Mohaddis e Azam Hind

MUHADDITH AL A’ZAM AL HIND 

Life & Works of Muhaddith al A'zam Sayyid  Muhammad Ashrafi Jilani Kichochavi 

Muhaddith al A’zam Makhdum al Millat 

Sayyid Muhammad Muhaddith Ashrafi Jilani Kichochavi 

{1311 – 1381 A.H / 1894 – 1961 C.E} 

Muhaddith al A’zam, Makhdum al Millat, Siraj al Hind, Rayis al Mufassirin, Imam  al Manazirin Sayyid Muhammad Muhaddith Ashrafi Jilani bin Rayis ul Hukama  Sayyid Nazar Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani was born on the 15th of Dhil Qadah,  Wednesday in the year 1311 A.H/ 1894 C.E at Jais, Rae Bareily in the north  Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. 

His father was a renowned Sufi and Persian poet and an excellent Physician  whose authority was well known and respected among the elite of his field. 

His Teachers 

Muhaddith al A’zam had the privilege of studying under the five great Sunni  Hadith stalwarts of India such as Shaykh Lutfullah Aligarhi, who prefixed the  word ‘Allama’ before the name of Muhaddith al A’zam in the ‘Sanad’ {Certificate  of Graduation}, Shaykh ul Muhaddithin Wasi Ahmad Muhaddith Naqshbandi  Surati, Bahr ul Ulum Mufti Abdul Bari Farangi Mahali, Mujaddid al A’zam Imam  Ahmad Raza Khan Muhaddith Quadri Bareilvi and Shaykh Muti’y ur Rasul  Muhammad Abdul Muqtadar Usmani Quadri Badayuni. 

The Title of Muhaddith al A’zam 

It was the teacher of Muhaddith al A’zam Shaykh Muti’y  ur Rasul Badayuni who gave the title of ‘Muhaddith al A’zam’ to him at the young 

age of 17 years at Badayun along with a special ‘Sanad’ of Hadith which  indicates Muhaddith al A’zam’s extraordinary Knowledge and calibre. It is also  important to note that it was the same Shaykh Muti’y ur Rasul Badayuni who  gave and addressed Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Quadri as the ‘Mujaddid’ {Reviver}  of 14th Islamic century. 

Baiyah & Khilafah 

Muhaddith al A’zam became the Murid {Disciple} of his noble uncle – Alim ar  Rabbani Arif ul Haqqani Wayiz al Lasani Sultan ul Manazirin Sayyid Ahmad  Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani ibn Shaykh ul Mashaik Shabiha Ghawth al A’zam Ala Hazrat  Sayyid Ali Husayn Ashrafi Miyan in the Quadriya Chishtiya Ashrafiya tariqah and  received Khilafah from him. He also had Khilafah in the Quadriya Barkatiya  Razviya tariqah from Imam al Akbar Ahmad Raza Khan Quadri Bareilvi. 

Among his close aides were Imam Ahl us Sunnah Sarkar e Kalan Sayyid  Mukhtar Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani Kichochavi, Imam Ahl us Sunnah Mufti al A’zam  Mufti Mustafa Raza Khan Quadri Bareilvi, Sadr ul Afazil Sayyid Nayimuddin  Ashrafi Muradabadi, Manazir al A’zam Mufti Hashmat Ali Khan Quadri Razvi, Taj  ul Ulama Mufti Umar Nayimi Ashrafi, Shaykh ul Hadith Abdul Mustafa  Naqshbandi A’zami, Mujahid al Millat Sayyid Habib ur Rahman Quadri Ashrafi  Orisavi, Peer Jamat Ali Shah Muhaddith Naqshbandi Alipuri, Peer Sayyid Didar  Ali Shah Muhaddith Naqshbandi Alwari, Malik ul Ulama Sayyid Zafaruddin  Muhaddith Quadri Razvi Bihari, Sadr ush Shariyah Mufti Amjad Ali Quadri Razvi  A’zami, Imam Ahl us Sunnah Sayyid Ahmad Saeed Kazmi Chishti Sabri, Hafiz al  Millat Mufti Abdul Aziz Quadri Ashrafi Muhaddith Mubarakpuri, and Qayid al Ahl  us Sunnah Abdul Hamid Quadri Badayuni, etc. 

