Muhammad Qadiri

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Haji Muhammad Naushah Ganj Bakhsh, a scholar, saint and preacher of Islam in the Indo-Pak Subcontinent, was the founder of the Naushahia branch of the Qadri order. He preached Islam in the ninth and tenth Hijri and brought non-Muslims into the fold of Islam. He loved Muhammad and modelled his own life and teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. His adherents call themselves Qadri Noshahi, Noshahi or just Qadri, since Haji Noshah pak belonged to the Qadri order.

Contents 1 His birth and names 2 His ancestors 3 Genealogy / Shajara-i Nasab 4 His knowledge 5 Spiritual Genealogy / Shajara-i Tarīqat 6 Reason for deserving the honorary title “Naushāh” 7 Marriage and children 8 Character and habits 9 Practicing the Sunnah 10 His teachings 11 Conversion of non-Muslims to the Islam 12 Literary works 13 Death 14 His holy grave 15 His spiritual successors 16 References 17 External links

[edit] His birth and names

Syed Naushah was born on the first day of Ramadan in 959 A.H. (21 August 1552) at Ghogganwali, district Gujrat in Punjab, Pakistan. The name of his father was Alā’uddīn, who was respected for being a great Sufi of his own times. Despite all difficulties of undertaking a long journey in his days he had completed his pilgrimage to Mecca Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah seven times on foot, which shows how devoted to Islam he was.

At his birth he was named (Haji) Muhammad. This name was kept in accordance with some divine and supernatural messages. In the first instance he became famous by the name of Haji Muhammad. Later on he also became famous by the names of Haji Naushah, Abul Hashim, Hazrat Naushāh Walī, Bhoora Wala Pir (the enshrouded one), Mujaddid-i Islam (the great revival of the Islam), Naushah Ganj Bakhsh, Syed Naushah Pir and Naushah Pak. The name Naushāh is also spelled and pronounced as Noshāh.

His actual name is fully Sayyid (Syed) Hāji Muhammad Naushāh Ganj Bakhsh Qādirī ( Persian and Urdu: سيد حاجى محمد نوشاه گنج بخش قادري)

[edit] His ancestors

It has been recorded that the first of the ancestors of Syed Naushah Ganj Bakhsh, who came to the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent, was Syed Awn ibn Ya‘lā, well known by the name of Qutb Shah Qadiri. This happened by order of Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani in the fifth century A.H. (about the eleventh century according to western era). Moreover, he was an uncle of Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani and one of his spiritual successors born in 1028 in Baghdad. He is also the first person who introduced the Qadiria Order in India. Qutb Shah Qadiri was an appointed Qutb (spiritual pole) by Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani for this Indian subcontinent. Due to his great efforts many of the Hindu tribes converted to the Islam.

The son and the spiritual successor of Qutb Shah Qadiri was Syed Zamān Ali Muhsin. He spread the Islam in the southwest regions of the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent, Kohistan-i Namak and the surroundings of Saunsakesar.

Syed Mahmūd Shah, better known as Pir Jālib, is one of the descendants of Syed Zamān Ali Shah. He was an outstanding saint who possessed super natural gifts, called Tasarrufāt. He was also called Pir Jālib, because of his numerous benefactions and his spiritual attraction.

Syed Shamsuddīn Shah was one of the descendants of Pir Jālib. He always took with him his favourite weapon, a javelin. Hence he was called Sangīn Shah Shahīd. He died during a battle. Sangīn Shah had two sons: Alā’uddīn Husain and Rahīmuddīn. The holy graves of both the brothers are situated in Ghogganwali, near Qadirabad in the district Gujrat, Pakistan.

Syed Alā’uddīn is reckoned among the great spiritual masters of the mystical path. He observed very accurately the Shaīr‘ah, the Islamic laws. He had the Kunyah (a nickname indicating a parental relationship) Abu Isma‘īl with the extra appellation Pir Ghāzi. Among his contemporaries, just as his younger brother, he was an exceptional saint, from whom supernatural powers have been revealed till today. Syed Alā’uddīn, whose holy grave is in Ghogganwali, is also the father of Syed Naushah Ganj Bakhsh.

