by
Sheikhul-Islam wal Muslimeen Taajul-Ulama Badrul-Foqaha
Mujaddide-Meh’ta Haadira Ala'Hadrat Azeemul-Barkat Imam Ahmed Rida Al-Qaadiri
Barkaati Muhaqqiq Bareilwi
translated
by
Durwesh
Abu-Muhammad Abdul-Haadi Al-Qaadiri Barkaati
Published
by
Imam
Ahmad Raza Academy
Durban, South Africa
A Barkaatur-Raza Publication
COPYRIGHT
All
rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior
permission in writing from the publisher.
Name
of Original Kitaab: Mambahul-Munya li-wusoolil-Habeeb ilal Arshi
war’ruh’ya
Author: Sheikhul-Islam wal
Muslimeen Taajul-Ulama Wal Aarifeen Ala'Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Al-Qaadiri
Barkaati Muhaqqiq Bareilwi t
Translator:
Durwesh Abu-Muhammad Abdul-Haadi Al-Qaadiri
First edition: Muharram 1421 -
April 2000
No.
of copies: 3 000
Publishers:
Barkaatur-Raza Publications
Design
and Typesetting: Raza Graphics
Available from:
Imam Ahmed Raza Academy
Imam Ahmed Raza Building
3rd Floor, 20-22 Lorne Street
Durban, 4 001
South Africa
Postal Address:
P.O. Box 5325
Durban, 4 000
South Africa
Tel: (0027-31) 3093642
Fax: (0027-31) 3093707
Website: http://www.raza.co.za
E-mail: raza786@mweb.co.za
Dedication
I
humbly dedicate this Kitaab to Qutbe-Madina
Sheikh Zia-ud-Deen Ahmad Siddiqi Al-Qaadiri Radawi Madani(Radi ALLAH Anh)
who was a senior representative of Imam Ahmad Raza
Al-Qaadiri(Radi ALLAH Anh)
in the August Court of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah
e.
After
completing his studies, Imam Ahmad Raza(Radi ALLAH Anh)
conferred the Khilafat of the Qaadiriyyah Barkaatiyyah Silsila on
him and sent him to Baghdad Shareef at the Sacred Court of Sayyiduna Sheikh
Abdul-Qaadir Jilaani(Radi ALLAH Anh)
for further spiritual perfection.
After
spending 12 years in the presence of the Great Ghous(Radi ALLAH Anh)
he was ordered to proceed to Madina Munawwara where he was later appointed as
the Qutub of the Holiest city on earth. Here he lived amongst
Humans and Jinns for 75 years and served them day and night. He was indeed a man
with great depths of Divine Secrets. Those that met and reaped benefits from him
were indeed very fortunate. He had an impeccable personality and his presence
always generated Divinely blessed Love.
Though
he lived in the hostile rule of the Wahabi regime, he fearlessly and
openly held the Majlis of Mouloodun-Nabi e
every day of the year throughout his life and fed Niyaaz food to whoever
was present. No one dared to stop him and how could they when he was an
appointed Qutub by Divine Ordainment. One of his amazing Karaamat was
that the food, which used to be cooked in his humble home in a medium size
domestic pot, was used to feed numerous number of people, be it a hundred or a
thousand. All partook of the meal to their satisfaction.
Indeed,
he was a true viceroy of Imam Ahmad Raza(Radi ALLAH Anh)
and inspired millions of hearts with the secrets of Love. He finally passed away
in Madina Munawwara and was laid to rest in Jannatul-Baqi at the feet side of Sayyadah
Faatima Zah’ra(Radi ALLAH Anh). May
ALLAH
shower his blessings on his Qabar Shareef. Aameen.
INTRODUCTION
Some scholars
have misunderstood the reality of the Meh’raaj of Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)
due to their lack of knowledge and research. Their ignorance in this
field caused more confusion in their hearts because they failed to understand
the unique relation between
ALLAH
and His Beloved Habeeb(Peace Be Upon Him).
