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- THE LEGEND OF THIS AGE -
Taajush Shari’ah Hadrat Shaykh 'Allama Shah Mufti
Muhammad Akhtar Rida Khan al-Azhari
by a Humble Servant of Sayyidi Taajush
Shari'ah
Mawlana
Muhammad Kalim al Qadri [U.K.]
Shaykh
al-’Ulema, Zubdat al-’Urafa, the
great-grandson of Imam Ahmad Rida Khan
al-Qadri, Qadi'l Qudat, Taajush Shari’ah
Hadrat Shaykh 'Allama Shah Mufti
Muhammad Akhtar Rida Khan al-Azhari is
not in need of any praise or any words
of introduction due to his outshining
personality who is a true reflection of
the innumerable noble characteristics of
his blessed teacher and mentor Mufti-e-A’zam
Shaykh Mustafa Rida Khan al-Qadri (son
of A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan).
His personality is famous worldwide in
the Indo-Pak subcontinent, Africa,
America, Holland, UK, US etc.
Not only has the Shaykh been well known
due to his high family lineage or
because of being a descendant of the
masters and legendaries of their time,
he also possesses great unique
characteristics such as moral and noble
characters, his blessed sirat and his
illuminating surat, his piety, God-feariness,
outward and inward purity and
cleanliness, his ocean of knowledge and
wisdom, his gravity and solemnity, his
fearing of Allah, his sincerity, his
asceticism and abstinence, his love and
affection, his worship and spiritual
mujahada, his worship and obedience, his
sacrifice and sympathy, his 'ishq and
faithfulness, his faith and certainty,
his speaking the truth and
righteousness, his insight and acumen,
his truthfulness and uprightness, his
trustworthiness and integrity, his sense
of honour and bashfulness, and so forth
all of which has made him the centre
point of blessings and anwaar.
The Most Generous Almighty has bestowed
him with immense knowledge, wisdom and
the good of this world and the
Hereafter.
Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadri al-Barelwi
Shaykh al-Islam wa'l Muslimin Imam Ahlus
Sunnah A'la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan
al-Qadri [d. 1921 AH] was an ocean of
knowledge and wisdom. He had skill and
mastery over a hundred different
sciences of knowledge and was
well-versed in all of them. Seeing his
extraordinary command over these
subjects and his undeniable research and
painstaking efforts in digging out gems
from the ocean of knowledge of and
wisdom, the age had saluted him and had
extolled him as its Imam and Mujaddid.
For the sake of rectifying and
correcting beliefs and actions he had
authored more than a thousand books.
Till present day, his highly esteemed
personality, his unique life and his
matchless works are being studied in the
colleges and universities worldwide and
the intellectuals are carrying out MA’s
and PHD’s on such diverse aspects of
this illustrious figure in Islam.
Without a shadow of doubt, Imam Ahmad
Rida Khan was entrusted to this Ummah as
a trust and he was a miracle of the
Beloved Messenger [Sallal Laahu Alayhi
Wasallam.
As well as being a grandson of Imam
Ahmad Rida Khan, Taajush Shari'ah is
also the spiritual successor and the
spiritual son of him. Mastery and
insight in innumerable religious and
secular sciences of knowledge was given
to him in inheritance, and it is enough
for estimating his grandeur in knowledge
and wisdom for him to be the grandson of
the Reviver of Religion of his time,
Imam Ahmad Rida Khan.
This age is fully aware of what Taajush
Shari'ah was granted from the treasure
of knowledge that had been passed down
from Imam Ahmad Rida Khan. Indeed,
Taajush Shari'ah is the true successor
and true inheritor of Raza's knowledge,
intellect and wisdom.
