A'la Hadrat
'Ashrafi Miya' [d.1354 H]
Shaykh al-Mashaykh, Qiblat
al-Ulema, Faithal-Kunuz al-Irfaniyah, Jamil' al-Tariqain,
Pir Sayyad Shah Ali Hussain 'Ashrafi Miya' Rahmatullahi ta'ala 'alayh
Kicchocha Shareef
Lineage
& Background
Family background & genealogy
His
blessed name was Ali Hussain, and his kunniyyat was 'Abu Ahmed', and his
laqab was Shah 'Pir' 'Shaykh al-Mashaykh' and 'A'la Hadrat'.
Shaykh
al Mashaykh's genealogy transmits from 24 ancestors to Mehbub al Subhani al-Ghawth al-A'zam Hadrat Shaykh
'al-Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani Radi 'Allahu ta'ala anhu, who distributed the
blessings and spirituality to the four corners of the world.
Because
'Shaykh al-Mashaykh' was from the descendants of the accredited successor [khalf
akbar] of Abd 'al-Razzaq Nur al-Ayn, Hadrat Sayyad Shah Hasan, this is why
his family is sometimes referred to Sarkar-e-Kalan, or Bari Sarkar. His father,
Sayyad Shah Sa'adat was a very knowledgable and extremely pious.
Birth
Shaykh al Mashaykh 'Ashrafi miya's Rahmatullahi
alayh's birthplace is the famous town of Kicchocha Shareef, in the district
of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh. (India). This was the blessed place in which
centuries before, Hadrat Sultan Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf Semnani Radi
Allahu 'anhu
settled, and made it his spiritual home till the Day of Judgement. Makhdoom
Ashraf Semnani Radi Allahu 'anhu purified it from all
evils and injustice's, and distributed his blessings to the four corners of the
world, which after his demise still illuminated the whole country like it did
in his presence in this mundane world.
Even so, after his demise, people; sick and who are heavily drowned in difficulties
and hardships come to his shrine, and make him the tawassul; the means
for the fulfilment of their needs, just like people did, when he was present in
the world, with his calmness and taqwa [piety].
In
Kicchocha Shareef, the annual URS [anniversary], is held on the 28th of
Muharram al-Haram to commemorate the demise of Makhdoom Ashraf Jahanghir
Semnani Radi Allahu 'anhi, in which hundreds
of thousands of people, ulema, masha'ikh, awliyah, the pious, rich and poor,
attend to receive even a drop from the perpetual blessings that are distributed
here.
Ashrafi
miya Rahmatullahi alayh was born at sunrise [Subh Sadiq], Monday the
22nd of Rabi al-Akhir 1266 A.H coinciding approximately December 1846.
Immediately as he was born, his father, Hadrat Haji Sayyad Sa'adat' Ali, bathed
him. He then performed the tradition of the family. This was the fact that he
got a pen and held it firmly in the hands of the newborn 'Ashrafi Miya', and
then dipped it in an inkpot, and then, by his support, he (Ashrafi Miya) wrote
the name of ALLAH (Ism-e-Jalalat). Thereafter, his father gave him honey
mixed with zam zam water, which he (Ashrafi Miya) licked and then the blessed
surma of the blessed shrine of Sultan Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf Radi Allahu
'anhu was placed on his eyes.
Childhood
& Education
From
the very beginning of his childhood, Shaykh al Mashaykh 'Ashrafi miya' Rahmatullahi
alayh led a very simplistic lifestyle, unlike most other children of his
age. He was sensitive, quiet, considerate and always in contemplation and it
became obvious to all who came across him that he possessed all the good moral
character, and qualities, which would enable him to be 'successful' in his
later life.
When
he was 4 years, 4 months, and 4 days old, according to the family's Islamic
tradition and custom, Shaykh Allama Mawlana Ghul Muhammad Saheb Khalilabadi alayhir
rahman taught and performed the Bismillah khani recitation of Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (child's first lesson
taught at the early admission to school).
He
was taught persian under the guidance of Mawlana Amanat Ali Saheb of Kicchocha
Shareef. Then, he undertook further education under the supervision and
guidance of Mawlana Salamat Ali Gawrakhpuri, and also Mawlana Qadir Baksh
Kicchocha, and hence at the tender age of 16 years, he graduated from the
various branches of knowledge, and in 1282 Hijri he took the oath of allegiance
(bay'ah) on the blessed hands of his brother, Hadrat Allama Shah Abu Muhammad
Ashraf Hussain Rahmatullahi 'alayh, who also made him
the 'accredited successor', and bestowed him with ijazah (permission for
the other branches and Silsila chains).
Marriage
Shaykh
al Mashaykh 'Ashrafi miya' was married to the pious daughter of Hadrat Sayyad
Shah Himayat Ashraf Biskhari, in 1285 Hijri.
