Imam Ahmad Raza and the scholars of Haramayn

Imam Ahmad Raza and the scholars of Haramayn

Imam Ahmad Raza was not just a personality revered and accepted by the scholars of the Indian Subcontinent – even the scholars of Haramayn accepted his leadership and his status as the Mujaddid of his era. These are the words of some scholars of Makka in praise of Imam Ahmad Raza. Mawlana Muhammad Yusuf al-Afghani al-Makki writes:

١نامزلا هدوجوبرختفا ىذل

He whose existence the era is proud of.

1.   Shaykh Salih Kamal Mufti Hanafiya writes: A sea of merits, the coolness of the eyes of scholars, Mawlana, Muhaqqiq, the blessing of the era, Ahmad Raza Khan Barelwi. May Allah preserve him.

-(Husam al-Haramayn, p.62)

2.   Shaykh Abu’l Khayr Mirdad writes:Indeed he is that ‘Allama and Fadil who solves problems with the light of his eyes – his name is Ahmad Raza Khan.

-(Ibid, p.25)

3.   Shaykh Abdur Rahman Dahan writes:The one on whom the scholars rely; the ‘Allama of his time; the unique; for whom the scholars of Makka bear witness that he is the leader.

-      (Ibid, p.23)

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unmatched; the Imam; my master; my refuge; Hazrat Ahmad Raza Khan Barelwi. May Allah make us and all Muslims benefit from his life and may He give me his mission as his mission is the mission of Rasulullah sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam .

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Shaykh Muhammad Mukhtar bin ‘Ata al-Jawi al-Makki writes:          Indeed the writer is the leader of the scholars and researchers and all his words are the truth. He is from the miracles of our Prophet sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam and Allah revealed this miracle at the hands of the Imam.

15

 Shaykh Musa Ali Shami al-Azhari Ahmad Darderwi Madani writes:

هملا هذهل ددجملا ةملا ماما

ٔ

ٮ

The Imam of Imams and the Mujaddid of the Muslim ummah.

16

Shaykh Muhammad Yaseen Ahmad al-Khayari Madani praises him thus:

نيثدحملا ماما وه

He is the Imam of the Hadith scholars.

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Concerning the vastness of his knowledge and the extensiveness of proofs that he gives, ‘Allama Mawlana Tafaddal al-Haq Makki writes:These answers show that the writer is an ‘Alim, ‘Allama, Fahhama and he is to the scholars as the eye is to the body.

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Due to weakness, Shaykh al-Khutaba, ‘Ustad al-‘Ulama, ‘Allama Mawlana al-Shaykh Ahmad Abu’l Khayr Mirdad was not able to visit Imam Ahmad Raza at the latter’s residence. The Shaykh heard

al-Dawlah al-Makkiya

from cover to cover and when Imam Ahmad Raza was about to leave Makka, he respectfully touched the feet of the Shaykh. The Shaykh addressed Imam Ahmad Raza and said:

مكلاعن لبقا انا مكلجرا لبقا انا

ٔٔٔ

I would kiss your feet and I would kiss your shoes.

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Shaykh Mirdad also addressed Imam Ahmad Raza as:

ىوليرب اخ اضر دمحا هملعلا انخيش

ں

14

 Ibid, p.46

15

 al-Dawlah al-Makkiya, p.166

16

 Ibid, p.203

17

 Rasa’il-e-Ridawiya, Mawlana Abdul Hakeem Shahjanhanpuri, p.148

18

 Ibid, p.136

19

 al-Malfuz, vol.1, p.10 - Imam Ahmad Raza

Shaykh Sayyid Alawi Maliki Makki says:When someone from India comes to Makka and we want to see if he is Sunni, we simply mention the name of Imam Ahmad Raza before him. If his face lights up with happiness, we know he is a Sunni and if he shows unhappiness at his mention, we know he is something else.