[edit] Genealogy / Shajara-i Nasab

He was a syed (descendent of the family of Muhammad) by his dynasty. Through a clearly established family tree of thirty-two generations he was related to Ali Al-Murtaza.

Syed Hajji Muhammad Naushah Ganj Bakhsh, is the son of

- 2- Syed Abul Alā Shamsuddin Shah, the son of
- 3- Syed Abu Sulaiman Jalāluddin Muhammad, the son of
- 4- Syed Abdullah Zākir-i Hū, the son of
- 5- Syed Sāhibuddin Shah Muhammad, the son of
- 6- Syed Ghulām Muhammad, the son of
- 7- Syed Mu‘izzuddīn, the son of
- 8- Syed Abdussamad Arif, the son of
- 9- Syed Atā’ullah, the son of
- 10- Syed Abdul Awwal Zāhid, the son of
- 11- Syed Mahmūd Shah, alias Pir Jālib, the son of
- 12- Syed Kamāluddin Ahmad Zākir, the son of
- 13- Syed Abdul Mansūr Jalāluddin Sultan, the son of
- 14- Syed Muhammad Munawwar Bakhtmand, the son of
- 15- Syed Sa‘īduddīn Sikandar Shah Anwar, the son of
- 16- Syed Burhānuddīn Hubaira, the son of
- 17- Syed Jalāluddin Gohar Ali, the son of
- 18- Syed A’izzuddīn Izzat, the son of
- 19- Syed Jamāluddin Ishaq, the son of
- 20- Syed Abdul Haqq Sajan, the son of
- 21- Syed Ali Shah Muhsin, the son of
- 22- Syed Abdul Alī Auwn, the son of
- 23- Syed Ya‘la Qāsim, the son of
- 24- Syed Hamza Thāni, the son of
- 25- Syed Tayyār, the son of
- 26- Syed Qāsim, the son of
- 27- Syed Alī, the son of
- 28- Syed Ja‘far, the son of
- 29- Syed Abul Qāsim Hamzat-ul-Akbar, the son of
- 30- Syed Abul Abbas Hasan, the son of
- 31- Syed Ubaydullāh Madanī, the son of
- 32- Syed Abul Fadl ‘Abbās Alamdār, the son of
- 33- Syed Abul Hasan Alī ibn Abī Tālib , a cousin and son-in-law of the beloved Prophet Muhammad

[edit] His knowledge

Syed Naushah Ganj Bakhsh was a saint of Allah by birth. He was highly gifted with the qualities of intelligence and memory. The books of religious history of his times tell us that he memorised the holy Qur’an within a short period of three months only. Among his teachers in this world were Qari Qaimuddin and Shaikh Abdul Haqq.

He was widely respected and honoured for his knowledge of Tasawwuf (Islamic mysticism), because his inner experience helped him to demonstrate his superiority in his field. Actually the knowledge infinitive mysticism came to him from Allah directly (Ilm-i Ladunnī). Mirza Ahmed Beg Lahori records that one night two angels came and placed their fingers into the mouth of Syed Naushah. All of a sudden he became a learned and knowledgeable man in the field of Islamic mysticism. The next morning he told his teacher about this extraordinary spiritual experience. The teacher remarked: “There is no need for you to get further knowledge from me. Perhaps on the Day of Judgement I shall be rewarded with salvation of my soul for having given a few lessons to you before this glorious spiritual experience.”

Syed Naushah Pir was an expert in the religious field, like Fiqh (Islamic law), Hadith (the report of the practise and sayings of the Prophet), Tafsir (exegeses of the Qur’an), logics, philosophy and Kalam (theology concerning the tenets of belief). His comprehensive knowledge of the religion is evident from his sayings.

Beside Arabic and Persian he knew Kashmiri, Sanskrit and many another regional languages as well. After having Islamic knowledge, he specialized himself in spiritual exercises.

[edit] Spiritual Genealogy / Shajara-i Tarīqat

At the age of twenty-nine years Naushah accepted Shah Sulaimān Nūri as his spiritual guide. His guide welcomed him because he knew before that Naushah Pir was a chosen saint of Allah, the most exalted.

