The Sacred Knowledge of AlaHadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Baraylawi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu

The Great Imaam and Mujaddid, Sayyiduna AlaHadrat Imam Ahmad Rida al-Qadiri (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) was only 4 years old when he completed the recitation of the Holy Qur'an. Due to the extraordinary intelligence bestowed upon him by Almighty ALLAH, AlaHadrat Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu completed his Islamic Education at the very young age of 13 years, 10 months and 5 days.

 

The Illustrious Teachers of Imaam Ahmad Rida

 

AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Anhu) gained his basic knowledge at home. He later continued his studies under the guidance of certain noted teachers. He studied under his father, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu). He completed his primary education by Janab Mirza Ghulam Qadir Baig, by whom he studied the book, "Mizaan-e-Munsha'ab." AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) also studied under the guidance of the following luminous personalities:

1. Hadrat Mawlana Abdul Ali Rampuri (Radi Allahu Anhu)
2. Shaykh al-Kabeer, Hadrat Allama Syed Shah Abul Hussain Ahmad Noori (Radi Allahu Anhu)
3. Shaykh al-Tariqah, Hadrat Allama Shah Ale Rasool Mahrahrwi (Radi Allahu Anhu)
4. Shaykh Ahmad bin Zain Dahlaan al-Makki (Radi Allahu Anhu)
5. Shaykh Abdur Rahman Makki (Radi Allahu Anhu), and
6. Shaykh Hussain bin Saleh Makki (Radi Allahu Anhu)

 

AlaHadrat and the Ulama of Haramain

When AlaHadrat went to perform his first HAJJ and Zyarah on the 26th of Shawwal 1295 A.H. (1876). He was only 20 years old at that time. One day, after completing his Hajj, he went to perform his Maghrib Salaah before the Maqaam-e-Ibrahim (Alaihis Salam). Having completed his Salaah, the Imam of the Shafi'ee order of Makkatul Mukarramah, Allama Hussain bin Saleh Kamaal (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu), approached him. He clutched AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) by his hand and led him to his house. The great Imam then placed his hand on the blessed forehead of AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) and said:

"Verily, I am observing the Noor of Almighty Allah on this forehead."

Without hesitation, he blessed AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Anhu) with the Sanad (Certificate) of Sihah Sitta (Six Compilers of Hadith: Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood, Tirmizi and Nisa'i). He also began addressing AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Anhu) by the title of "Dia al-Din" or "The Light or Splendour of Deen." The speciality of this Sanad is that it has only Eleven (11) levels to Imam Bukhari.

AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Anhu) was also blessed with the Asnaad (Certificates) of Hadees o Fiqah, Usool o Tafseer and etc. from the Mufti of the Hanafi order in Makkatul Mukarramah, Sayyiduna Allama Abdur Rahmaan Siraaj Hanafi and Mufti of the Shafi'ee order in Makkatul Mukarramah, Mufti Shaykh Sayyad Ahmad Dahlaan Shafi'ee (Radi Allahu Anhuma).

When he went for his Second Hajj in 1323/1905, he stayed for three months in the Holy Land and constantly searched for anyone who had higher-ranking Sanad of Hadith then His Sanad of Hadith. He wanted to take it from him and elevate His existing Sanad of Hadith. But Alhamdulillah! His Sanad was the highest and everyone took Sanads from him. Shaykh Abd al-Rahmaan Dah'laan, the youngest son of Shaykh Ahmed Dah'laan and his elder brother, Shaykh Asad Dah'laan (Qaadi of Makkah at that time) both took Sanad of Hadith from him too. And Shaikh Saaleh Kamal, the most Knowledgable Scholar of Makkah at that time, though he   was a senior Aalim, but he insisted in taking Sanad-e-Hadith and other Ijazah from AlaHadrat. AlaHadrat tried to evade this for a few days in respect but it was in vain. Shaikh Saaleh Kamal constantly insisted and forced AlaHadrat to issue them to him.

 

 

The Ulama of Arab who praised Imam Ahmad Rida

Following is the list of some of the Giants and Celebrated 'Ulama and Imams of the Arab World who highly praised Imam Ahmad Rida and acknowledged his books and teaching as strictly in accordance to the Shariah and the tenants of the Ahlus-Sunnah wa Jama'ah:

1. Shaykh Muhammad Sa'eed bin Muhammad Salam Ba Busail
2. Shaykh Ahmad bin Abdullah Abu al Khair Mirdad
3. Shaykh Muhammad Saleh bin Sadiq Kamal
4. Shaykh 'Ali bin Sadiq Kamal
5. Maulana Shah Muhammad Abdul Haq Alahabadi Muhajar Makki
6. Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Marzooqi Abu-Hussain bin Abdur Rehman Hussaini
7. Shaykh Umer bin abuBakr ba Junaid
8. Shaykh Muhammad 'Abid bin Husain Maliki
9. Shaykh Muhammad 'Ali bin Hussain Maliki
10. Shaykh Muhammad Jamal bin Muhammad Amir bin Hussain Maliki
11. Shaykh As'ad bin Ahmad Dahlaan
12. Shaykh Abdur Rehman bin Ahmad Dahlaan
13. Maulana Ahmad bin Muhammad Ziaudin Bengali Qadri Chishti
14. Shaykh Muhammad bin Yusaf Khiat
15. Shaykh Muhammad Saleh bin Muhammad ba Fazl
16. Shaykh Abdulkarim bin Hamza Daghastani Hashmi Naji
17. Shaykh Muhammad Sa'id bin Muhammad Yamani
18. Shaykh Muhammad Hamid bin Ahmad bin 'Auz Jadawi
19. Shaykh Uthman bin Abdus Salam Daghastani
20. Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Sa'eed bin Muhammad Maghrabi
21. Shaykh Muhammad bin Ahmad Umeri Wasti
22. Shaykh Sayyid Abbas bin Muhammad Ridwan
23. Shaykh Umer bin Hamdan Mahrasi
24. Shaykh Sayyid Ahmad bin Isma'il Barzanji
25. Shaykh Abdul Qadir Taufiq Shalabi
26. Shaykh Sayyid Isma'il bin Khalil
27. Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf Afghani
28. Shaykh Muhammad Tajuddin bin Mustafa Ilyas
29. Shaykh Sayyid Ahmad al Jazairi
30. Shaykh Khalil bin Ibrahim Kharbuti
31. Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad bin Muhammad Habib Didawi
32. Shaykh Muhammad bin Muhammad Sosi Khiari
33. Shaykh Muhammad Uzayr Wazir [Alaihim ar-raHma wa ar-Ridwan]

 

Branches of Knowledge

 

Imam Ahmad Rida studied under various teachers but with personal study, he perfected himself in more than 54 different disciplines of knowledge. The following 21 branches of Knowledge he learnt from his father:-

1. Ilm-al-Quran (Knowledge of the Quran)
2. Ilm-al-Hadith (Knowledge of Traditions)
3. Usul-e-Hadith (Principle of Traditions)
4. Fiqh-e-Hanafi (Hanfi Jurisprudence)
5. Kutub-e-Fiqh Jumla (All Books of Jurisprudence)
6. Usul-e-Fiqh (Principle of Jurisprudence)
7. Jadl-e-Muhazab.
8. Ilm-e-Tafseer (Knowledge of Exegesis of the Holy Quran)
9. Ilm-al Kalam (Scholastic theology)
10. Ilm-e-Nahav (Syntax)
11. Ilm-e-Sarf (Grammar, Accidence and Etymology)
12. Ilm-e-Maani (Elocution)
13. Ilm-e-Badi (Style)
14. Ilm-e-Bayan (Rhetoric)
15. Ilm-e-Mantique (Logic)
16. Ilm-e-Munazara (Dialectic)
17. Ilm-e-Takseer (Carrying figures)
18. Ilm-e-Falsafa (Philosophy)
19. Ilm-e-Hay'at (Astronomy)
20. Ilm-e-Hisab (Arithmetic)
21. Ilm-e-Hindasa (Geometry)

 

Following are the 10 disciplines of knowledge, which AlaHadrat haven't studied under any teacher but he had the Ijazat in these from discerning Ulama and He use to give Ijaza in these disciplines too.

22. Qirat (Recitation of the Quran)
23. Tajwid (Knowledge of Right pronunciation of the Quran.
24. Tasauwuf (Mysticism)
25. Suluk (Knowledge of manner in mystic)
26. Akhlaque (Ethics)
27. Asma-ul-Rajaal (Encyclopaedia of Narrators of Traditions)
28. Siyar (Biography)
29. Tawarikh (Chronology)
30. Loghat (Lexicon)
31. Adab-Ma-Jumla Funoon (Literature with all Arts)

 

Following are the 14 disciplines of Knowledge that Imam Ahmad Rida haven't learnt by any teachers:-

32. Arsamatiqi (Arithmetic)
33. Jabr-o-Muqabilah (Algebra)
34. Ilm-e-Tauqeet (Timings)
35. Logharsimat (Logarithms)
36. Hisab-e-Satini
37. Manazir-o-Maraya (sense & sight)
38. Ilm-ul-Ukur (spheres)
39. Zijaat (Astronomical tables)
40. Muthallath Kurvi (Spherical Trigonometry)
41. Muthallath Musattah (Plane Trigonometry)
42. Haiyate Jadeedah (Modern Astronomy)
43. Jafr (Numerology & Literology)
44. Murabba'at (Quadrangular)
45. Za'icha (Horoscopes)

 

Following are the 10 branches of learning that he has received by the Heavenly Blessing inspired directly into his heart:

46. Nazm-e-Arabi (Arabic Poetry)
47. Nazm-e-Farsi (Persian Poetry)
48. Nazm-e-Hindi (Hindi Poetry)
49. Nathr-e-Urdu (Urdu Prose)
50. Nathre-Farsi (Persian Prose)
51. Nathre Arabi (Arabic Prose)
52. Khat-e-Naskh (Arabic Calligraphy)
53. Khat-e-Nastalique (Persian Calligraphy)
54. Tilawat ma'a Tajwid (Recitation of the Holy Quran with right pronunciation)
55. Ilm-e-Meeras (Knowledge of Inheritance)

Note:- Sayyidi AlaHadrat learnt Ilm-e-Takseer and Ilm-e-Jafr from Hadrat Abul Hussain Ahmed-e-Noori too but it was just to an extant not in depth as such.