Mufassir-e-A'zam Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim
Rida Khan
The son of Hujjat al-Islam, the father
of Taajush Shari'ah, Mufassir-e-A'zam
Shaykh Mufti Ibrahim Rida Khan [d. 1965
AH] had mastery over many sciences of
knowledge especially in the fields of
Tafsir and Fiqh his status was lofty
indeed. He was unique and excelled his
contemporaries in the fields of oratory
and speeches. The Almighty had bestowed
such power and effect in his tongue that
whatever he said, that was certainly
what was going to happen. The Almighty
had also granted him diverse qualities
and many qualities and excellences. His
blessed face was so bright and
illuminated and so awe-inspiring that
many non-Muslims had embraced Islam just
by a glance at his blessed face. He was
from those who did not fear anyone in
speaking and declaring the truth and he
was from the faithful and upright.
Hudur Taajush Shari'ah is a true
reflection of his father Hudur
Mufassir-e-A'zam Shaykh Ibrahim Rida
Khan, as well as receiving the power of
oratory as inheritance from his noble
father, the glamour and beauty and
attraction is also a part of it. It is
due to this divine beauty that had
attracted many national citizens and
international who were in the pits of
darkness and misguidance to accept Islam
at his hands and be brought into the
light of faith.
Shaykh Muhammad 'Isa Razwi mentions an
eyewitness account of how a non-Muslim
embraced Islam at the hands of the
Shaykh in a public gathering in Bombay,
India.
Hujjat al-Islam Shaykh Muhammad Hamid
Rida Khan
The son of A'la Hadrat Hujjat al-Islam
Shaykh Mufti Muhammad Hamid Rida Khan
[d. 1943 AH] was endowed with countless
virtues and qualities by the Almighty.
He was a master in the fields of Hadith
and Fiqh, he had mastery and
overwhelming proficiency in Arabic
language and literacy, and thus we see
to his credit exceptional translations
of works such as ad Dawlat al Makkiyyah
in the Urdu language. He was also gifted
with the talents of debating and
discussing. In every debate he was
triumphant over the opposition
Christians and Wahhabis, he has to his
credit many books and translations in
diverse fields of knowledge. Due to his
divinely-gifted talents he had rendered
great services for Islam and the
Muslims.
If we look at Taajush Shari'ah, we also
see him a true successor of his paternal
grandfather Hujjatul Islam. In many
characteristics and qualities do we see
Taajush Shari'ah a true resemblance of
his paternal grandfather in his literary
works, in his translations, in his power
of speech and oratory, in his
proficiency and mastery over the Arabic
language and literature. Till date,
Taajush Shari'ah has authored more than
half a dozen books, and has also
completed many exceptional translations
from Urdu to Arabic and vice versa of
books authored by Imam Ahmad Rida Khan.
Insha-Allah this effort of Arabicising
the books shall be beneficial especially
in introducing the life and works of
Imam Ahmad Rida Khan in the Arab world
which is extremely necessary in this day
and age.
If those residing in the Arab world
would come close and look at the life
and works of Imam Ahmad Rida Khan in
detail, then there is certainty that the
innovations that have seeped into the
Arab world and the ideological
divergence that we see today shall all
be eradicated.
Taajush Shari'ah has such great mastery
and proficiency over the Arabic language
that he can make and read Arabic Qas'aid
and poetry spontaneously.
One can just about estimate the mastery
of Taajush Shari'ah in the Arabic
language by studying his books. Many
scholars who have met Taajush Shari'ah
were taken aback and astonished due to
the proficiency of his spoken and
written Arabic and they had to declare
that they had not seen or heard a
scholar from the Indo-Pak subcontinent
who had such proficiency in the Arabic
language.
Dr. ‘Abdun Na'im 'Azizi writes in the
account of Taajush Shari'ah's visit to
Iraq and Egypt:
On the 8th of Muharram al Haram 1403 AH/1982 we went to visit Karbala Sharif. Throughout our journey, we were accompanied by a driver and a bodyguard appointed by the Iraqi government. Our accommodation was arranged in an estate house in the vicinity of the sacred city. In the same estate house, there was a group of 115 people who had come from Pakistan, and whose group leader was from the family of Abu'l A'la Mawdudi.
