(1233 AH – 1317AH) (1814 AD – 1896 AD)
Haji
Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was such a great
personality that the title given to him by his contemporary Ulama was
“Sheikhul Mashaikh” which means the leader of leaders.
His
personality was well respected by the Ulama of the sub continent India
and Pakistan and also by the Arab Ulama. That is why his title was also
Sheikhul Arab wa Ajam (the leader of the Arabs and non-Arabs).
Haji Sahib’s background and education
When
he was born, his father Hafiz Muhammad Amin (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) kept
his son’s name Imdad Hussein. When the famous Muhaddith, Shah Muhammad
Ishaaq Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) heard this name, he didn’t like it
and he changed the name to Imdadullah. Imdad Hussein means the
assistance of Hussein. All assistance comes from Allah. So there was a
form of shirk in this name.
Haji
Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) also used to attribute
the name Khuda Bakhsh to himself. Some say his name was Imdadullah and
others say his name was Khuda Bakhsh (gifted by Allah). Both names are
close in meaning. In some places Haji Sahib calls himself Abdul Kareem
(the slave of Kareem).
Haji
Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) had three brothers and
one sister. He grew up without motherly care as his mother passed away
when he was seven years old. Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi
Alayhi) started his education very early but he acquired very little
education.
When
Haji Sahib was 16 years of age, he studied Sarf, Nahw, Farsi and one
quarter of Mishkaat Shareef by Maulana Mamlook Ali Sahib (Rahmatullahi
Alayhi) of Delhi. Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki didn’t study Bukhari and
the other books of Sihah Sitta, but Allah Ta’ala blessed Haji
Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) with Ilm Ladunni. One is
that knowledge that a person acquires. He studies different subjects and
books. Another form of knowledge is from Allah Ta’ala without studying.
When
Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) would talk to the
Ulama, he would resolve such intricate issues with the insight that
Allah Ta’ala had given him. However, he would not use the Istilaahi
language (academic terminologies). This is Ilm La Dunni.
When
he was 18 years of age he took bayat upon the hands of Maulana
Naseeruddin Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) who was the student and
son-in-law of Shah Ishaaq Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). When Maulana
Naseeruddin Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) passed away, Haji Imdadullah
Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was looking for another person to
give him guidance and advice in life.
This
is where we learn of the famous Sheikh and the spiritual guide, Hadhrat
Maulana Mayanji Noor Muhammad (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). Haji Sahib took
bayat on his hands. At the age of 28, Haji Imdadullah (Rahmatullahi
Alayhi) performed Hajj. When he returned after Hajj, his heart and mind
remained attached to the Haram Shareef. He had a burning desire to
return to Makkah Mukarramah. When he returned from Hajj, he made a firm
intention that one day he will make Hijrah and go back to Makkah
Mukarramah.
Haji
Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) came back to his town in
a place near Thanabawan. Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi),
Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi), and other great
Ulama used to frequent Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (Rahmatullahi
Alayhi) and they had taken Bayat on his hands.
Generally
when one hears of these Ulama, Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki
(Rahmatullahi Alayhi), Maulana Qasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi),
Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi), one would think that
these were great saints just sitting in the corner of a Musjid. That
was not the case. These were personalities that had complete E’tidal
(moderation) in their life.
Hardships whilst in Makkah Mukarramah
When
he reached Makkah Mukarramah he had much difficulty. For nine days he
had no food at all. He only lived on Zamzam water. He became extremely
weak. When it was the tenth day he requested help from people he knew
but no one assisted him until one person came and gave him 100 riyals.
From that month on, every month of his life, he used to get 100 riyals.
He never suffered after that for his needs. Allah arranges for his pious
slaves in strange ways.
There
is an incident of four Mohammads who were experts in Hadith and
Tafseer; Muhammad ibn Jareer Tabri, Mohammad ibn Haroon, Mohammad ibn
Nasaf and Mohammad ibn Ishaaq. These four Mohammads were traveling and
became stranded. They conducted a raffle among themselves for the person
who will be responsible to arrange for food. The name of Mohammad ibn
Ishaaq came out.
