The Sacred Knowledge of AlaHadrat Imam Ahmad Khan al-Baraylawi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu

The Great Imaam and Mujaddid, Sayyiduna AlaHadrat Imam Ahmad Rida al-Qadiri (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) was only 4 years old when he completed the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. Due to the extraordinary intelligence bestowed upon him by Almighty ALLAH, AlaHadrat Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu completed his Islamic Education at the very young age of 13 years, 10 months and 5 days.

The Illustrious Teachers of Imaam Ahmad Rida

AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) gained his basic knowledge at home. He later continued his studies under the guidance of certain noted teachers. He studied under his father, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu). He completed his primary education by Janab Mirza Ghulam Qadir Baig, by whom he studied the book, “Mizaan-e-Munsha’ab.” AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) also studied under the guidance of the following luminous personalities:

1. Hadrat Mawlana Abdul Ali Rampuri (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu)

2. Shaykh al-Kabeer, Hadrat Allama Syed Shah Abul Hussain Ahmad Noori (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu)

3. Shaykh al-Tariqah, Hadrat Allama Shah Ale Rasool Mahrahrwi (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu)

4. Shaykh Ahmad bin Zain Dahlaan al-Makki (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu)

5. Shaykh Abdur Rahman Makki (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu), and

6. Shaykh Hussain bin Saleh Makki (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu)

AlaHadrat and the Ulama of Haramain

When AlaHadrat went to perform his first HAJJ and Zyarah on the 26th of Shawwal 1295 A.H. (1876). He was only 20 years old at that time. One day, after completing his Hajj, he went to perform his Maghrib Salaah before the Maqaam-e-Ibrahim (Alaihis Salam). Having completed his Salaah, the Imam of the Shafi’ee order of Makkatul Mukarramah, Allama Hussain bin Saleh Kamaal (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu), approached him. He clutched AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) by his hand and led him to his house. The great Imam then placed his hand on the blessed forehead of AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) and said:

“Verily, I am observing the Noor of Almighty Allah on this forehead.”

Without hesitation, he blessed AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) with the Sanad (Certificate) of Sihah Sitta (Six Compilers of Hadith: Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood, Tirmizi and Nisa’i). He also began addressing AlaHadrat (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) by the title of “Dia al-Din” or “The Light or Splendour of Deen.” The speciality of this Sanad is that it has only Eleven (11) levels to Imam Bukhari.

Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (AlaHazrat) radi allahu anhu’s UNIQUE MEMORY

Once A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) went to Pillibit Shareef. He stayed with Muhaddith-e-Surat, Hadrat Mawlana Wasi Ahmad Sahib (radi Allahu anhu). Before leaving for Bareilly Shareef, A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) requested to borrow a Kitaab called “Uqoodul Arya” from him. As there was only one copy of the book he gave A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) the book and said, “After studying the book, please return it as these are the only few kitaabs that I have for Fatawa writing.”

A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) was supposed to depart from Pillibit Shareef that night, but since he had been invited at another person’s home, he stayed one more night in Pillibit Shareef. Sayyiduna A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) spent the entire night studying the Kitaab, which consisted of numerous volumes.

The following morning, before leaving for the Railway Station to meet A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu), Hadrat Muhaddith-e- Surat (radi Allahu anhu) found that the Kitaab that he had lent A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) had been returned. He thought that A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) was angry and displeased with him for asking him to return the Kitaab quickly. He immediately went to A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) and asked for pardon. A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) smiled and then said, “That is not the reason for returning the Kitaab. I stayed one more night, so I studied the book and, therefore, did not find the need to take it with me.”

When Hadrat Muhaddith-e-Surat (radi Allahu anhu) heard this he was surprised and exclaimed, “You have studied this book in one night!” A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) replied, “INSHA-ALLAH, FOR THE NEXT 3 MONTHS I WILL NOT NEED TO LOOK AT THE BOOK TO FIND ANY STATEMENTS, AND AS FOR THE ESSENCE OF THE BOOK, INSHA-ALLAH, I WILL NOT FORGET IT IN MY LIFETIME.” He then said, “THE BOOK DID NOT HAVE A TABLE OF CONTENTS. I HAVE DRAWN UP ONE FOR YOU.”

A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) was intially not a Hafiz-ul-Quran. Once, someone wrote a letter to Sayyiduna A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) and addressed him as “Hafiz”. When A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) saw this, he became depressed for he felt that he was not worthy of such a title. He immediately decided to become a Hafiz of the Holy Quran.

How did he become a Hafiz-ul-Quran? It has been stated that in the time period from Wudhu till the time of Jamaat, Hadrat Allamah Sadrush Shariat (radi Allahu anhu) would recite one Sipara. Sayyiduna A’la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) would listen to it and, thereafter, recite the same Sipara in the Taraweeh Salaah. HE CONTINUED THIS ROUTINE FOR 30 DAYS, AND BY THE END OF THE MONTH OF RAMADAAN, A’LA HADRAT (RADI ALLAHU ANHU) BECAME A COMPLETE HAFIZ OF THE HOLY QURAN!

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