Khalifa-e-AlaHadrat, Aalim-e-Jaleel, Fazil-e-Nabeel, Haami-e-Sunan, Maahi-e-Fitan, Hadrat Allama Mawlana Al-Haaj Shah Mehmood Jaan Khan Sahab Sunni Hanafi Qadiri Barakaati Ridawi Jamjodhpuri Peshawari (Alaihir raHmah) was born around the year 1820 in Peshawar. His father Hafidh Ghulam Rasool (Alaihir raHmah) was a distinguished Aalim and teacher of his time. Many would come from, Kabul, Qandahar, Baarqand and Samarkand by travelling lengthy journeys to sit respectfully at his feet and attain knowledge of Deen-e-Islam. Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) also attained his academic knowledge from his father, where upon completion of his Islamic studies, he migrated to Jamjodhpur (Katyawadh, Gujarat, India), where he served the Muslims. Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), like his father Hafidh Ghulam Rasool (Alaihir raHmah) was also popular for his debating skills. He brought many Christian leaders to their feet during debates.

SPIRITUAL GUIDE

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) did not become a mureed until he had reached an advanced age. He later became a Mureed of Sayyidi AlaHadrat Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadiri (Alaihir raHmah). Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) narrates:

“For a long time, this thought was in my heart, that unless and until, I do not find a Kaamil and exalted Shaykh, I will not become a mureed. It was during this time, that I began reading the Islamic Magazine (Touf-e-Hanafiyyah) prepared by Hadrat Maulana Zia’ud’deen Sahab Pilibhiti (Alaihir raHmah), which was filled with gems of knowledge and wisdom and it was in this that I read about Sayyiduna AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). My heart immediately said that in this Era to find such a great personality is not ordinary. Through divine guidance, I travelled to Bareilly Shareef where I presented myself in the Court of AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). The moment I saw His bright face, my heart melted, my Imaan came to life and my heart blossomed like never before.

I had found a Peer (Spiritual Guide) even greater than I had ever imagined. I requested to be initiated into the Silsilah, and my Shaykh accepted me as His disciple (Mureed), blessed me immediately with Ijaazat and Khilafat, and then went into the house, removed what He was wearing at that time and blessed me with His Kurta, Paijamah, Amaama and Waistcoat. This was a great blessing from such a sea of generosity. He blessed this humble servant with the crown of Khilafat in the Silsila Aaliya, Qadiriyah, Barakatiyah, Ridawiyyah, Chishtiyah, Soharwardiyah, Naqshabandiyah and other Salasil. He showed great love and respect for me, and in that time, he bestowed so many titles upon me and showed such love to me, that I will never forget as long as I live.”

It must be noted that Hadrat Allama Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) did not make anyone mureed or give khilafat to anyone. It is related that when anyone came to him for the purpose of becoming a mureed, he would direct them towards Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah).

During 1339 Hijra, Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) wrote a letter to Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah). In it he addressed him as ‘Haami-e-Sunan’ (The Helper of Sunnah) and ‘Maahi-e-Fitan’ (Eradicator of Fitna). He further wrote:

“Due to my busy schedule and my duties, I unintentionally left out your name, which should have been engraved in gold, in the list of names of my well wishers and supporters at the end of Qasidah Al-Istimdaad. I only realized this after it was published, and to this very day I regret my oversight.”

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) commented on this blessed letter (which is still present to this day) by saying:

“Nine or ten months before AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah)’s Wisaal, he wrote a Blessed letter to me, in which He said that in His book Al-Istimdaad, He added the names of all His Khulafa, and my name was unintentionally left out in printing. I say that, by unintentionally missing out my name was a means of great blessings for me, since my Shaykh prayed for me on this occasion.”

LOVE AND FAITH IN HIS SHAYKH

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) was drowned in the love of his Shaykh and had true faith in his Shaykh. During the forty days khatam of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) went to the Mazaar Sharif of his Shaykh and made Dua to Allah Ta’ala, that through the wasila of his chosen servant, Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), Allah Ta’ala bless him with a son. Alhamdulillah within the same year, Allah Ta’ala blessed Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) with a son, whom he named Ahmed Raza. However, Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) had so much respect for his Shaykh that he never called his son by his name, and always referred to him as Hadrat.