 

 

The branches of knowledge of Imam Ahmad Rida, are more than 60. Here they are arranged according to the syllabus of Jamias & Universities written as under :-

1. Jurisprudence
2. Principle of Jurisprudence.
3. Lexicon of jurisprudence
4. Hadith
5. Principle of Hadith
7. Encyclopaedia of Hadith
7. Critical examination of Hadith.
8. Exegesis
9. Principle of Exegesis.
10. Scholastic theology
11. Islameology
12. Recitation of the Quran with right pronunciation.
13. Knowledge of the Quran & art of its translation
14. Dialectic.
15. Syntax & Etymology
16. Rhetoric and style & elocution
17. Linguistic and lexicon
18. Phonetic
19. Urdu prose
20. Arabic Prose
21. Persian Prose
22. Arabic poetry
23. Persian Poetry
24. Urdu poetry
25. Hindi poetry.
26. Explanation, criticism & appreciation
27. Prosody
28. Mysticism
29. Metaphysics
30. Incantation & Invocation
31. Jafr (Literology & Numerology)
32. Carrying the figures (Takseer)
33. Ethics
34. Logic
35. Philosophy
36. Psychology
37. Chronology & Biography
38. Sociology
39. Economics
40. Education
41. Political Science
42. Commerce
43. Banking
44. Arithmetic & Computation
45. Algebra (Factorization, equation of any degree, exponential series, Binomial theorem, set theory, Topology, Tensorial Algebra)
46. Plane Trigonometry Euclidean logarithms
47. Spherical Trigonometry.
48. Euclidean Geometry
49. Coordinate Geometry
50. Timings
51. Horoscopes
52. Astronomy & Astronomical Tables
53. Hisab e Satini
54. Statistics
55. Dynamics
56. Statics
57. Hydro Dynamics
58. Hydrostatics
59. Zoology
60. Botany
61. Geology
62. Geography
63. Horticultise
64. Unani (Greek) Medicine
65. Physiology
66. Inorganic Chemistry
67. Organic Chemistry
68. Physical Chemistry
69. Bio Chemistry etc.

— — —
Courtesy:
Imam Ahmad Raza Academy
Durban, South Africa | www.raza.org.za

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

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11th Safar al-Muzaffar | Mufassir al-Aazam Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim Rida Jilani Miyan Alaihir raHmah

Mufassir al-Aa'zam Hadrat Allama Jilani Miyan
Muhammad Ibrahim Rida al-Qadiri Alaihir raHmah


 

Grand Son of AlaHadrat, Qamr al-Aarifeen, Umdat al-Mufasireen, Mufassir al-Azam Hind Jilani Mia Hadrat Allama Mawlana Muhammad Ibrahim Rida Khan was born on the 10th of Rabi ul Aakhir 1325 Hijri (1907) in Bareilly Shareef. His birth pleased his grandfather AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma dearly. Ala Hadrat Alaihir RaHma called the Azaan and Iqaamah in his ears and chewed a date and placed it in his mouth. AlaHadrat's Alaihir RaHma brother Ustaz-e-Zaman Hadrat Hassan Raza Khan Alaihir RaHma was also very pleased when he heard of his birth.
 
AQEEQA:
 
AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma prepared a great feast for his Aqeeqah. All the students of the madrassa were fed according to their taste. In other words, those from Africa were fed according to their taste and those from India were fed according to their taste. AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma made sure that all the students were very happy during this invitation.
 
NAME:
 
According to the family tradition, he was named Muhammad. His father then added the name Ibrahim. His mother always called him Jilani Mia, and his title was Mufassir-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma.
 
HIS POSITION IN THE SILSILA:
 
Umdatul Mufassireen Hadrat Jilani Mia Alaihir RaHma is the forty second Imam and Sheikh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qaaderiyah Barakaatiyah Razviyah Nooriyah.
 
EDUCATION:
 
When he was four years, four months and four days old, then on a Thursday, the 14th of Shabaan 1329, AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma held a programme for his Bismillah Khwaani (commencement of Islamic studies). AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma also invited many people and Niyaz was distributed. He studied the Holy Quran and the Urdu language under the care of his beloved mother. When he was 7 years old, he was enrolled into the world renowned Darul Uloom Manzar-e-Islam in Bareilly Shareef. He studied under great Ulama such as Maulana Ahsaan Ali Saahib Muhadith Faizpuri, his father Hujjatul Islam Maulana Haamid Raza Khan and Hadrat Maulana Sardaar Ahmed Muhadith-e-Pakistan (Ridwanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajmaeen). He qualified as an Aalim and Faadil at the age of 19 years and four months, in the year 1344 and Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Alaihir RaHma tied the turban on his head and blessed him with the Khilafat.

 

 

HIS HABITS & CHARACTER:
 
Hadrat was very kind and generous. His life was an example of the great Masha'ikh. He always oiled his hair and beard after taking a bath. He wore a loose Punjabi kurta. He sometimes wore a badami colored Kurta, but usually he wore white. His diet was roti, braised meat, Kalabash, herbs and Bhindi. He loved to use itar and if anyone gave him itar, he made sure that it was not some kind of contaminated perfume. He always used both his hands to apply the itar onto his chest and under his arms. He always slept on his right hand side. He never preferred anyone to lie flat on his or her face when sleeping.
 
HIS NIKAH:
 
Hadrat Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma married the daughter of his uncle, Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma. AlaHadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Alaihir RaHma arranged this marriage.
 
IJAAZAT AND KHILAFAT:
 
Once Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma said,
 
"When Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Alaihir RaHma passed away, then Jilani Mia Alaihir RaHma was not here. When he returned, then some people had reservations about his Khilafat, so I said, that if some of them have reservations concerning wheter his blessed father gave him the Khilafat, and I too hereby bestow the Khilafat upon him. Now, none should have any objections. Because of my support for him, many people now supported him and the Madrassa was given into his control."
 
ZIYAARAT OF HARAMAIN SHARIFAIN:
 
In 1372, he made Ziyaarat of Haramain Sharifain. The Ulama of Makkah al-Mukarrama and Madinah al-Munawwarah showed great respect to him, due to his relationship to AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma and he was blessed with various Ijaazats, for Hadith, Dalaail-e-Khairaat and Hizbul Bahr etc.

 

 

AS A TEACHER:
 
He was a very well qualified and experienced teacher. After Fajr Salaah, he would spend some time reading his wazeefas etc. He would then take breakfast and go directly to his classroom. He always entered the Darul Uloom before the students prayed the Salaami to commence classes and he would join them in sending salaams to the Prophet ù. He would then make dua with great sincerity. He used to teach Muslim Shareef, Tirmizi Shareef and Mishkaat Shareef. He also presented the false beliefs of the Najdis and then refuted them with very bright proofs. When teaching Muslim Shareef, he often entered a very highly spiritual state. He used to speak most often in Arabic, and he encouraged the students to do the same.
 
A DYNAMIC ORATOR:
 
Hadrat was also a very dynamic orator. Once, there was a two-day programme. He delivered a very dynamic lecture on the first day, and then left. The next day, was the lecture of Hadrat Muhadith-e-Azam Kichauchwi Alaihir RaHma. He says, "In the morning, 20 wahabis, came to me and said that the lecture which was delivered the night before inspired them so much that they realized their beliefs were corrupt, so they made tauba and accepted the (true) Islam."
 
MONTHLY ALAHADRAT MAGAZINE:
 
He started the monthly AlaHadrat Magazine for the propagation of the teachings of the Ahle Sunnat. This magazine gained great success. Alhumdulillah, this magazine is still in circulation even today.
 
HIS KARAAMATS:
 
Hadrat Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma was also a very powerful Saahib-e-Karaamat. A few Karaamats are being presented for Barkat. Once a man was bought to Hadrat who was dumb since birth. Hadrat made dua for him, and he began to speak immediately. Many of the tableeghis in that town saw Hadrat's karaamat and made tauba from their false beliefs.
 
Once, a couple came to Hadrat and said that their brother-in-law had been false accused of murder and that he was the breadwinner of the family. They requested Hadrat to make dua for his release. Hadrat asked if he was Sunni and they answered in the positive. Hadrat took a piece of paper and wrote the following on it: "Allahu Rabbu Muhammadin Sal'laa alaihi wa sal'lama Nahnu Ibaadu Muhammadin Sal'laa alaihi wa sal'lama" Hadrat said that the prisoner should learn this Durood and recite it in abundance. Hadrat then said that he should tie the taweez with the Durood on his right arm and if Allah Wills, then he will be released. Ten days later, both of them returned with sweets and Niyaz. They also brought a third person with them. They told Hadrat that he was their brother-in-law and that he had been released as he was found not guilty, but the two others who were with him have been given the life sentence. Hadrat entered them both into the Silsila and then advised them to continue with their Salaah and Durood Shareef.
 
