Imam Ahmed Raza in the Eyes of Others

Comments by the Noble Ulema of Makkatul Mukarramah; Comments by the Noble Ulema of Madinatul Munawwarah; Comments by the Noble Ulema of the Indo-Pak Sub-Continent; Imam Ahmed Raza in the Eyes of Others; Imam Ahmed Raza in the Eyes of the Opposition COMMENTS BY THE NOBLE ULEMA OF MAKKATUL MUKARRAMAH Ustaad Ulema-e-Haram, Allamah Sa'eedullah (radi Allahu anhu): "My respected brother, who is striving in the path of Nabi (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), is a perfect teacher, in other words, Hadrat Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu). May Almighty Allah grant him great reward, and accept his endeavour, and may Almighty Allah build his respect into the hearts of the people of knowledge." Ameen. Allamah Mufti Muhammad Saleh Kamal (radi Allahu anhu): "The learned person on this earth, the sea of great knowledge, the coolness of the eyes of the Ulema-e-Haq, is Mawlana Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu). Salutations upon the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and all the spiritual guides, especially Hadrat Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu). May he always be protected." Ameen. Aftaabul Uloom, Allamah Sheikh Ali bin Siddique Kamal (radi Allahu anhu): "Our leader and bright star, the sharp blade on the throats of the Wahabis, our respected teacher, our famous leader, is Hadrat Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu). May Almighty Allah grant him tranquillity and keep him victorious over his opposition." Ameen. COMMENTS BY THE NOBLE ULEMA OF MADINATUL MUNAWWARAH Mufti Taaj'udDeen Ilyaas Hanafi (radi Allahu anhu): "That famous and professional Aalim, Mawlana Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu) is from amongst the Ulema-e-Hind. May Almighty Allah grant him great reward and success. May Almighty Allah grant him Barkah in his life and destroy all those false sects through his blessing." Ameen. Sheikh Malikiya, Allamah Sayed Ahmad Juz'iri (radi Allahu anhu) : "May Almighty Allah brighten up the lives of the Muslims through (the Sadaqa of) Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu). May Almighty Allah increase his age and allow all his future generations to be amongst the Ahle Jannah." Ameen. Allamah Khaleel bin Ebrahim Kharbooti (radi Allahu anhu): "May Almighty Allah grant the Muslims benefit forever through the blessings of this Kaamil Faadhil, Allamah Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu). O Allah! Give glad tidings to Islam and Muslims." Ameen. Allamah Mawlana Umar bin Hamdaan (radi Allahu anhu): "Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu) is that great Aalim, great philosopher and such a great researcher that his research baffles the mind. May Almighty Allah protect him and always keep him pleased."Ameen. COMMENTS BY THE NOBLE ULEMA OF THE INDO-PAK SUB-CONTINENT Sayyiduna Shah Aale Rasool (radi Allahu anhu): "On the day of Qiyamah, when Almighty Allah asks me concerning what I had brought for Him from earth, then I will present Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu)." Hadrat Sayed Shah Abul Husain Ahmad Noori (radi Allahu anhu): "A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) is the brightness and the torch of the Khandaan-e-Barakaati." Hadrat Allamah Ali Hussain Kichauchawi (radi Allahu anhu): "My path of Shariah and Tariqah is that which is the path of Huzoor Purnoor, Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu)." Hadrat Maulana Mu'eenuddeen Sahib (radi Allahu anhu): "Phira hoo me us gali se Nuzhat ho jis me gumra sheikh o kaazi Raza e Ahmad Usi me samjunga muj se Ahmad Raza ho Raazi." Allamah Naee'muddeen Muradabadi (radi Allahu anhu): "The expertise that Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (radi Allahu anhu) possessed in Fiqh was such that great Ulema of the East and West were humbled before him." IMAM AHMED RAZA IN THE EYES OF OTHERS Justice Mufti Sayyid Shujaat Ali Qadri (radi Allahu anhu), Shariah Court, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad (Pakistan): "A'la Hadrat's appearance is such a commanding stature in terms of knowledge and action that every man of letters considers it an honour and pride to write about him. This worthless man also has the honour of opportunity and has contributed some write-ups and articles of A'la Hadrat. My first compilation in Arabic, entitled 'Mujaddid-al-Mata' has been published and distributed the world over, and this practice is going on regularly and steadily. "All the men of letters know that A'la Hadrat was born in such a period when the Muslim Ummah was being threatened by different Fitnah (sedition) from all sides. Among all the prevalent sedition, the most dangerous and harmful was one which meant to infect non-Muslim elements in the beliefs of the Ahle Sunnat. "A'la Hazrat performed incomparable services to safeguard the beliefs of the Ahle Sunnat. He wrote several books for the rejection of Shirk (Polytheism) and for the dissuasion from the Bid'ats (innovations in Deen causing divergences). He safe-guarded the status of Nabuwat (Prophethood), Sahabiyat (Companionship), Ahle Bait (the Members of the Prophet's sallal laahu alaihi wasallam family) and Wilayat (the Friendship with Allah the Magnificent). He