Mohammad
ibn Ishaaq never spread his hands before anybody. So he engaged himself
in salaah. Suddenly, one person tapped at the door and he asked for
Mohammad ibn Jareer. The person then presented fifty riyals for him on
behalf of the governor of Egypt. He took the name of Mohammad ibn Haroon
and presented fifty riyals for him. He gave Mohammad ibn Nasaf Zafar
fifty riyals. He also gave Mohammad ibn Ishaaq fifty riyals. Then he
said that the governor of Egypt was sleeping and in his sleep he was
ordered to assist four Mohammads that are stranded.
Haji
Imdadullah (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was also stranded. He says that he
knew that this was a test from the side of Allah. If you love the Haram
Shareef, you have to undergo difficulties and hardships, so you pay the
price to be there. Haji Sahib became very popular in the Arab world.
There
were approximately 500 or more Ulama who have taken bayat upon the
hands of Haji Imdadullah Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). Not one Alim, 10
Alims or 100 but 500 Ulama. When we look at the lives of the Akaabir we
don’t find so many Ulama who have taken bayat upon somebody who
outwardly and apparently has very little traditional knowledge.
Some special qualities of Haji Sahib
One
very outstanding quality of Haji Sahib was that he was a person who was
very facilitating and very tolerant. That is why in his majlis people
who didn’t subscribe to Ahle Sunnat wa Jammat used to attend Haji
Sahib’s majlis (gathering). Haji sahib never picked on them. His only
concern was Islah and to take the people and make them closer to Allah.
Once,
a ghayr muqallid who used to make Raful yadain and Ameen bil Jahr took
bayat with Haji sahib. The moment he took bayat he stopped raful Yadain
and Ameen bil Jahr. Haji Sahib called him and said to him, “Before this
you were making Raful Yadain and Ameen bil Jahr, why did you stop?”
“Because you took bayat on my hands?” “Brother, if you stopped that
because you took bayat on my hands, then don’t do that because that is
also proven from the hadith. So if you stopped it because of me then you
carry on doing that. But if you stopped it on your own and not because
you have taken bayat upon my hands, then I understand.” (as this is the
correct thing to do).
Another
person who was very close to Haji Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) was
Maulana Rahmatullah Kiranwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi). He was a very
powerful orator. The British were also looking for him. He also escaped
and reached Makkah Mukarramah with Haji Sahib. Ahmad Deedat
(Rahmatullahi Alayhi) benefited from the book Izhaarul Haqq of Maulana
Rahmatullah Kiranwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi).
There
is a Madressah named Madressah Saulatiyyah in Makkah Mukarramah.
Saulatiyyah is derived from the word Saulat. When Maulana was going to
Makkah Mukarramah he requested some people for help to establish a
Madressah in Makkah Mukarramah. So one woman from Calcutta, Saulat,
gacve money. Maulana established the Madressah in Makkah Mukarramah with
her money and that is why the Madressah is named Saulatiyyah. Maulana
Rahmatullah Kiranwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) stayed very close to Haji
Sahib in Makkah Mukarramah and that is where both of them passed away.
Marriages and demise of Haji Sahib
Haji
Sahib married at the very old age of 55. He married three times. The
first wife passed away. The second wife was blind. The third was a woman
who wanted to make his khidmat (serve him). But, all his marriages were
in old age and he only married with this intention that you can’t be a
true Wali of Allah until you don’t make Nikah.
Haji
Sahib passed away in 1317 AH (1896 AD) at the ripe old age of 84. In
his inheritance he had one stick, two sets of winter clothes and two
sets of summer clothes. Haji Sahib is buried in Makkah Mukarramah in
Jannatul Maala.
May Allah Ta’ala elevate the status of Haji Sahib. Ameen.
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