HADRAT MUHADDITH AL-A'ZAM AL-HIND [d. 1381 H]

Shaykh al-Mashaykh, Makhdoom al-Millat, Shaykh al-Tariqat, Sayyadina
ash-Shaykh Muhammad Ashraf al-Kicchochawi

'alayhir ar-rahman w'al Ridwan

There have been many eminent personalities to have come through the Ashrafiya tariqah since Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir, alayhi ar-Rahman w'al-Ridwan, but few have had a greater role and impact than His Eminence Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind; Makhdoom al-Millat Hadrat Sayyad Muhammad Abul Muhamid al-Ashrafi al-Jilani, Rahmatullahi ta'ala 'alayh. This impact led to them being given the acclamation of:

We shall give you a brief life history of Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind, Rahmatullahi alayh, from their childhood to their last days.

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 Birth

Shaykh 'Sayyad Muhammad' al-Khicchochawi (Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind, Rahmatullahi ' alayh) was born in the Jais village  of Rai Bareilly, which is in the state of U.P - (Uttar Pradesh) - in Northern India. The date of his birth is recorded as the 15th (Wednesday) of Dh'ull Qu'ddah 1311 A.H (that is 1894 in the Common Era).

Parents

'Sayyad Muhammad' was the son of 'Ra'is al-Hukma' Shaykh Mawlana Sayyad Nadhar Ashraf al-Khicchochwi, Qudas sirrah al-Aziz, who was the son of Shaykh Mawlana Sayyad Fadl-e-Husayn Ashrafi al-Gailani, Qudas sirrah al-Aziz. 'Sayyad Muhammad's mother was Sayyidah Muhammadi Khatun Bint-e-A'laHadrat 'Ashrafi Miya' Qudas sirrah al-Aziz, and maternal grandfather was Mahboob-e-Rabbani Murshid-e-Anam 'A'laHadrat' Sayyad Shah Ali Hussain 'Ashrafi Miya' Qudas sirrah al-Aziz.

Childhood

'Sayyad Muhammad'  started to read the Noble Qur'an al-kareem [Bismillah khani] in the traditional family age of  'four years' that is on the 19th Rabbi al-Awwal 1315 A.H (1898). Under his parents guidance 'Sayyad Muhammad' Rahmatullahi 'alayhi,  went onto formal education in the Jais village of Rai Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh in Northern India.

Education

'Sayyad Muhammad' Rahmatullahi 'alayhi, went onto Higher Education and took their studies to ulema [scholars] of the highest authorities and categories of their time. Sayyad Muhammad, Rahmatullahi alayhi, travelled to places like Aligarh, Badayun, Bareilly, Lucknow and Philibit.


After receiving his primary education at home from his parents, Sayyad Muhammad, Rahmatullahi 'alayhi, went onto study under the following scholars or repute ;

'Sayyad Muhammad' Rahmatullahi 'alayhi, were given the acclaimed title of "One of the Greatest Muhaddith's of the subcontinent" by Sayyad Shah Matiuras al-Badayuni in 1328 A.H - that is 1911; at the age of only 17 [seventeen].

Khilafat

Marriage

Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind, Rahmatullahi 'alayh, married at the age of 22 years (1915) to the grand-daughter of 'A'la Hadrat Ashrafi Miya' Rahmatullahi alayh; that means the daughter of 'Sultan al-Wa'izeen' Mawlana Ahmed Ashraf, Rahmatullahi alayh.

Religious & Social Activities

Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind, Rahmatullahi alayh, established an Institution for the study of A'Hadith under the leadership of Allama Shaykh Sayyad Muhammad Mir in Delhi in 1330 at the age of 19. Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam, Rahmatullahi 'alayh, also started the publication of  'Ashrafi Monthly' from Khicchocha Shareef in 1339 A.H (January 1922) in which he comprehensively refuted the heretical Wahhabis, Qadianis and other deviant and blasphemous sects.


Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind, Rahmatullahi alayh, presided over and governed several Institutions of the 'Ahl as-Sunnah w'al Jama'ah'!  He was the President (sadr) of the 'All India Sunni Conference', at Banaras, where several thousand ulema and mashaykh, were under his supervision. Other notable institutions, where he presided over :

• All India Sunni Conference, Banaras
• Jama'at-e-Raza al-Mustapha
• al-Jamia Ashrafiyya, Mubarakpur
• Darul Ulum Ashrafiyya, Behraich
• Darul Ulum Faruqiyya, Banaras
  

Islamic & Spiritual Service

It has been widely reported that during Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind, Rahmatullahi alayh's many travels and journeys [see SPIRITUAL DESTINATIONS], he encountered many non muslims. Such was the personality and taqwa (piety) of Muhaddith al A'zam, Rahmatullahi alayh that through his guidance more than 5,000 (five thousand) non-muslims embraced Islam.


Throughout Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind Rahmatullahi alayh's travels, he made millions of Muslims his mureeds [disciples] and led them to the Great Silsila's [Order] of Qadiriya, Chistiya, Naqshbandiya and Suhrawardiya.

Hadrat Shaykh al Islam w'al Muslimin, has carried on his pious and noble father's tradition of preaching and spreading Islam to the furthest corners of the globe and the great Saintly Order of Ashrafiya continues in these safe hands. 

_{*More information will be sought and added, very soon.}