Religious & Social Activities 

Muhaddith al A’zam established a School of Hadith under the leadership of  Hadrat Allama Sayyid Muhammad Mir Sahib in Delhi in 1330 A.H at the age of  19 years. He also started the publication of ‘Mahnama Ashrafi’, a monthly Islamic  magzine from Kichocha Muqaddasa in 1339 A.H/ 1922 C.E in which he  comprehensively refuted the heretical and astray sects of Wahhabiya,  Deobandiya, Qadiyaniya and other deviant and blasphemous groups.

Muhaddith al A’zam presided over and governed several Institutions of Ahl us  Sunnah wal Jamah like ‘All India Sunni Conference’ at Banaras, ‘Jamat Raza e  Mustafa’ of Bareily which was founded by Imam Ahmad Raza Quadri Bareilvi, ‘All  India Jamiat e Ulema e Hind’ and ‘Al Jamiya al Ashrafiya’ at Mubarakpur. He also  presided over the functioning of ‘Dar ul Ulum Ashrafiya’ at Behraich, ‘Dar ul Ulum  Faruqiyah’ at Banaras and countless other such Islamic Madrasas. 

Islamic & Spiritual Services 

Muhaddith al A’zam travelled extensively throughout the Indian subcontinent  debating the Wahhabiya and guiding the Muslim Masses towards Religious and  economical up-liftment. His contributions to the rise of Muslims and Ahl us  Sunnah in political sphere can not be neglected and sacrifices for Independence  of India can not be suppressed. Muhaddith al A’zam along with Sadr ul Afazil  Sayyid Nayimuddin Ashrafi Muradabadi and his students steered the Muslims out  of the great political and religious turmoil after 1920’s. His religious travels took  him to almost all the states and districts of the subcontinent during which he used  to be continuously awake for 2-3 days at stretch, such was the burden of Muslim  affairs on him! Muhaddith al A’zam never ceased to travel until his last breath,  just before his demise he was on a religious tour of the southern states of India.  This meant travelling almost 11 months a year. Only in the holy month Ramazan  and the last few days of Muharram, he used to stay at his house in Kichocha i.e.  during the Annnual Gathering (Urs) ceremony of his ancestors. 

It has been widely reported that during these travels and journeys he  encountered many Non -Muslims. Such was the personality and piety of  Muhaddith al A’zam that more than 5,000 unbelievers embraced Islam and  millions of Muslims became his disciples. 

Students & Khulafa 

Muhaddith al A’zam left numerous spiritual and scholarly students among whom  are: 

(1.) Imam ul Ma’qulat wal Manqulat Mufti Sulayman Ashrafi Bhagalpuri, former  teacher at Jamiya al Ashrafiya, Mubarakpur. 

(2.) Shaykh Allama Mufti Afzaluddin Ashrafi.

(3.) Shaykh Allama Sayyid Fakhar Allahabadi. 

(4.) Shaykh ul Mashaikh Sayyid Nayim Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani Jaisi, present  Custodian of Khanqah al Ashrafiya Ahmadiya, Jais, U.P. 

(5.) Mahbub ul Ulama Mufti Muhammad Mahbub Ashrafi Mubarakpuri, former  teacher at Jamiya Ashrafiya, Mubarakpur. 

(6.) Rayis ul Muhaqqiqin Shaykh ul Islam wal Muslimin Sayyid Muhammad  Madani Ashrafi Jilani Kichochavi, Successor and Custodian of Dargah Muhaddith  al A’zam. 

Allama Mufti Shams ul Haq A’zami and Ashfaq ul Ulama Mufti al A’zam  Rajasthan Mufti Ashfaq Husayn Nayimi are also Khulafa of Muhaddith al A’zam  in the Quadriya Chishtiya Ashrafiya tariqah. 

According to one report Malik ul Ulama Sayyid Zafaruddin Muhaddith Quadri  Razvi Bihari also took Khilafa of the Quadriya Chishtiya Ashrafiya tariqah from  Muhaddith al A'zam. 

Bibliography of Muhaddith al A’zam’s Books 

Muhaddith al A’zam authored more than 100 books and booklets. The majority of  them are in refutation of the Wahhabiya – Deobandiya. In-fact, he conducted  more than three major debates with the Deobandiya, the details of which will be  presented in another article..Insha-Allah! 