published crushing and silencing articles against the criticism brought forward by the atheists, heretics and apostates against the revered Mystics of Islam and Islamic Mysticism. As far as my study is concerned, A'la Hazrat always had good opinion about all the Muslims, and took all Muslims as Muslims, did not scratch and touch the people's beliefs, and did never scold unreasonably or speak rubbish to others. However, if someone committed any mistake in writing or speech, he invited him repeatedly to the Truth. This is the method which is called the good conduct of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). May Allah the Magnificent favour us through the benevolence of the Ahl-Ullah (Friends of Allah)." Ziya-ul Mashaa'ikh, Allamah Muhammad Ibrahim Farooqi Mujad'didi (radi Allahu anhu): "No doubt that Mufti Ahmed Raza Khan Bareilvi was a great scholar. He had the insight in the norms of Muslim conduct and behaviour and stages of spiritual transcendentalism (Tariqah). His competence as regard to exposition and explanation of the Islamic thought; his approach to the inner knowledge deserves high praise, and his contribution in Islamic Jurisprudence will always be remembered in respect of their relevance to the basic principles of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama'at. Finally, it is not an exaggeration to state that his research works shall always serve as a beacon light for those who traverse this faith." Professor Muhammad Rafi'ullah Siddique, Director of College Education, Hyderabad, Region - Hyderabaad (India): "Let the thought of recollecting minds recall the circumstances of Muslims in 1912 when Hadrat Ahmed Raza Khan appealed to the Ummah to control conspicuous consumption and save money to use for productive purposes. Now, everywhere the governments are emphasising the need for austerity to solve the multifarious economic problems. Will the men of vision not realise the far sightedness of the late A'la Hadrat Barelvi? J.M. Keynes was awarded the highest title for the same proposition and exposition which Mawlana Barelvi had disclosed at least 24 years before him. Alas! Muslims did not pay heed to his advice." Professor Preshan Khattak, (Former Chairman) Pakistan Academy of Letters, Government of Pakistan: "Imam Ahmed Raza's personality needs no introduction to Muslims of the Indo-Pakistan. Such a rare encyclopedic person is born after a long awaiting period. He served as a search- light for his own people and proved a strong rock for the powers of persecution and cruelty. Nobody can doubt his knowledge and greatness. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has declared academic differences as sources of blessing and goodness for the evolution of the Deen of Islam and civilisation. This has opened new vistas of thinking and has helped in creating more vastness and comprehension in the Deen of Islam in order to cope with the need of the changing time. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi has completed an important role for the evolution of the Islamic thinking in the Sub- Continent. It is not easy to present and interpret Islamic teachings in the present age without making use of his writings and views."  Professor Dr Ayub Razvi, Head of Department Urdu, Urdu College, Pakistan, Karachi:"The learned Mawlana Ahmad Raza Khan (1856-1921) was a famous scholar, Jurist, Mathematician, Writer and Genius. He had special insight in Mathematics. There is no parallel to his expertise in Jurisprudence." Dr Ilahi Bakhsh Ali Awan, Peshawar (Pakistan): "Various aspects of his personality are very impressive and valuable. His real contributions in different fields are so comprehensive and exhaustive that men of thought and vision find it difficult to pin point the most attractive and impressive aspect of his intellectual personality which is so vast in every direction that sight is lost in wilderness." Dr Muhammad Tahir Malik, Chairman, Department of Islamic Learning, University of Karachi (Pakistan): "After a thorough study of many books and treatises of Imam Ahmed Raza, I have concluded that he gives much importance to the teacher, book, paper and school, etc. in the articles allied to Education. In our present day education system, a teacher is no more estimated than a salaried servant, and the book is regarded as a collection of letters and works. From our teaching institutions, the respect of the book and teacher has faded away. This is why the restrictions of a teacher and pupil have been reduced to nothing at our schools, colleges and universities. "Today, to ignore or to forget the books of knowledge, gifted by theses teachers has become a common practice. One sees often the pupils dancing for pleasure on the teachers promenade and playing with their turbans. Why is this? The answer outlined by Mawlana Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi is that our ideology of education is lacking in high and sacred values. The Imaam Sahib says, 'Keep in vies (striving) the bonds of your teachers. If respect is given to the paper, the book and the school, this undesirable situation can not happen'." Dr Ghulam Yahya Anjum, Department of Comparative Religions, Hamdard University, New Delhi: "Imam Ahmed Raza Khan is an outstanding personality among 20th century renowned scholars of Islam. Very few can claim his eminence because if someone has some similarity with him in certain particular fields, he lacks significant achievement in some other field in which Imam Ahmed Raza is leading." Dr Hassan Raza Khan Azami, Patna: "A study of the 'Fatawa Razvi' (Judicial Opinions) of A'la Hadrat, has revealed his multi-dimensional personality to me. 1. As a Jurist his discussion reflects his reach of imagination, deep insight, wisdom, sagacity and unparallel scholarly talent. 