Qudwatul Waasileen Saahibul Barkaat
Hazrat Sayyid Shah Barkatullah Marehrwi
(radi
Allaho anhu)
HIS POSITION IN
THE SILSILA: Sultanul Munaazireen, Sayyidul Mutakalimeen, Shahansha-e-Taqreer
Wa Tahreer Sultanul Aashiqeen, Qudwatul
Waasileen Saahibul Barkaat Hazrat Sayyid Shah Barkatullah Marehrwi (radi Allaho
anhu) is the thirty third Imam and Sheikh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qaaderiyah
Barakaatiyah Razviyah Nooriyah.
BIRTH: He
was born on the 26th of Jamadil Aakhir 1070 Hijri in Bilgiraam
Shareef. [Khandaan-e-Barkaat pg 10]
NAME: His name
is Sayyid Shah Barkatullah (radi Allaho anhu), and his titles are Sultaanul
Aashiqeen and Saahibul Barkaat.
HIS FATHER: His
father’s name is Hazrat Sayyid Shah Uwais (radi Allaho anhu), who was a very
great Wali of his era.
GENEALOGY:
Hazrat Qudwatul Waasileen Sayyid Shah Barkatullah son of Shah Uwais son of
Hazrat Sayyid Shah Abdul Jaleel son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Abdul Waahid son of
Sayyid Shah Ibraheem son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Qutbudeen son of Hazrat Sayyid
Shah Mahreru Shaheed son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Bud’dah son of Hazrat Sayyid
Shah Kamaaludeen son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Qaasim son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah
Sayyid Hassan son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Naseer son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Hussain son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah
Umar son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Muhammad Sughra son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Ali
son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Hussain son of Hazrat Sayyid Shah Abul Farah Thaani
son of Hazrat Sayyid Abul Firaas son of Hazrat Sayyid Abul Farah Waasti son of
Hazrat Sayyid Dawood son of Hazrat Sayyid Hussain son of Hazrat Yahya son of
Hazrat Zaid Saum son of Hazrat Sayyid Umar son of Hazrat Sayyid Zaid Daum son of Hazrat Sayyid Ali
Iraqi son of Hazrat Sayyid Hussain son of Hazrat Sayyid Ali son of Hazrat Sayyid Muhammad son of
Hazrat Sayyid Esa son of Hazrat Zaid Shaheed son of Hazrat Sayyiduna Imam
Zainul Abideen son of Hazrat Sayyidush Shuhada Hazrat Imam Hussain son of
Hazrat Ameeril Momeen Ali-e-Murtuza husband of Sayyidatun Nisa Faatima Zahra
(ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim ajmaeen) the beloved daughter of the Most Beloved
Rasool Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (Sall Allaho alaihi wasallam).
[Khandaan-e-Barkaat Pg.10]
HIS FAMILY
HISTORY: His forefather Hazrat Abul Farah (radi Allaho anhu) came to India and after his wisaal, his grandson Hazrat
Sayyid Shah Muhammad Sughra (radi Allaho anhu) came to India. Sultan Shamsudeen Al Tamish
had great respect for him and honoured him with an army equal to the Raaja of
Bilgiraam, and sent him to conquer the city. Hazrat Sayyid Muhammad Sughra (radi
Allaho anhu) conquered Bilgiraam and turned the hearts of many towards Islam,
firmly planting the flag of Islam in Bilgiraam. Sultaan Shamsudeen Al Tamish
was very pleased and gave Bilgiraam to him as his property. Hazrat then
summoned the rest of his family to Bilgiraam.
EDUCATION: His
was born into a family of knowledge. He thus did not have to travel out
initially to attain knowledge. He studied Tafseer, Hadith, and the principles
of Hadith, Fiqh and Usool-e-Fiqh etc. under the tutorship of his father. He then attained knowledge under the guidance
of his father Hazrat Sayyid Shah Uwais (radi Allaho anhu). His father blessed
him with Ijaazat and Khilaafat of various Silsilas.
IBAADAT: He
kept fast for 26 years. He used to fast for the entire day, and make iftaar
with one Khajoor (date). His condition of Roohaniyah was such that for three
years, he only ate minimum food and lived only off the water strained from the
rice. He would be in spiritual ecstasy for weeks on end and he used to be
completely out of contact with the material world and that, which is within it.