Knowledge
After taking bay'ah [oath] and being bestowed with ijazah
[permission] in 1290 Hijri, he spent a whole year at the mazaar [shrine]
of Astana-e-Aliyah Ashrafiya, where he retired into seclusion. This was as per
advice of the great awliya [saints,] completely detaching himself from
all worldly affairs. It was during this period of time when his mind, body and
soul reached new heights, going through different levels and stages of muraqabah. In other words his heart was totally
purified.
By the blessings and supplications of Hadrat Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf Radi Allahu
'anhu, many great, noble and eminent personalities were born to this blessed
place of Kicchocha. However, there did not rise the sun of guidance, which
illuminated the name of the Ashrafiya order (Silsila), as much as the
personality of Shaykh al-Mashaykh, who without any shadow of doubt, can be
entitled the Reviver (mujaddid) of the Ashrafiya Silsila (order).
He circulated and also distributed the spirituality and the divine blessings
which he had by the propagation of the Ashrafiya order not only in the Indo-Pak
region, but also by his continuous journeys to all the Islamic countries,
throughout the middle-east, such as Egypt, Iraq, Syria (Sham), Aleppo and so
on.
Shaykh al Mashaykh 'Ashrafi Miya' was strictly firm and steadfast on the path
of shari'ah [Islamic Law], there was no compromise on this with any person. The
shari'ah was his custom, and following the Qur'an and sunnah became his
guide in assisting people in their need to achieve their aims and goals. His
personality and taqwa (piety) was such that he never upset anyone,
neither by his pen, nor by his tongue. Some of the sufi ulema and mashaykh
of, stated that he resembled Mehboob-e-Subhani, Shaykh Sayyad
Abd'al-Qadir al-Jilani Radi 'Allahu ta'ala anhu. As well as his inner
spirituality beauty and perfection, he was also elegant in his physical
appearance. To many in his path he appeared so full of noor, that even some
adversaries were overcome by his radiance.
We
find it necessary to note the bond, attachment and link that existed between
Imam al-Ahl as-Sunnah, Mujaddid-e-Din-o-Millat, Shaykh Imam Ahmad Rida Khan Radi
'Allahu anhu [d.1340 H], and Shaykh al-Mashaykh. Many have stated the event
cited below;
Shaykh al-Mashaykh
arrived in Bareilly Shareef and met, for the first time with Imam Ahmad Rida Radi
Allahu anhu. Immediately a bond and attachment became evident as both
eminent and noble personalities respected each other with honour and dignity.
Shaykh al-Mashaykh was very fond of and acknowledged the vast ocean of
knowledge that Imam Ahmad Rida possessed. Likewise, Imam Ahmad Rida Radi
Allahu anhu was very fond of, and acknowledged Shaykh al-Mashaykh's beauty,
elegance and piety. It is well known that on one occasion, Shaykh al-Mashaykh
paid a visit to the blessed shrine of Mehboob-e-Ilahi, Khawaja Shaykh Nidam
al-Din Awliya Radi Allahu anhu, and after having recited al-fateha,
he left the mausoleum. Meanwhile, Imam Ahmad Rida Radi Allahu anhu
co-incidentally was coming into the blessed shrine of Mehboob al-Ilahi, and on
immediate sight of the elegant face of Shaykh al-Mashaykh, Imam Ahmad Rida Radi
Allahu anhu stated enthusiastically :
Mehboob al-Subhani, Shaykh Abd' al-Qadir al-Jilani
Mehboob al-Ilahi Khawaja Nidam al-Din Awliyah
Mehboob al-Yazdani Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Semnani
In this couplet, Imam Ahmad Rida Radi Allahu anhu starts by stating 'seh
Mehboobah' (the 3 beloved), which refers to the above.
Janasheen
'Ashrafi
miya's murshid and spiritual mentor; Ashraf al-Awliya - Mawlana Shah
Ashraf Hussain gave him successorship on the 3rd of Rabi al-Awwal 1286 Hijri,
coinciding approximately 14th June 1861 at the age of 21. He became the
successor to the saint on the 28th of Muharram al-Haram in 1297 Hijri, and wore
the khirqa (blessed cloak) passed on from Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Radi
Allahu anhu.
Hajj
Ashrafi
Miya Rahmatullahi alayh performed Hajj 4 times in total :
- First
Hajj in 1293 Hijri, in which he was spiritual enhanced at the blessed and
auspicious court of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Countless blessings
and peace be upon him).
- 30
years later, in 1323 Hijri, he performed his second Hajj, and also
received special ijazah (permission) for the recitation of specific
awrad and wadha'if.
- In
1329 Hijri, after 6 years, he performed his third Hajj. After visiting the
radiant city of Madinah al-Munawwarah, he also went khanqahs at:
Ta'if Shareef
Bayt al-Maqdis (where the Dome of the Rock is)
Sham
Egypt
Homs
Aleppo
Damascus, and so on.