BOOKS AND TREATIES:
 
Some of the books written by him are:

• Zikrullah
• Nematullah
• Hujjatullah
• Fazaail-e-Durood Shareef
• Tafseer Surah Balad
• Tashreeh Qasida Nau'mania

 

 

HIS CHILDREN:
 
Almighty Allah blessed him with five sons and three daughters.
 
Hadrat Allama Rehan Raza Khan (Rahmatullah Alaih): Born on the 18th Zilhajj in Bareilly Shareef. He is the Mureed and Khalifa of Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma. He was a great teacher, and a very powerful personality. He passed away on the 18th of Ramadaan 1405 (1985). And his Mazaar Shareef is in Bareilly Shareef.
 
Hadrat Allama Mufti Mohammed Akhtar Raza Khan Hafidhahullah: Taajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan Qibla is the present Torch bearer of the Khandaan-e-AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma. Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma appointed him as his successor during his lifetime. Hadrat still lives in Bareilly Shareef (India).
 
Dr. Qamar Raza Khan: He lives in Bareilly Shareef and is a very kind and loving personality. He resembles Taajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan very closely.
 
Mawlana Mannan Raza Khan Manaani Mia: He is a very well read personality and is the founder of Jamia Nooria, a Darul Uloom constructed in memory of Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma.
 
Hadrat Tanweer Raza Khan: He was older than Hadrat Akhtar Raza Khan, and was always in a very highly spiritual state even as a child. He disappeared (Mafqood-ul-Khabr) as a child and has never be seen or heard from since.
 
GEMS OF WISDOM:
 
His words were always full of knowledge and wisdom. Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma always said: 

• My own faults stop me from finding faults in others
• Slight Absence makes the heart grow fonder and an extensive absence kills the love.
• The respect of every nation depends on its Ulama
• Allah gave us two ears and one tongue, so that we listen more and speak less
• Piety is through good character and not through family ties
• One who is not the beloved of Allah cannot be your beloved
• Sabr (patience) is more bitter than poison and sweeter than honey
• Knowledge without practice is a burden to ones soul
• Allah gives comfort in the world, to one who does deeds for the hereafter
• When you have done everything, then you should still think that you have done nothing

WISAAL:
 
He passed from this world on a Monday, the 11th of Safar 1385 Hijri (12 June 1965). The next day, his Janaaza Salaah was prayed at the Islamia Inter College. Mufti Sayyid Muhammad Afzal Hussain performed the Janaaza Salaah Mufti Muhammad Afzal Hussain, Maulana Muhammad Ahsaan Ali, Maulana Sayyid Aarif Ali, Janaab Sayyid Ijaaz Hussain and Janaab Muhammad Ghaus Khan lowered Hadrat into his Mazaar.
 
MAZAAR SHAREEF:
 
His Mazaar Shareef is in the Dargah of AlaHadrat Alaihi raHma wa ar-Ridwan in Bareilly Shareef.

— — —
Extracted from
Tadhkira Mashaikh-e-Qadiriyah Barakatiya Ridawiyah
Urdu: Mawlana Abdul Mujtaba Ridawi | English: Mawlana Aftab Qasim

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

Read more >>

11th Safar al-Muzaffar | Mufassir al-Aazam Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim Rida Jilani Miyan Alaihir raHmah

Mufassir al-Aa'zam Hadrat Allama Jilani Miyan
Muhammad Ibrahim Rida al-Qadiri Alaihir raHmah


 

Grand Son of AlaHadrat, Qamr al-Aarifeen, Umdat al-Mufasireen, Mufassir al-Azam Hind Jilani Mia Hadrat Allama Mawlana Muhammad Ibrahim Rida Khan was born on the 10th of Rabi ul Aakhir 1325 Hijri (1907) in Bareilly Shareef. His birth pleased his grandfather AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma dearly. Ala Hadrat Alaihir RaHma called the Azaan and Iqaamah in his ears and chewed a date and placed it in his mouth. AlaHadrat's Alaihir RaHma brother Ustaz-e-Zaman Hadrat Hassan Raza Khan Alaihir RaHma was also very pleased when he heard of his birth.
 
AQEEQA:
 
AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma prepared a great feast for his Aqeeqah. All the students of the madrassa were fed according to their taste. In other words, those from Africa were fed according to their taste and those from India were fed according to their taste. AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma made sure that all the students were very happy during this invitation.
 
NAME:
 
According to the family tradition, he was named Muhammad. His father then added the name Ibrahim. His mother always called him Jilani Mia, and his title was Mufassir-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma.
 
HIS POSITION IN THE SILSILA:
 
Umdatul Mufassireen Hadrat Jilani Mia Alaihir RaHma is the forty second Imam and Sheikh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qaaderiyah Barakaatiyah Razviyah Nooriyah.
 
EDUCATION:
 
When he was four years, four months and four days old, then on a Thursday, the 14th of Shabaan 1329, AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma held a programme for his Bismillah Khwaani (commencement of Islamic studies). AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma also invited many people and Niyaz was distributed. He studied the Holy Quran and the Urdu language under the  care of his beloved mother. When he was 7 years old, he was enrolled into the world renowned Darul Uloom Manzar-e-Islam in Bareilly Shareef. He studied under great Ulama such as Maulana Ahsaan Ali Saahib Muhadith Faizpuri, his father Hujjatul Islam Maulana Haamid Raza Khan and Hadrat Maulana Sardaar Ahmed Muhadith-e-Pakistan (Ridwanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajmaeen). He qualified as an Aalim and Faadil at the age of 19 years and four months, in the year 1344 and Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Alaihir RaHma tied the turban on his head and blessed him with the Khilafat.

 

 

HIS HABITS & CHARACTER:
 
Hadrat was very kind and generous. His life was an example of the great Masha'ikh. He always oiled his hair and beard after taking a bath. He wore a loose Punjabi kurta. He sometimes wore a badami colored Kurta, but usually he wore white. His diet was roti, braised meat, Kalabash, herbs and Bhindi. He loved to use itar and if anyone gave him itar, he made sure that it was not some kind of contaminated perfume. He always used both his hands to apply the itar onto his chest and under his arms. He always slept on his right hand side. He never preferred anyone to lie flat on his or her face when sleeping.
 
HIS NIKAH:
 
Hadrat Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma married the daughter of his uncle, Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma. AlaHadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Alaihir RaHma arranged this marriage.
 
IJAAZAT AND KHILAFAT:
 
Once Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma said,
 
"When Huzoor Hujjatul Islam Alaihir RaHma passed away, then Jilani Mia Alaihir RaHma was not here. When he returned, then some people had reservations about his Khilafat, so I said, that if some of them have reservations concerning wheter his blessed father gave him the Khilafat, and I too hereby bestow the Khilafat upon him. Now, none should have any objections. Because of my support for him, many people now supported him and the Madrassa was given into his control."
 
ZIYAARAT OF HARAMAIN SHARIFAIN:
 
In 1372, he made Ziyaarat of Haramain Sharifain. The Ulama of Makkah al-Mukarrama and Madinah al-Munawwarah showed great respect to him, due to his relationship to AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma and he was blessed with various Ijaazats, for Hadith, Dalaail-e-Khairaat and Hizbul Bahr etc.

 

 

AS A TEACHER:
 
He was a very well qualified and experienced teacher. After Fajr Salaah, he would spend some time reading his wazeefas etc. He would then take breakfast and go directly to his classroom. He always entered the Darul Uloom before the students prayed the Salaami to commence classes and he would join them in sending salaams to the Prophet ù. He would then make dua with great sincerity. He used to teach Muslim Shareef, Tirmizi Shareef and Mishkaat Shareef. He also presented the false beliefs of the Najdis and then refuted them with very bright proofs. When teaching Muslim Shareef, he often entered a very highly spiritual state. He used to speak most often in Arabic, and he encouraged the students to do the same.
 
A DYNAMIC ORATOR:
 
Hadrat was also a very dynamic orator. Once, there was a two-day programme. He delivered a very dynamic lecture on the first day, and then left. The next day, was the lecture of Hadrat Muhadith-e-Azam Kichauchwi Alaihir RaHma. He says, "In the morning, 20 wahabis, came to me and said that the lecture which was delivered the night before inspired them so much that they realized their beliefs were corrupt, so they made tauba and accepted the (true) Islam."
 
MONTHLY ALAHADRAT MAGAZINE:
 
He started the monthly AlaHadrat Magazine for the propagation of the teachings of the Ahle Sunnat. This magazine gained great success. Alhumdulillah, this magazine is still in circulation even today.
 
HIS KARAAMATS:
 
Hadrat Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma was also a very powerful Saahib-e-Karaamat. A few Karaamats are being presented for Barkat. Once a man was bought to Hadrat who was dumb since birth. Hadrat made dua for him, and he began to speak immediately. Many of the tableeghis in that town saw Hadrat's karaamat and made tauba from their false beliefs.
 
