Our Pious Predecessors

Those righteous predecessors whose day of ‘Urs falls in Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam

Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam is the eleventh month of the Islamic year. Those blessed companions رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم, Awliya-e-Kiraam [saints of Islam] and [Islamic] scholars رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰە who passed away or have their ‘Urs in this month, 40 of them have been briefly discussed in the monthly magazine “Faizan-e-Madinah”, Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 1438 and 1439 Hijri editions. Introduction of further 15 righteous personalities is mentioned below:

The blessed companion

1     Sayyiduna Saaib Bin Haaris Sahami Qarashi رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was a companion who embraced Islam in the very early days of Islam. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ participated in the second migration towards Abyssinia and in the battle of Taif. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ embraced martyrdom in the battle of Fihl [فِحْل] in Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 13 AH at the place called Sawad-ul-Urdun (Tabqa-tul-Fihl). (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 4, pp. 148)

The blessed saints of Islam

2     Sayyiduna Ash’as Bin Qays Kundi رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ embraced Islam in 10 AH. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ lived in Yemen and was an extremely esteemed personality of his tribe. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was the brother-in-law of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ and served as a Mujahid in various battles. He was also the Governor of Azerbaijan and narrator of various Ahadees. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ passed away in Kufa, 40 days after the martyrdom of Sayyiduna ‘Ali رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ on 1^st or 2^nd Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 42 AH. His funeral Salah was led by Sayyiduna Imam Hasan رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. (Asad-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 1, pp. 151, 152)

3     Imam-e-Sajjad, Sayyiduna ‘Ali Bin ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم was the esteemed descendant of the Banu Hashim. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was tall and handsome, had an awe-inspiring personality, a great Taabi’i and narrator of Ahadees. Despite being a trader, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would worship Allah Almighty abundantly. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ used to offer one thousand Rak’aat everyday. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was born on 17^th Ramadan 40 AH and passed away in Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 117 or 118 AH. (Wafyat-ul-A’yaan, vol. 3, pp. 239 to 243)

4     Qutb of his time, Sayyiduna Khuwajah Abul Fayz, Zunnoon Sawban Misri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in Akhmim, Egypt. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه passed away on 2^nd Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 245 AH at the age of around 90. His blessed shrine is the focal point for the visitors, situated in the city of Jeezah that is 20 KM away from Cairo. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was an acclaimed scholar, Muhaddis, and a Wali [saint] possessing saintly miracles. (Shazraat-uz-Zuhb, vol. 2, pp. 242; Al-Muntazam, vol. 11, pp. 344; Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 10, pp. 17, 19)

5     Sultan-ul-Asfiya, Sayyiduna Meeran Shah Qamees-ul-A’zam Qaadiri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was a descendant of the Geelaniyah Razzaqiyah spiritual chain, an accomplished Wali and an extremely blessed personality. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in 897 AH in Bengal and passed away on 3^rd Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 992 AH. His blessed shrine is situated in Sadhora Khizarabad (district Ambala, east Punjab) India. Qutb-e-‘Aalam, Peer Mahr ‘Ali Shah Golarvi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was from his very lineage. (Encyclopaedia Awliya-e-Kiraam, vol. 1, pp. 124)

6     Sultan-ul-‘Aarifeen, Sayyiduna Shah ‘Abdul Kareem Bulri Waro رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in 944 AH and passed away on 7^th Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 1023 AH. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه belonged to a Mut’alvi Sadaat family of Bab-ul-Islam, Sindh, Pakistan. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was the great grandfather of Shah ‘Abdul Lateef Bhittai رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه, a renowned Sufi saint and a poet of the Sindhi language. His blessed shrine is situated in Saeedpur (Tahseel Shah Abdul Kareem) (district Tando Muhammad Khan), Bab-ul-Islam Sindh. (Tazkirah Awliya-e-Sindh, pp. 229 to 233)

7     Baba Jee Sarkar Sayyiduna Khuwajah Muhammad Qasim Sadiq Moharvi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in around 1242 AH and passed away on 13^th Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 1362 AH. His blessed shrine is a focal point for the visitors in “Mohra Shareef” near mount Murree in Rawalpindi district, Pakistan. He was an Islamic scholar, Mudarris [teacher] and a great Shaykh-e-Tareeqat of the Naqshbandiyyah spiritual chain. His successors established various Khanqahs at various places including in Ghamkol Shareef, Nerian Shareef and Kot Gulla Shareef. (Tazkirah Akabir-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, pp. 502)

8     Peer-e-Tareeqat, Maulana Qazi Khan Muhammad Chishti رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in Mohra Ameen (district Rawalpindi). He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was an Islamic scholar, teacher of Dars-e-Nizami course and the successor of Peer Sayyid Ghulam Haydar Shah Jalalpuri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه passed away on 9^th Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 1350 AH. His blessed shrine is situated at the place of his birth. (Ma’arif-e-Raza, Salnamah 2007, pp. 220)