We were sat in the main hall of the house that two Shuyukh of Iraq came to visit us. Hudur Taajush Shari'ah was feeling quite tired at the time due to extensive travelling, and therefore the Shaykh had laid to rest for a short while on a sofa. One of the Iraqi Shuyukh were discussing the topic of indwelling [hulul] and union [ittihad] and other intricate topics of Tasawwuf. Whilst discussing this topic, they posed a very intricate question on the subject which had created silence in the hall; everyone was silent as no one knew the answer. The group from Pakistan had all gradually left due to them not being able to understand the Arabic language properly plus the fact that they had Mawdudi ideologies. Our friends and colleagues were also in a mood of silence.
I thought to myself that this is quite shameful; the Iraqi Shuyukh will be thinking that the group of visitors from India and Pakistan have little or no knowledge on this topic. Immediately, I stood up and went to Hudur Taajush Shari'ah, woke the Shaykh up and informed him of the situation. Hudur Taajush Shari'ah immediately got up, met the Shuyukh and started the discussion. Hudur Taajush Shari'ah answered all their queries in eloquent Arabic. They then discussed about ibn 'Abd al Wahhab an Najdi and his corrupt and deviant beliefs. The Shaykh had informed them about his corrupt beliefs comprehensively and they too were refuting ibn 'Abd al Wahhab's beliefs and farce ideologies.
When the Shuyukh got to know that Taajush Shari'ah is the grandson of Shaykhul Islam Imam Ahlus Sunnah Imam Ahmad Rida Khan, they became even more happier of being blessed with the opportunity to meet the Shaykh. They became really affected by the eloquence and profound knowledge of Shaykh Taajush Shari'ah. The Shuyukh then said, ‘There was much widespread about the Arabic of Abu'l Hasan an Nadwi, but after hearing your eloquence in the Arabic language, we are certain that you do not fall short of him. In fact, after hearing your Arabic, we were under the impression that you are an Arab!'
Thereafter, they discussed the life and works of Imam Ahmad Rida Khan and the Shuyukh praised much the work “ad Dawlat al Makkiyyah” and requested that a few copies of the book be sent to them, so that it can be kept in the libraries of the universities in Iraq.” [The 15 Day “Ghazi-e-Millat”, Calcutta, 15th November 1983]
From the above excerpt it is evident
that as well as the Shuyukh of Iraq paid
their respect and extolled Hudur Taajush
Shari'ah and also praised the profound
knowledge and eloquency of the Shaykh,
it is also evident that till date much
commendation and praise remains with
regards the exceptional book written in
eloquent Arabic on the subject of the
Knowledge of the Unseen by Imam Ahmad
Rida Khan entitled, 'ad Dawlat al
Makkiyyah.'
Mufti-e-A'zam Shaykh Muhammad Mustafa
Rida Khan
The younger son of A'la Hadrat, Hudur
Mufti-e-A'zam Shaykh Muhammad Mustafa
Rida Khan 'Noori' [d. 1981] passed his
entire life in obedience to Allah and
His Beloved Messenger [Sallal Laahu
Alayhi Wasallam]. Like his noble father,
Mufti-e-A'zam was honoured of speaking
and declaring the truth regardless of
whosoever may oppose it. He was unique
and matchless in his righteousness, God-feariness,
piety, abstinence, purity of the inward
and outward. One can see a true
reflection of Imam Ahmad Rida's unique
style and his outstanding
comprehensiveness, by studying the books
and fatawa of his son Mufti-e-A'zam. The
contemporary 'Ulema and Masha’ikh had
said and written words of praise with
regards to his taqwa and his immense
knowledge. Many of the great 'Ulema used
to get training for issuing fatawa under
his tutorship. He had a great insight in
all religious sciences, especially in
Fiqh he was exceptional. He was a true
reflection of his noble and eminent
father Imam Ahmad Rida Khan.
Those elements which had a revolutionary
effect in the life of Hudur Tajush
Shari'ah, were brought about through
Hudur Mufti-e-A'zam's high spiritual
power. Hudur Taajush Shari'ah's
expertise and mastery in issuing fatawa
and generally in fiqh is a special gift
bestowed to him from Hudur Mufti-e-A'zam;
in his piety we saw a true reflection of
the taqwa of Hudur Mufti-e-A'zam; in his
declaration of the truth wherever and
whatever it is, we see a true likeness
of this characteristic that was at its
apex in the personality of Hudur
Mufti-e-A'zam; in his wide acceptance
amongst the common folk and the 'Ulema
and Masha’ikh, we see the effects of
Hudur Mufti-e-A'zam's supplication for
this unique grandson of his.
