY’AT & HIS KHILAFAT
In the year 1294 A.H., at the age of 22 years, Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) became the Mureed (disciple) of Imam-ul-Asfiya, Hadrat Shah Aale Rasool Marehrawi (Alaihir Rahmah). The incident surrounding the Bay'at (Spiritual Allegiance) and Khilafat (Spiritual Successorship) of Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) is as follows:
Once Hadrat Mawlana Abdul Qaadir Badayouni (Alaihir Rahmah) came to Bareilly Shareef. He invited Imam Ahmed Raza to go to Marehra Shareef with him. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan accepted his invitation and they both set off to Marehra Shareef. When they arrived at the station in Marehra Shareef, Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah) said, “I am receiving the scent of my Murshid.”
When they reached the Khanqah-e-Barakaati and entered, Hadrat Shah Aale Rasool (Alaihir Rahmah) saw Imam Ahmed Raza Khan and said, “Come in. I have been awaiting your presence for a long time.”
Sayyiduna Shah Aale Rasool (Alaihir Rahmah) immediately made Imam Ahmed Raza a Mureed and blessed him with Khilafat and I'jazat in all the Sufi Silsilas. Thus, Imam Ahmed Raza's Peer-o-Murshid (Spiritual Guide) was Hadrat Shah Aale Rasool (Alaihir Rahmah).
Hadrat Abul Hussain Noori Barakaati (Alaihir Rahmah), who was also the Peer-o-Murshid of Mawlana Mustapha Raza Khan (Alaihir Rahmah), was also present in this spiritual gathering. He was also among the Awliya Allah. For the benefit of the others who were present and to make them aware of the exalted calibre and status of Imam Ahmed Raza, he asked Hadrat Shah Aale Rasool (Alaihir Rahmah) a question. He asked, “Huzoor! The ritual here at Marehra Shareef is that if any person comes here, and after becoming Mureed desires to gain Khilafat and I'jazat, then we ask him to perform Mujahida (struggle in the path of Allah Ta'ala). We also give him dried bread to eat as part of his spiritual training. After this, if we find him worthy enough, then we grant him Khilafat and I'jazat in one or two Silsilas, but you have blessed this young man with Khilafat and I'jazat of all the Silsilas, and even commanded him to look at and verify all the Kitaabs which you have written. Why is this so?”
Hadrat Shah Aale Rasool (Alaihir Rahmah) answered with the following words: “O people! You do not know Ahmed Raza. Others who come here need to be prepared before gaining I'jazat and Khilafat. But Ahmed Raza Khan has come prepared from Allah Ta'ala. All he needed was a link and this is why I made him Mureed.
“I always teared through the fear of Allah Ta'ala that if on the Day of Qiyamah he questioned me concerning what I had brought for him from the world, then I would have no answer. But, today, that fear no longer exists. If on the Day of Qiyamah the Almighty asks, 'O Aale Rasool! What have you brought for me?' Then, I will immediately present Imam Ahmed Raza to my Creator.”
This highly spiritual incident alone explains the status of Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah).
HIS SPIRITUAL SISILA - TAREEQAH 'ALIYYAH QADIRIYYAH BARKATIYYAH JADIDAH AND GOLDEN CHAIN OF MASHAA'IKH
1) Mujaddid Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Rida [1272-1340/1856-1921] Murid of
2) Khatim al-Akabir Sayyid Sha Aal-e-Rasool Ahmadi al-Husani Qadiri [1209-1296/1795-1879] Murid and nephew of
3) Ghawth al-Waqt Sayyid Sha Aal-e-Ahmad Ache Mia al-Husani Qadiri [1160-1235/1747-1820] Murid and son of
4) Asad al-'Arifin Sayyid Sha Hamza al-Husani Qadiri [1131-1198/1719-1783] Murid and son of
5) Burhan al-Muwahhidin Sayyid Sha Aal-e-Muhammad al-Husani Qadiri [1111-1164/1700-1751] Murid and son of
6) Sahib al-Barkat wa al-Darajat Sayyid Sha Barkat Allah al-Husani Qadiri [1070-1142/1659-1729] Murid of