Once, a couple came to Hadrat and said that their brother-in-law had been false accused of murder and that he was the breadwinner of the family. They requested Hadrat to make dua for his release. Hadrat asked if he was Sunni and they answered in the positive. Hadrat took a piece of paper and wrote the following on it: "Allahu Rabbu Muhammadin Sal'laa alaihi wa sal'lama Nahnu Ibaadu Muhammadin Sal'laa alaihi wa sal'lama" Hadrat said that the prisoner should learn this Durood and recite it in abundance. Hadrat then said that he should tie the taweez with the Durood on his right arm and if Allah Wills, then he will be released. Ten days later, both of them returned with sweets and Niyaz. They also brought a third person with them. They told Hadrat that he was their brother-in-law and that he had been released as he was found not guilty, but the two others who were with him have been given the life sentence. Hadrat entered them both into the Silsila and then advised them to continue with their Salaah and Durood Shareef.
 
BOOKS AND TREATIES:
 
Some of the books written by him are:

• Zikrullah
• Nematullah
• Hujjatullah
• Fazaail-e-Durood Shareef
• Tafseer Surah Balad
• Tashreeh Qasida Nau'mania

 

 

HIS CHILDREN:
 
Almighty Allah blessed him with five sons and three daughters.
 
Hadrat Allama Rehan Raza Khan (Rahmatullah Alaih): Born on the 18th Zilhajj in Bareilly Shareef. He is the Mureed and Khalifa of Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma. He was a great teacher, and a very powerful personality. He passed away on the 18th of Ramadaan 1405 (1985). And his Mazaar Shareef is in Bareilly Shareef.
 
Hadrat Allama Mufti Mohammed Akhtar Raza Khan Hafidhahullah: Taajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan Qibla is the present Torch bearer of the Khandaan-e-AlaHadrat Alaihir RaHma. Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma appointed him as his successor during his lifetime. Hadrat still lives in Bareilly Shareef (India).
 
Dr. Qamar Raza Khan: He lives in Bareilly Shareef and is a very kind and loving personality. He resembles Taajush Shariah Allama Akhtar Raza Khan very closely.
 
Mawlana Mannan Raza Khan Manaani Mia: He is a very well read personality and is the founder of Jamia Nooria, a Darul Uloom constructed in memory of Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam Hind Alaihir RaHma.
 
Hadrat Tanweer Raza Khan: He was older than Hadrat Akhtar Raza Khan, and was always in a very highly spiritual state even as a child. He disappeared (Mafqood-ul-Khabr) as a child and has never be seen or heard from since.
 
GEMS OF WISDOM:
 
His words were always full of knowledge and wisdom. Mufassir-e-Azam Alaihir RaHma always said: 

• My own faults stop me from finding faults in others
• Slight Absence makes the heart grow fonder and an extensive absence kills the love.
• The respect of every nation depends on its Ulama
• Allah gave us two ears and one tongue, so that we listen more and speak less
• Piety is through good character and not through family ties
• One who is not the beloved of Allah cannot be your beloved
• Sabr (patience) is more bitter than poison and sweeter than honey
• Knowledge without practice is a burden to ones soul
• Allah gives comfort in the world, to one who does deeds for the hereafter
• When you have done everything, then you should still think that you have done nothing

WISAAL:
 
He passed from this world on a Monday, the 11th of Safar 1385 Hijri (12 June 1965). The next day, his Janaaza Salaah was prayed at the Islamia Inter College. Mufti Sayyid Muhammad Afzal Hussain performed the Janaaza Salaah Mufti Muhammad Afzal Hussain, Maulana Muhammad Ahsaan Ali, Maulana Sayyid Aarif Ali, Janaab Sayyid Ijaaz Hussain and Janaab Muhammad Ghaus Khan lowered Hadrat into his Mazaar.
 
MAZAAR SHAREEF:
 
His Mazaar Shareef is in the Dargah of AlaHadrat Alaihi raHma wa ar-Ridwan in Bareilly Shareef.

— — —
Extracted from
Tadhkira Mashaikh-e-Qadiriyah Barakatiya Ridawiyah
Urdu: Mawlana Abdul Mujtaba Ridawi | English: Mawlana Aftab Qasim

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Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com

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10th Safar al-Muzaffar | Umm al-Mu'mineen Sayyidah Juwairiyah bint al-Harith Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha

Umm al-Mu'mineen Hadrat Sayyidah
Juwairiyah bint al-Harith Radi Allahu Anha

Sayyidah Juwairiyah bint Harith, may Allah be pleased with her, was a very charming, sweet and very beautiful lady. All who saw Sayyidah Juwairiyah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha) were stunned by her exceptional beauty. Brought up as she had been in one of the foremost families of the time, she was not only beautiful but graceful, elegant and eloquent. Anyone who saw her could not help being captivated by her charm and pleasant demeanour. Her father was Harith ibn Abi Dirar, who was the chief of the Banu Mustaliq. When Sayyidah Ayesha (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha) first saw Sayyidah Juwairiyah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha) she exclaimed that she was as beautiful as a fairy.

She married the beloved Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him) in Sha'baan 5 A.H., when the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was fifty-eight years old and she was twenty, not long after his marriage to Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahash. Before then she was married to Musaafi' bin Safwaan who was not a Muslim and was killed in the very battle wherein she was captured.

Before her marriage to the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam) her name was Barrah, but beloved Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam changed it to Juwairiyah. Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahash, Zainab bint Umm Salamah and Maimoonah bint Harith Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhunna were also named Barrah, but the beloved Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam changed their names as well.

Marriage of Sayyidah Juwairiyah bint Harith (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha):

News reached the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam) on Sha'ban 2nd to the effect that the chief of Bani Al-Mustaliq, Al-Harith bin Dirar had mobilised his men, along with some Arabs, to attack Madinah al-Munawwarah. Buraidah bin al-Haseeb al-Aslami was immediately despatched to verify the reports. He had some words with Abi Dirar, who confirmed his intention of war. He later sent a reconnoiterer to explore the positions of the Muslims but he was captured and killed. The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam) summoned his men and ordered them to prepare for war. Before leaving, Sayyiduna Zaid bin Harith was mandated to see to the affairs of Madinah al-Munawwarah and dispose them. On hearing the advent of the Muslims, the disbelievers got frightened and the Arabs who were with them defected and ran away for their lives. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu was entrusted with the banner of the Emigrants, and that of the Helpers went to Sa'd bin 'Ubada. The two armies were stationed at a well called Muraisi. Arrow shooting went on for an hour, and then the Muslims rushed and engaged with the enemy in a battle that ended in full victory for the Muslims. Some men were killed, women and children of the disbelievers taken as captives, and a lot of booty fell to the lot of the Muslims. Only one Muslim was martyr by mistake by a Helper. Amongst the captives was Sayyidah Juwairiyah, daughter of Al-Harith, chief of the disbelievers.

It is written that after this battle the prisoners were distributed among the soldiers, and Juwairiyah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha) fell to the lot of Thaabit bin Qais (or his cousin, according to some reports). Her father took along a number of camels as ransom for his daughter, hoping to buy her freedom. As he was on his way to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam), he decided to keep back two camels that he liked. So he hide the two camels in a valley just outside Madina Munawwarah and continued with the rest. When he arrived in the presence of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) he presented the  camels and asked that these be accepted in lieu of his daughter's freedom. The Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) asked him: "And what about the two camels you hid in the valley?!?!" Haarith was totally flabbergasted. Immediately he uttered the Shahaadha and entered Islam, admitting that none besides Allah could have given information to the Messenger about these camels.

Meanwhile, Sayyidah Juwairiayh had made an agreement with her new master Thaabit to pay for her freedom. This was the famous Mukaatabat Contract in Islam in terms of which slaves could work and buy their freedom for a fixed sum of money. However, Juwairyah had no intention of working for her freedom. She had a better idea. She asked to see Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam).

In fact, she demanded to see the Prophet Muhammad, with the intention of asking him to help her with the ransom money. At that time The Messenger of Allah was in the house of Sayyidah Ayesha (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha). She was permitted to see the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him) and was taken to him while he was with Sayyidah A'isha. After she had finished speaking, the Prophet thought for a moment, and then said, "Shall I tell you what would be better than this?"  She said, "And what is that Our Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "I pay your freedom money, and you marry me."

Moved deeply by this unexpected elevation in her status, she exclaimed she would be more than happy to accept. She was freed, and swearing allegiance to Islam, she married the beloved Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam). Although Juwairiyah was young and beautiful and of noble lineage, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was thinking of how to save her and all her tribe from an ignoble fate. By marrying Sayyidah Juwairiyah, the Banu Mustaliq would be able to enter Islam with honor, and with the humiliation of their recent defeat removed, so that it would no longer be felt necessary by them to embark on a war of vengeance that would have continued until one of the two parties had been annihilated. As soon as the marriage was announced, all the booty that had been taken from the Banu Mustaliq was returned, and all the captives were set free, for they were now the in laws of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This is when Sayyidah A'isha said of Sayyidah Juwairiyah, "I know of no woman who was more of a blessing to her people than Juwairiyah bint al-Harith."

Virtues of Sayyidah Juwairiyah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha):

Most of the time she would be found engrossed in prayer. It has been related by Juwairiyah that early one morning the Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam) left her room while she was doing the dawn prayer. He returned later that morning and she was still sitting in the same place. "have you been sitting in the same place since I left you?" he asked. "Yes," she replied. Whereupon the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam) said, "I recited four phrases three times after I left you, and if these were to be weighed against what you have been reciting since dawn, they would still outweigh them. They are:

سبحان الله وبحمده عدد خلقه ورضا نفسه وزنة عرشه ومداد كلماته
'Glory be to Allah and Praise be to Him as much as the number of his creations, and His pleasure, and the weight of His Throne, and the ink of His words.'" [Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al-Dhikr, Hadith 6575]

Which reminds us of the following verse of the Holy Qur'an:

قل لو كان البحر مدادا لكلمات ربي لنفد البحر قبل ان تنفد كلمات ربي ولو جئنا بمثله مددا
"Proclaim, 'If the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, the sea would indeed be used up and the Words of my Lord would never - even if we bring another like it for help.'" [Surah al-Kahf, Verse 109]

Her Demise:

Sayyidah Juwairiyah was married to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for six years, and lived for another thirty-nine years after his demise. She passed away at the age of sixty-five in Safar in the year 50th after Hijrah during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah bin Abi Sufyan. The governor of Al-Madinah, Marwan bin Hakam led the funeral prayer and she was buried in Jannat al-Baqi.