Conclusively, both in his manners and
his physical attributes, both in his
characters and his habits, Hudur Taajush
Shari'ah is a true likeness of Hudur
Mufti-e-A'zam.
From this aspect (as mentioned above)
Hudur Taajush Shari'ah has the blessing
of being a descendant from a family of
great 'Ulema and Masha’ikh, and also has
the blessings of these powerful and
strong connections Taajush Shari'ah is
the son of Hudur Mufassir-e-A'zam Hadrat
Shaykh Ibrahim Rida Khan, he is the
grandson of Hujjat al-Islam Shaykh
Muhammad Hamid Rida Khan, and the
grandson of Hudur Mufti-e-A'zam Shaykh
Muhammad Mustafa Rida Khan, and the
great grandson of Imam Ahmad Rida Khan.
Thus, in his personality do we evidently
see a true manifestation of all these
supreme personalities of Islam. All four
afore-mentioned personalities were
minarets of guidance, and shining stars
in respect to knowledge, wisdom and
acument. Without a shadow of doubt,
Hudur Taajush Shari'ah received many
qualities from these great
personalities:
* He received insight and acumen, intelligence and astuteness, powerful and sharp memory, love and affection, swiftness in decision making and planning, from Imam Ahmad Rida Khan.
* Ingenuity, proficiency over the Arabic language, a true dedication for writing and translating from Hujjat al-Islam Shaykh Muhammad Hamid Rida Khan.
* Power of speech and oratory, having sound intellect from his eminent father Mufassir-e-A'zam Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim Rida Khan.
* Mastery in the fields of Hadith and Fiqh, having sound opinions and verdicts, taqwa and God-fearness from Hudur Mufti-e-A'zam Shaykh Muhammad Mustafa Rida Khan.
Let me ask! Such an individual who has
received immense blessings and qualities
from these great giants, how can one
estimate the loftiness of his eminence?!
Taajush Shari'ah's Sanad in Hadith
Transmission
Those great individuals from whom Hudur
Taajush Shari'ah received ijazah for
Hadith-transmission were great
luminaries and shining stars of their
era. The loftiness of the sanad shows
the high status of the one who has been
granted it. We shall present Hudur
Taajush Shariah's sanad from two ways.
Though both are very high indeed, one
has less number of narrators to the
Messenger of Allah [Sallal Laahu Alayhi
Wasallam]. This is also the same sanad
of Imam Ahmad Rida Khan and Mufti-e-A'zam
as this sanad was granted to Hudur
Taajush Shari'ah from both these great
individuals.
