Permissibility of Celebrating the Mawlid from the Holy Quran and Ahadith

Permissibility of Celebrating Mawlid
from Qur'an al-Karim & Ahadith!!

 

All Praises is due to Almighty Allah, Peace and Blessings be upon the most perfect of creations, His Beloved Habib, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and his Noble Family and the Illustrious Sahaba and all the pious servants of Almighty Allah!!

In the present era, we are suffering from sects and so-called scholars who baselessly impose verdicts of Shirk and Bid'ah on those who celebrate Mawlid an-Nabi (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) with great enthusiasm and integrity and due to which the gullible and simple people, who are less in knowledge of Quran and Hadith get nervous whether they are following the right path or not.

Here are ample proofs from Qur'an al-Kareem and Ahadith of Beloved Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) which shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Celebrating Milad-un-Nabi (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) is absolutely lawful and commendable.

 

..:: The Holy Qur'an Says ::..

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيداً لأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِّنكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
Eisa, the son of Maryam, said, "O Allah, O our Lord! Send down to us a table spread from heaven, so that it may become a day of celebration for us – for our former and latter people - and a sign from You; and give us sustenance - and You are the Best Provider Of Sustenance." [Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 114]

The day when food is sent from skies is day of rejoicing (EID); then the day when soul of universe (Peace be with him) was born must be the delight for the day of rejoicing.

Look what Allah has said:

وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
And abundantly proclaim the favours of your Lord. [Surah Al-Duha, Verse 11]

Allah Himself commemorating Milad in Holy Qar'an as we do in our gatherings, Allah (SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala) says in the Holy Qur'an:

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللهِ شَهِيدًا
It is He Who has sent His Noble Messenger with the guidance and the true religion, in order to make it prevail over all other religions; and Allah is sufficient as a Witness. [Surah Al-Fatha, Verse 28]

وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And remember when Eisa the son of Maryam said, "O Descendants of Israel! Indeed I am Allah's Noble Messenger towards you, confirming the Book Torah which was before me, and heralding glad tidings of the Noble Messenger who will come after me – his name is Ahmed (the Praised One)"; so when Ahmed came to them with clear proofs, they said, "This is an obvious magic." [Surah As-Saf, Verse 6]

لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Indeed there has come to you a Noble Messenger from among you - your falling into hardship aggrieves him, most concerned for your well being, for the Muslims most compassionate, most merciful. [Surah Tauba, Verse 128]

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللهُ عَلَى الْمُؤمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولاً مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلالٍ مُّبِينٍ
Allah has indeed bestowed a great favour upon the Muslims, in that He sent to them a Noble Messenger (Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) from among them, who recites to them His verses, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom; and before it, they were definitely in open error. [Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 164]

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۔۔۔ قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
O mankind! The advice has come to you from your Lord and a cure for the hearts - and guidance and mercy for believers. Say, "Upon Allah's munificence and upon His mercy - upon these should the people rejoice"; that is better than all their wealth and possessions. [Surah Al-Yunus, Verse 57/58]

And this is what we do, we celebrate; we rejoice; we do spend our money to show gratitude to Allah Almighty on his greatest mercy and Blessing i.e. celebrations of Milad-un-Nabi (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) because Qur'an Says:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
And We did not send you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) except as a mercy for the entire world. [Surah Al-Anbiya, Verse 107]

..:: See in the light of Ahadith ::..

Let us have the opinions of Prophet (Peace be with him) who himself celebrated his Birthday. See Muslim Sharif:

عَنْ أَبِى قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِىِّ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ « فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ
Abi Qatada Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me.

References:

1. Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Vol. 7, Page 323, Hadith 2807
2. Musannaf Abd ar-Razzaq, Vol. 4, Page 296, Hadith 7865
3. Sunan Abi Dawood, Vol. 7, Page 255, Hadith 2428
4. Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 49, Page 195, Hadith 23200
5. Sunan al-Kubra lil Bayhaqi, Vol. 4, Page 286
6. Usd ul-Gaabba fi Ma'arfat as-Sahaba, Vol. 1, Page 21-22, published in Lahore 1987

When beloved Prophet (Peace and Blessings be Upon him) is commemorating his birthday not yearly but every Monday then how can it be labelled as Shirk or Bid'ah? Is it not a Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam)?