The spiritual succession of the Silsila (spiritual Order or chain of saints) of Naushah Pir goes from one saint to another saint back to Abdul Qadir Jilani. This spiritual lineage ends via Ali Al-Murtaza at the final and Muhammad^{[citation needed]}.

Syed Haji Muhammad Naushah Ganj Bakhsh disciple of

- (1) Sakhi Shah Sulaiman Nūri,
- (2) Sakhi Shah Muhammad Ma‘rūf Khushābī,
- (3) Syed Mubārak Haqqāni,
- (4) Shah Ghauth Muhammad Bandagī,
- (5) Syed Shamsuddīn Gilani,
- (6) Syed Shah Mīr Gilani,
- (7) Syed Abul Hasan Ali Gilani,
- (8) Syed Mas‘ūduddin Halbi,
- (9) Syed Abul Abbas Ahmad,
- (10) Syed Safiyiuddin Sufi,
- (11) Syed Saifuddin Abdul Wahhāb,
- (12) Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani,
- (13) Khawaja Abu Sa‘īd Mukharrami,
- (14) Khawaja Abul Hasan Al-Hakkāri,
- (15) Khawaja Abul Farah Yusuf Tartūsi,
- (16) Khawaja Abul Fadl Tamīmī,
- (17) Khawaja Abu Bakr Shiblī,
- (18) Khawaja Abul Qasim Junaid Baghdadi,
- (19) Khawaja Shah Sari Saqati,
- (20) Khawaja Ma‘rūf Karkhī,
- (21) Khawaja Dāwūd Tā’ī,
- (22) Khawaja Habīb Ajamī,
- (23) Khawaja Hasan Basri,
- (24) Ali Al-Murtaza ibn Abi Tālib,
- (25) Syeduna Muhammad Al-Mustafa

He was a dedicated Muslim and a great scholar^{[citation needed]}. In obedience of the instructions of his spiritual guide he left Ghogganwali to other places for serving the Islamic cause even more effectively. Knowledge was his passion and he kindled the same passion in the hearts of the others. This aspect of his thinking is clearly illustrated by his instructions to his son, when he set out to go to another town for acquiring knowledge. He told him that he should first give priority to his education and if he heard about his father’s death before completing his education he should not come back but pray for his salvation and continue to pursue his course of education.

[edit] Reason for deserving the honorary title “Naushāh”

- Syed Naushah Pir received the titles “Ganj Bakhsh” and “Naushah” in the presence of Allah. Both names are Persian words. Ganj Bakhsh means literally bestower of hidden treasures, one who is very generous to show benefits to others, both in material and spiritual respect. The word Naushah points to a young king or a bridegroom. These honorary titles are related with his unique spiritual status: the Maqām-i Naushāhat.” - - One day Syed Naushah Pir was overpowered by the divine love. He descended in a dried up well, far from the living world, completely submerged in the meditation of Allah. Forty days had already passed in this state, till a shepherd cast a glance at him. He took him out of the well. When he saw that his body showed some signs of life, he quickly put goat’s milk in his mouth. Later on when he recovered to his worldly consciousness, he expressed his displeasure. Suddenly he heard a voice from the unseen that told him the happy news. - - In another version this account continues: Just after he regretted the interference of the shepherd, he received Ilhām (divine inspiration). He was told that he had attained a very high status in the presence of Allah. He got the command to sit under a dried out and withered tree. As soon as he sat there, it turned green and fully loaded by blossoms and fruit by the infinitely mercy of Allah. From each leave sounded “Naushah”, “Naushah” and when he faced towards the village, he heard all the jinn, the human beings, the animals and the angels calling “Naushah”, “Naushah”. All birds, all animals, trees and stones begun to say this name. Finally everything in the whole area began to call him “Naushah”, “Naushah”, after which he openly experienced the divine presence!

[edit] Marriage and children

Syed Naushah Pir was married to the noble and chaste daughter of Syed Abu Nasr Fateh Muhammad Shah of the place called Qutb Naushehra. His virtuous and affectionate mother, Main Jīwnī, arranged this marriage. He had two sons and one daughter. Their names were Syed Muhammad Barkhurdar, Syed Muhammad Hashim and Syeda Sairah Khatoon.

