Primary and Secondary Education
Commencement
of Islamic Education; A'la Hadrat's First Fatwa; His Marriage and Blessed
Children; Incident pointing to his Immense Knowledge; Branches of Knowledge
studied by his Father's Feet; Branches of Knowledge attained without the
Assistance of any Teacher; Other Branches of Knowledge attained from
Various Ulama
COMMENCEMENT OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION
During
A'la Hadrat's (radi Allahu anhu) "Bismillah Kwaani" or
"Commencement of Islamic Education" a very strange incident
occurred.
His
respected teacher asked him to read the Tasmiyah, and then told him to read
"Alif, Baa, Taa, . . . ." A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu)
began reading the "Alif, Baa, Taa, ..." until he came to the
word "Laam Alif" at which point A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu
anhu) became silent. When his teacher asked him once more to read "Laam
Alif", he remained silent. The teacher instructed him, "Say,
'Laam Alif'". Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu), then
replied, "I have already read them earlier on. What need is there for
me to repeat it?"
Hadrat
Allamah Raza Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu), who was witnessing this
incident, said, "Son! Listen to what your Ustaad is saying."
Upon further reflection, Hadrat Allamah Raza Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu),
realised the reason for the objection of the young A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu
anhu). It was because the teacher was teaching A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu
anhu) the lesson on single alphabets. A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu)
felt that how was it possible that a complete word like "Laam Alif"
should be found in such a lesson that only dealt with single
alphabets!
Hadrat
Allamah Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu) knew that it was a very
delicate matter that could not be understood by a child. Nevertheless, he
explained, "Son! It is true that which you are thinking of. But the
'Alif' which you had earlier read, in reality, is 'Hamza' and this which you
are reciting now is 'Alif'. 'Alif' is always 'Sakin' and one cannot commence
with an alphabet which is 'Sakin'. Therefore, it is for this reason that the
alphabet 'Laam' is brought before the 'Alif'."
When
A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) heard this answer, he replied, "If
that be the case, then any other alphabet could be joined to the 'Alif'. Why
the 'Laam'?" Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu), out of
sheer happiness and excitement, embraced A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu)
and made Dua for him. He then explained the answer to A'la Hadrat (radi
Allahu anhu) in the following brilliant manner: "In looking at them
they both appear to be very much alike, since they are both empty. Even when
writing them together they look very much alike. When it comes to their
qualities then 'Laam' is the heart of 'Alif' and 'Alif' is the heart of
'Laam'."
Hadrat
Allamah Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu) was in reality opening
the doors and the treasures of knowledge and spiritual insight to A'la Hadrat
(radi Allahu anhu).
A'LA
HADRAT (RADI ALLAHU ANHU) WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WHEN HE COMPLETED THE
RECITATION OF THE HOLY QURAN. DUE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY INTELLIGENCE BESTOWED
UPON HIM BY ALMIGHTY ALLAH, A'LA HADRAT (RADI ALLAHU ANHU) COMPLETED HIS
ISLAMIC EDUCATION AT THE VERY YOUNG AGE OF 13 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AND 5 DAYS. A'la
Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) states that, "I completed my religious
education during the middle of the month of Shabaan in the year 1286 A.H. I was
13 years, 10 months and 5 days old at that time. It was also at this time that
Salaah became Fard upon me and I began to have great interest in the Laws of
Shariah". (Al Ijaazatur Radawiyya)
A'la
Hadrat (radi Allahu 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 Allamah Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu).
He completed his primary education by Janab Mirza Ghulam Qader Baig, by whom he
studied the book, "Mizaane Munsha'ab." A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu
anhu) also studied under the guidance of the following luminous
personalities :
1.
Hadrat Mawlana Abdul Ali Rampuri (radi Allahu anhu),
2.
Sheikh-e-Kabeer, Hadrat Allamah Syed Shah Abul Hassan Ahmed Noori (radi
Allahu anhu),
3.
Sheikh-e-Tariqah, Hadrat Allamah Shah Ale Rasool Mahrahrewi (radi Allahu
anhu),
4.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Zain-e-Dahlaan Makki (radi Allahu anhu), 5. Sheikh
Abdur Rahman Makki (radi Allahu anhu), and
6.
