Remember Your Pious Predecessors

Muharram-ul-Haraam is the first month of the Islamic calendar. In the 3 issues of the Muharram-ul-Haraam monthly Faizan-e-Madinah magazine that were published between 1439 AH and 1441 AH, brief introductions on 50 personalities from amongst the honourable companions, venerable saints and scholars of Islam whose passing or Urs^[1] occurred in Muharram were presented. Below is mention of an additional 14 personalities.

Honourable Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم

1.   49 years prior to Hijrah, the honourable companion who partook in the battle of Badr, Sayyiduna Abu ‘Umayr Sa’d Bin ‘Ubayd-ul-Qaari رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was born into Aws, a tribe of the Ansaar. He was martyred in 15 AH in the battle of Qaadisiyah. Sayyiduna Sa’d رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was a Hafiz^[2] and from amongst the four companions from the Ansaar who had the honour of compiling the Quran during the Prophetic era. As well as Badr, he participated in all the Ghazwat^[3] and performed the role as an Imam in Masjid Quba for a lengthy period. (Al-Isaabah-fi-Tamyeez-ul-Sahabah, vol. 3, p. 57, Al- Istee’aab fi Ma’rifaht-ul-Ashab, vol. 2, p. 165)

2.   Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin ‘Usman Qarashi Taymi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was a resident of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and a companion from the early stages of Islam. He migrated to Habshah and Madinah Al-Munawwarah. In Muharram 15 AH, he was martyred in the battle of Qaadisiyah. The battle of Qaadisiyah occurred during the caliphate of Farooq e A’zam رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ in the year 14 AH or 15 AH and was fought under the command of Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Abi Waqas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. (Tabqat-e-Ibn-e-Sa’d, vol. 4, p. 96, Al Istiqsa-li-Akhbar Dowal-ul-Maghrib, vol. 1, p. 81)

Venerable Saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه

3.   Sheikh-ul-‘Aarifeen, Sayyiduna Sahl Bin ‘Abdullah Tustari رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in Tustar (Basrah), Iraq, in the year 200 AH. He passed away in Muharram 283 AH. He was a hafiz, outstanding scholar, commentator of the Quran, revered scholar of Hadees and performed many saintly miracles. He is also the author of many books including Tafseer Al-Tustari. (Siyar A’lam-ul-Nubala, vol. 10, p. 647, A’lam-Lil-Zarkali, vol. 3, p. 143)

4.   Shaykh-ul-Shuyukh, Sayyiduna Abu Madyan Shu’ayb Maghribi Tilmisani Maliki رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in the year 520 AH in Qutniyanah (Near Ashbayliyah), Andalusia, Spain. He passed away in Algeria (North Africa) on 28 Muharram 590 AH. His blessed shrine is amongst the burial place of other saints in Al-Ubaad (Tlemcen), Algeria, and is visited by one and all. Sayyiduna Shu’ayb رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a scholar, accomplished saint, author, Islamic poet, had the blessings of Shaykh Abdul Qaadir Jilani, manifested saintly miracles, founder of the spiritual order of Qadiriyyah Maghribiyyah and was an influential figure. (Jamaliyah-tul-Tasawwuf fi Shi’r Sayyidi Abi Madyan-ul-Ghaus, pp. 24-26, Wafyaat-ul-Akhyar, p. 47)

5.   Sayyiduna Shaykh Sulayman Bin ‘Affaan Mandawi Dihlvi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a man of great spiritual rank and a unique saint. Because of his travels and journeys, he attained great blessings. Shaykh Sulayman رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه endeavoured greatly in rectifying and edifying his followers. He passed away in Delhi on 14 Muharram 944 AH. His shrine is near the rear side of Khuwajah Bakhtiyar Kaki’s shrine in the olden part of Delhi. (Akhbar-ul-Akhyar Farsi, p. 221)

6.   The Qutb of Lahore, Sayyiduna ‘Allamah Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Bandagi Qaadiri Mujaddidi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 984 AH in Mawti Bazaar in the inner region of Lahore. He passed away on 8 Muharram 1040 AH. His shrine is famous and is located in Miyaani Sahib Cemetery. Sayyiduna Muhammad Tahir was a disciple of Shah Sikandar Keehtli, Khalifah^[4] of Sayyiduna Mujaddid Alf Saani and the teacher of his sons, and he was an excellent writer and saintly figure who performed saintly miracles. (Tazkirah Awliya Pakistan, vol. 2, pp. 272-277)

7.   Ashraf-ul-Awliya, Maulana Sayyid Ashraf Husayn Ashrafi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 1260 AH in Kichocha Shareef. It is also here where he passed away on 25 Muharram 1348 AH. He was a significant member of the Ashrafiyyah family, a scholar, competent poet, leader of a spiritual order and the successor of Sarkar-e-Kalaan from the Husayni shrine. Maulana Sayyid Ashraf Husayn رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was also the elder brother of Shah Sayyid Ali Husayn Ashrafi Jilani Kichochvi, an individual who resembled Ghaus-e-A’zam. (Hayat-e-Makhdoom-ul-Awliya, pp. 22-42)

