Hadhrat Maulana Al-Qari Al-Haafiz
Ali Murtaza Sahib Naqshbandi Mujaddidi
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A Short Biography - The 38th
Shaykh from Silsila Aliya Naqshbandia
Hadhrat Shaykh's homeland was Gadai, Dera Ghazi Khan. He was born in the year
1907 AD.
Hadhrat Sahib's father, Hadhrat Maulana Allama Muhammad Hussain Sahib
nawwarAllahu marqadah, was a great Darwesh and Aalim who studied Ahadeeth in
Bhopal under Shaykh Bin Muhsin Yamani (1245 - 1329 Hijri).
Hadhrat Sahib also learnt and qualified in Ahadeeth from his father, who studied
at various places including Bhopal and Hyderabad Dakkan. After a period of time
his father adopted poverty, a simple way of life, and returned to live in Gadai,
which was his fatherland, where he continued to teach, without any charge, until
his last breath. He would work as a shepherd, herding goats. He had three sons
who were all people of knowledge one of whom was our blessed Shaykh. His grand
and great grandfathers were all pious people.
Hadhrat Sahib was an exceptional scholar. He obtained Zahiri knowledge from his
father. He mastered Tafseer, Ahadeeth, Fiqh, Mantaq and Philosophy with Hifz. He
learnt Tajweed and Qaraa'at from Qari Abdul 'Aleem in Saharanpur. Among his
teachers were Hadhrat Mawlana Khaleel Ahmad Sahib Saharanpuri, Mawlana Thaabit
Ali Sahib, Mawlana Abd-ul-Lateef Sahib, Mawlana Waahid Bakhsh Sahib, and Mawlana
Muhammad Siddeeq Sahib. Apart from this he also received lessons on Hadeeth from
Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Yahya Sahib who was the father of his class-fellow
Hadhrat Shaykh-ul-Hadeeth Sahib nawwarAllahu Marqadah. Hadhrat Shaykh memorised
the Qur'an in seven months. Till his last breath he never got mixed up whilst
reciting similar verses from fifteen chapters of the Holy Qur'an.
During the last year of acquiring Zahiri knowledge, Hadhrat Shaykh felt a severe
need for the acquisition of Batini knowledge. He attached himself to
Qibla-e-Aaalam, Qutb-ul-Irshad, Hadhrat Mawlana Fadhal Ali Sahib Qurayshi
nawwarAllahu Marqadah who was a Saint of the Naqshbandi order.
Hadhrat Sahib's love for his Shaykh was very great indeed. Every other week he
would travel by foot from Gadai towards Miskeenpur Shareef. On his journey he
would cross the Sindh River and then would reach Miskeenpur to be in the
presence of the Shaykh by noon on the following day. It was the Hukm of Hadhrat
Shaykh that he must not get involved in any kind of chit chatter or discussion
on his journey.
It was a time of great poverty. He would have only one coin with which he would
pay the fare for the boat during his journey. After staying there for two days
he would return. This remained his habit year after year. He had permission in
all the Silsilahs from His Shaykh but the dominant silsilah was Naqshbandiah.
When Hadhrat Shaykh was in his last stages of acquiring the Zahiri and Baatini
Knowledge, his father passed away. Hadhrat Shaykh had to take a loan in order to
prepare for his father's burial.
Poverty did not affect or shake the steadfastness of Hadhrat Shaykh. He always
worked, sewing clothes and working in a library containing religious books. He
continued to deliver lessons on Deen for no charge . The gatherings of Allah's
dhikr and shukr went on.
Gatherings of Muraqabah Dhikr would take place daily after morning Salaah for
one hour and for twenty minutes after Maghrib Salaah which would end with Du'a.
On Friday night Hadhrat would give a Bayan after the gathering of Muraqabah
Dhikr.
Hadhrat Shaykh went for Hajj on fourteen occasions. The first of which took
place in 1357 AH. On this occasion it happened that Hadhrat Shaykh had only
seventy rupees.
On this first Hajj, Hadhrat Shaykh was at the blessed shrine of Rasoolullah
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and conveying his farewell salaam. At that moment a
voice came from the blessed shrine saying “'Awdan, 'Awdan”. This was an
invitation, and good news, for Hadhrat Shaykh to come again. It happened just
that way - Hadhrat Shaykh returned for Hajj the following year.
Hadhrat Shaykh performed their last Umrah in Ramadhan al-Mubarak 1402 AH and
their last Hajj was also performed in the same year.
Hadhrat Shaykh had a very great status indeed. After having all he had he would
not show anything. One time during a visitation of the blessed shrine of
Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam a voice replied to him from the shrine.
On another occasion Hadhrat Shaykh did not have enough to cover the expenses for
staying in Madinah Munawwarah, and had been without food for a few days. With
this Hadhrat Shaykh did Ziyaarah of Rasoolullah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam who
said to him “Whose guest are you?”. He replied “I am Your guest O Messenger of
Allah”. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam then placed something in his
hand. When Hadhrat Shaykh awoke he opened his hand to find a Riyaal inside it.
During his last days Hadhrat Shaykh began to say such things which made it feel
that he was close to separating from this world. A close friend had a dream, in
which he saw that two of the minarets of the Haram in Makkah had fallen. Hadhrat
Shaykh gave the explanation of the dream that soon will come the passing away of
a Friend of Allah who would be irreplaceable. It happened that way. On Saturday
the 25th of Shawwal 1408AH he parted from thousands of loving followers. At the
time of his death, there was a smile on his face and the index finger of his
right hand was pointing straight.
It was the wish of Hadhrat Shaykh that he be buried at the place where the
people took off their shoes for prayer. His Kafan was the Ihraam materials of
many years.
In his last sermon on the night of Friday 24th Shawwal Hadhrat Shaykh said “He
who purified his Nafs is the successful one. An important reason for the sending
of Prophets by Allah is for purification and for the rectification of Manners.
For the purification of the Nafs, three things are done and one is left. The
things that are done are the Dhikr of Allah, following of the Sunnah and to
acquire the company of a Shaykh. And the thing that is to be left is Sin. The
following of the Sunnah is Noor, without light it is impossible to walk in the
path. Without the Sunnah, Tareeqat becomes deception.
“Every obtainable thing becomes easy with the love for your Shaykh.”
There are fifty-nine Khaleefahs of Hadhrat Shaykh nawwarAllahu Marqadah, who are
spreading the blessings of Hadhrat Sahib throughout the world.