7) Sayyid Jalil al-Shan Shaykh Fadl Allah al-Husani Qadiri [1111 Hijri /1700 AD] Murid and son of
8) Sayyid Mir Ahmad al-Husani Qadiri [1084 Hijri/1673 AD] Murid and son of
9) Sayyid Jalil al-Qadar Mir Muhammad al-Husani Tirmidi Qadiri [1006-1071/1598-1661] Murid of
10) Hadrat Shaykh Sayyid Jamal al-Awliya al-Qadiri Jahanabadi [973-1047/1565-1638] Murid of
11) Qadi Diya al-Din Shaykh Jiya al-Qadiri Newtanwi [925-989/1519-1581] Murid of
12) 'Arif Billah Muhammad Bhikari Sayyid Nizam al-Din al-Qari al-Qadiri [890-981/1485-1574] Murid of
13) Shams al-'Arifin Mawlana Sayyid Ibrahim Iraji al-Qadiri [953/1546] Murid of
14) 'Arif Billah Hadrat Shaykh Baha al-Millat al-Din Shattari al-Qadiri [921/1516] Murid of
15) Shaykh Sayyid Ahmad al-Jilani al-Qadiri [853/1449] Murid of
16) Shaykh Sayyid Hasan al-Jilani al-Qadiri [781/1379] Murid of
17) Shaykh Sayyid Moosa al-Jilani al-Qadiri [763/1362] Murid of
18) Shaykh Sayyid 'Ali al-Jilani al-Qadiri (739/1339) Murid of
19) Shaykh Sayyid Muhiyy al-Din Abu-Nasr Muhammad al-Jilani al-Qadiri [656/1258] Murid and son of
20) Shaykh Sayyid Qadi al-Imam Abu-Swaleh Habat Allah al-Jilani al-Qadiri ]562-632/1167-1235] Murid and son of
21) 'Arif al-Jalil al-Imam Taj al-Millat al-Din Sayyid Abu-bakr 'Abd al-Razzaq al-Jilani al-Qadiri [528-623/1134-1226] Murid and son of
22) Ghawth al-Aghyath Sultan al-Awliya Taj al-'Urafa Qutb al-Irshad Marja' al-Awtad Shaykh al-'Alamin Ghawth al-Konayn Sayyid Abu-Muhammad 'Abd al-Qadir Jilani al-Hasani al-Husaini [470-561/1078-1166] Murid of
23) Qadi al-Qodat Imam al-Ajal Shaykh Abu Sa'id al-Mubarak al-Makhzoomi [513/1119] Murid of
24) Shaykh al-Islam wa al-Muslimin Abu al-Hasan 'Ali al-Qarshi al-Amawi al-Hakkari [409-486/1017-1093] Murid of
25) Al-Imam Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf Abu al-Farah Tartusi [447/1055] Murid of
26) Al-Imam Shaykh Abu al-Fadl 'Abd al-Wahid Tamimi [425/1033] Murid of
27) Taj al-'Arifin al-Imam Shaykh Abu-Bakr Shibli [247-334/861-946] Murid of
28) Sayyid al-Ta'ifah al-Oliyah Abu al-Qasim Junaid al-Baghdadi [218-297/833-910] Murid and nephew of
29) 'Arif al-Jalil Shaykh Sirr al-Din Abu al-Hasan Sirri al-Saqati [155-253/771-867] Murid of
30) Al-Imam al-Mutasarrif Abu-Mahfooz Shaykh Asad al-Din Maroof al-Karkhi [200/815] Murid of
31) Sayyid al-Ajal Ibn Rasoolillah al-Imam 'Ali al-Rida [153-208/770-824] Murid and son of
32) Sayyiduna wa Mawlana al-Imam Moosa al-Kazim [128-183/745-799] Murid and son of
33) Sayyiduna wa Mawlana al-Imam Jafar al-Sadiq [80-148/699-756] Murid and son of
34) Sayyiduna wa Mawlana al-Imam Muhammad al-Baqir [57-114/676-733] Murid and son of
35) Sayyiduna wa Mawlana al-Imam al-Sajjad Zain al-'Abidin [38-94/659-712] Murid and son of
36) Sayyid al-Shohadah Sayyiduna wa Mawlana al-Imam Husain Shahid al-Karbala [4-61/626-680] Murid and son of
37) Zoaj al-Batool Akh al-Rasool Bab al-Wilayah Amir al-Mu'minin Sayyiduna wa Mawlana al-Imam 'Ali al-Murtudah. Murid and Son-in-Law of
38) Khatim al-Nabiyyeen Sayyid al-Mursaleen Rahmat al-'Alameen Sayyiduna wa Mawlana wa Shafi'ina Abi al-Qasim Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah Rasool Rab al-'Alameen Alaihi Afdalus Salati wat Tasleem
[Ridwanullahi Tabaraka wa Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een]
CERTIFICATES OF KHILAFAH OF VARIOUS SILSILAS IMAM AHMED RAZA WAS BESTOWED WITH BY HIS MURSHID-E-KAMIL
1) Sisilah Tareeqah 'Aliyyah Qadiriyyah Barkatiyyah Jadidah
2) Sisilah Tareeqah Qadiriyyah Abaiyyah Qadimah
3) Sisilah Tareeqah Qadiriyyah Ahdaliyyah
4) Sisilah Tareeqah Qadiriyyah Razzaqiyyah
5) Sisilah Tareeqah Qadiriyyah Munawwariyyah
6) Sisilah Tareeqah Chishtiyyah Nizamiyyah 'Atiqiyyah
7) Sisilah Tareeqah Chishtiyyah Mehbobiyyah Jadidah