From
the visits to the above khanqahs he received many spiritual blessings,
whose specific details are known to be voluminous.
- Ashrafi
miya Rahmatullahi alayh's final Hajj, was performed in 1354 Hijri,
and on this occasion the great Ulema, and Mashaykh from the
above-mentioned places entered the silsila (saintly order-chain),
and were bestowed and also blessed with ijazah and Khilafah.
Oath
of Allegiance
Shaykh al-Mashaykh 'Ashrafi Miya' Rahmatullahi alayh purified his heart
and attained his high inner spiritual state by listening attentively to all the
learned mashaykh that surrounded his life from a very early age and thus
in doing so applied himself in the correct manner. He also received
guidance from his highly respected brother & scholar, 'Za'ir al-Haramain;
Sayyad Shah Ashraf Hussain. As well as attaining blessings from various noble
family members, Ashrafi miya Rahmatullahi alayh also received many
spiritually enhanced blessings from other awliya (saints) of other tariqas
(orders) too.
For special recitals/prayers (awrad-o-wadha'if), he went into the
service of Hadrat Sayyad Shah Ima-al-Din Ashraf Ashrafi, Kicchocha Shareef.
Furthermore, he also ijazzah from Hadrat Sayyad Muhammad Hasan Ghazipuri, who
after several links of spiritual masters, received these ijazzah directly from
Sultan Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf Radi 'Allahu anhu, who in turn received
them directly from Hadrat Owais Qarni Radi 'Allahu ta'ala anhu.
Ashrafi miya Rahmatullahi alayh, also received ijazah and khilafat
from Hadrat Sayyad Shah A'le-Rasul Marehrawi Rahmatullahi alaih, who
also appointed him as his accredited successor.
Yahya
ibn Mu'adh Rahmatullahi alayh said:
Whoever is pleased with
serving Allah, everything will be pleased to serve him; and whoever finds
pleasure in contemplating Allah, all the people will find pleasure in
contemplating him.
Propagation of Islam
Ashrafi
Miya Rahmatullahi alayh undertook and rendered great services for the
circulation and propagation of Islam and its teachings. He brought thousands of
misguided and errant people towards the straight path, by distributing his
love, genorosity and spiritual blessings to the masses' of people throughout
Asia and the Middle-East. Wherever he travelled, whichever tricky journey he
undertook, he illuminated every single person in his path. No one had any
malice or an unkind word to say about or to him.
His speeches were warm, precise and forthright but also delivered with a lot of
desire and affection. He was unique in many ways for that period, because
during many of his speeches he would pause and then deliberate by reading
extracts from Mawlana Rumi Rahmatullahi alayh's Masnavi Shareef to
further capture his audience's imagination and mood.
Ashrafi
Miya Rahmatullahi alayh also founded many Islamic Mosques, Centres and
Institutions. He was extremely sought after for his advice, inspiration and all
round knowledge. Some of the greatest sufis, renowned scholars, and
academics would travel for days and miles, simply to sit in his company and receive
blessings. It was upon his blessed hands, Hafiz-e-Millat Mawlana Abdul Aziz Rahmatullahi
alayh organised the ceremony of the opening of the great Islamic
Institution of knowledge, al-Jami'a al-Ashrafiya in Mubarakpur India.
Ashrafi Miya Rahmatullahi alayh always endeavoured and aspired to
propagate Islam in any way that was possible, and he was successful throughout
his entire life in doing so.
Works
After Ashrafi Miya Rahmatullahi
alayh published the encyclopaedic Lataif
al-Ashrafi
of Mahboob al-Yazdani, Sultan Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Semnani Radi
'Allahu anhu, he wrote a very detailed and concise biography on Hadrat
Mehboob al-Yazdani. But, unfortunately, the original hand-written documents got
mislaid somehow before they were even published.
In 1343 Hijri on the persistent request
of Ashrafi miya Rahmatullahi alayh's son 'Alim-e-Rabbani' Mawlana Sayyad
Ahmad Ashraf, Ashrafi Miya Rahmatullahi alayh dictated the completed
works to Mawlana Khalil al-Din Azad Samadani Rahmatullahi alayh. This
book also includes records as well as detailed accounts of Ashrafi Miya Rahmatullahi
alayh's visits to the Middle-East and surrounding region.