[edit] Character and habits

Syed Naushah Pir is well known for being exceedingly generous and gentle. Helping people, treating them hospitable and taking care of poor ones, orphans and widows, were some of his natural qualities. Providing food to travellers was also one of his distinctive habits. His blessed personality was in short an example of the best qualities. He usually took travellers and those in need who halted in the mosque under his personal care. Afterwards he provided them with shelter and their sustenance. Not only did he give advice, but he also took care of these persons in need.

He treated the poor with extreme compassion and greeted them first with the greeting of peace (Salām). He kept aloof from rich persons and those of the government. When he walked in the street, he usually looked straight forward, without turning right or left with his face. He put his steps very gently and was continuously immersed in the recollection of Allah.

Hospitality was one of the most outstanding qualities of Syed Naushah Pir’s character. Mirza Ahmed Beg Lahori states that he looked after his guests personally and arranged for their food himself. Allama Jamālullah says that once he and some of his pupils stayed in Syed Naushah’s mosque. They were highly impressed when he sent food for them from his own house. It is on record that he directed his sons to look after the guests with special care, when he entrusted the work of preaching the Islam to them.

Bravery was another significant quality of his character. He took part in many battles. It is also recorded that once a renowned wrestler, who was also the court wrestler at that time, named Sher Ali Khan challenged Syed Naushah Pir for a trial of strength. Syed Naushah Pir pressed the hand of this proud wrestler so powerfully that blood came out of the wrestler’s fingers. He was ashamed of his previous boastful behaviour. The wrestler fell down at his feet and begged to be forgiven.

Popularity was another feature of his personality. As a matter of fact, he combined the qualities of scholarship, piety, fear of Allah, inner enlightenment and bravery in his character. This made him extremely lovable and popular. Anyone who met him instantly became his admirer.

He usually spent his time in the mosque in teaching the holy Qur’an, leading the prayers five times a day and leading additional Nafl prayers by the riverside in the night. Anybody who watched him closely admired him. Amongst his admirers and followers are poets and scholars as well as mystics. Not only was there a wide range of people from the surrounding areas but people also came from places as far away as Kashmir, Kabul and Qandahar.

[edit] Practicing the Sunnah

In the daily life of Syed Naushah Pir the perfect example of the last and beloved Prophet, was indispensable and undeniable. He put the Sunnah in practice as exact as possible. His routine, way of meditation, forms of etiquette were completely in agreement with this. His famous sayings about his practice are: My way of life is the Sharī‘ah of the Prophet. My way of the Tarīqah is the Sharī‘ah of the Prophet. The way of life of the Prophet implies also my way of life. To walk through the Sharī‘ah, as like walking on an illuminated way!

No spiritual exercise was allowed by him, which exceeded the Islamic boundaries of laws. Everything had to be exactly in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet. This concerned his character as well all his habits, even his way of clothing. Those who were his disciples were saved from committing big and small sins. In addition to performing the daily subscribed prayers, they became enthusiastic to do voluntary prayers as well, such as the Tahjjud-prayer in the deepest of the night. Their spiritual conditions transformed entirely only by the impression of his benevolent glance. Finally, all their behaviour was determined by this, that could serve later as an example for others.

By day Syed Naushah Pir always put in view of the Sunnah a big woollen sheet. This piece of cloth is named Bhoora in the Punjabi language. Hence he was also called Bhoorawala Pir. The imitation of wearing such a woollen sheet was seen everywhere. Still today disciples linked with this Order put on such a Bhoora.

It was one of his habits, that when a Murīd spoke about his own good deeds, it did not please Syed Naushah Pir. When he said that it was about another friend, then he appreciated it.