Beloved Prophet Muhammad SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam himself commemorated about his birth in numerous Ahadith. Few of them are presented below.

ورأت أمي حين حملت بى أنه خرج منها نور أضاء له قصور بصرى من أرض الشام
Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) said: "When my mother gave birth to me she saw a light proceeding from her which showed her the castles of Syria"

References:

1. Ibn Hisham; Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 4, Page 360
2. Bayhaqi, Dala'il an-Nubuwwah, Vol. 1, Page 110
3. Haythami, Zawa'i, Vol. 8, Page 221
4. Ibn al-Jawzi 'al-Wafa'
5. Qadi Iyad, 'al-Shifa'
6. Musnad Ahmad Vol. 4, Page 127

أول ما خلق الله تعالى نوري
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has stated, "The very first thing which Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala created was my Noor."

References:

1. Tafseer Nashyapuri, Page 55, Vol. 8
2. Tafseer Araa'is ul Bayaan, Page 238, Vol. 1
3. Tafseer Roohul Bayaan, Page 548, Vol. 1
4. Zirkaani ala al-Mawahib, Page 37, Vol. 1
5. Madarij an-Nabuwwah, Page 6, Vol. 2
6. Bayaan al-Miladun Nabi li Ibn Jauzi, Page 24

Sharih al-Bukhari Imam Ahmad Qastalani (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) states in his most distinguished work "Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah" that narration has been made by Hadrat Imam Zaynul Abedeen (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) who narrates from His father Hadrat Imam Husain (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) who narrates from His father Hadrat Ali Mushkil Kusha (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has stated,

كنت نورا بين يدى ربى قبل خلق آدم باربعة عشر ألف عام
"I was a Noor (Light) by my creator 14000 years before the creation of Hadrat Adam (Alaihis Salaam)"

References:

1. Muwahib al-Laduniyah, Page 10, Vol. 1
2. Zirkani ala al-Mawahib, Page 49, Vol. 1
3. Jawahir al-Bihar, Page 774
4. Anwaar al-Muhammadiya, Page 9
5. Tafseer Rooh al-Bayan, Page 370, Vol. 2
6. Hujjatullahi Ala al-Alameen

Pupil of Imam Malik and the teacher of Imam Ahmed Bin Hanbal and Hafizul Hadith Abdul Razzak Abu Bakr Bin Hamman, the teacher of the teachers of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, in his Book "Musannaf", has narrated from Hadrat Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari and his son (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhum), that he asked the Holy Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him)

روى عبد الرزاق -فيما قيل- عن جابر رضي الله عنه قال: "قلت: يا رسول الله بأبي أنت وأمّي أخبرني عن أول شىء خلقه الله تعالى قبل الأشياء؟ قال: يا جابر إن الله تعالى خلق قبل الأشياء نور نبيّك من نوره فجعل ذلك النور يدور بالقدرة حيث شاء الله ولم يكن في ذلك الوقت لوح ولا قلم ولا جنّة ولا نار ولا ملك ولا سماء ولا أرض ولا شمس ولا قمر ولا جني ولا إنسي، فلما أراد الله أن يخلق الخلق قسّم ذلك النور أربعة أجزاء فخلق من الجزء الأول القلم، ومن الثاني اللوح، ومن الثالث العرش، ثم قسم الجزء الرابع أربعة أجزاء فخلق من الجزء الأول حملة العرش، ومن الثاني الكرسي، ومن الثالث باقي الملائكة، ثم قسّم الرابع أربعة أجزاء فخلق من الأول السموات، ومن الثاني الأرضين، ومن الثالث الجنّة والنار، ثم قسم الرابع أربعة أجزاء فخلق من الأول نور أبصار المؤمنين، ومن الثاني نور قلوبهم وهي المعرفة بالله، ومن الثالث نور أنسهم وهو التوحيد لا إله إلا الله محمّد رسول الله...."
O Prophet of Allah! My parents be sacrificed upon you, what did the Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala first create?" The Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: "Allah first created my Noor (Light) of His Noor. This Noor traveled about according to the Will of Allah. At that time, there was no Heaven, Hell, Lawh (Divine Tablet), Pen, Earth, Skies, Sun, Moon, Jinn or Human Beings. When He decided to create, He divided that Noor into four parts. From one part He created the Pen, from the second, the Lawh and from the third, he made the Arsh (Throne). He divided the fourth part into a further four parts. From one, He created those Angels who carry the Arsh, from the second, the Kursi (Divine Chair) and from the third, He created the Angels. He again divided the remaining parts into a further four parts. From one, He created the skies. The second was used in creating the planets. From the third, Heaven and Earth were created. Once again, He divided the fourth part into a further four parts. From one part He created the power with which the believers see. From the second, He created in the hearts of the Believers the Noor of Marifat. From the third, He created Noor in the tongues of the Believers, so that they can read the Kalima of Tawheed.