He would spend lengthy nights in the Ibaadat of Allah. It was his manner, that he recited the Holy
Quran after Zohar Salaah. He would only stop on hearing the Azaan of Asr
Salaah. He would be engrossed in wazifas from Fajr Salaah right up to the time
of Ishraaq. He used to go to the Madrassah at the time of Chasht and teach all
his students and devotees that were present at the time. Between Asr and
Maghrib, he showered his spiritual blessings upon those present.
SHEIKH-E-TARIQAT:
He is the mureed and Khalifa of Hazrat Shah Fazlullah (radi Allaho anhu).
HIS EXCELLENCE:
His personality was so dynamic, that any person who saw him would immediately
recognize that he was a Wali Allah or the Qutb of his time. This quality of his
was more evident than anything else. He spent his entire life serving the cause
of the Ahle Sunnat Wa Jamaat. He filled many empty hearts with the love of
Allah and His Rasool (Sall Allaho alaihi wasallam). He assisted thousands of
people to find the path towards Allah. Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho anhu)
blessed him spiritually and placed the crown of Wilaayat on his blessed head.
He was a master in various branches of learning, including Tafseer, Hadith,
Fiqh, Mathematics, Logistics, Philosophy, History etc. He was also a poet and a
dynamic orator. His lectures and words of wisdom brought hundreds of thousands
of unbelievers into the folds of Islam. for thirty years he did not move from
his position of being the Sajaada Nasheen. He took care of this position with
complete responsibility. He used to make jihad against his desires and reached
such an exalted position in Roohaniyah, that he only took two physical breaths
in a day.
ARRIVAL IN
KALPI SHAREEF: Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (radi Allaho anhu) heard about the
excellence of Hazrat Shah Fazlullah (radi Allaho anhu) and thus traveled to
Kalpi Shareef to meet him. When he arrived in Kalpi Shareef, he presented
himself before Hazrat Shah Fazlullah (radi Allaho anhu). When Hazarat Shah
Fazlullah (radi Allaho anhu) saw him, he immediately walked towards him and
embraced him with great love and emotion. He held Hazrat Shah Barkatullah close
to his chest and said, “The Sea has met with the sea.” He continued saying
these words, and in just a few
moments,Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (radi Allaho anhu) reach a very exalted spiritual level
RETURN FROM
KALPI SHAREEF: Hazrat Shah Fazlullah (radi Allaho anhu) blessed him with
Ijaazat and Khilaafat. When he was about to leave Kalpi Shareef, Hazrat Shah
Fazlullah placed his blessed sight upon him and adorned him in the garb of
mysticism. He then made dua for him and told him that he had already reached a
very exalted level in spiritualism. He also said that there was no need for him
to teach or to go out to learn. He then blessed him with certain wazaa’if and
gave him the Ijaazat and Khilaafat in the Qaaderiyah, Chishtiya, Naqshabandiya,
Suharwardiya and Madaariya Silsila’s. He also presented him with the
certificate of Khilafat. He then said that his personality would be a means of
great blessings for all those who came to him, and that there was no need for
those who came to him, to go to Kalpi Shareef.
MAREHRAH
SHAREEF: Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat (radi Allaho anhu) arrived in Marehrah Shareef
after his spiritual exercises which took place from the year 1111 Hijri up to
1117 Hijri. This was during the rule of Muhiyudeen Aurangzeb. Marehrah Shareef
is approximately 16 miles east from the city of Eta, in the Northern
Province of India.
It is a town of Ulama,
Awliyah and Sufis. Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (radi Allaho anhu) once dreamt of
Huzoor (Sall Allaho alaihi wasallam) and Hazrat Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho anhu)
who commanded him to live in Mahrerah Shareef, in the area where the
Khanqah-e-Barkaatiyah is today. A house was then constructed for Hazrat and he
lived therein. Hazrat then summoned the rest of his family to join him in
Marehrah Shareef. Due to Hazrat’s arrival in Marehrah Shareef, people from all
over began to live in and around Marehrah Shareef. By 1118 Hijri, there was a complete
population of people living around the Khanqah Shareef.
THE BLESSINGS
OF HUZOOR GHAUS-E-AZAM (radi Allaho anhu): He had great love and respect for
Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam Jilani (radi Allaho anhu). Even though he was blessed with
the Ijaazat and Khilaafat of five silsilas, he entered his mureeds into the
Qaaderi Silsila and he paid more attention to the Qaaderi order. He attained a
very exalted glad tiding from the Darbaar of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho
anhu). Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho anhu) said, “I am responsible for the
intercession of those mureeds linked to your khandaan. I will not enter Jannat,
until I do not enter the mureeds and those linked to your Khandaan into
Jannat.”