[edit] His teachings

All the teachings and rules of behaviour of Syed Naushah Pir were based on the Qur'an and the Hadīth, the statements of the Qādiria Order. He strongly rejected all sorts of innovation that contradicted these teachings. According to him, someone who has adopted to follow the spiritual path, first of all has to have a sound knowledge of the religion. He should recite the Qur'an accurately, repeat the Kalima (declaration of faith), observe himself and perform the voluntary prayers, like the Awwābīn-prayer (an extra voluntary prayer after the evening-prayer, i.e. Maghrib). He performed the daily prescribed prayers in the mosque himself and recommended this also to his Murīds (disciples). All spiritual exercises that didn't agree with the Sharī'ah were not allowed by him. He always kept in view of the fact that all his actions and habits should be according to the example of Muhammad.

Syed Naushah Pir made very clear that one is not a Sufi (mystic) until one has purified oneself totally. This purification is achieved by eliminating sensual desires. These are eliminated in turn, when the nafs (the ego that inclines to the evil) has been conquered. One conquers this by taking distance from pleasures in this worldly life and to consider them as transitory. One has to perform all one's actions in contradiction to one's nafs in order to attain this.

Usually Syed Naushah Pir gave instructions to his Murīd to commemorate the death all the time and to be aware of it. "One has to live without any allegation or false attitude (=a clear mind)," he said. He encouraged his friend to be in the company of saints and stated that one can only then become a good human being.

With great emphasis he pointed out the fact that action has to be done with sincere intention. He said that by sincerity, piety or God fearing, the body and (by eating Halal) the tongue is cleaned. One has according to him, not to expound the deficiencies and small faults of others, but he should rely on God's trust and be satisfied with His will. He paid much attention to taking care of parents and those who are poor and in need. He said that the most claims belong to them and that taking care of them can be a significant cause of attaining the divine grace. He incited also to eat little and to keep oneself awake in the night for the voluntary prayers and recollections. "By waking up the heart is illuminated," he said.

All his teachings had their origin in the primary sources of the Islam: The Qur'an and the Hadīths, supported by the conclusions of the Mujtahidīn (those qualified to make religious decisions, according to one’s own capacity). He approved no more than the prescribed exercises that agreed with this.

[edit] Conversion of non-Muslims to the Islam

Syed Naushah spent his whole life in spreading the light of Islam and hundreds of thousands of non-Muslims accepted Islam as a result of his efforts. Beside the large majority of Hindus, there were also followers of Christianity, Buddhism and Parsism. This fact is even mentioned by non-Muslims.^[1] The English historian Sir Thomas Arnold and the French orientalist Garcin de Tassy have written this: There was in the Punjab a certain person, named Hajji Muhammad, about whom is said that two hundred thousand Hindus converted to the Islam due to him.

A well-known Hindu leader, whose number of disciples exceeded more than one thousand and who possessed a great skill in the black magic (Istidrāj), arrived one day accompanied by his followers at Syed Naushah Pir. He asked permission to show his skill. He changed himself in three appearances: as an old man, a young man and as a child. After his performance he said that it took him twelve years to achieve this spiritual level, after withdrawing three times in Chillah (seclusion). Syed Naushah Pir answered that he has in reality wasted his lifetime by this engagement! “To take three different appearances comprises not any spiritual perfection at all. Accept that one is merged into the divine love in such a way, that when he looks at somebody, his hart is filled with this intense love!” After saying this he pronounced the article of faith “Lā ilāha (there is no god) ” glancing at the riverside of the Chenab, whereupon a wave of water splashed in his direction. From every drop that fell on the ground before him was heard: “illallāh (except Allah)!” Then Syed Naushah Pir looked at the Hindu leader in such a way, that he went into ecstasy and fell before the feet of Syed Naushah Pir, breaking his cord of Hinduism and accepting the Islam as true religion. All his disciples and admirers followed him in this and were converted to the Islam.