8) Sisilah Tareeqah Sohrawardiyyah Wahidiyyah
9) Sisilah Tareeqah Sohrawardiyyah Fadliyyah
10) Sisilah Tareeqah Naqshabandiyyah 'Ula'iyyah Siddiqiyyah
11) Sisilah Tareeqah Naqshabandiyyah 'Ula'iyyah (the chain linked to the illustrious Sufi Master Sayyid Moula Abu al-'Ula Naqshabandi Akbarabadi)
12) Sisilah Tareeqah Badi'iyyah
13) Sisilah Tareeqah 'Uloh'wiyyah Manamiyyah
These also include the 4 Mystical Musafahas, namely:
- The Sanad of Musafaha Jinniyyah
- The Sanad of Musafaha Khidriyyah
- The Sanad of Musafaha Mu'ammariyyah
- The Sanad of Musafaha Manamiyyah
LIST OF IJAZAT OF ALL THE DU'AS, AWRAD (LITANIES) AND ASH'GHAAL THAT WAS BESTOWED BY SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION DIRECTLY INTO HIS HEART FROM THE HEARTS OF HIS MASHAA'IKH:
1) The Secrets of the Holy Qur'an
2) Asma-e-Ilahiyyah
3) Dala'il al Khayrat
4) Hisne Hasin
5) Qasre-Matin
6) Asma-e-Arba'inah
7) Hisb al-Bahr
8) Hisb al-Bar
9) Hisb al-Nasr
10) All the Ah'zab of Silsila Shazaliyyah
11) The Hirz of 104,000 Awliya
12) Hirz al-Amirayn
13) Hirze Yamani (also known as Du'a-e-Saifi Sharif)
14) Du'a-e-Mughni
15) Du'a-e-Haydari
16) Du'a-e-Izra'ili
17) Du'a-e-Suryani
18) Qasidah Khamriyyah also famously known as Qasidah Ghawthiyyah
19) Salat al-Asrar or Salat Ghawthiyyah
20) Qasidah Burda
21) Du'a-e-Bashmakh
22) Takbir-e-'Ashikan
23) Nim Takbir
24) Irsal al-Hawatif
IMAM AHMED RAZA’S MUREEDS AND KHULAFA
There were many Mureeds (disciples) and Khulafa (Spiritually Successors) of Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah). They have spread far and wide over the Indo-Pak subcontinent and also in all parts of the world. Their impact, influence and contribution towards the development of Islamic culture and thinking have left its mark in the pages of history. Nearly 35 are in the other parts of the world and 30 in Indo-Pak subcontinent. These are the leading ones:
1. Hujjatul Islam, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Muhammad Haamid Raza Khan Noori Barakaati
2. Ghausul-Waqt, Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind, Hadrat Mawlana Mustapha Raza Khan Noori Barakaati
3. Hadrat Allama Mawlana Abdus Salaam Jabalpuri
4. Sadrul-Afaadil, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Na'eemuddeen Muraadabadi
5. Malikul Ulema, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Sayyid Zafar'uddeen Bihaari
6. Mubbalig-e-Azam, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddique
7. Sadrus Shariah, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Mufti Amjad Ali
8. Qutbul Madinatul Munawwara, Hadrat Allama Shaykh Zia'uddeen Ahmed Al Madani
9. Burhaan-e-Millat, Hadrat Allama Burhaanul Haq
10. Hadrat Allama Mawlana Mukhtar Ahmad Siddiqi Meerati
11. Shaykh Muhammad Abd al-Hayy
12. Shaykh Ahmad Khalil
13. Shaykh Ahmad Khudravi
14. Shaykh Muhammad bin Abi Bakr
15. Shaykh Muhammad Sa'id
16. Hadrat Mawlana Sayyid Ahmad Ashraf &
17. Hadrat Mawlana Shah Sulayman
Professor Dr Sayyid Jamaalud'deen, Director Zaakir Hussain Institute of Islamic Studies and Jaamia Millia, New Delhi, India, said: “Ahmad Raza Khan wrote over a thousand books and booklets which influenced many. He founded a Darul Uloom called Manzarul Islam in 1904 which was able to draw students from different regions in India. His views were sought on a wide variety of social, religious and political affairs, and he proved guidance to many, including those from established Khanqahs. Many of his Disciples and Khalifas later founded madressas which soon developed into important spiritual centres. Some took up teaching, such as Mawlana Sulaiman Ashraf, who headed the Theology Department of the M.A.O. College, Aligarh, while others swelled their ranks of the Pesh Imams in the Mosques.”