Sanad al-Hadith al-Musalsal
bil-Awwaliiyah (1)
1.The Messenger of Allah [Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam]
2.Hadrat 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As
3.Hadrat Abu Qabus slave of Hadrat 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As
4.Hadrat 'Amr ibn Dinar
5.Hadrat Sufyan ibn 'Uyayna
6.Hadrat 'Abd al-Rehman ibn Bishr ibn al-Hakam
7.Hadrat Abu Hamid Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Bilal al-Bazzar
8.Hadrat Abu Tahir Muhammad ibn Muhammad Mahmash al-Ziyadi
9.Hadrat Abu Salih Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Malik al-Mu'azzin
10. Hadrat Abu Sa'id Isma'il ibn Abu Salih Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Malik al-Naysaburi
11. Hadrat al-Hafiz Abu'l Faraj 'Abd al-Rehman ibn 'Ali al-Jawzi
12. Hadrat Abu'l Faraj 'Abd al-Latif ibn 'Abd al-Mun'im al-Harrani
13. Hadrat Abu'l Fath Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Kubra al-Maydumi
14. Hadrat Shaykh Shams ad-Din Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-
Tadummuri
15. Hadrat Shaykh Abu'l-Fadl 'Abd al-Rahim ibn Husain al-'Iraqi
16. Hadrat Shaykh al-Shihab Abu'l Fadl Ahmad ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
17. Hadrat Shaykh Shams ad-Din al-Sakhawi al-Misri
18. Hadrat Shaykh Wajih ad-Din 'Abd al-Rehman ibn Ibrahim al-'Alawi
19. Hadrat Shaykh Muhammad Aflah al-Yemeni
20. Hadrat Shaykh 'Abd al-Wahhab ibn Fathullah al-Baruji
21. Hadrat Shaykh 'Abd al-Haq “Muhaddith” ad-Dehlwi
22. Hadrat Shaykh Abu'r Rida ibn Shaykh Isma'il ad-Dehlwi (grandson of Shaykh 'Abd al-Haq)
23. Hadrat Shaykh Fakhr ad-Din Mubarak al-Bilgarami
24. Hadrat Shaykh Tufail-e-Muhammad al-Utrolwi
25. Hadrat Shaykh Shah Hamza ibn Sayyid Al-e-Muhammad al-Bilgarami al-Husaini al-Wasiti
26. Hadrat Shaykh Sayyid Shah Al-e-Ahmad “Acche Miya” Marehrawi
27. Hadrat Shaykh Sayyid Shah Al-e-Rasul Ahmadi Marehrawi
28. Hadrat Shaykh Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Barelwi
29. Hadrat Shaykh Mustafa Rida Khan al-Barelwi
(may Allah Most Exalted be pleased with them all…Ameen)
30. Hadrat Shaykh Muhammad Akhtar Rida Khan al-Qadri al-Azhari
Sanad al-Hadith al-Musalsal bil-Awwaliyyah (2)
1.The Messenger of Allah [Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam]
2.Hadrat 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As
3.Hadrat Abu Qabus slave of Hadrat 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As
4.Hadrat 'Amr ibn Dinar
5.Hadrat Sufyan ibn 'Uyayna
6.Hadrat 'Abd al-Rehman ibn Bishr ibn al-Hakam
7.Hadrat Abu Hamid Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Bilal al-Bazzar
8.Hadrat Abu Tahir Muhammad ibn Muhammad Mahmash al-Ziyadi
9.Hadrat Abu Salih Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Malik al-Mu'azzin
10. Hadrat Abu Sa'id Isma'il ibn Abu Salih Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Malik al-Nayshaburi
11. Hadrat al-Hafiz Abu'l Faraj 'Abd al-Rehman ibn 'Ali al-Jawzi
12. Hadrat Abu'l Faraj 'Abd al-Latif ibn 'Abd al-Mun'im al-Harrani
13. Hadrat Abu'l Fath Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Bakri al-Maydumi
14. Hadrat Shaykh Shams ad-Din Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Tadmiri
15. Hadrat Shaykh al-Fadl 'Abd al-Rahim ibn Husain al-'Iraqi
16. Hadrat Shaykh Abu'l Fath Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr ibn al-Husain al-Maraghi
17. Hadrat Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim at-Tazi
18. Hadrat Shaykh Ahmad Hajji al-Wahrani
19. Hadrat Shaykh Sa'id ibn Muhammad al-Muqri
20. Hadrat Shaykh Sa'id ibn Ibrahim al-Jaza'iri
21. Hadrat Shaykh Yahya ibn Muhammad al-Shawi
22. Hadrat Shaykh 'Abdullah ibn Salim al-Basri
23. Hadrat Shaykh Sayyid 'Umar
24. Hadrat Shah Waliyullah Muhaddith ad-Dehlwi
25. Hadrat Shah 'Abd al-'Aziz Muhaddith ad-Dehlwi
26. Hadrat Sayyid Shah Al-e-Rasul Ahmadi Marehrawi
27. Hadrat Shaykh Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Barelwi
28. Hadrat Shaykh Mustafa Rida Khan al-Barelwi
(May Allah Most Exalted be pleased with them all…Ameen)
29. Hadrat Shaykh Muhammad Akhtar Rida Khan al-Qadri al-Azhari
His Literary works
1.al-Haqq al-Mubin - Arabic
2.Difa'-e-Kanzul Iman - Urdu
3.T.V. aur Video ka Operation - Urdu
4.Mir'at an-Najdiyyah ba-Jawab al-Barelwiyyah - Arabic 2 vols.