How true is the comment of Sayyidul-Maka’shifeen Sheikh-e-Akbar Muhiyyudeen
ibne Arabi(Radi ALLAH Anh) who said that Meh’raaj is a secret in a secret. One has to have sound
knowledge of the Qudrat of
ALLAH
and the Station and Status of His August Rasool(Peace Be Upon Him)
before commenting on any matter pertaining to them.
Due to the lack of this knowledge some people have wrongfully said that Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) did not see
ALLAH
with his naked eye and also did not proceed to the Divine Arsh on the
night of Meh’raaj. They say that both these things are impossible for
any human being to achieve.
These questions were posed to the great Mujaddid of Islam, the
fountain of knowledge, the leader of the Jurists and Master of occult sciences Ala’Hadrat
Imam Ahmad Raza Al-Qaadiri Barkaati(Radi ALLAH Anh).
The Noble Imam demonstrated his scholastic capabilities and
compiled this intellectual reply to remove all doubts concerning the above
matter. To this day this masterpiece remained confined to the Urdu-speaking
public for a century because it was compiled in the Urdu language. The Mujaddid
replied to all questions in the language it was posed to him. This itself speaks
of his profound knowledge. However, it is the sincere desire of the Imam
Ahmad Raza Academy to translate the works of the Great Imam(Radi ALLAH Anh)
in the English language for the reading pleasure and the benefit of the
English-speaking public. In the past, we had numerous requests for the English
version of the Mujaddid’s works, but unfortunately, we could not
fulfill the needs of the people. But now we are proud to say that there is a
great awareness internationally and many Institutes and scholars have embarked
in the English translation of Imam Ahmad Raza’s(Radi ALLAH Anh) works.
Though great precautions have been taken
in translating this book from the original text, which is generally a very
difficult task, it is hoped that the present translation is free of errors. If
there are any, then it is certainly not the errors of the original works of the Great
Mujaddid(Radi ALLAH Anh) as his
research is flawless. Please inform us of any errors.
The Imam Ahmad Raza Academy (South Africa) proudly
presents Manba’ul-Maniyya for the benefit and reading pleasure
of the English-speaking public. May Almighty
ALLAH
guide us all on the path of Ahle-Sunnah and give us the courage and Toufeeq
to continue our endeavor in this field. Aameen.
The Master’s Slave,
Durwesh Abu-Muhammad Abdul-Haadi
Al-Qaadiri Radawi
QUESTION
سوال
|
W |
hat is the
Ruling of the Ulama of Islam concerning the Divine Sight of Allah
U?
Did Sayyiduna Rasoolullah see Allah with his
naked eye on the night of Meh'raaj? Is there any proof in the Hadith
Shareef concerning this subject? Please furnish us with authentic proofs
from the sacred Sharee’ah and clarify this matter. May
ALLAH
bless you for the service of Deen.
ANSWER
1. Imam Ahmad ibne Hambal(Radi ALLAH Anh)
in his Musnad narrates from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anh)
Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) said, "I saw my Sublime Creator”.
Imam
Jalaludeen Suyuti(Radi ALLAH Anh) in his Khasa'ise
Kubra and Allama Abdur Raouf Munadi(Radi ALLAH Anh) in his Tafseer Shar'ha Jameh Sagheer state that this Hadith Shareef
is authentic. (بسند
صحيح)
2. Imam
Muhaddith Ibne Asakar(Radi ALLAH Anh) narrates
from Sayyiduna Jaabir bin Abdullah(Radi ALLAH Anh) that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)
states:
لأن
الله أعطى
موسى الكلام و
أعطاني
الروية لوجهه
و فضلني
بالمقام
المحمود
والحوض
المورود *
"Verily,
Almighty
ALLAH
blessed Sayyiduna Moosa, with
the privilege
of Dialogue and cherished me with his Divine
Vision and
exalted me with the Crown of Intercession and
the Fountain
of Kauthar".
