Once, Sayyid Muhammad Ashrafi Miyan Jilani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was present in the court of his teacher Muhaddith Wasi Ahmad Surti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه and asked a question, “O master! You mention A’la Hazrat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه often. What is the reason for this?” Hearing this, Muhaddith Wasi Ahmad Surti’s رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه eyes filled with tears and in a state of passionate devotion he proclaimed, “My family members and I were already Muslims, but ever since I began meeting A’la Hazrat  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه , I have experienced the sweetness of faith. It is such that I continue to soothe my heart with the remembrance of the one through whom my heart has received the sweetness of faith.”

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه Look at the devotion of Muhaddith Wasi Ahmad Surti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه for A’la Hazrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه and ponder a little on his words! A great scholar of his era who served the science of Hadith for 40 years and memorised thousands of Ahadith is saying that I acquired the sweetness of faith through the company of A’la Hazrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه and that is why I give serenity to my heart through the mention of A’la Hazrat  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه .

Muhaddith e A’zam e Hind, Sayyid Muhammad Ashrafi Miyan Jilani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه commented, “Upon hearing this faith-inspiring reply of Muhaddith Wasi Ahmad Surti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه I asked, ‘O master! Is A’la Hazrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه your equal in the science of Hadith?’ Muhaddith Wasi Ahmad Surti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه replied on the spot, ‘Not at all.’ Then he said, ‘O prince! Did you understand the meaning of my saying “Not at all?” Listen! A’la Hazrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه is amir al-Mu’minin fil Hadith. If I spent many years studying the science of Hadith and became his student, even then I would not reach the level of his feet.’^[1]

Conferring ijazat e sanad (licenses of transmission) upon the Hadith experts