Urs Of Pious Predecessors In Shawwal

Our pious predecessors

Maulana Abu Majid Muhammad Shahid Attari Madani

Throughout history, the tenth month of the lunar year, Shawwal, has witnessed the passing away of several towering figures of Islam. From 1438 AH to 1441 AH, the Shawwal editions of the Monthly Magazine Faizan-e-Madinah have remembered 58 such noble men and women of Allah Almighty. In this year’s edition, we introduce our readers to 15 more:  

From the companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم

1, 2.   Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Waqsh Ash-hali –Al-Awsi Al-Ansari رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ and his brother, Sayyiduna Rifa’ah Bin Waqsh Al-Ansari رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, were passionate warriors who wished for nothing more than martyrdom, despite their old age. On 15^th Shawwal, 3^rd AH, they finally achieved their wish as they were martyred in the Expedition of Uhud, (Al-Istee’ab, vol. 1, p. 279, 2/81).

3.   Sayyiduna Salamah Bin Saabit Al-Ansari رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, was martyred with his father, Sayyiduna Saabit Bin Waqsh رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ in the Battle of Uhud, (Usd-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 2, p. 496).

4.   Sayyiduna Usayrm ‘Amr Bin Saabit Al-Ansari رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had accepted Iman on the day that the Battle of Uhud took place; he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had not prayed any Salah yet, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ joined his aforementioned brother and father in the Expedition of Uhud whole-heartedly until he was martyred. When the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was informed, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remarked: ‘اِنَّهُ لَمِنْ اَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ’ ‘Certainly, he is from the people of Paradise,’ (Ma’rifah-tul-Sahabah-li-Abi Nu’aym, vol. 1, p. 311, 3/381).

From the Saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه

5.   Shaykh Abul Hasan Ameer Khusro رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, the acclaimed Sufi poet and spiritual master, was born in 653 AH, in Delhi, and passed away there on the 18^th Shawwal, 725 AH. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was laid to rest in the Nizamiyah mausoleum of Delhi. As an erudite scholar and seasoned poet, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه contributed over 500,000 lines, spanning multiple languages, to the corpus of metaphysical and mystical poetry, (Encyclopaedia Awliya-e-Kiraam, vol. 4, p. 51).

6.   The Sufi master and celebrated saint, Sayyid Muhammad Ghaus Baala Peer Jeelani Qadiri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a worthy scion of the family of Shaykh ‘Abdul Qaadir Jeelani. Recognised for his vast knowledge and erudition, he was also an ascetic and spiritual guide, authorised by his teacher and grandfather, Sayyid Abdul Qaadir Saani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه. He passed away in the historical town of Satghara, Okara District, on 5^th Shawwal, 959 AH.  The Sayyid family of Satghara and Shaykho Shareef are his descendents, (Khazinah-tul-Asfiya, vol. 1, p. 198).

7.   Shaykh-e-Tareeqat, Shaykh Manoon Shah Yusuf Zai Mujaddidi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 1001 AH in Delhi. Along with studying the sacred knowledge under the tutelages of leading scholars, he took the spiritual pledge at the hands of Shaykh Haji Bahadar Kohati, who later authorised him as his heir. As per the instructions of his mentor, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه dedicated his life to teaching and guiding the people of Afghanistan until his passing away on 14^th Shawwal, 1099 AH. His shrine is located in Tahkal, Peshawar, where it remains a locus of blessings, (Tazkirah Mashaaikh Mujaddidiyah Afghanistan, p. 81).

8.   Shaykh-e-Tareeqat, Maulana Sayyid Abdus Salam Haswi Mujaddidi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in the Indian town of Haswa, (District Fath Pur, U.P.). Having studied the sacred knowledge with the Shaafi’i Mufti of Mecca, Sayyid Ahmad Dahlan Al-Makki, and as a disciple of Shah Ahmad Sa’eed Mujaddidi, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه emerged as a hafiz of the Quran, a prominent scholar, and saint whose miracles spread far and wide. He passed away on 4^th Shawwal, 1299 AH. His mausoleum is visited by aspirants and seekers throughout the year, (Tazkirah-e-Ulama-e-Hal, pp. 318-325; Tazkirah Ulama-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, p. 124).