3. Imam
Asakar(Radi ALLAH Anh) also narrates from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Mas'ood(Radi ALLAH Anh)
, who said:
قال
رسول الله صلى
الله تعالى
عليه وسلّم
قال لي ربي
نحلت إبراهيم
خلتي
و
كلمت موسى
تكليما و
أعطيتك يا
محمد كفاحا *
Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) states,
“My Glorious Lord said to me, ‘I gave My friendship to Sayyiduna Ibraheem,
and spoke to Sayyiduna Moosa,
and O Muhammad !
I blessed you
with My
Meeting (where you saw My Divine Being without
any
obstacles)’".
In Majma'ol Bihaar (مجمع البحار), the word كفاحا of the above Hadith Shareef is explained as
follows:
مجمع البحار كفاحا أي مواجهة ليس بينهما حجاب ولا رسول *
Majma-ul-Bihaar
explains the word كفاحا
that Almighty ALLAH blessed His Beloved with such a
Presence and Vision that there were no veils as barriers and no intervention of
an Angel.
4. Ibne Marduwiyya(Radi ALLAH Anh)
narrates from Sayyadah Asma bint Abu Bakr رضى
الله تعالى
عنهما that:
سمعت رسول الله صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم و هو يصف سدرة المنتهى (وذكر الحديث الى ان قالت) فقلت يا رسول الله ما رأيت عندها
قال
رأيت عندها
يعنى ربه *
Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) was praising the excellence of Sidratul-Muntaha when I inquired from him,
"Ya Rasoolullah! What did you see at Sidratul-Muntaha?"
He said, "There I
saw the Divine
Glory (i.e. of Allah)."
COMMENTS OF THE NOBLE SAHABA
1. Tirmidi Shareef narrates from Sayyiduna
Abdullah ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anh):
We, the Bani
Haashim (Ahle-Bayt), say that undoubtedly,
Sayyiduna
Muhammad(Peace Be Upon Him) saw
ALLAH twice.
2. Ibne Ishaaq(Radi ALLAH Anh) narrates from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Abi-Salma(Radi ALLAH Anh)
that:
ان
ابن عمر أرسل
الى ابن عبّاس
يسأله هل رأى
محمد
صلى
الله تعالى
عليه
وسلّم ربه ؟
فقال نعم *
Sayyiduna
Abdullah ibne Omar(Radi ALLAH Anh) inquired of Sayyiduna
Abdullah ibne
Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anh) to find out whether Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)
saw ALLAH.
He replied,” Yes."
3. The words of Tabraani state:
واللفظ
للطبرانى عن
ابن عبّاس قال
نظر محمد الى
ربه قال
عكرمة فقلت له
نظر محمد
الى
ربه ؟ قال نعم !
جعل الكلام
لموسى والخلة
لإبراهيم
والنظر لمحمد
صلى الله تعال
ى
عليه و سلّم ( زاد الترمذى
) فقد رأى ربه
مرتين *
The words of
Tabraani states that Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne
Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anh)
said that
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) saw
ALLAH.
Akrama(Radi ALLAH Anh)
, who was
his student, asked him: “Did Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) see Allah U?”
He replied,” Yes,
ALLAH blessed Sayyiduna Moosa, with Dialogue, Sayyiduna Ibraheem,
with Friendship and Sayyiduna Muhammad(Peace Be Upon Him) with His Divine Presence”. (Words of Tabraani) “And verily, Sayyiduna
Muhammad saw
ALLAH twice".
Imam Tirmidi(Radi ALLAH Anh)
states that this Hadith
Shareef is Hasan. Imam Nisaa'ee(Radi ALLAH Anh),
Imam Ibne Hazeema(Radi ALLAH Anh) and Haakim(Radi ALLAH Anh)
all record
the following:
واللفظ
للبيهقى
أتعجبون ان
تكون الخلّة
لإبراهيم
والكلام
لموسى
والروية
لمحمد
صلى الله
تعالى
عليه وسلّم *
Are you
surprised at the Dialogue of Sayyiduna Moosa,
Friendship of
Sayyiduna Ibraheem and Divine Sight of
Sayyiduna
Muhammad?