5.Tasweero ka Shari'i Hukm - Urdu
6.Sharh Hadeeth-e-Niyyat - Urdu
7.Sharh Hadith-e-Ikhlas - Urdu
8.Hadrat Ibrahim ke Walid Ibrahim ya Tarikh? - Arabic/Urdu
9. Aik Aham Fatwa
10. Teen Talaqo ka Shari'i Hukm
11. Athar-e-Qiyamat
12. Hijrat-e-Rasul SallAllahu 'alayhi wa Sallam
13. al-Qawl al-Fa'iq li-Hukm al-Iqtida' bil-Fasiq
14. Hashiyah 'Ala Sahih al-Bukhari Arabic
15. Jashn-e-Eid-e-Miladun Nabi SallAllahu 'alayhi wa Sallam
16. Kya Deen ki Muhim Poori ho Chuki?
17. Asma-e-Surah-e-Fatiha ki Wajah-e-Tasmiyyah
18. Fatawa in 5 vols.
19. Fadilat-e-Siddiq-e-Akbar - Urdu translation of A'la Hadrat's al Zulal al Anqa min Bahr Sabqat al Atqa
20. al-Mu'taqad al-Muntaqad bina Najat al-Abad - Urdu translation of the original work in Arabic
21. Anwar al-Mannan fi Tawhid al-Qur'an - Urdu translation of the work in Arabic
22. Ataya al-Qadir fi Hukm at-Tasawir - Arabic
23. Safeena-e-Bakhshish consists of poetry in Arabic, Urdu and Persian
24. Azharul Fatawa - collection of Hadrat's Fatawa in English
[There are still many books that Hadrat
is currently translating, and some books
are awaiting publication]
Appointed as the Islamic Supreme Justice
Shaykh Taajush Shari'ah has been
appointed as the Qadiul Qudat or "Muslim
Chief Justice" for the entire country of
India. This announcement was made by
Muhaddith-e-Kabeer, Hadrat Allama Mufti
Zia-ul-Mustafa Qadri Amjadi. This
glorious event took place during the
Urs-e-Razvi in October 2006 in the
presence of many 'Ulema, prominent
Islamic Scholars and thousands of
people.
Miraculous Happenings
Though karamat are not the only sign
that a person has been chosen by Alllah
Most High to be His Wali, they do
inspire many to believe in the great
power and Qudrah of Allah the Most
Powerful that He Most High bestows upon
His chosen servants.
Hudur Taajush Shari'ah has also been
bestowed with many karaamat (charismatic
talents), some which are my personal
encounters.
It so happened that in the blessed month
of Ramadan 1429 AH/2008, a friend had
taken painstaking efforts in
proofreading approximately 200 pages of
a text. The friend had passed the
documents to another person who was
going to pass it to me. After a few days
I had asked the person if he could
return the proofread documents that were
passed on to him by my friend. However,
he said that he could not find these
documents anywhere in his house, even
after many thorough searches.
After a few weeks had passed, before
ringing my friend I said through my
inner self, 'O Shaykh Tajush Shari'ah,
make my amanah return to me.' I then
rang the same person who was passed the
documents, and he stated the same thing
(that he could not find the documents).
However, a person from his family was
saying (whilst he was on the phone),
'I've found this bag, I don't know who
it belongs to.' To his and my surprise,
that bag contained the documents which
had gone missing for quite some time!
There have been many more incidents that
have taken place that have created in me
much love and affection for my Shaykh
Sayyidi Taajush Shari'ah.
We supplicate to Allah Almighty that He
grants Shaykh Taajush Shari'ah a long
prosperous life, and grants him good
health so that the Muslim Ummah can take
benefit from this irreplaceable
personality of this 21st century…Ameen.