AL ASHARI SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

 Here’s the English translation:

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*Tazkira Sufiya-e-Kiram Series*

*2) Hazrat Shah Abban Badr-e-Chishti (Ancestor of the Rizvis of Amroha)*

He was among the _Aftab_ of the Chishti order in Amroha during the era of Akbar, a moon of the Chishti lineage, and among the saints and high-ranking spiritual masters of India. His blessed name was Abdullah, _kunya_ Abul Fath. He was born in Ghatoli, Bulandshahr, which was the residence of his forefathers. His year of birth is not known. The year of his passing is 987 AH. His age is stated as 100 years, so his birth can be approximated as 887 AH. He possessed perfection in both the exoteric and esoteric sciences. He had full command over explaining the exegesis of the Holy Qur’an and its gnosis.[sun]

He reached Delhi to serve Hazrat Sheikh Ala’uddin Chishti Faruqi, who was from the progeny of Hazrat Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar, took _bay‘at_ and _iradat_ from him, and by remaining in his service acquired a treasure of excellences and perfections. Pleased with his merits and conduct, his pir-o-murshid said: _“Tu Badr-e-Chishtiyan khwahi shud”_ — i.e., “You will shine as the moon of the Chishtis.” Historian of Amroha Janab Mahmood Ahmad Abbasi writes: “This prophecy of his pir-o-murshid was fulfilled every time. The angel of fame proclaimed him ‘Badr-e-Chishti,’ and he became famous in the world by this title.” In _Tazkirat al-Kiram_, Abbasi Sahib, while writing about his virtues and miracles, states: Around 930 AH he came from Delhi to Agra and then arrived in Amroha.

Around 930 AH he came from Delhi to Agra and then arrived in Amroha. He was a devout, ascetic, striving elder, highly followed in practice. At times the state of spiritual absorption [_jazb_] would overcome him, but despite such states he never stepped outside the bounds of Sharia. In fact, Mulla Abdul Qadir Badauni, author of _Muntakhab al-Tawarikh_, who had the opportunity to present himself in his blessed service, writes: “Despite this state, not even the smallest act of Sharia was ever missed by him.” People narrate many of his miracles.

One incident related to his supernatural habits, which concerns Mulla Sahib himself, he narrates thus: “When this _faqir_ was going from Delhi to Budaun, I presented myself in Amroha in the service of Sayyid Musharraf ‘Aliya [i.e., Hazrat Shah Ban]. He recited this verse of the Glorious Qur’an and began to address. Sometimes he would turn toward me and, with excellence, indicated the verse concerning the merit of the patient — _Ayat al-Baqiya_ — and the matter was fully explained. Later I learned that all this was an allusion to that calamity which befell me during that time. In short, I had a daughter to whom I was very attached; she passed away during the journey in Budaun. Perhaps all those consoling remarks in that context were directed to me.” People believe that his spiritual bounty continues to this day.

Many narrations are related about the effects of his passing. An English-educated elder, a graduate of Aligarh and a retired collector, who also had relations with historian Abbasi, once narrated an incident: “A relative was seriously ill in Amroha. On hearing of his illness, I set out from Mainpuri for Amroha. Women were also with us who had valuable jewelry. At the time of departure, I had intended to visit the shrine of Hazrat Sahib, whose family an employee of the collectorate belonged to. The train reached Amroha after midnight. A conveyance was present at the station; the tonga-drivers insisted, but I felt as if some saint was preventing me from going to the city at that time. So we decided not to go to the city then and spent the night at the station. The tonga-drivers left with the passengers toward the city. Shortly after, noise erupted — looting began. It was learned that dacoits had raided and plundered the passengers’ belongings. I interpreted this as Hazrat Sahib’s spiritual intervention, through which we were saved from that disaster.”

Among his deputies, the names of Sheikh Alam Kirmani Sambhali and Shah Dana Barelvi are known. The first mentioned compiled his _malfuzat_. His mausoleum is in Sambhal. The Kirmani Sarai is named after him. Hazrat Pir Sahib passed away on 5 Dhul-Qa‘dah 987 AH. On Amroha Railway Station Road is his mausoleum _Faiz al-Anwar_, which is famous. His _urs_ is celebrated with great splendor on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Dhul-Hijjah, during which his _tabarrukat_ are also shown for _ziyarat_. The relics include: the turban of Hazrat Khwaja Mu‘inuddin Chishti Ajmeri, the turban of Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, the turban of Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar, the turban of Hazrat Sayyid Mahmud Malamald, the turban of Hazrat, a wooden bowl of Hazrat Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar, a _dugla_ of Rai Dar Hazrat Sahib. Besides these, there is also a staff which is said to be of Hazrat. [Source: _Tazkirat al-Kiram_, Mahmood Ahmad Abbasi].[unclear][robe][Shahban]

He had sons. The eldest was Shah Saifuddin, who was from his first wife and remained settled in Mauza Ghatoli; his progeny are there. The remaining six sons — Shah Muhammad, Shah Ahmad, Shah Sadruddin, Shah Nuruddin, Shah Qutbuddin, Shah Abdul Qasim — lived in Amroha. The line of Shah Sadruddin ended after a few generations. The progeny of the remaining five brothers remained flourishing in Amroha. All these brothers were men of perfection, deputies and caretakers of the shrine of their revered father.

After the establishment of Islamic rule in India, Amroha, a town in the eastern atmosphere of northern India, had become a cradle of knowledge and gnosis. Many learned and gnostic families came and settled in Amroha. Those who did not like the tumultuous life of the capital Delhi would turn toward western UP. Undoubtedly, Amroha and Budaun became special centers of attention for religious elders. Professor Khaliq Ahmad Nizami writes: “Those who did not like the life of the capital would turn to Budaun or Amroha. In every era Amroha and Budaun had a considerable number of Sufi saints and great scholars who adorned life with the teachings of the manifest religion. If today the lamp of _Tawhid_ is lit in these areas, it is due to the effusion of the blessings of those pure souls.”