2. I found him a great historian, that goes on quoting numerous historical references to support his view point in the matter under consideration. 3. He appears to be an expert in Arabic grammar and diction alongside being an inspiring Naatia poet. 4. He is observed as a great scholar of Ahadith, when he mentions logical interpretation of the Ahadith that he quotes. 5. After a deep study of his works, one finds in him not only a renowned Jurist, a great Logistician but also an outstanding Physicist, Astronomer, Mathematician, Philosopher, Philologist and Geographer whose expertise covers the minutest of details of the subject." Professor Wasim Barelvi, Rohailkand University, Bareilly, U.P (Dawn, Karachi, May 13 1992): Indian poet, Wasim Barelvi, speaking at a function in his honour on Monday night, emphasised the need for fresh research on Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi and other Muslim scholars of the Sub-Continent, particularly those from Bareilly. Eulogising Allamah Ahmed Raza Khan, Professor said that his services as a pioneer of a religious school is known to everybody, but his achievements as a writer have not yet been properly highlighted. He said that a research work on Allamah Ahmed Raza Khan compiled in Rohailkand under his supervision has made revelations regarding the writings of Allamah Barelvi. This research work is likely to challenge the history of Urdu prose as it proves that Allamah Barelvi should be counted as one of the pioneers of Urdu prose, and as one of the great writers who spread modern thought in the Sub-Continent." Justice Naeemud'deen, Supreme Court of Pakistan: "Imam Ahmad Raza's grand personality, a representation of our most esteem ancestors, is history making, and a history uni-central in his self. "You may estimate his high status from the fact that he spent all his lifetime in expressing the praise of the great and auspicious Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), in defending his veneration, in delivering speeches regarding his unique conduct, and in promoting and spreading the Law of Shariah which was revealed upon him for the entire humanity of all times. His renowned name is 'Muhammad' (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), the Prophet of Almighty Allah. "The valuable books written by a encyclopedic scholar like Imam Ahmed Raza, in my view, are the lamps of light which will keep enlightened and radiant the hearts and minds of the men of knowledge and insight for a long time." A Western Scholar, Dr Barbara D. Metcalf, Department of History, Barkley University, United States of America: "He was outstanding from the very beginning on account of his extra- ordinary intelligence. He enjoyed a divine gift of deep insight in Mathematics. It is said that he solved a mathematical problem for Dr Ziaud'deen for which the learned Mathematician was intending to visit Germany. Ahmed Raza himself was a towering figure, revered for his extra-ordinary memory, mental agility, and intellectual capacity, and honoured as a Mujaddid and a Shaikh. Guarded in his relation to the British Government, he sought above all to guard what he saw as correct practice and make religion vital in the personal life of Muslims of his day." The Poet, Doctor Iqbal: "I have carefully studied the decrees of Imam Ahmed Raza and thereby formed this opinion; and his Fatawa bear testimony to his acumen, intellectual calibre, the quality of his creative thinking, his excellent jurisdiction and his ocean-like Islamic knowledge. Once Imam Ahmed Raza forms an opinion he stays firm on it; he expresses his opinion after a sober reflection. Therefore, the need never arises to withdraw any of his religious decrees and judgements. With all this, by nature he was hot tempered, and if this was not in the way, then Shah Ahmed Raza would have been the Imam Abu hanifa of his age." (Arafat, 1970, Lahore) In another place he says, "Such a genius and intelligent jurist did not emerge." IMAM AHMED RAZA IN THE EYES OF THE OPPOSITION Abul Ula Maudoodi: "I have great respect in my heart for the knowledge and status of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu). He has great foresight over the knowledge of Deen and even his opposition are forced to accept this fact." Ashraf Ali Thanwi: "I have great respect in my heart for Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu). He calls us Kaafirs, but he says this only on the basis for his love for the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and not out of any other reason." Muee'nuddeen Nadwi: "The late Ahmed Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu) in this present time was "The Person of Knowledge". His every Fatawa, be it in support or refutal of anyone, is worthy of being studied."