يا ايتها النفس المطمئنة ارجعي الى ربك راضية مرضية فادخلي في عبادي وادخلي جنتي
O the contented soul! Return towards your Lord – you being pleased with Him, and He pleased with you! Then enter the ranks of My chosen bondmen! And come into My Paradise! [Surah al-Fajr, Verses 27-30]

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Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

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6th Safar al-Muzaffar | Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri (Baba Bulleh Shah) Alaihir raHmah

Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri
Baba Bulleh Shah Alaihir raHmah

Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri also known as Hadrat Baba Bulleh Shah Alaihir raHma is universally admitted to have been the greatest of the Panjabi mystics. No Panjabi mystic poet enjoys a wider celebrity and a greater reputation. His kafis have gained unique popularity. In truth he is one of the greatest Sufis of the world and his thought equals that of Jalal al-Din Rumi and Shams Tabriz of Persia. As a poet Bulleh Shah is different from the other Sufi poets of the Panjab, and represents that strong and living pious nature of Panjabi character which is more reasonable than emotional or passionate. As he was an outcome of the traditional mystic thought we can trace some amount of mystic phraseology and sentiment in his poetry but, in the main, intellectual vedantic thought is its chief characteristic.

He was born in a Saiyyid family residing at, the village Pandoki of Kasur in the Lahore district, in the year A.D. 1680. This was during the twenty-first year of Emperor Aurangzeb's reign. According to C. F. Usborne he passed away in A.H. 1171 or A.D. 1785 (i.e. in the short reign of Alamgir the Second) at the ripe old age of 78.

 

A large amount of what is known about Bulleh Shah comes through legends, and is subjective; to the point that there isn't even agreement among historians concerning his precise date and place of birth. Some "facts" about his life have been pieced together from his own writings. Other "facts" seem to have been passed down through oral traditions.

Baba Bulleh Shah practiced the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538 – 1599), Sultan Bahu (1629 – 1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640 – 1724) Alaihim ar-RaHmah.

Baba Bulleh Shah lived in the same period as the famous Sindhi Sufi poet , Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689 – 1752). His life also overlapped with the legendary Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1722 – 1798), and the famous Sindhi Sufi poet Abdul Wahad (1739 – 1829), better known by his pen-name, Sachal Sarmast ("truth seeking leader of the intoxicated ones").

 

After completing his education, it is said that Baba Bulleh Shah went to Lahore. Of the two traditions, one says that, as was customary in those days, he came to Lahore in search of a spiritual teacher, while the other relates that he went there on a visit. Each of these two contradictory traditions has a legend to support it. The first relates that while he was busy searching the intellectual circles of Lahore to find out a competent master he heard of Shah Inayat's greatness and decided to make him his Murshid. He turned his steps towards the house of the Shah, and found him engrossed in his work in the garden. Having introduced himself, Baba Bulleh Shah requested that he might be accepted a disciple and taught the secret of God. Thereupon Hadrat Shah lnayat Alaihir raHmah said:

Bullhia rabb da pan ai
edharo puttan odharo lan hai.

O Bulleh! the secret of Almighty Allah is this; on this side He uproots, on the other side He creates.

'This', says the tradition. 'so impressed Baba Bulleh Shah that, forgetting his family and its status, he became Inyat Shah's disciple.'

 

The second tradition says that Shah Inayat was the head gardener of the Shalimar gardens of Lahore. When in Lahore, Baba Bulleh Shah visited them, and as it was summer, he roamed in the mango-groves. Desirous of tasting the fruit he looked round for the guardian but, not finding him there, he decided to help himself. To avoid the sin of stealing, he looked at the ripe fruit and said; 'ALLAHu Ghani'. On the utterance of these magic words a mango fell into his hands. He repeated them several times, and thus collected a few mangoes. Tying them up in his scarf he moved on to find a comfortable place where he could eat them. At this time he met the head gardener, who accused him of stealing the fruit from the royal gardens. Considering him to be a man of low origin and desirous of demonstrating to him his occult powers, Baba Bulleh Shah said ironically: 'I have not stolen the mangoes but they have fallen into my hands as you will presently see.' He uttered 'ALLAHu Ghani' and the fruit came into his hand. But to his great surprise the young  Saiyyid found that Inayat Shah was not at all impressed but was smiling innocently. The great embarrassment of Bullhe Shah inspired pity in the gardener's heart and he said: 'You do not know how to pronounce properly the holy words and so you reduce their power.' So saying, he uttered 'ALLAHu Ghani', and all the fruits in the gardens fell on the lovely lawns. Once again he repeated the same and the fruit went back on to the trees. This defeat inflicted by the guardian, whom the young Saiyyid Bullhe Shah considered ignorant and low, revolutionized his whole thought. Falling at the feet of Inayat Shah he asked to be classed as his disciple and his request was immediately granted.

 

The above two traditions, though different in detail, come to the same conclusion, that Baba Bulleh Shah, impressed by the greatness of Inayat, became his disciple. Bullhe Shah in his verse often speaks of his master Inayat Shah and thanks his good luck for having met such a murshid.

Bulleh Shah ve nic kamini
Shah inayat tari.

 Says Bulleh Shah, O Almighty the Lord Inayat has saved me, low and mean.

And:

Bullhe Shah di suno hakait
hadi pakria hog hadait
mera murshid Shah Inayat
Uh langhaai par.

Listen to the story of Bullhe Shah, he has got hold of the peer and shall have salvation. My teacher, Shah Inayat, he will take me across.

In an account of the Panjabi poets it would perhaps be out of place to speak at great length of Shah Inayat who wrote in Persian. But the influence exerted by him through his teachings and writings has linked him with Panjabi literature. Baba Bulleh Shah the Rumi of the Panjab, came most directly under his influence and, having learnt from him, was   inspired to write his remarkable poetry. It will therefore, be proper to give a short account of this wonderful man.

 

Hadrat Shah Inayat Qadiri and his School

Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Inayatullah, generally known as Shah Inayat Qadiri, was born at Kasur in the Lahore district, of Arais parents. The arias in the Panjab were gardeners or petty cultivators. They are known to be Hindu converts to Islam and are therefore considered inferior.

He was educated after the manner of his time and gained a good knowledge of Persian and Arabic. As he was born with a mystic disposition he became a disciple of the famous Sufi scholar and saint Muhammad Ali Raza Shattari. After he had finished his studies he was created a khalifa. Later on he received the khilafat of seven other sub-sects of the Sufi Qadiri. Soon after this event he left Kasur and migrated to Lahore .The author of Bagh-i-Awliya-e-Hind says that the great enmity of the Hakim Hussain Khan compelled him to migrate, but his descendants assert that it was the order of his teacher that brought him to Lahore. Here after having quelled the jealousy of his famous contemporaries, he established a college of his own. To this college came men of education for further studies in philosophy and other spiritual sciences of the time.

Inayat Shah was a well-known Qadiri Sufi of his time. From the historical point of view the Qadiri Sufis can be traced back to the Sufi Saint Abdul Qadri Jilani of Bagdad. Jilani is also known by the names Peer Dastgeer and Peeran-e-Peer. Bulleh Shah himself has also given a hint that his "Master of Masters" was born in Bagdad but his own Master belonged to Lahore:

My Master of Masters hailed from Baghdad,
but my Master belongs to the throne of Lahore.
It is all the same. For He himself is the kite
and He himself is the string.

 

Such was the man whom Baba Bulleh Shah made his Murshid. This action of Baba Bulleh Shah, however, was highly displeasing to his family. His relatives tried to induce him to give up Inayat and find another murshid. But Baba Bulleh Shah was firm and paid no attention to them or to their wailings. The following will sufficiently demonstrate the indignation of the family:

Bulleh nu samjhawan aiyaan bhena te bharjhaiyaan
Aal nabi ullad Nabi nu tu kyun leekaan laaiyaan
Manlay Bulleya sada kehna chad de palla raiyaan

To Bulleh sisters and sisters-in-law came to explain (advise). Why, O Bulleh, have you blackened the family of the Prophet and the descendants of Ali? Listen to our advice, Bulleh, and leave the skirt of the aria.

To this reproach Baba Bulleh Shah firmly but indifferently replies:

Jehra sanu saiyad akkhe dozakh miln sazaiya
Jehra sanu rai akkhe bahishti piga paiya
Je tu lore bag bahara Bullhia Talib ho ja raiya.

He who calls me a Saiyyid, shall receive punishments in Hell, he who calls me an arai shall in heaven have swings; O Bulleh, if you want pleasures of the garden become a disciple of the aria.

Raeen saain sabhan thaain rab diyaan be parwaiyaan
Sohniyaan pare hataiyaan te khoojiyaan lay gall laiyaan

Arain and masters are born at every place, God does not discriminate against anyone.
Wise people don't care for such differences, only the ugly ones do

Je tu loorain baag baharaan chaakar hoo ja raiyaan
Bulleh Shah di zaat ki puchni shakar ho razaiyaan

If you seek to the gardens of heaven, become a servant to the 'Arains'. Why ask about the caste of Bulleh Shah? Instead be grateful in the God's will.