Amroha is one of those fortunate cities where the gnostic fragrance of Sufi saints has kept its atmosphere enlivened in every era. In the history of Sufis of Amroha, a luminous name is Hazrat Sayyid Abdullah, known as Badshah Ban Badr-e-Chishti, may Allah have mercy on him. Hazrat Sahib was born in Gulaothi, District Bulandshahr. His lineage reaches Hazrat Imam Ali Rida. His pir-o-murshid was Hazrat Ala’uddin Mast, who was among the progeny of the famous great saint of the subcontinent, Sheikh-ul-Alam Hazrat Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar, may Allah have mercy on him. Shah Sahib, as per his pir-o-murshid, went to Agra; there he met Hazrat Sayyid Ala’uddin Majzoob, who ordered him to go to Amroha and reform God’s creation. In compliance with that order, he came to Amroha.

Mulla Abdul Qadir Badauni, the famous and renowned historian of Akbar’s era, says about him: “At times the state of spiritual absorption would overcome him.” Professor Nisar Ahmad Faruqi writes that he established his residence in Mohalla Jhanda Shahid, where the descendants of Hazrat Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar lived, and there he founded his _khanqah_. Professor Nisar Ahmad Faruqi says this locality is famous by the name _Firdaus_ due to the khanqah and the settlement of his progeny. Akbar had said in his praise: “I am upon those illuminated paths, the footprints of Badr-e-Chisht.”

Hazrat Sahib, may Allah have mercy on him, was a perfect saint, a man of perfection, and _fana fi-Allah_. Due to his qualities, his fame spread to all horizons, so that people, like moths, were drawn toward the lamp of his guidance and illuminated and polished their inner selves with the light of gnosis. It was the result of the blessed effusion of his exalted person that God’s creation came out of the misguidance of falsehood and set foot on the path of faith and truth. Thus the prophecy of his pir-o-murshid proved true, and now God’s creation knows him by the name _Badr-e-Chishti_.

Hazrat Shahban is not only of Amroha, but among the distinguished Sufi saints of that era. He is the first elder of Amroha whose mention contemporary authors made in their books: Mulla Abdul Qadir Badauni in _Muntakhab al-Tawarikh_, _Akhbar al-Akhyar_, Sheikh Abdullah Dehlvi, _Tazkira Sufiya Sayyid Kamal Sambhali_. Mulla Abdul Qadir Faruqi Badauni, a contemporary historian of Akbar’s era, has mentioned him with great honor and respect. Once while going from Delhi to Budaun, Mulla Badauni, having heard of Hazrat Shahban’s fame, presented himself in his service.

Mulla Abdul Qadir Badauni writes: “When, in the service of Miyan Sheikh Daud, I was going to Budaun, I presented myself in the service of Sayyid Musharraf ‘Aliya, i.e., Hazrat Shahban Sahib. He recited from the Glorious Qur’an and began to address. Sometimes he would turn toward me and, with excellence, made frequent references to the verse concerning the patient ones — _Ayat al-Baqiya_ — and the matter was fully explained. Later I learned that all this was an allusion to that calamity which befell me at that time. In short, I had a daughter to whom I was very attached; she passed away during the journey in Budaun. Perhaps all those consoling remarks in that context were directed to me.” [_Muntakhab al-Tawarikh_; _Tazkirat al-Kiram_, Mahmood Ahmad Abbasi].

Badauni’s statement is clear proof of Hazrat Shah Sahib’s inner illumination. Badauni is counted among the historians of India. The fundamental history of Akbar’s era rests on Abul Fazl’s _Ain-i-Akbari_ and Badauni’s _Muntakhab_. Moreover, Badauni was neither a disciple nor a close associate of Hazrat Sahib, so his statement is credible and impartial. Furthermore, Badauni was involved in this incident and is its narrator himself. This is clear proof of Hazrat Shah Sahib’s sainthood and greatness.

Hazrat Shah Sahib passed away on 4 Dhul-Hijjah 987 AH, corresponding to 15 January 1580. His blessed mausoleum is located on Station Road near Government College, Amroha. The mausoleum is extremely beautiful and captivating. The common and elite present themselves and are filled with spiritual states. Every year his blessed _urs_ is celebrated with great grandeur on 11, 12, 13 Dhul-Hijjah, whose arrangement is currently carried out with great diligence and devotion by Owais Mustafa Rizvi.

Great personalities have been born among his progeny, including Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Hasan Muhaddith Amrohi [our maternal grandfather’s ancestor], who was among the distinguished scholars of his time. He was a co-founder of Darul Uloom Deoband with Maulana Qasim Nanawtwi and was among the founders of Madrasa Jama Masjid Amroha. Due to the blessings of his person, this madrasa attained great splendor and progress. Hazrat Maulana Mufti Naseem Ahmad Faridi compiled his letters and published them under the name _Maktoobat-e-Sayyid-ul-Ulema_. Khurshid Mustafa Rizvi is counted among contemporary historians; Rizvi Sahib’s work on the War of Independence 1857 is considered a masterpiece. The high-ranking poet Zubair Rizvi is from this family, being the grandson of Maulana Muhaddith Amrohi. On the occasion of Hazrat Pir Sahib’s _urs_, at the annual _mehfil-e-mushaira_, I have had the honor several times, along with my respected teacher Allama Asar Junayd Akram Faruqi, to present essays and news.