Maulana Mufti Naqi ‘Ali Khan

A city of India was once not having rainfall and the people were very anxious. At last it was decided to request the famous Maulana Sahib of that city to make Du’a. Maulana took the people to Eid-Gah^[1] and offered Salat-ul-Istisqa (Salah offered for rain). When the hands were raised for Du’a after Salah, people saw that suddenly the clouds gathered and heavy rain started. It kept raining continuously since that day until the drought in the city came to an end. (Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan az: Maulana Shahabuddin, pp. 52, 53; summarized)

Dear Islamic brothers! The name of that Indian city is Bareilly and the name of that Maulana Sahib is ‘Allamah Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ who was the honourable father of Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat A’la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ and a great knowledgeable and spiritual personality. The knowledgeable people remember him by the titles of Ra’ees-ul-Mutakallimeen [رَئِیسُ المُتَکَلِّمِین] and Ra’ees-ul-Atqiya [رَئِیسُ الاَتقِیا].

Blessed birth

Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ was born in Bareilly on the last day of Jumadal Ukhra or first day of Rajab-ul-Murajjab, 1246 Hijri.

Education

He رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ acquired his complete education from his honourable father, Maulana Raza ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ who was a great ‘Aalim [Islamic scholar] of his era. (Jawahir-ul-Bayan fi Asraar-ul-Arkaan, pp. 6)

He رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ started writing Fatwa under the guidance of his respected father, Maulana Mufti Raza ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ . After the demise of his father, he kept writing Fatwa from 1282 Hijri, 1865 AD till his demise. Regretfully, his Fatawa could not be collected separately. (Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan az: Maulana Shahabuddin, pp. 29, 30)

Respected children

He رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ had three sons and three daughters. Names of his sons are: A’la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan, Maulana Hasan Raza Khan and Maulana Muhammad Raza Khan رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی. (Ibid, pp. 38)

Bay’at and Khilafat

Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ visited blessed Marehra with his son (A’la Hadrat رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ ) on 5 Jumadal Aula, 1294 Hijri and had the privilege of becoming Mureed of Khaatim-ul-Akabir, Sayyiduna Shah Aal-e-Rasool رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ . The honourable Murshid [spiritual guide] also gave Khilafat^[2] of all the spiritual orders to both the father and son in the same Majlis [gathering]. (‘Allamah Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan Hayat aur ‘Ilmi-o-Adabi Kaarnamay, pp. 51)

Visit to blessed Haramayn

Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ was ill in 1295 Hijri. He had the privilege of beholding the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  in his dream, so he made the intention of leaving for Hajj. When some friends and relatives advised to visit blessed Haramayn the next year because of illness, he said: ‘I [want to] place my foot out of the door with the intention of visiting Madinah Tayyibah; then it does not matter if the soul departs immediately.’ A’la Hadrat رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ also accompanied him on this journey. He met many ‘Ulama [Islamic scholars] over there and received Sanad-e-Hadees [permission of narrating Hadees] from them. (Jawahir-ul-Bayan fi Asraar-ul-Arkaan, pp. 10)

Books

Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ authored excellent books on the topics of Seerah [biography], ‘Aqaaid [beliefs], deeds, Tasawwuf, etc. Names of his approximately 26 books are recorded. Following are the names of some books:

جواہر البیان فی اسرار الارکان                 1

الکلام الاوضح فی تفسیر سورۃ الم نشرح                 2

سرور القلوب فی ذکر المحبوب                 3

اصول الرشاد لقمع مبانی الفساد                 4

ہدایۃ البریہ الی الشریعۃ الاحمدیہ                 5

اذاقۃ الاثام لمانعی عمل المولد و القیام                 6

احسن الوعا لآداب الدعا                 7

فضل العلم والعلما                 8

(Maulana Naqi ‘Ali Khan az: Maulana Shahabuddin, pp. 39; Jawahir-ul-Bayan fi Asraar-ul-Arkaan, pp. 7, 8)