Of his books, the most important and famous is the Urdu Translation of the Holy  Quran ‘Ma’arif ul Quran’ which was highly praised by Mujaddid al A’zam Imam  Ahmad Raza Khan Quadri Bareilvi. Most of his books are now extinct except a  few that are in modern print and the rest are in manuscript form. 

(1.) ‘Ma’rif ul Quran’: An excellent Translation of the Holy Quran. In print. 

(2.) Tafsir al Ashrafi: Muhaddith al A’zam after completing the Translation of the  Holy Quran had started the Tafsir and completed only 3 parts of the Holy Quran  until his demise. The Tafsir of the first part of the Holy Quran has been published  while the remaining two parts are now extinct. 

(3.) Taqwa ul Qulub;

(4.) Qahar Qahhaar Baro e Nahanjar; 

(5.) Hayat Ghawth al A’lam: Biography of Makhdum Ashraf Jahangir Simnani. In  Print. 

(6.) Tahqiq ul Taqlid; 

(7.) Rudaad e Munazarah Kicchocha Sharif; 

(8.) Nawk e Teer; 

(9.) Khuda ki Rahmat; 

(10.) Maqsad al Abrar; 

(11.) Sawanih Ghawth al A’zam; 

(12.) Milad e Ashrafi; 

(13.) Fitnah e Azeem aur Uska Dafeeyah; 

(14.) Sirat al Khulafa; 

(15.) Kitab us Salat; 

(16.) Fatawa al Ashrafiya {2 Volumes}; 

(17.) Munafiqin e Islam ka Agaz aur Irtaqa; 

(18.) At Tahqiq ul Bari’y fi Huquq ish Shari’y; This book is on the Legislative  Authority & Powers of the Beloved RasulAllah. It was translated by me with  extensive notes and Hadith referencing and was published on the 49th Urs of  Muhaddith al A'zam Hind by Ashrafiya Islamic Foundation, Hyderabad. 

(19.) Atmam e Hujjat Bar Jand Munkir e Nabuwat; 

(20.) Kama Qala Aqulu fi Radd Ahl il Zalal wal Jahal; 

(21.) Farsh par Arsh; Compendium of Eulogies in Praise of the Beloved Rasul  Allah. In Print. 

(22.) Basarat ul Ayn fi An Waqt ul Asr Ba’ad ul Mislayn;

(23.) Al Ijazah bil Dua’ Ba’ad Salat ul Janazah; 

(23.) Dafi’ ul Istisfa’ an Jawaz ud Dua Ba’ad Salat ul Janazah bin Ijma’ or Ahsan  ut Tahqiqat fi Jawaz ud Dua’ Ba’ad lil Amwat; 

(24.) Marqumat Be Misal; 

(25.) Shaykh ul Alam; 

(26.) Peeran e Peer; 

(27.) Sultan ul Mashaikh; 

(28.) Sultan ul Arifin; 

(29.) Al Fatwa ala Jawaz ut Takbir bil Jahr fi Eid ul Fitr wa Eid uz Zuha; (30.) Haqqa ke Binaae LaIlaha Ast Husayn 

(31.) Mukalma Juma’ (Rudad Manazarah Banaras); 

(32.) Wasaya Shareef Imam al A’zam; 

(33.) Eid e Mairaj; 

(34.) Jazirat ul Arab wa Arya Nariya; 

(35.) Mu’zam ul Abwab fi Bayan Tariq uz Ziyarat wa Isaal us Sawab. Marriage & Children 

Muhaddith al A’zam married at the age of 22 years in 1915 C.E the grand daughter of ‘A’la Hadrat Ashrafi Miyan; that means the daughter of Sultan al  Wayizin Alim ar Rabbani Sayyid Ahmad Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani who was also his  maternal uncle and spiritual guide (Murshid). 

Muhaddith al A’zam was blessed with 6 sons and 2 daughters viz: Sayyid  Muhammad Makki Miyan (passed way at the age of 12 years), Sayyid Muhamid  Ashraf ‘Majzub al Ilahi’, Sayyid Hasan Musanna Anwar Miyan, Sayyid Hasanna  Miyan (passed away at the age of 5 years), Janashin Muhaddith al A’zam Rayis  ul Muhaqqiqin Shaykh ul Islam wal Muslimin Sayyid Muhammad Madani Miyan, 

Ghazi al Millat Khatib al A’zam Sayyid Muhammad Hashmi Miyan, Sayyidah  Iqbal Banu and Sayyidah Sultana Khatun. 