[edit] Literary works

There are many works of Syed Naushāh Ganj Bakhsh. As time passes they are compiled and published from manuscripts. At present there are five books of poetry and prose:
1 Kulliyāt-i Naushāh (Urdu poetry) consisting of 76 Risala's and 2400 verses;
2 Kulliyāt-i Naushāh (Punjabi poetry) In this work 126 Risala's are alphabetically arranged and totally consists of four thousand verses;
3 Ma‘ārif-i Tasawwuf (Persian poetry) dealing with assignments on the spiritual path;
4 Mawā‘iz-i Naushāh Pīr (Punjabi prose) comprises delivered speeches and advices;
5 Ganj-ul-Asrār (the treasure of mysteries), a short Risala in prose ascribed to him. According to Professor Ahmed Qureshi the following books are also written by Syed Naushah Pir: Diwan Urdu, Diwan Punjabi (two poems in respectively Urdu and Punjabi), Mathnawi-ye Ganj (The Mathnawi of Naushah Ganj Bakhsh) and Mawā‘iz-i Naushah Pir (speeches of Syed Naushah Pir). The last mentioned work is not in verse. An example from this is as follows: - “ Oh friend, withdraw yourself from the world!
- If you don’t, you have once to do that.
- Don’t spoil your time of life;
- Leave the fame of the world behind you!
- Oh my true friend, follow your Murshid (guide)!
- Do this in sincere surrendering in the hart with belief.
- Commemorate the Kalima, in order you will no loose it;
- The sufferings of this world and the last moment (death),
- You can only prevail by this!”

[edit] Death

On Monday, the fifteenth of the Islamic month Rabī ‘ul-Awwal 1064 A.H. Syed Naushah Pir said farewell to this transitory world. He died a natural death and has became one hundred and five years old. This date corresponds to Monday the eighteenth May 1654 according the western calendars. This period coincides with the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

[edit] His holy grave

The Holy grave of Syed Naushah Pir is situated in Sahanpal Sharif, Tehsil Phalia, old district Gujrat, new district Mandi Bahauddinin, Pakistan. His burial place is open for any one to be visited. The part of land on which his grave has been buried, belongs to the territory of Ranmal Sharif. The number of plot was formerly 220 and at the present 84/1. In the past his grave was in Qutb-i Naushehra, where he was buried first. Due to the flood in 1757 his body was transferred somewhere else in Qutb-i Naushehra. When his coffin came at surface, his body was entirely intact, even his shroud was unharmed. After being damaged again by the river Chenab his coffin was moved to the west of Ranmal Sharif. Then his tomb was built, which remained so till 1950. In the same year this was damaged severely by a torrential rain. Consequently the supports subsided and cracks appeared in the tomb. His death anniversary (‘Urs) is held at this place every year again. It starts from the last Thursday of May and usually lasts seven days!

[edit] His spiritual successors

His elder son, Syed Muhammad Barkhurdar, acquired knowledge, and rose to a place of distinction in the field of mysticism. Many people benefited from him. The younger son, Syed Muhammad Hashim Darya Dil completed his education and training under the supervision of the well-known scholar of Punjab, Allama Abdul Hakim Sialkoti. Having distinguished himself in the science of interpretation of the Qur’an, the Hadith and Islamic law.

Among his renowned spiritual successors are: Syed Muhammad Barkhurdar, Syed Muhammad Hashim Shah, Shah Hafiz Mamūri, Hafiz Nūrmuhammad from Sialkot, Shah Abdurrahman Pak, Pir Muhammad Sachyār, Syed Sālih Muhammad, Shah Abdullah Chaumukkhi, Shah Fatehmuhammad, Shah Sadr Diwān, Khawaja Muhammad Fuzail from Kabul, Syed Shah Muhammad Shahīd, Hazrat Muhammad Ismaīl, Abdulhakim Sialkoti, Nazr Muhammad Kunjāhi, Allama Abul Baqa, Khushi Muhammad Kunjāhi and Radiyuddin Kunjāhi.

The Qādirī Naushāhī Order comprises as a consequence of spiritual succession sub-branches carrying the name of the successors after Syed Naushah Pir, such as Barkhurdārī Naushahī, Hāshimī Naushāhī, Suchyārī Naushāhī and the like.

His descendants are still continuing this tradition, of serving the Islam and the Muslims.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• http://www.qadri-naushahi.com/
• http://www.jamiyattablighulislam.org/
• http://www.naushahi.co.uk/Generations/ - Up-to-date Family Tree of Haji Muhammad Naushah Ganj Bakhsh