Haakim has said that this is a Sahih Hadith Shareef. Imam Qastalaani and Imam Zarqaani both acknowledge the authenticity of this Hadith Shareef.
4. It is narrated in Tabraani and Moh'jam
Awsat:
عن
عبد الله بن
عبّاس انه كان
يقول ان محمدا
صلى الله
تعالى عليه و
سلّم
رأى
ربه مرّتين
مرّة ببصره و
مرّة بفواده
Sayyiduna
Abdullah ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anh) says that “Verily, Sayyiduna Muhammad(Peace Be Upon Him)
saw his
Lord twice, once with his physical eye and once with the eye of his heart”.
Imam Suyuti(Radi ALLAH Anh),
Imam Qastalaani(Radi ALLAH Anh),
Allama Shaami(Radi ALLAH Anh) and Allama
Zarqaani(Radi ALLAH Anh) - all say
that there is no doubt in the authenticity of this Hadith Shareef.
5. Imamul A'imma Ibne Hazeema(Radi ALLAH Anh)
and Imam Bazaaz(Radi ALLAH Anh)
both narrate from Sayyiduna Anas ibne Maalik(Radi ALLAH Anh):
ان
محمدا صلى
الله تعالى
عليه و سلّم
رأى ربّه عزّ و
جل
"Verily,
Sayyiduna Muhammad(Peace Be Upon Him) saw his Most
Gracious
Creator".
Imam Ahmad Qastalaani(Radi ALLAH Anh)
and Imam Abdul
Baaqi Zarqaani(Radi ALLAH Anh) state that
the authenticity of this Hadith Shareef is very strong.
6. Imam Muhammad ibne Ishaaq(Radi ALLAH Anh)
narrates this Hadith Shareef from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra(Radi ALLAH Anh):
ان
مروان سأل
ابوهريره رضى
الله تعالى
عنه هل رأى
محمد صلى الله
تعالى عليه
وسلّم ربه ؟
فقال نعم
Marwaan asked
Sayyiduna Abu-Hurayra(Radi ALLAH Anh) if Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)
saw ALLAH. He replied, "Yes."
أخبار
التابعين
VIEWS OF THE
TABA'EEN
1. Imam Abdur Razzaaq(Radi ALLAH Anh),
Ustaaz of Imam Bukhari(Radi ALLAH Anh),
in his famous Musannaf reports from his Ustaaz Imam Mah'mar(Radi ALLAH Anh):
عن
معمر عن الحسن
البصرى انه
كان يحلف
بالله لقد رأى
محمد
صلى
الله تعالى
عليه و سلّم
Imam Mah'mar(Radi ALLAH Anh)
narrates from Imam Hasan
Al-Basri
who swore an
oath in the Name of
ALLAH
that Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)
positively saw his Creator.
2. Similarly, Imam Ibne Hazeema(Radi ALLAH Anh)
narrates from Sayyiduna Orwa bin Zubair(Radi ALLAH Anh),
who is the cousin of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) and grandson of Sayyiduna
Abu-Bakr(Radi ALLAH Anh).
He also accepts that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) saw ALLAH on the night
of Meh'raaj.
و انه
كان يشتد عليه
إنكارها
And he used
to get very upset if anyone rejected this.
The following Luminaries held similar
views:
1.
Sayyiduna Kaab
Ah'baar(Radi ALLAH Anh)
who was a great Aalim of the previous Scriptures,
2. Imam Ibne Sha'haab Zahri Qarshi
3. Imam Mujaahid Makh'zoomi Makki
4. Imam Akrama bin Abdullah Madani Haashimi
5. Imam Ata bin Rabah Qarshi Makki(Radi ALLAH Anh)
(Ustaaz of
Imam Abu-Haneefa)
6. Imam Muslim bin Sabeeh Abud-Duha Kufi(Radi ALLAH Anh),
etc. and all the
students of A'limul Quraan Jabrul-Ummah Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anh)
confirm the
Divine Vision.