VISUALIZER OF THE DOME OF ALAHADRAT ALAIHIR RAHMAH

Very few people know that Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) is responsible for the design of the Gumbad of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) presented his design – which he drew by burning match-sticks as he did not have a pen – to Hadrat Hujjat al-islam (Alaihir raHmah) and Hadrat Mufti-e-Azam Hind (Alaihir raHmah) and said:

“Huzoor, Next to the Gumbad-e-Khazra of Aaqa-e-do Aalam (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) there is a Minaret, and on that Minaret there is white and black design, and since AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) had spent His whole life trying to explain the Exaltedness of Sarkaar (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam), by fighting against the enemies of Sarkaar (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam), therefore it is my wish that the Gumbad of AlaHadrat, should contain that same black and white design that is on that Minarat next to the Gumbad-e-Khazra of the Madani Aqaa (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam).”

Hujjat al-Islam, Mufti-e-Azam, Sadr al-Shari’ah and all the other esteemed Ulama (Radi Allahu Anhum) of the time, had a liking for this design and decided that this design was most fitting for the Dargah Sharif of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), in those days contributed 10000 Rupees and stayed in Bareilly Sharif until the construction of the Dargah Sharif was completed. Hadrat used to say,

“Jaisa yeh Mujjaddid Anokha, waisa unka Mazaar bhi Anokha hona chahiye.”

PERSONAL QUALITIES AND BLESSED HABITS

Although it is almost impossible to pin point which quality or habit of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) was more beautiful, for the sake of Barakat, I will mention a few qualities that I have heard of.

One of the most blessed qualities of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) was that he was firm on Maslak-e-AlaHadrat. In other words he was steadfast on the blessed Shari’ah and did not allow anything to come between him and Islam.

Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) said the following words with regard to Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) in his Khilafat Nama:

“Be Fadhlihi Ta’ala, Mawlana mausoof jumla Mazahid wa Masharib mein is Faqeer ke Qadam ba – Qadam hai. Tamam Biraderaan-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat ke, is Faqeer ke Muhib aur Hum-Mazhab ho! Mawlana ke Masa’ail wa Hidayaat wa Irshaadat pe be-Ta’amul, Amal farmaen”

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) aslo used to remove Jinns from people. One incident that was accounted to me is as follows:

There was once a man who had consulted Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) for the removal of the Jinn within him. He had been brought to Hadrat by his mother. She complained that the Jinn was troublesome to them. Hadrat, after listening to her warned her that he would have to beat her son so much that he would bleed profusely. This had to be done in order to force the Jinn out of him. However even though her son would be beaten, he would not feel any pain. When she had agreed, Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) began to beat her son so much that he indeed began to bleed profusely, until the Jinn himself began to say that he would leave. Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) ordered the Jinn to leave the man immediately to go into a big bottle which was closed after the Jinn had entered it. Thereafter Hadrat would dig a deep hole and bury the bottle containing the Jinn.

One of the blessed habits of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) loved to recite Surah al-Quraish. He would read this Surah seven times and would blow it on any goods that he had for sale. He would also encourage his wife to read this surah and blow it on the food that she would prepare. He used to say that by reading this surah would bring barakat in the home.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

The family genealogy of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) is as follows:

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan Sahab Ibn Hafidh Ghulam Rasool Sahab Ibn Muhammad Isma’eel Sahab Ibn Muhammad Siddiq Sahab Ibn Umar Sahab Ibn Ramzan Ibn Saboor Sahab Meer Ibn Haji Muhammad Akbar Sahab Ibn Maulvi Haamid’duddin Sahab Ibn Maulvi Shahbaaz Sahab Ibn Khush-Haal Sahab Ibn Gohar Ibn Rehmatullah Sahab Ibn Khwaja Ubaidullah Sahab.