THE REALITY OF
SHEIKH SADOO THE CURSED: Hazrat Sayyiduna Shah Ache Mia (radi Allaho anhu)
writes as follows in Aa’in-e-Ahmadi: “Sheikh Sadoo was a human. He lived around
the middle of the eleventh century, during the rule of Hazrat Muhiyudeen
Aurangzeb Alamgir. He used to do a very powerful amal, that used to be done on
the hair of a camel. He was a very sinful person and enjoyed sinning. He spent
his days and nights committing major sins. He used to make use of his amal, to
lure one woman to him self every night. He used to attain the most beautiful
women, through the use of his muakils. He would then commit adultery with them.
This action of his was disliked by his muakils but they were now in his
control. When he intended to commit zinna, he would draw a Hisaar
(fortification circle) around him and keep water inside this hisaar. One day,
when he completed making zinna, he realized that he had forgotten to keep water
inside his hisaar for ghusl, so he asked his muakils. The muakils were waiting
for an opportunity like this, to kill him. The muakils caught hold of him and
threw him from the top of a mountain. Because, Sheikh Sadoo’s asr (venom) was
already in the hearts and minds of many, he caused them to worship him and do
things for him. This evil of Sheikh Sadoo reached Marehrah Shareef and this was
because, many people who lived in Marehrah Shareef had relatives who lived in
the town where Sheikh Sadoo used to live."
When Hazrat
Saahibul Barkaat arrived in Marehrah Shareef; he saw some amazing behavior. He
found that the people of Marehrah made the niyaaz of Sheikh Sadoo, some of them
presented things on his behalf etc. He commanded the people to leave their
false ways and to stop showing respect towards an evil person. He explained to
them that their actions were against the Shariah. Hazrat’s words made a difference,
and the people now rectified the false practices. Once Sheikh Sadoo came to
Hazrat and said that Hazrat was not one of his followers and he was causing
those who followed him to leave his way. He thus said that he wished to
challenge Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (radi Allaho anhu). Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat
reprimanded him in a very harsh voice, and Sheikh Sadoo ran away. It was
Hazrat’s manner that every year he went twice into seclusion for forty days.
Once whilst in seclusion, he needed to make ghusl. Hazrat was on his way to the
river to make ghusl, when the khabees Sheikh Sadoo confronted him. He said,
“You have caused great harm to me and insulted me. I am now going to cause you
to burn.” Hazrat then reprimanded him and asked him not to confront a true faqeer.
Hazrat then said, “You must burn me when you want to, but now you must see the
way I burn” Hazrat then made ghusl and took Sheikh Sadoo into a very powerful
hisaar (grasp). He continued to make the hisaar tighter, until he brought
sheikh sadoo very close to him. He then said, “Look how I cause you to burn and
how I destroy you in a moment.” Sheikh Sadoo began to cry and begged to be
released. Hazrat then promised to leave him on condition that: (a). He will
never trouble any mureed or any person who is linked to the Barkaati Khandaan
(b). He will never enter, even by mistake, any area where Hazrat or any member
of Hazrat’s family is present (c). If I enter anywhere, and if you or any
member of your family comes there, then I will leave. (Hazrat thus released him
on these conditions).
POETRY: Hazrat
had a deep love for poetry and wrote many Naats in praise of the Prophet (Sall
Allaho alaihi wasallam). His pen name in the field of poetry is Ishqi. A few stanzas of his world renowned Salaam is
being presented for the sake of blessings:
Ya Shafi al
Waraa Salaamun Alaik Ya Nabi Al Huda Salaamun Alaik
Khaatimul
Ambiya Salaamun Alaik Sayyidul Asfiyah
Salaamun Alaik
Ahmadun laisa misluka Ahadun
Marhaba Marhaba Salaamun Alaik
Waajibun Hubuka alal Makhlooq Ya Habeebal Ulaa Salaamun Alaik
Matlabi Ya Habeebi Laisa Siwaak Anta Matloobina Salaamun Alaik
Sayyidi Ya Habeebi Maulaa’ee La ka Roohi Fidaa Salaamun Alaik
Haaza Qaulu Ghulaamikal Ishqi Minhu Ya Mustafa Salaamun Alaik
BOOKS AND
TREATIES: Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat (radi Allaho anhu) wrote various books and
treaties. The power and excellence of his works can only be seen after reading
some of them. A few of his works are as follows: 1. Risaala Chahaar Anwaa’ 2.