Hajj & Ziyarah 

During his lifetime, Muhaddith al A’zam was blessed with visiting Makkah  Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah for Hajj and Ziyarah 5 times. 

Demise 

Muhaddith al A’zam was on the religious tour of Gujrat and other southern states  of India when he suddenly fell ill and had to travel back to the northern city of  Lukhnow for treatment. This was on the 10th November 1961 and Muhaddith al  A’zam stayed at Lukhnow for 44 days to recover from his illness. But, the illness  proved fatal and the Giant Sunni Scholar left for Heavenly abode on Monday,  25th December 1961 C.E at 12.30 pm corresponding to 16th Rajab 1381 A.H.  Shaykh ul Islam Sayyid Muhammad Madani Ashrafi was very young at that time  and was pursuing his Islamic education at Jamiya al Ashrafiya, Mubarakpur. 

The Funeral Prayer of Muhaddith al A’zam was led by his cousin and brother in  law - Imam ul Ahl us Sunnah Shaykh ul Mashaikh Sarkar e Kalan Sayyid  Mukhtar Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani Kichochavi. 

Thousands of Scholars and Muslims had gathered from all over the subcontinent  to attend the last rites. Muhaddith al A’zam was buried in Kichocha Muqaddasa  where a huge dome was later constructed over his grave by his successor  Shaykh ul Islam wal Muslimin Sayyid Muhammad Madani Ashrafi Jilani. 

Shaykh al Islam Sayyid Muhammad Madani Ashrafi Jilani Kichochavi is the  present custodian of the Shrine of Muhaddith al A'zam and has been  continuously conducting the annual gathering ceremony (Urs) for the last 49  years on 16th Rajab of every lunar year. 

Muhaddith al A’zam was a staunch lover of the Beloved Rasul-Allah~sal Allahu  alayhi wa sallam~ as can be judged from his books and compendium of poetry  ‘Farsh pe Arsh’. His status in the court of Allah Almighty and the Beloved Rasul-

Allah ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~ can also be judged from many incidents and  his numerous Karamahs (Marvels). 

The Beloved Rasul Allah ~sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam~ blessed Muhaddith al  A'zam with his divine 'Ziyarah' 5 times and Muhaddith al A'zam saw him in the  state of wakefulness with his naked eyes! This is actually a rare occurrence even  for celebrated Awliya-Allah! 

It is a fact that Muhaddith al A’zam along with Sadr ul Afazil Sayyid Nayimuddin  Quadri Ashrafi Muradabadi and Hakim ul Ummat Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan Quadri  Ashrafi Badayuni are among the few scholars of Ahl us Sunnah wal Jamah  whose contributions to Islam have been neglected to a large extent in the Indian  sub-continent. It is sad to express that even their books have not been published  with due care and they are still counted among the literary and scholarly  treasures in libraries. It is our responsibility to bring out these hidden treasures  out of oblivion, print them according to modern methods, translate them into  modern and international languages and distribute them among the book starving Ahl us Sunnah masses. 

Note: This Biography has been compiled from 'Hayat Muhaddith al A'zam' by Shaykh Zakir Husayn  Ashrafi Raj-Mahali, published by Al Ashraf Academy, Raj-Mahal, India. Another Doctoral Thesis was  prepared on "The Life, Works & Poetry of Muhaddith al A'zam" by Shaykh Allama Muhammad  Farhat Ali Siddiqui Ashrafi, the Khalifa of Rayis ul Muhaqqiqn Shaykh ul Islam wal Muslimin Sayyid  Muhammad Madani Ashrafi Jilani Kichochavi and was submitted to the Osmania University,  Hyderabad. Dr Farhath Ali Siddiqui Ashrafi was awarded 'Doctorate' last year based upon this thesis.  This Phd Thesis also has the distinction of being the First Authorative work on Muhaddith al A'zam  or any of the other great Mashaikh of Khanwada e Ashrafiya in India. 

Translated & Compiled by Basharath Ali Siddiqui Hanafi Ashrafi, 

Ashrafiya Islamic Foundation, Hyderabad, India

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