Baba Bulleh Shah seems to have suffered at the hands of his family, as he has once or twice mentioned in his poetry. In the end, being convinced of the sincere love and regard of their child for Inayat Shah, the family left him alone. It is said that one of his sisters, who understood her brother, gave him her support and encouraged him in his search for truth.

After the demise of Hadrat Shah Inayat, Baba Bullhe Shah returned to Kasur. He remained faithful to his Beloved and to himself by not marrying. The sister who understood him also remained single and kept him company in his last years. He died in A.D. 1758 and was buried in Kasur, where his tomb still exists.

May Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala elevate his Status and bless with a part from the Divine Love of Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri that he had for HIM (Almighty) and accept our remembrance of the Great Wali and the Sufi Master and make it a medium for us to receive his divine mercy and blessings… Aameen!!

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Shahzad Afzal
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7th Safar al-Muzaffar | Hadrat Shaykh al-Islam Sayyiduna Baha al-Din Zakariya Multani Suharwardi Alaihir raHmah [URDU]

حضرت شیخ الاسلام غوث بہاؤ الحق و الدین
سیدنا زکریا ملتانی سُہروردی علیہ الرحمة

خاندانی حالات و علم و فضل

حضرت مخدوم شیخ بہاﺅالدین زکریا ملتانی رحمة اللہ علیہ خاندان سہروردیہ کے بڑے بزرگ اور عارف کامل گزرے ہیں۔ حافظ' قاری' محدث' مفسر' عالم' فاضل' عارف' ولی سب کچھ تھے' ۔ شیخ الشیوخ حضرت شہاب الدین سہروردی رحمة اللہ علیہ کے خلیفہ تھے۔ ہندوستان کے اندر آپ ولیوں میں باز سفید کے نام سے مشہور تھے۔ حضرت شیخ بہاؤالدین زکریا ملتانی رحمة اللہ علیہ ساتویں صدی ہجری کے مجدددین میں شمار کئے جاتے ہیں آپ ظاہری و باطنی علوم میں یکتائے روزگار تھے ، اسلام کے عظیم مبلغ تھے. آپ کے جد امجد مکہ معظمہ سے پہلے خوارزم آئے ، پھر ملتان میں مستقل سکونت اختیار کی۔ آپ یہیں پیدا ہوئے۔ آپ رحمة اللہ علیہ نسبتاً قریشی ہیں۔ آپ 578ھ میں پیدا ہوئے۔ یہ عہد خسرو ملک غزنوی کا عہد تھا۔ آپ کی ولادت ملتان سے قریب ایک علاقے کوٹ کہرور ضلع لیّہ میں ٢٧ رمضان المبارک شب جمعہ کو ہوئی۔ آپ کی والدہ نے رمضان کے دنوں میں آپ کو ہر چند دودھ پلانا چاہا مگر آپ نے نہ پیا جو آپ کی کرامت ہے۔ بارہ سال کی عمر تک آپ رحمة اللہ علیہ ملتان میں ہی تعلیم حاصل کرتے رہے۔ اس کے بعد آپ رحمة اللہ علیہ خراسان تشریف لے گئے۔ اسی عمر میں آپ رحمة اللہ علیہ حافظ و قاری ہو گئے تھے۔

والد گرامی کے انتقال کے بعد آپ رحمة اللہ علیہ نے محض حصول علم و فن کیلئے پیادہ پا خراسان کا سفر کیا۔ اس کے بعد بلخ بخارا و بغداد اور مدینہ منورہ کے شہرہ آفاق مدارس میں رہ کر سند فضیلت حاصل کی۔ پانچ سال تک مدینہ منورہ ہی میں رہے جہاں حدیث پڑھی بھی اور پڑھائی بھی۔ غرض پندرہ سال اسلام کے مشہور مدارس و جامعات میں رہ کر مقعولات اور منقولات کی تکمیل کی۔ مدینہ منورہ ہی میں حضرت کمال الدین محمد یمنی محدث رحمة اللہ علیہ سے احادیث کی تصحیح کرتے رہے۔ جب پورا تجربہ حاصل ہو گیا تو آپ رحمة اللہ علیہ مکہ معظمہ میں حاضر ہوئے اور یہاںسے بیت المقدس پہنچ کر انبیاءکرام علیہم السلام کے مزارات کی زیارات کیں۔ اس عرصہ میں نا صرف یہ کہ آپ علوم ظاہر کی تکمیل میں مصروف رہے بلکہ بڑے بڑے بزرگان دین اور کاملین علوم باطنی کی صحبتوں سے بھی فیض یاب ہوئے۔ بڑے بڑے مشائخ سے ملے۔ فیوض باطنی حاصل کئے اور پاکبازانہ و متقیانہ زندگی بسر کرتے رہے۔ جس وقت آپ بغداد شریف وارد ہوئے تو ایک جید عالم تھے۔

١٥ سال کی عمر میں حفظِ قرآن ، حسنِ قرأت، علومِ عقلیہ و نقلیہ اور ظاہری و باطنی علوم سے بھی مرصع ہوگئے تھے ۔ آپ کی یہ خصوصیت تھی کہ آپ قرآن مجید کی ساتوں قرأت (سبعہ قرأت) پر مکمل عبور رکھتے تھے۔ آپ نے حصول علم کیلئے خراسان ، بخارا ، یمن، مدینة المنورة ، مکة المکرمة ، حلب، دمشق، بغداد، بصرہ، فلسطین اور موصل کے سفر کر کے مختلف ماہرین علومِ شرعیہ سے اکتساب کیا۔ شیخ طریقت کی تلاش میں آپ ، اپنے زمانہ کے معاصرین حضرت ِ خواجہ فرید الدین مسعود گنجِ شکر، حضرت سید جلال الدین شاہ بخاری (مخدوم جہانیاں جہاں گشت) اور حضرت سید عثمان لعل شاہباز قلندر رحمہم اللہ کے ساتھ سفر کرتے رہے۔

رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے خرقہ خلافت دلایا

بیت المقدس سے مختلف بلاد مشائخ اور مزارات کی زیارت کرتے ہوئے مدینة العلم بغداد میں آئے تو اس وقت حضرت شیخ شہاب الدین عمر سہروردی رحمة اللہ علیہ کا طوطی بول رہا تھا۔ ان کی ذات گرامی مرجع خلائق بنی ہوئی تھے۔ بڑا دربار تھا ' بڑا تقدس ۔ آپ رحمة اللہ علیہ ان کی خدمت میں حاضر ہوئے تو دیکھتے ہی فرمایا باز سفید آ گیا۔ جو میرے سلسلہ کا آفتاب ہو گا اور جس سے میرا سلسلہ بیعت وسعت پذیر ہوگا۔ آپ رحمة اللہ علیہ نے ادب سے گردن جھکائی۔ شیخ رحمة اللہ علیہ نے اسی روز حلقہ ارادت میں لے لیا اور تمام توجہات آپ کی طرف مرکوز تھیں۔ صرف سترہ روز بعد درجہ ولایت کو پہنچا کر باطنی دولت سے مالا مال اور خرقہ خلافت عطا کر کے رخصت کر دیا۔

خانقاہ شیخ الشیوخ تو اس وقت دنیا کی سب سے بڑی روحانی یونیورسٹی تھی جس میں ہر وقت اور ہمیشہ درویشوں اور طریقت والوں کا ہجوم رہتا تھا۔ اس وقت اور بھی بہت سے بزرگ ان کی خدمت میں موجود تھے۔ جو مدت سے خرقہ خلافت کا انتظار کر رہے تھے۔ انہوں نے جو دیکھا کہ مخدو م بہاﺅالدین رحمة اللہ علیہ کو آتے ہی خلافت بھی مل گئی اورہم تو برسوں سے خدمت کر رہے ہیں' اب تک یہ مرتبہ حاصل نہ ہوا اور یہ نوجوان چند روز ہی میں کمال کو پہنچ گیا۔ حضرت شہاب الدین سہروردی رحمة اللہ علیہ نے الحمد للہ نور باطن سے معلوم کر کے فرمایا کہ تم بہاﺅ الدین رحمة اللہ علیہ کی حالت پر کیا رشک کرتے ہو وہ تو چوبِ خشک تھا جسے فوراً آگ لگ گئی اور بھڑک اٹھی۔ تم چوبِ تَر کی مانند ہو جو سلگ سلگ کر جل رہی ہے اور جلتے جلتے ہی جلے گی۔ پھر سب لوگ سمجھ گئے کہ یہ تمام امور' فضل الٰہی پر منحصر ہیں۔

سترھویں شب ہی کو مخدوم صاحب نے خواب میں دیکھا کہ ایک بڑا آراستہ مکان ہے جو انوار تجلیات سے جگمگا رہا ہے ' درمیان میں تخت پر حضور صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم جلوہ افروز ہیں۔ دائیں جانب حضرت شیخ الشیوخ دست بستہ مودب کھڑے ہیں اور قریب ہی چند خرقے آویزاں ہیں۔ حضور نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے مخدوم صاحب کو سامنے بلایا اور ہاتھ پکڑ کر اسے حضرت شیخ الشیوخ کے ہاتھ میں دے دیا اور فرمایا کہ میں اسے تمہارے سپرد کرتا ہوں۔ ان خرقوں میں سے ایک خرقہ بہاﺅالدین کو پہنا دو۔ چنانچہ انہوںنے تعمیل حکم کے طور پر آپ کو ایک خرقہ پہنا دیا۔