9.   The renowned scholar and man of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Mustafa Maa Al-‘Aynayn Qadiri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in Haud, Mauritania, in 1246 AH. Combining deep insight into outer and inner sciences, he was a leading exegete, authority in hadith, and a spiritual mentor to whom saints and i flocked. His miracles and prowess in the esoteric science of letters are widely known. On his first Hajj journey, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه visited him, and the Qutb of Madinah, ‘Allamah Ziya-ud-Deen Madani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was his student and spiritual heir. He passed away on 27^th Shawwal, 1328 AH in Tiznit, Morocco. The book, ‘Daleel-ul-Rifaaq ala Shams-il-Itifaaq’ is one of his better known works, (Daleel-ul-Rifaaq, Tarjamah-tul-Mu’allif, Sayyidi Ziya-ud-Deen Ahmad Qadiri, vol. 1, p. 715).

10.   Peer-e-Tareeqat, Shaykh Peer Sayyid Husayn Shah Jama’ti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born on 1285 AH, in Kheiwa Shareef, Punjab, to a notable Sayyid family. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a disciple of Peer Sayyid Hayat Muhammad Shah Sialkoti, and a spiritual heir of Ameer-e-Millat Sayyid Jama’at Ali Shah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه. Excelling in both outer and inner knowledge, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a paradigm of scholarship, piety, and asceticism. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه passed away in his hometown on 19^th Shawwal, 1363 AH, (Khalifah-e-Ameer-e-Millat, p. 127).

11.   The man of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, Shaykh Peer Muhammad Masoom Shah Noori رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 1315 AH into a pious family. As a devoted follower Data Ganj Bakhsh, and a man of great learning, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه  founded Noori Kutub Khana, constructed twenty masjids, including Noori Masjid (Railway Station, Lahore), and supported several seminaries. The prolific author, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه penned many works upon his requests. On 29^th Shawwal, 1388 AH, he breathed his last in this world and was laid to rest in Khanqah Qadiriyyah, Chak Saada (Gujrat District, Punjab), (Tazkirah Ulama-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, p. 247).

From the Scholars رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه

12.   Imam Ibn Al-Faradi Abu Waleed Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al-Qurtubi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 351 AH. As a truly remarkable polymath, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه excelled as a jurist of the Maliki school of jurisprudence, a seasoned teacher of Hadith, a poet of the Arabic language, a historian, and the author of several pioneering works such as the ‘Tareekh Ulama Al-Andalus.’ Due to his knowledge and expertise, he was appointed as the judge of Valencia. He was martyred on 6^th Shawwal, 403 AH, (Siyar A’laam-ul-Nubala, vol. 13, p. 106; Mu’jam-ul-Mu’allifeen, vol. 2, p. 295).

13.   Maulana Ghulam Muhyuddin Baggawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in Bagga (Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil), Jhelum District, in 1210 AH, to a scholarly family. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a student of Shah Abdul Azeez Muhaddis Dehlawi, and the disciple and spiritual heir of Shah Ghulam Ali Mujaddidi Dehlawi. While teaching countless students in Bagga and then Lahore, he also served as the Mufti of Punjab. Many of his students became acclaimed scholars. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه passed away in his hometown on 30^th Shawwal, 1273 AH, (Tazkirah-e-Ulama Ahl-e-Sunnat-o-Jama’at Lahore, p. 145).

14.   Shaykh Mahmud Bin Rashid Attar Al-Dimashqi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 1284 AH in Damascus. Having studied with the Hanafite Mufti of Jordan and Imam Badr-ud-Deen Hasani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, he emerged as a prominent scholar of jurisprudence and Hadith. As a teacher, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه served in seminaries across Damascus, Jordan, Jeddah, and Mumbai. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه wrote an endorsement for the Imam Ahmad Raza Khan’s رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه ‘masterpiece, ‘Al-Dawla-tul-Makiyyah.’ As an author, he wrote several works, including ‘استحباب القيام عند ذكر ولادته علیه الصلاة والسلام’ He passed away on 20 Shawwal, 1362 AH and was laid to rest in the historical Bab Al-Sagheer cemetery in Damascus, (Al-Dawlat-ul-Makkiyyah, p. 411; Tareekh Al-Dawlat-ul-Makkiyyah, p. 137).

15.   Qadi Muhammad Abdus Subhan Hazarwi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in Khalabat (Haripur, Hazarah), KPK, to a scholarly family. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a notable scholar of Islam, a potent debater, a prolific author, and an aspirant of the Qadiri path. His book, ‘Mawahib-ur-Rahman’ has received much acceptance among people. His son, Qadi Ghulam Mahmood Hazarwi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, was also a prominent scholar He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه passed away on 12^th Shawwal, 1377 AH, (Tazkirah-e-Akabir Ahl-e-Sunnat, p. 227).