Imam Ahmed
Qastalaani(Radi ALLAH Anh)
states in Mawahibul-Ladunniya:
اخرج
ابن خزيمه عن
عروة بن
الزبير
إثباتها
وبه قال سائر
أصحاب ابن
عبّاس
و
جزم به كعب الأحبار
والزهري
اقوال
من بعدهم من
أئمة الدين
OPINION OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS IMAMS
OF DEEN
Imam Khal'laal(Radi ALLAH Anh) in Kitaabus-Sunnah narrates from Imam Ishaaq bin Maroozi(Radi ALLAH Anh)
that Imam
Ahmad ibne Hambal(Radi ALLAH Anh)
accepts this
Tradition and confirms this by saying that:
قول
النبي صلى
الله تعالى
عليه و سلّم
رأيت ربّي *
Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) said, "I saw my Creator”.
(briefly
quoted)
Imam Naqqaash(Radi ALLAH Anh)
in his Tafseer
narrates from Imam Sanadul Anaam(Radi ALLAH Anh)
that:
انه
قال أتقول
بحديث ابن
عبّاس بعينه
رأى ربه رآه
رآه رآه حتى
انقطع نفسه *
He said, “I
accept the Hadith of Ibne Abbas(Radi ALLAH Anh) that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)
saw his Creator.
with his eyes, he did see, he did see, he did see”. He repeated this till his
breath lasted.
Imam Ibne Khateeb Misri(Radi ALLAH Anh)
states in Mawaahib
Shareef that:
جزم
به معمر بن
راشد بصري و
آخرون و هو قول
الأشعر و غالب
اتباعه
Mah'mar bin
Raashid Basri(Radi ALLAH Anh) and other Ulema acknowledged this, and this is the Madhab of the Ahle-Sunnah,
Imam Abul-Hasan Ash'ari(Radi ALLAH Anh) and the majority of his followers.
Allama Imam Sha'haab Khafaji(Radi ALLAH Anh)
in his Naseemur-Riyaad,
the commentary of Shifa Qaadi Ayaad, states that:
الأصح
الراجح انه
صلى الله
تعالى عليه و
سلّم رأى ربه
بعين
رأسه
حين
اسرى به كما
ذهب إليه اكثر
الصحبه
The most
correct and pure Madhab is that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) on the night of Meh'raaj saw
ALLAH
with
his
naked eyes as it is the Madhab and consensus of
the
illustrious Sahaba fraternity.
Imam Nawawi(Radi ALLAH Anh) in Shar'ha Muslim Shareef and Allama Muhammad bin Abdul Baaqi(Radi ALLAH Anh)
in Shar'ha Mawaahib states:
الراجح
عند اكثر
علماء انه صلى
الله تعالى
عليه و سلّم
رأى ربه
بعين
رأسه ليلة
المعراج
It is the
consensus of the majority Ulama that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) saw
ALLAH
with his naked eyes on
the night of
Meh'raaj.
QUESTION
Another similar question was posed to the
Great Mujaddid, Imam Ahmad Raza Al-Qaadiri(Radi ALLAH Anh) on 11 Muharram al-Haraam 1320 A.H. which read:
|
W |
hat is the ruling of the Noble Ulama
regarding Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) going
up to the Arsh in the night of Meh'raaj?
Is this an established fact because Zaid says that this is a lie.
Is Zaid's statement correct or not?