Risaala Sawaal wa Jawaab 3. Awaarif hindi
4. Diwan-e-Ishqi 5. Masnawi Riyazul Aashiqeen 6. Wassiyat Naama 7.
Biyaaz-e-Baatin 8. Biyaaz-e-Zaahir 9. Risaala Takseer 10. Tafseer Surah
Faateha 11. Irshaadus Saalikeen etc.
HIS KARAAMATS:
The greatest karaamat of Saahibul Barkaat (radi Allaho anhu) was his firmness
in the matters of Deen. Ahsanul Ulama Hazrat Sayyid Shah Hassan Mia Barkaati (radi
Allaho anhu) says, “The grandson of Hazrat
Makhdoom Shah Barkaat, Hazrat
Sayyid Shah Hamza (radi Allaho anhu) recorded a few of Hazrat’s
karaamats in Kaashiful Astaar Shareef and then wrote, ‘If the karaamats of my
grandfater Saahibul Barkaat have to be written, then one complete volume would
not be enough.’” A few Karaamats of Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat are being presented
for the sake of attaining blessings.
It is in
Kaashiful Astaar Shareef, Shuja’at Khan; the servant of Nawaab Muhammad Khan
always presented himself at the annual Urs of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho
anhu), which used to be commemorated in Marehrah Shareef. Once he went to the
Urs in Ajmer Shareef,
and the date of the Urs of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho anhu) had drawn
very near. He traveled from Ajmer
Shareef until he reached Marehrah Shareef for the Urs. He went to Marehrah
Shareef, where he saw a light, which changed his life. He now intended to
become a Darvesh (Dervish). He then said that he would accept Hazrat Saahibul
Barkaat as a great mystic, if he gave him some food when they met. The time of
Asar Salaah arrived and Shuja’at Khan went to meet with Hazrat. Hazrat had just
emerged from his home to make wudhu. Hazrat had some bread and methi and mutton
curry in his hands. He saw Shuja’at Khan and smiled. He gave this food to
Shuja’at Khan and said, “There is no need to become a dervish. The servants of
Allah are attaining benefit from you even without you being a Dervish.” When
Shuja’at Khan heard this, he immediately knew that Hazrat was a great mystic.
One of his
Karaamats that during his era, even the Hindus of Marehrah Shareef used to make
the Zikr of Allah. Hazrat Sayyid Hamza (radi Allaho anhu) says that even the
birds could be heard reading the Kalima-e-Tauheed.
RESPECT AND
HONOR: All those who knew him respected Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat. People came
from far and wide to Marehrah Shareef to meet this great saint. Even Sultans and
Kings of the Moghul Empire came to take his duas and blessings. Amongst those
who visited his Darbaar, were Hazrat Aurangzeb Alamgir (rahmatullah alaih),
Bahadur Badshah, Farkh Seer, Jahandaar and Shah Muhammad Saleem.
RELICS : Hazrat
Maulana Muhammad Mia Marehrwi (radi Allaho anhu) says, ‘The Khanaqah attained
the blessed hair of the Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihi wasallam) in the time of
Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat (radi Allaho anhu). Hazrat’s Khalifa Shah Roohullah (radi
Allaho anhu) brought this blessed hair from the belongings of Nawaab Khair
Andesh Khan Alamgiri. The certificate depicting how the blessed hair reached
Khair Andesh Khan is written in detail in Aasar-e-Ahmadi and in Kashiful Astaar
Shareef. Alhumdulillah, this blessed hair of the Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihi
wasallam) is still present at the Khanqah and ziyaarat takes place during the
Urs. Hazrat also had the Cloak of Hazrat
Ali (radi Allaho anhu) and the hair of Imam Hussain (radi Allaho anhu) amongst
the Tabarukaat.