Blessed demise

He رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ passed away at the age of 51 years and 5 months on Thursday in Zul-Qa’dah, 1297 Hijri, 1880 AD. He was laid to rest beside his honourable father. (Jawahir-ul-Bayan fi Asraar-ul-Arkaan, pp. 10)

His last word and writing

A’la Hadrat رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ has stated: The last word recited by his blessed tongue was the word “Allah” and the last writing he wrote with his blessed hand was “بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْم” which he had written on a piece of paper, two days before his demise. (Jawahir-ul-Bayan fi Asraar-ul-Arkaan, pp. 11)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy on him and forgive us without accountability for his sake!

Sadr-ush-Shari’ah, Badr-ut-Tareeqah, Mohsin-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, successor of A’la Hadrat, the author of Bahar-e-Shari’at, ‘Allamah Maulana, Al-Haaj, Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali A’zami رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  was born in 1882 (1300 AH) in the town named Madina-tul-‘Ulama (Ghausi), East UP, India.

Realizing the need of translation of the Holy Quran, Sadr-ush-Shari’ah, Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali A’zami رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  requested A’la Hadrat رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  to do a translation of the Holy Quran which is correct, error-free and according to the blessed Ahadees and the blessed sayings of the learned Islamic scholars. A’la Hadrat رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  replied, ‘It is, in fact, a very crucial piece of work, but how will it be printed? Who will undertake all the printing activities being in the state of Wudu such as writing copies and making corrections of the copies as well as making correction of the letters? The correction should be made in such a way that there should not be any mistake left related to diacritical signs, points or marks. After doing all these things, the toughest task is that the press workers should remain in the state of Wudu all the time. They should neither touch nor cut the stones without Wudu, plus a great care is required when cutting stones and producing duplicate copies from printing. Apart from this, these copies should be placed with care and respect.’ Sadr-ush-Shari’ah رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  humbly said, ‘اِنْ شَــآءَ الـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ, we will try to fulfil whatever is necessary; suppose if we admit that we could not do it completely but when the initiative of this noble task is taken, someone, in future, may make arrangements for the printing of it to benefit the mankind. Furthermore, if the initiative is not taken at this time then we will regret in future for not carrying it out.’

A’la Hadrat رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  said: It is difficult to take out time for translation separately so you come to me at night, at the time of sleeping or during the day at the time of taking nap, I will dictate it to you. So, one day Sadr-ush-Shari’ah رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  along with paper, pen and ink, approached A’la Hadrat رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  and humbly said, ‘O honourable Shaykh! Should we start translation?’ Thus the translation was initiated then and there. Sadr-ush-Shari’ah رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  would first write translation then match it with Quranic commentaries. Due to these activities he رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  would return his home mostly at 12’o clock at night and sometimes at 2.00 am.

اَلْحَمْدُلـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ! By the praiseworthy endeavours of Sadr-ush-Shari’ah رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ , a great success was achieved, and today a large number of Muslims are enjoying the benefits of the correct translation of the Holy Quran, ‘Translation of Kanz-ul-Iman’ written by the greatest reviver, the leader of the Ahl-us-Sunnah (A’la Hadrat) رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  and we are grateful to Sadr-ush-Shari’ah as well and اِنْ شَــآءَ الـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ this will continue until the Day of Judgement. (Tazkirah Sadr-ush-Shari’ah, pp. 17-19; summarized; Sadr-ush-Shari’ah Number, pp. 209)

Ger ahl-e-chaman fakhr karayn is pay baja hay

Amjad tha gulab-e-chaman danish-o-hikmat

Blessed demise

Sadr-ush-Shari’ah رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  passed away on 6^th September, 1948 corresponding to 2^nd night of Zul-Qa’dah, 1367 AH, at 12.26 am. The blessed tomb of Sadr-ush-Shari’ah رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ  is situated in Ghausi (District Azamgarh, India), which is visited by all. (Tazkirah Sadr-ush-Shari’ah, pp. 39-41; summarized)