الجواب
ANSWER
|
I |
ndeed the illustrious Ulama and
distinguished Imams of Islam have in their authentic books
expressed in great details on this subject. All these are based on the Ahadith
Shareef. Although these Ahadith are forwarded (مرسل) or problematic (معضل),
both are unanimously agreed to and accepted by the sector of Fadaa'il
(Virtues) by the Muhadditheen. The narrators and presenters are all
trustworthy Scholars of Deen. This matter is not something that
entertains ones personal opinion. It depends solely on the authenticity of solid
proof. Hence,
confirmation deplores contradiction. Ignorance
does not necessarily reject its reality. If one rejects it, one is in fact a
liar and an contradictor of the Deen.
Imame-Ajal Sayyidi
Muhammad Boseeri(Radi ALLAH Anh) , in his renowned Qasidah Burdah Shareef states:
سريت
من حرم ليلا
الى حرم
كما سرى
البدر في داج
من الظلم
The Habeeb of
Allah(Peace Be Upon Him),
in a short space of time, traveled from Musjid-e-Haraam to Musjid-e-Aqsa. This
sacred journey was bright like the brilliance of the full moon.
و
بت ترقى الى ان
نلت منزلة
و من قاب
قوسين لم تدرك
و لم ترم
The Beloved(Peace Be Upon Him)
traveled in the night of Meh'raaj until he reached the station of Qaaba Qosain.
No creation could reach this height nor possessed the courage to do so.
خفضت
كل مقام
بالاضافة اذ
نوديت
بالرفع مثل
مفرد العلم
The noble
status of the Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) left everything below him when he proceeded towards the Divine Heights of the
Unique Lord, on the Night of Ascension.
فخرت
كل فخار غير
مشترك
و جزت كل مقام
غير مزدحم
The Beloved(Peace Be Upon Him)
enjoyed such excellence that no one can share. He passed such places
where no creation set foot.
Sayyidul Alameen(Peace Be Upon Him)
was blessed with
exclusive gifts and secrets and passed all the heights without any hindrance.
Without doubt, this goes to say that the Master(Peace Be Upon Him) traveled the secret and timeless regions alone to the Divine Presence and met
and saw ALLAH.
Allama Mulla Ali
Qaari(Radi ALLAH Anh) in his Shar’ha
elaborates on Imam Boseeri's verses:
اى
انت دخلت
الباب و قطعت
الحجاب الى ان
لم تترك غاية
لساع الى
السبق من
كمال التقرّب
المطلق الى
جناب الحق و لا
تركت موضع رقى
و صعود وقيام
وقعود لطالب
فعة
فى عالم
الوجود بل
تجاوزت ذالك الى
مقام قاب
قوسين او ادنى
فاوحى اليك
ربّك ما اوحى
Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) passed all the Secret Curtains and reached the Divine Absolute Presence of the
Supreme Creator, as
one reaches one’s goal leaving everyone behind. There was no step of
excellence in the entire universe that the Master(Peace Be Upon Him)
did not surpass. In fact, the Master(Peace Be Upon Him) transcended above the domain of space and time and entered the Station of
Qaaba-Qosain and O'adna. Then, ALLAH
the Supreme, spoke to the Beloved what He had to Say.
Likewise, Imam-e-Humaam
Abu-Abdullah Sharfudeen Muhammad(Radi ALLAH Anh) states in Ummul-Qurra:
وترقي
به قاب قوسين
و تلك
السيادة
القعساء
The Master(Peace Be Upon Him)
advanced
till Qaba-Qosain (Divine Presence)
and this is
indeed the ultimate.
رتب
تسقط الامانى
حسرى
دونها ما
وراءهنّ وراء
These are the
Secret Stations where desires and thoughts cannot contemplate because there are
no paths that
leads to
them.
Thus, Imam Ibne Hajr Makki(Radi ALLAH Anh)
comments in the Shar’ha of Ummul-Qurra:
قال بعض الائمه و المعاريج ليلة الاسراء عشرة سبعة فى السماوات و الثامن الى سدرة المنتهى و التاسع الى المستوى و العاشر الى العرش الخ