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) was married thrice in his lifetime and had sixteen children in total:

First wife: Marhooma Maryam bai

1. Mawlana Ghulam Mustapha Raza Khan (during Sayyidi alaHadrat’s Alaihir raHmah last illness, when he used to be carried to the masjid on a chair, among the four people who used to carry the chair of sayyidi alaHadrat Alaihir raHmah on their shoulder, was Mawlana ghulam mustapha raza khan)
2. Ayesha bai
3. Ghulam Murtaza Raza (passed on at a young age)

Second wife: Marhooma Halima bai

4. Mawlana Ghulam Mujtaba Raza (buried in Malawi)
5. Hawwa bai
6. Ruqaiyyah bai

Third wife: Marhooma Amatullah bai

7. Raheema bai
8. Kareema bai
9. Hajiani khadija bai
10. Ayesha bai
11. Mawlana Ghulam Ahmed Raza Khan, He was granted khilaafat by Hadrat Mufti-e-Azam Hind . Hadrat Mufti Mehood Jaan used to say, “Hadrat mere Ilm ko jayb mein rakh ke Ghoomtay hain).”
12. Marhooma Jamila bai (passed away during childhood, after an incident that led to a short illness)
13. Mawlana Ahmed Jaan Khan
14. Hajiani fatima bai (Alhamdulillah, she is currently living in Zimbabwe)
15. Hajiani Amina bai (Alhamdulillah, she is currently living in Upleta)
16. Hajiani Jamila bai (it is said she was born when Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan Alaihir raHmah was at the age of 100. That was in 1935.)

KARAAMAAT

When I had asked the daughter of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) if she remembered any Karamat of her father, she replied simply by saying, “Thousands”. However, for the sake of Barakat, I will mention one karamat of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah).

A man named Muhammad, during his childhood had German measles. The doctors had no hope of his recovery and advised his parents to expect the worst. Hearing this Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) came to his parents home and asked them why they had not consulted him, as he was still Alive. Hadrat, put his blessed saliva on the child and prayed for him. He was cured in no time and went on to live a comfortable life.

BOOK CREDENTIALS

Two of the books written by Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) received great success namely:

1. Zikr-e-Raza: Khalifa of AlaHadrat, Malik al-Ulama, Hadrat-e-Allama Mawlana Zafar al-Din Bihari (Alaihir raHmah), mentions in his Sawaneh Hayaat of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), that the first Sawaneh Hayaat written on the life of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) was by Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) under the title of Zikr-e-Raza. The specialty of this book is that it has been written in the form of poetry. It has also been translated into the English language by Sayyid Shah Aulad-e-Rasool Qudsi Misbahi (Daamat Barakatuhum al-Qudsiyyah).

2. Eezah-e-Sunnat: This kitaab was based on the eight questions posed by the Bud-Muzhabs. In this book Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) answered all their questions by providing authentic proof from the Holy Qur’an and the blessed Ahadith. This book was certified and verified by sixty three distinguished scholars by their blessed words and blessed seals, such as Sayyidi AlaHadrat, Hujjat al-Islam, Mufti-e-Azam Hind, Sadr al-Shari’ah, and many other learned Ulama of that time (Radi Allahu Anhum Ajma’een).

Sayyidi alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah)’s verification was as follows:

“O ALLAH, for YOU is ALL Praise! This Blessed book which has been written by my companion and my Beloved Brother in Islam, the Helper of the Sunnah, and Eradicator of the Fitnah, Respected Mawlana Moulvi Mehmood Jaan Saahib Qadiri Barakaati Peshawari, has passed before Me. I found it adorned with great attributes and I have found it to be complete and concise. I thanked ALLAH for blessing the author with such Taufeeq to support the Deen in such a difficult and corrupt time. Verily the Blessing of ALLAH and HIS Rasool (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is upon this Learned Faadhil and Insha-ALLAH, His reward for this effort, through the Blessing of the Holy Prophet (SallAllaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is closeness to ALLAH and a blessed place in the Blessed Paradise. WA ALLAHU AA’LAM.”

This book too, has been translated into the English language by the khalifa of Hadrat Taaj al-Shari’ah and Muhaddith al-Kabeer, Mawlana Aftaab Qasim Qadiri Ridawi (Hafidhahullahu Ta’ala), and is available in three volumes.

CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS ISLAM

Hadrat Taaj al-Shari’ah, Allama Mawlana Mufti al-Haaj Shah Muhammad Akhtar Rida Khan, Sunni Hanafi Qadiri Barakaati Ridwi Noori Azhari (Daamat Barakatuhum al-Aaliyah), during the 61st Urs-e-Razvi Mehmoodi Sharif in Jamjodhpur Sharif said the following words:

“…AlaHadrat ke Sache Khulafa, jin mein Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan Sahab, ek the aur laakhon mein ek the, aur Jamjodhpur ke log aur Jamjodhpur ke Atraaf-o-khoob-o-Jawar ke log, Unki Istiqamat aur Maslak-e-AlaHadrat par sakhti se kaarbandhi aur uski tarweej-o-isha’at mein Unki jo zindagi guzri, woh yahan ke log toh usse waakif hai hi, Africa ke mumalik mein bhi reh kar yahin kaam kiya aur AlaHadrat Azeem-ul-Barkat ke Silsile se, aur Unke Khanwaade se, Unke Gharane se aur subse badi baat yeh hai ke Unke Maslak se logon ko wabista kiya…”

The blessed month of Muharram is celebrated the world over, and in many instances there are many elements in which some of the followers of Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), forget his teachings. However, due to the teachings of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), the inhabitants of Jamjodhpur shareef celebrate muharram according to the Maslak of alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). It is said that Hadrat used to burn the ‘Taajias’ that were made.

In gujrat, there is a Muslim clan known as the Meer. In the past the people of this caste used to be looked down upon by the inhabitants of the area. This carried on until Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) had decided to include them in his Jama’at. A little while after, some of these people wished to be initiated into the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyyah Barakaatiyyah Ridawiyyah and hence Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (alahir rahma) decided to take them to Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah). When they were introduced to Sayyidi alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah), he exclaimed that their dress and appearance did not resemble (they were clad in their traditional gujrati attire) that of a muslim. Sayyidi alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) then inquired the name of one of the men present which coincidently was Raju. Sayyidi alaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) then proceeded to re-name the man as Ghulam Muhammad and he was initiated into the Silsila. However since he had no beard, Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) advised him to first go and look at himself in the mirror and then, grows a beard according to the Sunnah and if he thought the beard to be fine, then he should not shave it. Alhamdulillah, the Meer left their orthodox ways and began living as the Muslims that they truly were.

WISAAL SHARIF

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) left this mundane world on the 3rd of Safar-al-Muzaffar 1370 Hijri {14th of October, 1950} at the blessed age of 130. In his last days, he suffered from diabetes and other ailments and his advanced age did not alleviate his situation.

On the morning of the Wisaal of Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), he rose early and asked his son, Mawlana Ghulam Ahmed Raza to make him Paak and Saaf while his wife cleaned his bed and laid new sheets. After this he requested his son to purify himself and come and read Yaseen Sharif for him. However, when Mawlana Ghulam Ahmed Raza returned to recite the Yaseen Sharif he found that his blessed father had already read the Yaseen Sahrif. When Shah Sahab from Dhoraji had come to visit Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah), he related to him and his son Hadrat Mawlana Ghulam Ahmed Raza, that he had been blessed with the sight of Ssayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and Sayyidi AlaHadrat (Alaihir raHmah) in his dream, in which they had asked him to come along with them. After while Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) requested Shah Sahab to move to another room as he wished to be surrounded by his children.

He called upon each of his daughters who stood at the foot of his bed by their name and advised them to look at him until their hearts were content as his time to leave was near. He told them even though he had surpassed the age of 100 his Nafs still had to taste death.

Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan made Du’a for all his children and when he noticed his children had began to cry, Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) told them that he was not dying, but he was only transferring his home. He also told them that his youngest son, Mawlana Ahmed Jaan was going to be married soon and he would be present at his marriage, however they would not see him but he would see them.

After saying all this Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) told his son that there is book on top of the cupboard in which there were some taweez for some of the people who had requested them and he told his family that due to his illness he had made three obligatory fasts and a certain amount of Salaah Qazah, for which the kaffarah must be paid for before his Janazah Salaah was to be performed. He told his son that his son-in-law, Mawlana Abdul Qadir (Alaihir raHmah) was to perform his Janazah Salaah. Hadrat Mawlana Mehmood Jaan (Alaihir raHmah) then recited his Shahadat and just after the Aadhaan of Zuhar he left this world towards the hereafter and like this the light that had brightened the hearts of many by removing the darkness of Kufr and Shirk, had come to rest in the love of the Master. His blessed Mazaar Sharif is in the small town of Jamjodhpur, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. – Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon!!