Scholars of Islam رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه

8.   The teacher of scholars, Sayyiduna ‘Allamah Qazi Abdul Muqtadir Dihlvi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 702 AH in Delhi. It is also here where he passed away on 26 Muharram-ul-Haraam in 791 AH. His resting place is in the vicinity of Sheikh Abdus Samad Dihlvi’s shrine. Qazi Abdul Muqtadir رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a great scholar, eloquent poet, intelligent, wise, exemplary Sufi, leader of a spiritual order, a poet with his own compilation, and a friend of Allah Almighty who performed saintly miracles. The Qaseeda ‘لَامِیَةُ الْعَجَم’ is his work. (Akhbar-ul-Akhyar Mutarjam, p. 326)

9.   Qutb-ud-Deen, Sayyiduna Khuwajah Muhammad Yahya Naqshbandi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a scholar, successor of Khwajah Ahraar and an affluent individual. He was martyred on the 15^th or 17^th of Muharram, 906 AH. Sayyiduna Khwajah Muhammad Yahya’s رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه shrine is near the resting place of his father in Samarqand. (Khwajah Abdullah Ahraar, p. 123)

10.   A learned scholar and gnostic, Sayyiduna Shaykh Ahmad Saawi Maliki رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 1175 AH in Sa-ul-Hajar (Gharbiya District), Egypt. He passed away on the 7 Muharram, 1241 AH and is buried in Madinah al-Munawwarah. Shaykh Ahmad Saawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was a hafiz, graduate of Al-Azhar University, commentator of the Quran, a Shaykh of the spiritual Khalwatiyah order, teacher of teachers and a famous saint who manifested saintly miracles. Of his 17 works, حَاشِیَةُ الصَّاوِی عَلٰی تَفْسِیْرِ الْجَلَالَیْن is the most popular amongst the scholars. (Sharh-ul-Saawi A’la Jauharah-tul-Tawheed, p. 14-21)

11.   Sayyiduna Maulana Abul Khayr Muhammad Abdul Wajid Firangi Mahalli رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was the grandson and student of Bahr-ul-Uloom, and a practicing scholar. He remained a teacher in Madras (Karnatak, India) until his passing away on the 13 Muharram, 1241 AH. His blessed shrine is in the vicinity of the resting place of his grandfather, Bahr-ul-Uloom (Sayyiduna Allamah Maulana Abdul ‘Ali) in Wala Shahi Masjid in Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Southern India). (Tazkirah U’lama-e-Farangi Mohali, pp. 141-143)

12.   The author of Anwar Saati’ah, Maulana Muhammad Abdus Sami’ Baydal Ansari Rampuri Chishti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in Rampur, Manhiyaran (Saharanpur District, UP), India. He was a great scholar, author, Islamic poet and a Shaykh of the Chishtiyyah Saabiriyyah spiritual order. Maulana Muhammad Abdus Sami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه passed away on 1^st Muharram 1318 AH, and his shrine is in Makhdoom Shah Wilayat Cemetery, Meerut (UP), India. He gained popularity due to his book Anwar-e- Saati’ah Dar Bayaan-e-Mawlood-o-Fatihah. (Noor-e-Iman, Tazkirah Ulama-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, p. 167)

13.   A noble descendent from the lineage of Ghaus-e-A’zam, Sayyiduna Shaykh Muhammad Basheer Ibn Haashim Khateeb Shafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 1328 AH in Damascus. He passed away on 2^nd Muharram 1382 AH and is buried in Bab-ul-Sagheer Cemetery in Damascus. Shaykh Muhammad Basheer was a hafiz, scholar, exceptional Sufi, author, poet, a Shaykh of the Qaadiri spiritual order, and imam and teacher at Jami’ Masjid Umawi. (Ittihaf-ul-Akabir, p. 443)

14.   Bahr-ul-Uloom, Sayyiduna ‘Allamah Mufti Abdul Mannaan A’zami Razavi Misbahi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born in 1344 AH in Mubarakpur (Azamgarh District, UP), India. He passed away on 14 Muharram, 1434 AH. ‘Allamah Mufti Abdul Mannaan A’zami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was an exceptional teacher, mufti, author, poet, orator, teacher of teachers and was granted authorisation in a spiritual order. Of his 20 works, the pinnacle of his efforts is his Fatawa Bahr-ul-Uloom (6 volumes). He also granted Khilafah to the founder of Dawat-e-Islami, Ameer of Ahl-e-Sunnah, ‘Allamah Muhammad Ilyas Qaadiri in the Qadiriyyah Barkatiyyah spiritual order. (Fatawa Bahr-ul-Uloom, vol. 1, p. 15, Mahnamah Kanz-ul-Iman Dehli December 2013, p. 11)