References:

1. Muwahib al-Ladunniyah,Vol.1, Page 9
2. Zarqani ala al-Mawahib, Vol. 1, Page 46
3. Seerate al-Halabia, Vol. 1, Page 37
4. Mataali al-Masarraat Sharah Dalail Khayrat, Page 610
5. Afdal al-Qura by Imam Ibn Hajr Makki
6. Hujatullahu ala al-Alameen, Page 68
7. Anwaar al-Muhammadiya, Page 9
8. Aqidat ash-Shuhada, Page 100
9. Fatawa Hadithia, Page 51
10. Dalaa'il an-Nubuwwah By Imam Baihaqi
11. Khamees by Allama Dayar Bakri
12. Madarij an-Nabuwwat by Skaykh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi

Abu Lahab was an uncle to the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam). The event, which Imaam Qastalaani has referred to, is this. When a maid of Abu Lahab (Abdul 'Uzza) named Thuwaibah informed him of a son being born to his brother Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), he (Abu Lahab) was so delighted at herring this that he pointed his finger to her in a manner which signified her emancipation for carrying the good news to him But when the holy Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) declared his Prophet hood, he (Abu Lahab) did not accept him as a Prophet but became a most severe enemy to him and remained so all his life. In condemnation of him a whole Surah of the Holy Qur'an descended.

لَمَّا مَاتَ أَبُو لَهَب رَأَيْته فِي مَنَامِي بَعْد حَوْل فِي شَرّ حَال فَقَالَ : مَا لَقِيت بَعْدكُمْ رَاحَة ، إِلَّا أَنَّ الْعَذَاب يُخَفَّف عَنِّي كُلّ يَوْم اِثْنَيْنِ ، قَالَ : وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وُلِدَ يَوْم الِاثْنَيْنِ ، وَكَانَتْ ثُوَيْبَة بَشَّرَتْ أَبَا لَهَب بِمَوْلِدِهِ فَأَعْتَقَهَا
After his death, people of Abu Lahab's household saw him in a dream, and asked him how he had fared. To this, Abu Lahab said that after departing from them he did not meet with any good but was being given water every Monday from the finger with which he had indicated the emancipation of Thuwaibah, and this water lessened his torment.

References:

1. Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 153, Hadith 5101, Kitaabun Nikah, Publisher: Darul Fikr – Beirut.
2. Fathul Baari Sharha Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Page 118 by Imam Ibn Hajr Asqalani
3. Musannaf of Imam Abdur Razzaq San'ani, Vol. 9, Page 9, Hadith 16661
4. Umdatul Qari Sharha Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 14, Page 44, Hadith 5101 by Allamah Badruddin Ayni

Allama Muhammad Bin Alawai al-Maliki have stated in his work, Houl al-Ihtifal bi Zikri Mawlid an-Nabawi Ash-Sharif:

Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam after announcing his prophet hood, did his Aqeeqa, not only this, he also stood on his mim'ber sharif (pulpit) and recited his Shajrah (Ancestral Tree), commemorated the birth of Hadrat Adam and Status of Hadrat Ibrahim, Hadrat Esa, Hadrat Moosa Alaihimus Salam. He ordered few of his companions to recite his praise; Many of the Companions offered poems in the prominence and praise of Syyiduna Rasoolullah, He was delighted hearing this and prayed for his companions. [Houl al-ih'tifal bi Zikri Mawlid an-Nabawi Ash-Sharif, Published in Lahore 1987]

