Urs of Pious Predecessors in Shawwal ul Mukarram

Our Pious Predecessors

Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic year. A brief introduction of 73 Companions, saints, and scholars who passed away in this month have been mentioned in the Monthly Magazine of Shawwal 1438AH-1442AH. Here is an introduction to a few more:

Noble Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ:

1.   Sayyidunā Muṣʿab al-Khayr al-Qarashī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was the shining light of an influential family; and a handsome youth who had beautiful hair and dressed well. He became a Muslim in the early days of Islam. He migrated to Abyssinia, and after the pledge of 'Aqaba, he became a preacher of Islam and migrated to Madina. Through his efforts, many leaders of Aws and Khazraj became Muslims, like Sayyidunā Saʿd bin Muʿādh and Sayyidunā Usayd ibn Hudayr. He was a flag bearer during the Battles of Badr and Uhud. He fought valiantly during the Expedition of Uhud (15^th Shawwal 3 AH) and was martyred.

2.   Sayyidunā Yazīd ibn Zamʿa al-Asadī al-Qarashī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was one of the most respected and intelligent people of the Quraysh. He was the nephew of Sayyidatuna Umm Salamah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا and a Companion who accepted faith during the early days of Islam. He migrated to Abyssinia and then to Madina. He was martyred on the 10^th Shawwal 8AH during the Battle of Hunayn or the Expedition of Taif.^[1]

The Awliya رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ:

1.   Sayyidunā ʿAlī al-Baghdādī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was born in Baghdad. He acquired knowledge from his father, Sayyidunā Muḥy al-Dīn Abū Naṣr, and other scholars of Baghdad رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ. He attained the cloak of successorship from his father and he passed away on 23^rd Shawwal, 739 AH, in Baghdad.^[2]

2.   Sayyidunā Khawaja Abu’l Muẓaffar Mawdūd Ruknudīn Kān Shakar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was born into the Farīdī family. He passed away on 22^nd of Shawwal, 811AH. His shrine is in Piraan Patan (Gujarat, Hind). He is the follower and spiritual heir of Khawaja Zāhid Chishti and a famous shaykh of Gujarat, Hind. He was the spiritual guide of the time and a man full of blessings.^[3]

3.   The son of Shams al-ʿĀrifīn, Khawaja Muhammad Shujāʿud-Din Siyālvī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه, was born in circa. 1264 AH and passed away on 2^nd Shawwal, 1322 AH. He was buried in Siyal Shareef. He was a Haafiz of the Quran; an ocean of Islamic knowledge and the follower and caliph of Khawaja Shams ul-A’rifin. He had a soft and gentle nature. 85 years after his passing, his grave was opened because of a flood and his body was in perfect condition.^[4]

4.   Sayyid ʿAbd Allah Shah Qādirī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was born in a town of Iraq in 1202 AH and passed away in 1322AH in Khaddaar, Baluchistan. His shrine is in Fairuzabaad (Khaddaar). He was a shaykh of the Qadiriya Sufi order and was dedicated to preaching and reforming. He is fluent in over six languages, including Arabic and is known by the name of Haji Sahib.^[5]

Noble Scholars رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ:

1.   The erudite scholar ʿAbd-ur-Rasūl Uthmānī Gujarātī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was born in Kabrunj but was raised in Ahmadabad (Gujarat, Hind). He was a practising scholar, a great scholar of Hadith, an author, and a Mufti. He was a follower of the gnostic and celebrated saint ʿAbdul Mājid ʿAlawi Gujarātī and was a judge of areas in Shamali, Hind. Al-Shama’il al-Muhammadiya is a famous book of his. He passed away on 19^th Shawwal, 1130 AH in Ahmadabad, Gujarat.^[6]

2.   Mawlana Qadi Aḥmad-ud-Dīn Bugawī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was born in Bugah (Pind, Dadan Khan, Jhelum) to a knowledgeable family in 1223AH. He passed away on 13^th Shawwal 1286AH. He is buried in the southern compound of Jamia Masjid Bagawya (Sargodha district). He had memorised the Qurʾān and was a brilliant scholar of Islam and follower of Shah Ghulam ʿAlī Mujadidī Dehlawī. In Bugah, Lahore and Bhera, he dedicated himself to teaching, writing, and compiling legal edicts and other literature. He was responsible for reviving the Jamia Masjid Bagawya Bhera and establishing a madrassa.^[7]

3.   Imam Shaykh Muhammad Saeed Qāsimi Gīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was a scion from the family of Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī. He was born in 1259 AH and passed away on 22^nd Shawwal, 1317 AH, in Damascus, Syria. The funeral prayer was performed in Jamia Sananiyah and he was buried next to his father’s shrine in the Bab al-Saghir Cemetery. As an accomplished scholar, he authored several books and poems which bear testimony to his deep insight and extensive knowledge. Two of his works include Badāʾiʿ al-Ghuraf fi al-Sana’at wa al-Hiraf.^[8]

4.   Maulana Qadi Muhammad Farooq Abbasi Charyakoti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was born in 1254AH in Chirayakot (Mauiupi district), India and passed away on the 13^th Shawwal 1327AH. He was buried in Khanaqa Dhawa Shareef (near Ghazi Pur, India). He was the light of a knowledgeable family; an expert on sciences and an author. He was a famous teacher and an expert writer and poet in Arabic, Persian and Urdu. His commendation to the famous book Anwaar Saati’a is particularly renowned.^[9]

5.   Mawlana Bāba Sayyid ʿAbdu’l Ḥamid Shāh Chishtī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was born in circa. 1252 AH and passed away on 8^th Shawwal, 1352 AH. He was buried in Nartopa (Attock, Punjab). He was a skilled teacher of the Dars-i-Niẓāmī curriculum.^[10]

6.   Mawlana Nūr-ul-Ḥasan Jamāʿatī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه was born in Sialkot in a scholarly family in 1276 AH and passed away in 1364 AH. His shrine is in the Bāba Shahīd Cemetery. A prolific scholar, he was a powerful debater who stood firm in the defence of Ahl al-Sunnah. Alongside being a renowned orator, he was the author of many books and the spiritual heir of Amīr-i-Millat.^[11]