We will discuss, very briefly, the lives of three of the famous Khulafa of Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah).
Sadrush Shari'at, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Amjad Ali Razvi (Alaihir Rahmah): He was born in 1296 A.H. and passed away in 1367 A.H. at the age of 71 years. He is author of the internationally renowned book, Bahare Shariat, which is in 18 volumes. This book contains a volume of information dealing with the Hanafi Law of Fiqh and answers all the questions pertaining to it. It is presently a handbook of all Muslim institutions.
Hadrat Allama Amjad Ali (Alaihir Rahmah) also propagated Islam to the non-Muslims. He spent much of his time teaching.
Once in Ajmer Shareef, a very critical problem arose among the Muslims which threatened to destroy the Imaan of the innocent Muslims. The Hindu Rajput of India began introducing many new beliefs and false innovations to such an extent that those who were illiterate began following many traditions introduced by the Hindu Rajput. When Allama Sadrush Shari'at (Alaihir Rahmah) heard of this, he immediately went to Ajmer Shareef with few of his students. He began teaching and making the Muslims aware of the polytheism and false innovations that they were following. Through his hard efforts, the Imaan of many Muslims were saved and many non-Muslims also accepted Islam.
He was blessed with 8 sons and each one of them became great Aalims. His 2 daughters became Aalimas. His sons, Muhaddith-e-Kabeer, Hadrat Allama Zia-ul-Mustapha Qadri and Allama Baha-ul-Mustapha Qadri are well-known.
Shaykh Zia'uddeen Al Madani (Alaihir Rahmah): He resided in Madinatul Munawwara and came there in 1327 A.H. He made Nikah to a pious lady from a Sayed family. Before coming to Madinatul Munawwara he lived for some time in Baghdad Shareef.
He was a great Aalim, Sufi and Wali of his time. He is known as “Qutbe Madina”. He hailed from a very illustrious family. His father was the Allama Abdul Hakim Siyalkoti (Alaihir Rahmah), a powerful Islamic Scholar of his time, who gave the title of “Mujaddid-e-Alf Thaani” to Imam Rabbani, Imam Ahmed Sirhindi Faruqi (Alaihir Rahmah), the Mujaddid of the 11th Islamic Century.
With the exception of being the Khalifa of Sayyidi A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza (Alaihir Rahmah), he also gained Khilafat from various other Mashaa'ikh. Some of them are: Shaykh Ahmad Shams Maghribi, Shaykh Mahmoodul Maghribi, Mawlana Abdul Baaqi Farangi, and Allama Abu Yusuf Nibhaani (radi Allahu Ta'ala anhum ajma'in).
He was a great Sheikh-e-Tariqat of his time. He spent day and night giving advice and guidance to the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam). He is well-known for his piety and steadfastness in Islam in Damascus, Iraq, Egypt, India, Pakistan, South Africa and many other countries. Shaykh Zia'uddeen Madani (Alaihir Rahmah) also had many Khulafa and Mureeds throughout the world. He left this mundane world on the 12th of August 1981 in the city of Madinatul Munawwara.
Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi Meerati (Alaihir Rahmah): He was born in the year 1892 and passed away in the year 1954 at the age of 62. He is buried in Jannatul Baqi.
His Eminence, Hadrat Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi (Alaihir Rahmah) was an Islamic Scholar and a holder of a B.A. degree from the University of Meerat (India). He spoke Arabic, Urdu, Persian, English, French, Indonesian, Malaysian and Japanese languages fluently.
In 1951, he toured the world preaching and propagating Islam. He visited America, London, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Europe, Southern Africa, Trinidad, Philippines, Iraq, Holland, Thailand, Ceylon, France, and many other countries. As a result of his efforts, thousands of non-Muslims accepted Islam. Princess Gladys Palmer [Burinia], Merwate Tifinch [the French Governor of Mauritius], Mahifl Donawa [Minister of Trinidad] and Mr F. Gengson [Christian Minister of Ceylon] were some of the famous personalities who accepted Islam after meeting him.
His Eminence was also responsible for establishing various Masaajids and Islamic Educational Centres throughout the world. Three of the famous Masaajids are the Hanafi Masjid [Colombo], the Sultaan Masjid [Singapore] and the Naagarya Masjid [Japan]. 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”.
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 and discussed many religious problems with him. He was very much impressed by Mawlana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi (Alaihir Rahmah) 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.”