 

— — —
May we be sacrificed at this Merriment O blessed month of Rabi' al-Awwal!
Your joys surpass thousands of 'Eids; All in the world are rejoicing, except Shaytan

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

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Mujaddid of the 14th Century | AlaHadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Baraylawi (Alayhir Rahmah)

The Reviver (Mujaddid) of the 14th Century
AlaHadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (Alayhir Rahmah)
 

Imam Ahmed Rida Khan [d. 1340h/1921 CE] was a champion of the Sunni World in the twentieth century as he defended the belief system of Sunni Muslims and rejected the false and deviant ways head on with support from the greatest Ulama worldwide.

He restored the deen to its original state in India when falsehood was being mixed with the truth and people were confused about Sunni beliefs and practices. Such a person is known as a "Mujaddid".

Hadrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

"There will always be in my Ummah a group who safeguard the truth until Qiyamah comes" [Hakim's Mustadrak]

Hadrat Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates the Noble Prophet (upon him peace and blessings) said:

"Allah shall send for this Ummah at the head of every hundred years a person who shall revive their Deen for them" 

Family History

Imam Ahmed Rida son of Mufti Naqi 'Ali son of Mufti Muhammad Rida. He was born in a scholarly family on the 10th of Shawwal (1856 CE) in Bareilly, India.

His forefathers were originally from Kandahar, Afghanistan, and migrated to and settled in India.

Studies & Discipleship

Imam Ahmed Rida studied twenty one traditional Islamic sciences under his father, and mastered over fifty traditional sciences most of which were poured into his heart from Allah Almighty as he mentioned in al-Ijaazat al-Mateenah.

He wrote his first ever fatwa on 14th Sha'ban 1286h on an issue of fostering (when he was only 13 years, 10 months and 4 days old!)
 
Imam Ahmed Rida took his spiritual pledge (bay'ah/ahd) and received khilafah in various Sufi pathways from his spiritual teacher , Sayyid Shah Aal-e-Rasul Ahmadi from Marehrah, India, in 1296H.

Travels to Hajj

First Hajj: In 1295h (1878 CE), at the age of 22, the great Imam traveled to perform Hajj with his father where he received Ijazahs (licenses to teach) in the traditional sciences from the great scholars of Makkah such as Sayyid Ahmad Zayni Dahlan and Mufti Abdullah bin Abd ar-Rahman Siraaj.

Event: It is narrated that Imam Ahmed Rida was near Maqam Ibrahim after Maghrib salah one evening that the Shafi'I Imam of Masjid al-Haraam Shaykh Salih Jamal al-Layl Makki (d.1320h/1884) greeted him and said: "I swear by Allah, I can see the light of Allah shine in your forehead" and presented Ijazahs to him.

Second Hajj: In 1323h (1950 CE), Imam Ahmed Rida travelled to the Two Holy sanctuaries for the second time in company of his brother, Mawlana Hassan Raza Khan and son, Mawlana Hamid Raza Khan.

Event: He wrote a book called "Al-Dawlah al-Makkiyyah" in Arabic in this journey in just over eight hours without using any books on a question proposed to him by the Sharif of Makkah on the Noble Prophet 's (may Allah give him peace and blessings) knowledge of the unseen (ilm al-gayb). This work received a tremendous acceptance in its recital gathering in the presence of the Sharif which was attended by the prominent scholars of the time.

In the same journey, he had numerous meetings of knowledge and circles with the great Ulama who were either teaching, living or traveling in Hijaz. He produced a number of books in Arabic due to these sittings and circles, among them are:

Hussam al-Haramayn (Sword of the Two Holy Sanctuaries on the throat of disbelief and falsehood) – his famous work in defence of the Sunni beliefs and refutation of deviant groups that had blasphemed Allah and His Messenger.

Al-Ijaazat al-Mateenah – His licenses to the scholars of Makkah and Madinah and letters to them

Kiflul Faqih – Fatwa on the legal status of the bank note in Islamic law

All three of the above mentioned books made Imam Ahmed Rida very popular in the holy lands of Hijaz, Syria and Yemen.