صبح ہوتی ہے حضرت شیخ الشیوخ نے آپ کو بلایا اور فرمایا کہ رات کو جو خرقہ عطا ہوا ہے وہ تجھے رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی طرف سے عطا ہوا ہے۔ آپ نے وہ خرقہ پہنایا اور حکم دیا کہ اب ملتان پہنچ کر ہدایت خلق میں مصروف ہو جاﺅ ۔ یہ تھا حضرت مخدوم صاحب کا مرتبہ کہ ستر ہ روز میں خلافت ملی ' حکم نبوی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے ملی' سب کچھ دکھا کر ملی ' گویا آپ کو خود رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے ملتان میں پنجاب ' سندھ اور سرحد میں روشنی پھیلانے کیلئے متعین کیا تھا۔ شیخ کے حکم پر آپ ہندوستان کے علاقہ ملتان میں تبلیغِ دین میں مصروف ہوئے ۔ آپ کے ذریعے ہزاروں ہندو ،مسلمان ہوئے جبکہ لاکھوں مسلمان راہ یاب اور کامیاب ہوئے۔ آپ کے ملفوظات اور مکتوبات طبع ہوچکے ہیں ، جن میں سے یہ ایک جملہ مکمل اسلامی زندگی کا احاطہ کرتا ہے ۔

'' جسم کی سلامتی کم کھانے میں ، روح کی سلامتی گناہوں کے ترک میں اور دین کی سلامتی نبی کریم صاحبِ لولاک علیہ الصلوٰة والسلام پر درود بھیجنے میں ہے ۔''

دار الاسلام ملتان کا سہروردی مدرسہ

ملتان دارالسلام تھا۔ اتنے عرصہ میں فضا اور بدل چکی تھی۔ حالانکہ آپ یہیں کے رہنے والے تھے مگر پھر بھی چونکہ آپ صاحب ولایت اور بااقتدار اور باکمال ہو کر آرہے تھے اس لئے مشائخین ملتان کو آپ کا ملتان آنا ناگوار گزرا۔ انہوں نے دودھ کا پیالہ آپ کے پاس بھیجا جس کا مقصد یہ اشارہ تھا کہ یہاں کا میدان پہلے ہی سرسبز ہے اور ملتان میں آپ کیلئے کوئی جگہ نہیں۔ آپ نے اشارہ سمجھ کر دودھ کے بھرے پیالے میں ایک گلاب کاپھول ڈال کر بھیج دیا۔ جس سے یہ ظاہر کرنا مقصود تھا کہ گو کہ یہ پیالہ لبالب ہے، یہاں جگہ نہیں مگر میں مثل اس پھول کے یہاں رہوں گا اور میرے رہنے سے نہ کسی کی جگہ پر اثر پڑے گا نہ کسی پر بار رہوں گا۔ آپ 614ھ میں ملتان پہنچے اس وقت آپ کی عمر 36'37 برس کی تھی۔ آپ نے ملتان پہنچ کر ملتان کا نقشہ ہی بدل دیا۔ اس کی شہرت کو ہمدوش ثریا بنا دیا۔ آپ نے عظیم الشان مدرسہ رفیع المنزلت خانقاہ و عریض لنگر خانہ ' پر شکوہ مجلس خانہ اور خوبصورت عالی شان سرائیں اور مساجد تعمیر کرائیں۔

اس وقت ملتان کا مدرسہ ہندوستان کی مرکزی اسلامی یونیورسٹی کی حیثیت رکھتا تھا جس میں جملہ علوم منقول کی تعلیم ہوتی تھی ۔ بڑے بڑے لائق اور وحید العصر معلم پروفیسر اس میں فقہ و حدیث، تفسیر قرآن ' ادب' فلسفہ و منطق ریاضی و ہیت کی تعلیم دیتے تھے۔نہ صرف ہندوستان بلکہ بلاد ایشیاءعراق شام تک کے طلباءاس مدرسہ میں زیر تعلیم تھے۔ طلباءکی ایسی کثرت تھی کہ ہندوستان میں اس کی کوئی نظیر نہیں تھی۔ لنگر خانہ سے دونوں وقت کھانا ملتا تھا ۔ ان کے قیام کیلئے سینکڑوں حجرے بنے ہوئے تھے۔ اس جامعہ اسلامیہ نے ایشیا کے بڑے بڑے نامور علماءو فضلا پیدا کئے ' ملتان کی علمی و لٹریری شہرت کو فلک الافلاک تک پہنچا دیا۔

سیاسیات پر گہر اثر و رسوخ

حضرت صاحب علیہ الرحمة کا قرونِ وسطیٰ کی سیاسیات پر گہر اثر و رسوخ تھا چنانچہ ملتان پر اقتدار قائم رکھنے میں ــ''التمش '' (٦٠٧ ھ /١٢١٠ء تا ٦٣٣ھ /١٢٣٥ء) نے آپ سے ہمیشہ مدد چاہی اور حضرت شیخ نے بھی اس کی دین داری اور رعایا پر وری کو ملاحظہ فرما کر اسے بڑی مدد دی ، ٦٤٤ھ /١٢٤٦ء میں منگولوں کے حملوں سے ملتان کو محفوظ رکھنے میں مؤثر کردار ادا کیا۔ آپ بابا گنج شکر کے خالہ زاد بھائی تھے۔ مشہور شاعر عراقی آپ کا داماد تھا۔ والی سندھ اور ملتان ناصر الدین قباچہ کو آپ سے بہت عقیدت تھی۔

وصال شریف

آپ کی وفات ِحسرت آیات ٧ صفر ٦٦١ ھ/٢١ دسمبر ١٢٦١ء کو ہوئی۔ آپ کا مزار شریف قلعہ محمد بن قاسم کے آخر میں مرجع خلائق ہے، مزار کی عمارت پر کاشی کا کام قابل دید ہے اور سینکڑوں اشعار یاد رکھنے کے لائق ہیں، مزار کا احاطہ ہر قسم کی خرافات سے پاک ہے ۔ عرس کے موقع پر علماء کرام کی تقاریر خلق خدا کی ہدایت کاسامان بنتی ہیں، اندرون سندھ سے مریدین اور معتقدین کے قافلے پا پیادہ حاضر ہوتے ہیں۔

آپ کا وصال ٦٦١ھ میں اٹھاسی سال کی عمر میں ہوا۔ حضرت خواجہ غریب نواز ٦٦٦ھ حضرت قطب الاقطاب ٦٣٣ھ حضرت بابا صاحب ٦٦٦ھ اور حضرت مخدوم صاحب ٦٦٦ھ میں وصال پا گئے، یہ عہد کتنا مبارک عہد تھا۔

(ماخوذ ''دائرہ معارف اسلامیہ '' جلد ٥، صفحہ ٩٤، ٩٥۔۔۔۔۔۔ ''نزہة الخواطر'' جلد ١ صفحہ ١٢٠، ١٢١ ۔۔۔۔۔۔ ''تذکرہ اولیائے سندھ '' صفحہ ١٠٩ تا ١١١)

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

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4th Safar al-Muzaffar | Hadrat Sultan Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho

Hadrat Sultan Salah ad-Din Abu al-Afdal
Yusuf ibn al-Ayyub Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho

Sultan SalāH ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb was a Kurdish Muslim who became the Sultan of Egypt and Syria. He led Islamic opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant. At the height of his power, he ruled over Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Hijaz, and Yemen. He led the Muslims against the Crusaders and eventually recaptured Palestine from the Kingdom of Jerusalem after his victory in the Battle of Hattin. As such, he is a notable figure in Kurdish, Arab, Persian, Turkish and Muslim culture. Hadrat Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi was a strict practitioner of Islam. His chivalrous behavior was noted by Christian chroniclers, especially in the accounts of the siege of Kerak in Moab, and despite being the nemesis of the Crusaders he won the respect of many of them, including Richard the Lionheart; rather than becoming a hated figure in Europe, he became a celebrated example of the principles of chivalry.

Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi was born in the year 532 AH/1137 CE in Tekrit on the West Bank of the Tigris between Mosul and Baghdad, loved dearly by his father, Ayyub. His family was of Kurdish background and ancestry, and had originated from the city of Dvin, in medieval Armenia. His father, Najm ad-Din Ayyub, was banished from Tikrit and in 1139, he and his brother Asad al-Din Shirkuh, moved to Mosul. He later joined the service of Imad ad-Din Zangi who made him commander of his fortress in Baalbek. After the death of Zangi in 1146, his son, Nur ad-Din, became the regent of Aleppo and the leader of the Zengids.

Salahuddin Ayyubi, who now lived in Damascus, was reported to have a particular fondness of the city, but information on his early childhood is scarce. About education, Salahuddin Ayyubi wrote

"Children are brought up in the way in which their elders were brought up."

According to one of his biographers, al-Wahrani, Salahuddin Ayyubi was able to answer questions on Euclid, the Almagest, arithmetic, and law, but this was an academic ideal and it was study of the Qur'an and the "Sciences of Religion" that linked him to his contemporaries. Several sources claim that during his studies he was more interested in religion than joining the military. Another factor which may have affected his interest in religion was that during the First Crusade, Jerusalem was taken in a surprise attack by the Christians. In addition to Islam, Salahuddin Ayyubi had a knowledge of the genealogies, biographies, and histories of the Arabs, as well as the bloodlines of Arabian horses. More significantly, he knew the Hamasah of Abu Tammam by heart.