Sheikh Hussain bin Salih Makki (radi Allahu anhu)
A'LA HADRAT'S FIRST FATAWA
In a
letter sent to his illustrious Khalifa, Malakul Ulema, Hadrat Mawlana
Zafaruddeen Bihaari, A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) wrote, "With
the Grace of Almighty Allah, this servant wrote his first Fatawah at the age of
13. It is also at this age that I completed my religious education and gained a
certificate of proficiency in this field. On this day, a question was put
forward to me as to whether milk, if reaching the belly of a child, would prove
fosterage or not? I replied that even if milk reached the child's belly, either
through the nose or mouth, fosterage would be proven, therefore, making it
Haraam upon the child to marry this women". (Al Malfooz, Part I, pg.
12)
His
father was so amazed and delighted by this in-depth reply that he assigned the
young A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) the task of issuing Fatawahs
(Islamic Verdicts). For many years, thereafter, A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu
anhu) carried this very important duty with absolute dignity and
responsibility.
A'la
Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) began answering hundreds of Fatawas daily. He
received them in all languages - Arabic, Urdu, Persian, English and many other
languages.
Professor
Dr J.M.S. Baljon, Department of Islamology, University of Leiden (Holland),
when commenting about A'la Hadrat's (radi Allahu anhu) answers to
religious enquiries, said: "Indeed, a great scholar I must confess.
When reading his Fatawas, I am deeply impressed by the immensely wide reading
he demonstrates in his argumentations. Above it, his views appear much more
balanced than I expected. You are completely right; he deserves to be better
known and more appreciated in the West than is the case at present."
HIS MARRIAGE AND BLESSED CHILDREN
In the
year 1291 A.H. (1874), A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) married Sayyidah
Irshaad Begum (radi Allahu anha) who was the beloved daughter of Sheikh
Fadhl Hussain Sahib. He was 18 years old at the time of his Nikah.
Almighty
Allah blessed A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) with 7 beautiful children -
2 sons and 5 daughters. Both his sons became eminent Islamic Scholars and great
Awliyah Allah. A'la Hadrat's (radi Allahu anhu) eldest son, Hujjatul
Islam, Hadrat Allamah Mawlana Muhammad Haamid Raza Khan Noori Barakaati
(radi Allahu anhu) was very much efficient in Arabic and various other
religious sciences. His features resembled his illustrious father. Hujjatul
Islam (radi Allahu anhu) left this mundane world on the 17th of Jamadi-ul-Awwal
1362 A.H., while in the state of Salaah. His Mazaar Shareef (Blessed Tomb) is
in Bareilly Shareef, India.
Ghousul Waqt, Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind, Ash Shah Imam Mustapha Raza Khan Noori Barakaati (radi Allahu anhu), the younger son of A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) studied primarily under the guidance of his elder brother. He also received education at the blessed feet of his father and earned himself a certificate of proficiency in religious sciences. Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind (radi Allahu anhu) has approximately ten millions Mureeds (Disciples) around the world. He is also regarded as a Mujaddid (Reviver) of Islam of the 15th Century. He left this mundane world on the eve of the 14th of Muharram 1402 A.H. (1981). His Mazaar Shareef is also in Bareilly Shareef.
INCIDENTS POINTING TO HIS IMMENSE KNOWLEDGE
Speaking
about A'la Hadrat's (radi Allahu anhu) immense knowledge, Dr Sayyid
Muhammad Abdullah, Chairman: Department of Encyclopedia of Islam, University of
Punjab, Lahore (Pakistan) said: "The scholar is said to be the mind and
spokesman of the nation, especially that scholar who derives inspiration,
throught and vision form the Holy Quran, and the Holy Prophet's (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam), traditions, a narration of divine knowledge, and exponent of
divine scheme. He is the voice of the Creator, a benefactor of mankind. It is
not an over statement of exaggeration, but acceptance of truth to say that
Ahmad Raza is such a scholar.
"He,
indeed, is a renowned scholar, great philosopher, eminent Jurist, man of
vision, interpreter of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet's (peace be upon
him) traditions, and a spell binding orator."
A few
days after the Nikah of A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu), a certain person
came to Bareilly Shareef. He presented a Fatawa of Mawlana Irshaad Hussain
Mujaddidi (radi Allahu anhu) to Hadrat Allamah Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan (radi
Allahu anhu) for an answer. The Fatawa bore the signatures of many
Ulema.