Khalifas
It
is believed at the time of A'la Hadrat 'Ashrafi Miya' Rahmatullahi
alayh's
demise, he had 230, 000 entrants to his silsila, who took the bayah
(oath of allegiance) upon his blessed hands, and approximately 350 accredited
successors (Khalifa. pl: Khulafa). Some of the more
recognised names have been listed below :
Fakhr
al-Ulema, Hadrat Mawlana Sayyad Shah Muhammad Fakir
Ilaahabadi
Ustadh
al-Ulema, Hadrat Mawlana Hakim Na'im al-Din Ashrafi Muradabadi
Muballigh
al-Islam, Hadrat Haji Sayyad Mir Muhammad Ghulam Bhik Ashrafi,
Hadrat
Mawlana Sayyad Shah Amir Hamza Ashrafi Jalali
Mawlana
Khalil al-Din Ashrafi Khalilullah Shah Barelwi
Mawlana
Ghulam Qutb al-Din Ashrafi Barhamchari
Qutb-e-Rabbani
Mawlana Sayyad Shah Tahir Ashraf Dehlawi
Imam
al-Muhaddithin, Sayyad Didaar Ali Shah Muhaddith al-Wari
Taj
al-Ulema, Mawlana Mufti Muhammad Umar Ashrafi Na'imi Muradabadi
Bahr
al-Ulum, Mufti Abd al-Hafiz Haqqani Hafizullah Shah Ashrafi
Mufti
al-A'zam-e-Pakistan, Allama Sayyad Shah Abu al-Barakat Ashrafi Lahori
Mufassir al Qur'an, Allama Sayyad Abu Al-Hasanat Ahmad Qadiri Ashrafi Lahori
Muballigh-e-Islam,
Hadrat Mawlana Shah Abd al-Alim Merthi Siddiqi Madani
Khatib-e-Azam,
Mawlana Shah Arifullah Merthi,
Mujahid
al-Millat, Allama Shah Habib al-Rehman Orrissawi
Hujjat
al-Islam, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Shah Hamid Rida Khan Barelwi
Ustadh
al-Ulema, Mawlana Mufti Abd 'al-Rashid Khan
Ustadh
al-Ulema, Mawlana Muhammad Yunus Ashrafi Sambhali
Amin-e-Shariat,
Hadrat Mawlana Shah Rifaqat Hussain Mufti al-Azam Kanpur
Rais
al-Muhaqqiqin, Hadrat Mawlana Sayyad Sulayman Ashraf Bihari
Sadr
al-Ulema, Imam al-Nahw, Hadrat Allama Sayyad Ghulam Jilani Muhaddith
al-Merthi
Jalalah
al-Ilm, Hadrat Mawlana Hafiz Abd 'al-Aziz Muhaddith al-Muradabadi
Wissal
On
the 11th of Rajab; 1355 Hijri, thousands of people accompanied Ashrafi Miya Rahmatullahi
alayh in performing the traditional halaqa dhikr (divine meditation
and remembrance of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), referring to the verse:
Translation:
Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah), and whose hearts find
rest in the Remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the Remembrance of Allah do hearts
find rest" [Surah
ar' Ra'd 13:28].
When
he recited the kalimah (testimony of faith): Ashrafi miya Rahmatullahi
alayh breathed his last, and sadly passed away. He was aged 90 years.
Shrine
Ashrafi
miya Rahmatullahi alayh's dargah (shrine) lies very close to the shrine
of Hadrat Sultan Sayyad Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Semnani Radi
'Allahu anhu,
in Kicchocha Shareef, in the district of Faizabad, [Ambegar Nagar], U.P in
Northern India. Muslims, devotees from all corners of the globe gather
regularly to gain blessings.
Children
Just as Allah Subhanahu
wa Ta'ala
bestows upon his beloved and chosen people with wisdom, spirituality and
knowledge, He also tests them by giving them hardships and adversities in life,
in many different ways and guises, as stated in the Qur'an al-kareem:
Translation:
And necessarily, We
shall put you to test with something of fear and hunger and with some loss of
wealth and lives and fruits;
Sometimes,
by actions, sometimes with pain and difficulties, and by enduring patience in
difficult situations, like the death of loved ones, Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta'ala wants to test them, as stated in the Noble Qur'an:
1. Immensely blessed is
He in Whose control is the entire Kingdom, and He has authority over every
thing.
2. He, Who has created death and life that He might test you, as to whose work,
is excellent among you. And He is the Esteemed one the Forgiving. (Kanz al-Iman)
Ashrafi
Miya Rahmatullahi alayh had reason to be patient in difficult and
painstaking phases of his life, he had to live through the sad death of his
first respected spouse, who had great moral characters, and also the death of
his young child. However, he did not go astray nor shirk his moral duties,
instead he was ever so thankful to Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala for what he had
suffered.
A'la Hadrat Ashrafi Miya Rahmatullahi alayh was succeeded by his most
noble and pious son; Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rahmatullahi alayh, who was
also revered and rightly earned the tiltes of 'Sultan al Waizeen' and 'Alim al
Rabbani' by his contemporaries.
Source :-
http://www.spiritualfoundation.net/alahadratashrafimiya.htm