According to Imad al-Din, Salahuddin Ayyubi had fathered five sons before he left Egypt in 1174. There are no known details about most of the wives and slaves who bore him children. Salahuddin Ayyubi's eldest son, al-Afdal was born in 1170 and Uthman was born in 1172 to Shamsa who accompanied Salahuddin Ayyubi to Syria. Al-Afdal's mother bore Salahuddin Ayyubi another child in 1177. A letter preserved by Qalqashandi records that a twelfth son was born in May 1178, while on Imad al-Din's list, he appears as Salahuddin Ayyubi's seventh son. Mas'ud was born in 1175 and Yaq'ub in 1176, the latter to Shamsa. Nur al-Din's widow, Ismat al-Din Khatun, remarried to Salahuddin Ayyubi in September 1176. Ghazi and Da'ud were born to the same mother in 1173 and 1178, respectively, and the mother of Ishaq who was born in 1174 also gave birth to another son in July 1182.

"No sooner did he assume the overlordship of Egypt the world and its pleasures lost all significance in his eyes", says ibn Shaddad the Qadi of his army. He renounced the temptations of pleasure and took to a life of sweat and toil, which increased day by day until Allah summoned him to his Mercy. Such are the words of Allah:

"Perhaps you hate a thing while it is good for you and you may love a thing while it is bad for you."

"When Allah gave me the land of Egypt with so little trouble, I knew that he meant for me the blessed land also, for He Himself implanted the thought in my heart", said Salahuddin. He soon had the satisfaction of seeing his administration respected and order established in all aspects. He generously spent on the people from the money the Fatimids had been storing up in the palace walls, won the hearts of his people, and brought the faction-ridden country under obedience and his rule. He took great pains to establish the Sunnah more firmly in Egypt with the aid of the 'Ulama.

People came to visit him from every walk of life and flocked to his court from all parts. He never disappointed the hopes of visitors nor allowed them to depart with empty hands. When the crusaders heard that Salahuddin was ruling successfully they were convinced that he would soon overtake them, lay waste their usurped dwellings and wipe away all traces of their rule. This would most probably have happened but Salahuddin had one substantial obstacle - the disunity of the Muslims. They had immense riches and natural strength in the region and spent most of their time fighting each other rather than the real enemy. It took Salahuddin 18 years to get the attention of the Muslims in order to liberate Muslim lands. During that time Muslims were barely holding out in Egypt and Syria. Yet slowly, Salahuddin as example through persuasion, teaching, time and understanding worked to unite the Muslims. Kurds, Turks, Arabs and Egyptians - they were all Muslims and his servants when he called, Lane writes. "In spite of their differences of race, their national jealousies he had kept them together"

When Salahuddin had finally united the hearts in the core lands of Islam, virtually all the blessed lands returned to Muslim hands within five months. By Friday 27th Rajab/2nd October 1187 C.E. the Muslims were knocking on the door of al-Aqsa Masjid. Allah allowed the Muslims to take the city as a celebration on the anniversary of the Me'raj Sharif, the Prophet Ascension into heaven. Truly, this was a sign that this deed was pleasing to Almighty Allah. "It was a victory of victories, recalls ibn Shaddad. "A testimony of faith to a multitude of people, scholars, noblemen, merchants and masses who were brought there by the news of Salahuddins victories and success in the lands of the Mediterranean coast. All the Ulama came to join Salahuddin, both from Egypt and Syria. There was not a single well-known dignitary but he had come. The joyful shouts of "Allahu Akbar" and "La Ilaha Illallah" reached to the skies. After 90 years Friday prayers were again held in Jerusalem. A huge cross that glittered on the Dome of the Rock was thrown down. It was an indescribable event, the joy of the blessings and the victory of Allah were to be witnessed everywhere on that day.

The non-Muslims of Jerusalem asked for mercy and he gave it. Every man, woman and child was allowed to ransom themselves for a paltry price. He kept order in every street and refused to allow the People of the Book to be verbally abused, much less molested. What a far cry from the victorious Christians of 1099 (and the 1980s) who killed, tortured, shot in cold blood and burnt defenseless Muslims in the streets of Al-Aqsa. "Fortunate were the merciless because they obtained mercy at the hands of the Muslim Sultan", said Lane. Salahuddin said: "Well, when by Allahs help not one crusader is left on this coast, I intend to divide my territories and to change the successors with my last commands, then, having taken leave from them, I will sail on this sea to its lands across the water until there shall not remain on the face of this earth one unbeliever in Allah or I will die in this attempt"

Letter from Sultan Salah ad-Din to the Muslim Ummah

Following is a letter written by Sultan Salah ad-Din Ayyubi when he started his Jihad against the crusaders more than 9 centuries ago:

"We hope in Allah most high, to whom be praise, who leads the hearts of Muslims to calm what torments them and ruins their prosperity.

Where is the sense of honor of Muslims? The pride of Believers? The Zeal of the Faithful?

We shall never cease to be amazed at how the disbelievers for their part have shown trusts, and it is the Muslims who have been lacking in zeal. Not one of them has responded to the call. Not one intervenes to straighten what is distorted; but observe how far the Franks have gone what unity they have achieved. What aims they pursue. What help they have given. What sums of money they have borrowed and spent. What wealth they have collected and distributed and divided amongst them. There is not a King left in their lands or islands, not a lord or a rich man who has not competed with his neighbors to produce more support and rival his peers in strenuous military efforts. In defense of their religion they consider it a small thing to spend life and soul; and they have kept their infidel brothers supplied with arms and champions of war; and all they have done and all their generosity has been purely out of zeal for him they worship in jealous defense of their faith.

The Muslims on the other hand are weak and demoralized; they have become negligent and lazy, the victims of unproductive stupefaction and completely lacking in enthusiasm. If , Allah forbid, Islam should draw rein, obscure her splendor, blunt her sword, there would be no one, east or west, far or near who would blaze the zeal for Allah's religion, or choose to come to the aid of truth against error.

This is the moment to cast off laziness, to summon from far and near all those men who have blood in their veins; but we are confident (he speaks about himself and the small party of believers who began with him and then became a large party); but we are confident, thanks to Allah -Alhamdulillah- in the Help that will come from him and entrust ourselves to him in sincerity of purpose and deepest devotion.

In sha Allah, the disbelievers shall perish and the faithful have a sure deliverance."

— Salahuddin Ayyubi 12 CE

"After I die, you will see these Muslims fall apart in disunity, and you will see the Europeans grow strong. The best thing to do for now is to continue the fight until we drive them from the Coast (of Palestine) or die."

These are the Ominous words of Sultan Salah ad-Din about our Ummah. Salahuddin Ayyubi stated this after King Richard of England proposed that Salahuddin Ayyubi's brother, Sayf ad-Dîn (popularly known as "Safadin" in the West), should marry his siter Joanna. So admirable was Salahuddin Ayyubi's character that his worst enemy who had traveled over 2000 miles to eliminate him, ended up offering his own sister to his family. This is the result of Perfect Islâmic "Ikhlâq" and "'Adab".

Also, Salahuddin Ayyubi stated in regards to the troubles he endured uniting the entire Muslim world under one banner:

"I do not know what will happen to me, if Allâh wills that the enemy should grow strong. They have established a base from which they can retrieve other lands. you will see these Muslim leaders sitting at the tops of their grandiose towers saying, 'I shall not come down,' until the Muslim world will be destroyed."

How did Salahuddin Ayyubi destroy his enemies, drive the Franks from Jerusalem and most of Palestine, and be written of so well by the European historians whose people he defeated? This is how:

"On July 3 Salâh ad-Dîn performed the Friday prayer in the Mosque of al-Aqsa, He was seen prostrating and repeating his prayers over and over again as his tears soaked the prayer mat."

On February 20, 1193, Salahuddin Ayyubi rode out to meet the Pilgrims returning from the Hajj in Makkah al-Mukarrama. He had longed to perform the Hajj his entire life, but the constant Jihâd did not allow such. That night he fell ill and broke out into a tempestuous fever. On the fourth day of his illness they had him bled, which was a tradition of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon him). Salahuddin Ayyubi would not stop sweating. On the ninth day of his illness he stopped taking liquids. By March 3 on the eleventh day of his illness, Salahuddin Ayyubi had sweat so much that the bed was soaked and the floor stained. The scholars who witnessed this testified to it being a match to the description of a good death in the Sunnah.

On the morning of March 4, 1193, the Imâm Abû Ja'far was reciting from the Qur'ân as Salahuddin Ayyubi's son al-Afdal, and his friend and administrator al-Fâdil, as well as others looked on. As the Imâm reached following verse of Sûrat at-Tawbah, the Qur'ânic chapter most associated with Jihâd:

حسبي الله لا إله إلا هو عليه توكلت وهو رب العرش العظيم
"Allah suffices me; there is no worship except for Him; only Him have I trusted, and He is the Lord Of The Great Throne."

Hadrat Salahuddin Ayyubi smiled from ear to ear, and breathed his last. Since Salahuddin Ayyubi had given most of his money away for charity when they opened his treasury, they found there was not enough money to pay for his funeral. And so Salahuddin Ayyubi was buried in a magnificent mausoleum in the garden outside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.

— — —
For those who understand Urdu, Kindly listen to the Speech by Hadrat Allama Naseem Ahmad Siddiqui over the Seerah of Hadrat Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho... Click Here

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com

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