 

What his contemporary Arab scholars said about Him?

Major scholars of Makkah and Madinah praised him lavishly for his knowledge and piety. He was called:

"The absolute Shaykh of all teachers" by Shaykh Ismail Makki, Libarian of Makkah Haram Library

"The encyclopaedia of all sciences" by Shaykh 'Ali bin Hassan Maliki, Mufti of Makkah city

"A giant Imam and well learned man who is an expert in the sciences" by Shaykh Yusuf Nabhani, Mujaddid of Sham & Mufti of Lebanon.

[See: Al-Dawlah al-Makkiyyah & Hussamul Haramayn for more]

His Principles (Manhaj)

1. Love of Allah and His Messenger is before anything & everything 

He said "If my heart was ever divided into two parts, one of them would have written on it "laa ilaaha illAllah" and on the other "Muhammadur Rasulullah"!! 

2. Defending the Honour of the Noble Messenger (upon him peace & blessings) 

He did not tolerate blasphemy (disrespect) of the Noble Messenger or of the pious companions or Awliya and stood strongly against the corrupted groups of his time for this reason. 

3. Education and transmission of authentic knowledge 

He was a dedicated teacher and some of the greatest Ulama of India were his students, among them are: 

• His two sons, Hujjatul Islam (Proof of Islam) Hamid Rida Khan & Mufti-e-Azam Hind (the grand Mufti of India), Mustafa Rida Khan
• Sadrus Shariah (Front line scholar of Islamic Law): Amjad Ali al-A'zami
• Malik al-Ulema (King of the Ulama): Zafaruddin Bihari
• Sayyid Muhammad Muhadith-e-Kachouchwi
• Qutb-e-Madina: Ziya'uddin Ahmad al-Madani & others

4. Self-Purification 

He followed the spiritual path (tariqa) of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani and loved all the Sufiya (Awliya). He made thousands repent from sins in his gatherings  and his entire life was spent purifying hearts and summoning people to Allah Almighty 

5. Praise of the Messenger through writing and poems 

His Durood-o-Salam is recited all over the world after Jum'ua and at the ends of religious events in mosques and homes like the Qasidah Burdah. His most famous book of Na'ats is called "Hada'iq-e-Bakshish" containing some of the finest praises of Allah and of His chosen people.
 
6. Following the Sunnah of the Messenger (upon him peace & blessings) to the smallest detail 

The character of the Noble Messenger (upon him peace & blessings) was imprinted in Imam Ahmed Rida's life. He staunchly practised the Sunnah and so did his disciples and students. 

7. Uncompromising defence of the Ahlus-Sunnah beliefs and practises 

He authored more than two hundred books on the teachings of the Ahlus-Sunnah and their defence. 

His Books

Imam Ahmed Rida wrote more than a thousand books and commentaries in more than 55 sciences. A list of about 350 books is available titled "al-Mujmal al Mu'addid". A bulky 12 volume Hanafi fatwa collection: "Fataawa-e-Ridawiyyah" in Urdu/Arabic was recently published in Lahore (Pakistan) with an index in 33 volumes! His Fataawa are an ocean of knowledge and wisdom.

The Sunni Muslims of the sub-continent (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan) remember the great Imam for his service to the Ahlus-Sunnah and consider him a saviour when the Sunni-way was at threat.

 

His Demise and Burial

Imam Ahmed Rida passed away on 28th October 1921 CE (25th Safar 1340h) at the age of 65, in his home at Jumu'ah time when the mu'adhin was saying "come to success" leaving behind two sons, Mowlana Hamid Raza and Mufti Mustafa Raza, and five daughters.

People from all over the world visit his blessed shrine in Bareilly Shareef every year on 25th Safar and attend the annual khatam (Blessed URS).

The great grandson who takes care of the affairs of the school of Imam Ahmed Rida in Bareilly is Mufti Akhtar Rida Khan, a fine scholar and graduate of al-Azhar University in Egypt. He is now visually impaired yet still teaches and dictates translations to books in Arabic and English, with good knowledge of English. May Allah preserve him and grant health.

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Penned by
Munawwar Ateeq Ridawi
[Birmingham — United Kingdom]

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

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