THE CLOAK OF
HAZRAT ALI (radi Allaho anhu): It is reported that Hazrat’s cloak belonged to
Hazrat Ali (radi Allaho anhu) and was worn by Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho
anhu), Hazrat Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaaz (radi Allaho anhu), Hazrat Qutbudeen
Bakhtiyaar Kaaki (radi Allaho anhu), Hazrat Baba Fareedudeen Ganj Shakr (radi
Allaho anhu), Mahboob-e-Ilaahi Hazrat Nizaamudeen Awliyah (radi Allaho anhu),
Hazrat Naseerudeen Chiragh Delhwi (radi Allaho anhu), Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Bare
Makhdoom, Shah Safi, Hazrat Meer Abdul Waahid Bilgiraami, and then from one
generation until the next, till it reached Hazrat Sayyid Shah Barkatullah (radi
Allaho anhu). This cloak is still present in Marehrah Shareef and is kept on
the shoulder of the Sajjada Nasheen at the time of the Urs. There are also various
other tabarukaat in Marehrah Shareef, which can be seen even today at the time
of the Urs-e-Qaasmi.
With the
exception of the above-mentioned Tabarukaat, seven beads and one turban was
blessed to the Khanqah. It is state that Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat (radi Allaho
anhu) attained these from Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho anhu) through Hazrat
Bu Ali Shah Qalandar (radi Allaho anhu). Hazrat was informed through muraqiba
(spiritual meditation) that he was to attain some gifts through Huzoor
Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho anhu). This was the time of the Urs of Hazrat
Al’au’deen Ali Ahmed Saabir Kalyari (radi Allaho anhu). Hazrat sent a Darvesh
to Hazrat Saabir Paak’s (radi Allaho anhu) Urs. On the way, the Darvesh met a
person who gave him seven beads and a turban and said, “Yahi Payaam Yahi
Risaala Kaihoo Barkaat Marehrah Waala” This is the message, This is the letter.
Say this to Barkaat, The one from Marehrah). When the Darvesh returned to
Marehrah Shareef, he handed everything over to Hazrat Sahibul Barkaat (radi
Allaho anhu) and asked about the person whom he met. Hazrat said that it was
Hazrat Bu Ali Shah Qalandar (radi Allaho anhu) and the gifts were from Huzoor
Ghaus-e-Azam (radi Allaho anhu). [Khandaan Barkaat Pg.10]
HIS NIKAH: He
married Waafiyah Bibi, the daughter of Hazrat Sayyid Maudood Bilgiraami bin Sayyid Muhammad Faadil
bin Sayyid Abdul Hakeem Bilgiraami.
HIS
CHILDREN: Almighty Allah blessed him with five children. They are: Burhanul
Waasileen Hazrat Shah Aale Ahmad, Asadul Aarifeen Hazrat Shah Najaatullah and
three daughters.
HIS KHULAFA:
there are many Khalifas of Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (radi Allaho anhu) who
spread their rays of knowledge and wisdom where ever they went. Some of them
are: Hazrat Shah Abdullah, Hazrat Shah Meem, Hazrat Shah Mushtaqul Barkaat,
Hazrat Shah Mannal laahu, Hazrat Shah Raju, Hazrat Shah Hidaayatullah, Hazrat
Shah Roohullah, Hazrat Shah Aajiz, Hazrat Shah Nazar, Hazrat Shah Saabir,
Hazrat Shah Jamiat, Hazrat Shah Hussain Biraagi, Hazrat Shah Saadiq, Hazrat
Shah Sayyid Aale Muhammad (ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim ajmaeen).
GEMS OF WISDOM:
From amongst his gems of wisdom, are those things which he commanded his
children Hazrat Sayyid Aale Muhammad and Hazrat Najaatullah (ridwaanullahi ta
aala alaihim ajmaeen). He said, * Remain engrossed in the remembrance of Allah
* Do not turn to any worldly leader for your personal needs * Do not ever visit
those who waste their time in worldly fun and games * Always meet with those
who are adorned in the garb of Deen and faithfulness * Always be sure to visit
the graves of the deceased * The greatest Jihad is to fight against your
desires * Give preference to knowledge and practice and do not have pride over
your knowledge * Always speak gentle words to the servants of Allah * Always
have this hope that you will attain knowledge only through the Help of Allah
and the Wasila of the Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihi wasallam).
WISAAL: He
passed away on the 10th of Muharram 1142 Hijri (1729) at the time of
Subh Saadiq at the age of 71 years.
MAZAAR SHAREEF:
His Mazaar Shareef is in Marehrah Muqadassa.