9     Fayz-ul-‘Aarifeen, Maulana Shah Ghulam Aasi Piya Hasani Jahangiri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in Saidpur (district Ballia, UP) in 1917 AD. He became a scholar from the Madrasah Mazhar-ul-‘Uloom Bareilly Shareef. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was Shaykh-ul-Hadees, founder of the Madrasah Shams-ul-‘Uloom Tajpur (Nagpur), and the successor of Qutb-e-Madinah, Mufti-e-A’zam Hind and Khuwajah Hasan Shah Jahangiri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was also a Na’atiyah poet. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه passed away on 9^th Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 1424 AH. His blessed shrine is situated in Madhpur Shareef, Itrala (district Balrampur, UP), India. (Ma’arif-e-Raza, Salnamah 2006, pp. 220, 221)

Islamic scholars

10   The most prominent Islamic historian, Sayyiduna Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad Bin ‘Umar Waqidi Madani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was Tab’-e-Taabi’i, student of Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه, Qazi of Baghdad and the teacher of Sayyiduna Bishr Haafi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in 130 AH in Madinah Munawwarah and passed away in Baghdad on 11^th Zul-Qa’da-tul-‘Haraam 207 AH. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was laid to rest in the graveyard of Khayzran. ‘Futooh-ush-Shaam’ [فتوح الشام] and ‘Maghazi-ul-Waqidi’ [مغازی الواقدی] are his books. (Wafyat-ul-A’yaan, vol. 4, pp. 158, 159)

11  Hafiz-ul-Hadees, Abu Zakariyya Yahya Bin Mu’een Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was an acclaimed Imam, scholar and a Muhaddis. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه is the one who had the honour of writing six thousand Ahadees with his own hands. His book, ‘Tareekh Ibn Mu’een’ is a very important book. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه passed away on 23 Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 233 AH in Madinah Munawwarah. (Wafyat-ul-A’yaan, vol. 5, pp. 113 to 116)

12   Muhaddis-e-Hanafiyyah, Sayyiduna Imam Abu Ja’far Ahmad Bin Muhammad Tahawi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in 239 AH in Taha (the province of Al-Manya), Egypt. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه passed away on 1^st Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 321 AH. His blessed shrine is situated in the Qarafa graveyard, Cairo, Egypt. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was a Muhaddis, Faqih [jurist], an embodiment of ‘Ilm [knowledge] and Taqwa [piety], a truthful and an influential personality. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه is the author of various books including ‘Sharh Ma’ani-ul-Aasaar’ and ‘Al-‘Aqeeda-tul-Tahawiyyah’. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 11, pp. 505; Al-Muntazam, vol. 13, pp. 318)

13   Imam-un-Nahw, Sayyiduna Zaynuddin Yahya Zawavi Hanafi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in 564 AH and passed away in Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 628 AH in Cairo, Egypt. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was laid to rest close to the shrine of Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه at the place called Shareef-ul-Khandaq. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was the Imam of his time in the fields of syntax, linguistics and literature. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه spent many years in Syria teaching Islamic knowledge. Then he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه served as a teacher of literature in Jami’-ul-‘Ateeq, Egypt. (Wafyat-ul-A’yaan, vol. 5, pp. 163)

14   Ustaz-ul-‘Ulama, Maulana Qazi Muhyuddin Ghulam Geelani Shamsabadi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in 1285 AH in Shamsabad (district Attock), Punjab, Pakistan. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه graduated from the Madrasah ‘Aaliyyah Rampur. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was a Muballigh [preacher] of Islam, Munazir-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Peer-e-Tareeqat of the Naqshbandiyyah spiritual chain, and an author of various books and booklets. Apart from his native town, he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was also blessed with serving Islam in Gujarat (India) and Bengal. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه had an especial connection to A’la Hadrat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه paid visit to Bareilly Shareef many times. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه passed away on 24^th Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 1348 AH at the place of his birth. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was laid to rest in the grand graveyard of the area. (Ma’arif-e-Raza, 10^th edition 1990, pp. 125 to 135)

15       Ustaz-ul-‘Ulama, Maulana ‘Abdul Majeed Anolvi Qaadiri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was born in 1872 AD in the town of Aonla, (district Bareilly, UP) India. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was Hafiz of the Holy Quran, graduated from Madrasah Qadiriyyah Budaun, successor of Shah ‘Ali Hussain Ashrafi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه and the founder of the Madrasah Manzar-e-Haq Danda (district Faizabad, UP). He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was possessor of apparent beauty as well as inner beauty. Moreover, he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was also the teacher of hundreds of scholars. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه passed away in Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 1362 AH. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was laid to rest in Dargah Abul ‘Ula Akbarabadi Agra (UP), India. (Hayat Makhdoom-ul-Awliya Mahboob-e-Rabbani, pp. 342)