Imam Ahmad Raza Khan

Birth

A’la Hadrat, Imam of Ahl-us-Sunnah, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was born on Saturday, 10^th Shawwal-ul-Mukarram, 1272 AH (14^th June 1856) at the time of Zuhr Salah in the Jasoli neighbourhood in Bareilly, India. (Hayat A’la Hadrat, vol. 1, pp. 58)

Amazing childhood

Unlike other children, the childhood of A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was very outstanding. He was so sensible and had such a great memory even in his childhood that he completed the recitation of the entire Holy Quran by sight in the early age of just 4½ years. At the age of six, he delivered a detailed speech on the topic of Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in front of a very large gathering in the blessed month of Rabi’-ul-Awwal and was fully appreciated by the scholars and saints.

First Fatwa

At the age of 13 years, 10 months and 4 days, A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه completed all the traditional Islamic disciplines under the guidance of his respected father Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. On the very same day, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه wrote a Fatwa in reply to a query. Finding the Fatwa correct and accurate, his respected father Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه authorized him to issue Fatawa and A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه continued to write Fatawa till his demise. (Ibid, pp. 279)

Love for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

The personality of A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was a symbol of profound and devotional love for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. This may be realized by reading his poetic masterpiece ‘Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish’. Showing admiration and devotional love to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه has written couplets in praise of the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم from the bottom of his heart.

His books

A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه wrote approximately 1000 books on different topics. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه wrote millions of ‘Fatawa’ (Islamic rulings) from the period 1286 AH to 1340 AH, but unfortunately, not all of them could be recorded. Those   which were recorded have been compiled under the title ﴿اَلْعَطَايَا النَّبَوِيَّه فِی الْفَتَاوَی الرَّضَوِيَّه﴾. The latest edition of ‘Fatawa Razawiyyah’ consists of 30 volumes, 21656 pages, 6847 question-answers and 206 booklets. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 30, pp. 10, referenced) One can realize how profound knowledge of Quran, Ahadees, Fiqh, Mantiq (logic) etc. he had, only by studying his Fatawa. Each Fatwa is like an ocean of proofs.

Translation of the Holy Quran

The Urdu translation of the Holy Quran done by A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه known as ‘Kanz-ul-Iman’ is superior to all other Urdu translations of the present era.

The sad demise

Deriving the year of his demise from part 29 Ayah 15 of Surah Ad-Dahr of the Holy Quran, A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه gave the news of his demise four months and twenty two days before his demise. There are 1340 numerals in that Ayah according to ‘Ilm-e-Abjad. As per the Islamic calendar, 1340 Hijri is the year in which he passed away.