Hadrat
Allamah Naqi Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu), instructed the messenger with
the following words: "Go into the room. Moulvi Sahib is there. He will
answer your question." The messenger entered the room and only saw
A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) sitting there. He returned to Hadrat
Allamah Naqi Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu) and said, "There is no
Moulvi Sahib there. All I see in the room is a young lad." Hadrat
Allamah Naqi Ali Khan (radi Allahu anhu) told the messenger: "Give
the Mas'ala to him and he will answer it." The messenger went to A'la
Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) and handed him the Fatawa. He studied
it and realised that the answer on the Fatawa of Mawlana Irshaad Hussain
(radi Allahu anhu) was incorrect. A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu)
wrote the correct answer to the Fatawa and respectfully presented it to his
father. His father verified his (radi Allahu anhu) answer as being
correct.
The
very same Fatawa was then taken to the Governor of Rampur. After studying the
Fatawa of A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu), the Governor requested the
presence of Mawlana Irshaad Hussain Sahib (radi Allahu anhu). When the said
Mawlana appeared before the Governor, the Fatawa was shown to him. Mufti
Irshaad Hussain Sahib (radi Allahu anhu) humbly acknowledged that his
Fatawa was incorrect and that the Fatawa from Bareilly Shareef was the correct
answer. The Governor of Rampur then said, "If the Fatawa of Bareilly is
correct, then how is it that all the other Ulema verified and endorsed your
Fatawa?" Mawlana Irshaad Hussain (radi Allahu anhu) replied,
"THEY ENDORSED MY FATAWA BECAUSE I AM PROMINENT, BUT THE TRUE FATAWA IS
THE ONE WRITTEN BY THE MUFTI OF BAREILLY."
When
the Governor learnt that Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu) was
only 20 old, he immediately had the great yearning to meet him. It so happened
that A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) once visited Rampur. The Governor
went and met A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu). The Governor was
overwhelmed and as a mark of respect offered him a silver chair to sit on. A'la
Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) refused to sit on the silver chair saying that
the use of silver furniture is Haraam. Feeling ashamed, the Governor requested
A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) to sit on the bed.
While
conversing with A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu), the Governor commented
that since he was so brilliant at such a young age, that A'la Hadrat (radi
Allahu anhu) should study a few books in Logistics under the supervision of
Moulvi Abdul Haq Kheyrabaadi.
Coincidently,
Moulvi Abdul Haq Kheyrabaadi arrived. They were both introduced to one another.
After getting acquainted, he questioned Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu
anhu) concerning the books that he had studied in the field of Logistics.
A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) told the Moulvi that he had studied the
Kitaab, "Kazi Mubaarak." Moulvi Abdul Haq Kheyrabaadi did not believe
A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) because he felt that he was too young to
study "Kazi Mubaarak". He then, very sarcastically, asked, "Have
you studied 'Tahzeeb'?" A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) also
answered in a very sarcastic manner by saying, "Is 'Tahzeeb' taught
after 'Kazi Mubaarak' at your institution?"
After
listening to the answers of A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu), he began
questioning him about his qualifications. A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu
anhu) said that he preferred teaching, engaging in Fatawa work and writing
books. He further asked A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) concernin his
field of expertise. A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) replied by saying
that HE SPECIALISED IN ANY FIELD THAT WAS NECESSARY AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AND THIS
INCLUDED DEBATING THE WAHABIS.
When
Moulvi Abdul Haq heared this reply from A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu),
he remarked, "That crazy person from Badayoun is also in this
fanaticism." (He was referring to Mawlana Abdul Qaadir radi allahu
anhu). On hearing this, Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu)
became offended and said, "Your father, Mawlana Fadhl-e-Haq Kheyrabaadi
(radi Allahu anhu), was the first person to debate the Wahabis, and he was the
one responsible for writing a book against Isma'il Delhwi. He called this book
'Al Fatawa Fi Butali Taghwa'."
Mawlana
Abdul Haq Kheyrabbadi then said, "If, in my presence, you answer me in
this way, then it will be impossible for me to teach you." A'la Hadrat
(radi Allahu anhu) replied by saying, "I have already decided not to
study under you, since for me to study under you will be an insult to the
Ulema-e- Ahle Sunnah".
Mawlana
Mufti Mazharullah said: "Once, I enquired from A'la Hadrat about the
holy sacrifice offered by Muslims. He, in his reply, described innumerable
kinds of sheep which was a matter of surprise for me. I kept his letter with
me. It so happened that Mawlana Kifaayatullah came to see me and by chance he
saw the letter. He was astounded and said, 'No doubt his learning and knowledge
knows no boundaries'."
BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE STUDIED BY AT HIS FATHER'S FEET
A'la
Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) became proficient in the following branches of
knowledge at the feet of his father:
1.
TAFSEER OF THE HOLY QURAN
2.
TAFSEER OF AHADITH
3.
PRINCIPLES OF AHADITH (USOOL-E-HADITH)
4.
ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE (ALL FOUR SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT)
5.
PRINCIPLES OF JURISPRUDENCE (USOOL-E-FIQH)
6.
DIALECTICS
7.
QURANIC COMMENTARY
8.
PRINCIPLES OF BELIEF
9.
PRINCIPLES OF DEBATE
10.
ARABIC SYNTAX
11.
PRINCIPLES OF RHETORIC
12.
LANGUAGE USAGE OF METAPHORS
13.
SCIENCE DEALING WITH RHETORIC
14.
LOGIC
15.
DEBATES
16.
PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICS
17.
RHETORIC DEVICES
18.
PHYSICS
19.
MATHEMATICS
20.
PHYSICAL ENGINEERING
In the
book, "Al Ijaazatul Mutay'yanah", on page 22, A'la Hadrat (radi
Allahu anhu) has said the following in connection with the above mentioned
20 branches of knowledge. He says, "I LEARNT THESE TWENTY BRANCHES OF
KNOWLEDGE, PERSONALLY AT THE FEET OF MY FATHER".
OTHER BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE ATTAINED FROM VARIOUS
ULEMA
He
learnt QURANIC RECITATION, CORRECT RECITATION WITH TAJWEED, MYSTICISM, MYSTICAL
INITIATION, ISLAMIC ETHICS, NAMES OF NARRATORS OF AHADITH, BIOGRAPHY OF THE
HOLY PROPHET (SALAL LAAHU ALAIHI WA SALLAM), ISLAMIC HISTORY, IN-DEPTH STUDY OF
ARABIC AND LITERATURE.
A'la
Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) states: "THESE TEN BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE,
I ACHIEVED AT THE FEET OF THE FOLLOWING TEACHERS: SHAH ALE RASOOL MAHRAHREWI,
MAWLANA NAQI ALI KHAN, SHEIKH AHMED BIN ZAIN DAHLAAN MAKKI, SHEIKH ABDUR RAHMAN
MAKKI, SHEIKH HUSSAIN BIN SALEH MAKKI, SHAH ABUL HASSAN AHMED NOORI (ALAIHIMUR
RAHMAH)."
BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE ATTAINED WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF ANY
TEACHER
A'la
Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) learnt ARITHMETIC, ALGEBRA, THE TWELVE
BRANCHES OF MATHEMATICS, MODERN ASTRONOMY, SCIENCE OF INHERITANCE, SCIENCE OF
PROSODY, ASTROLOGY, SCIENCE OF HISTORY, PROSE IN HINDI, PROSE IS PERSIAN,
IN-DEPTH STUDY OF ARABIC AND IN-DEPTH STUDY OF PLAIN PERSIAN WRITING.
When
A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) was questioned about his amazing
capabilities in solving intricate and confusing Mathematical theories, and as
to who his mentor was, he replied, "I DID NOT HAVE A TEACHER IN THIS
FIELD. WHATEVER YOU SEE, I ACHIEVED WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF MY ROOM. THIS IS
INDEED THROUGH THE GRACE OF SAYYIDUNA RASOOLULAH (SALAL LAAHU ALAIHI WA
SALLAM)." (Al Mizaan, pg. 342)
The
above are merely a few branches of knowledge in which A'la Hadrat (radi
Allahu anhu) reached such great heights of proficiency that he was
considered to be the inventor of that branch of knowledge! An example of this
is to found in his book, "Ar Raudal Baheej fi Adaabut Takhreej",
dealing with the Principles of Chronomatic Recording of Ahadith.
Commenting
on this, the famous Historian, Mawlana Rahmaan Ali, (M.P. Madya Pradesh)
states, "If there are no books to be found on the subject of
Chronomatic Recording of Ahadith, then A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) can be
considered to be the very inventor of this branch of knowledge".
(Tazkerah Ulema-e-Hind, pg. 17)