Institute Of Business and Information Technology

INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS
AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

COURSE: Pak-Studies

TOPIC: Services of Mujaddid-Alf-Sani in the spread of Islam

PRESENTED TO: Prof.Qamar Abbas

PRESENTED BY:

MAIRA SAGHIR F07B017

FILZA AZHAR F07BO46
HAMMAD ALEEM F07B057

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Who are Mujaddid’s?

Mujaddid, in Islamic tradition, refers to a person who, Muslims believe, is sent by God in
the first half of every century of the Islamic calendar. As it says in the hadith: “Allah shall
rise for this Umma at the head of every century a man who shall renew (or revive) for it
its religion” (Sunan Abu Dawud).

The Mujaddid’s objective is to revive Islam, remove from it any extraneous elements and
to restore it to its pristine state. A Mujaddid might be a caliph, a founder of a sufi order, a
saint (wali), a prominent teacher, a scholar or some other kind of influential
person.Usually all those who are considered to be the Mujaddid may not compulsory that
they claim. They can be recognizing by their work for Islam and its revival.

Mujjadid- Alf-Sani:
Dotting GT Road, away from the hustle and bustle of Chandigarh and somewhere
between Ludhiana and Ambala, lies the dusty town of Sirhind. Sirhind is mostly known
among Muslims through Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi, the famous Sufi of the Naqshbandi
order who was conferred the title of Mujaddid Alif-sani.

Mujaddid Alif-sani would mean reviver of Islam in the second millennium. Even though
his name was familiar, He received his knowledge and education through his father and
through many shaikhs in his time. He made progress in three tariqats: Suhrawardiyya,
Qadiriyya, and Chistiyya. He was given permission to train followers in all three tariqats
at the age of 17 years. He was busy in spreading the teachings of these tariqats and in
guiding his followers, yet he felt that something was missing in himself and he was
continuously searching for it. He felt an interest in the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, because he
could see by means of the secrets of the other three tariqats that it was the best and
highest. His spiritual progress eventually brought him to the presence of the Ghawth and
Qutb of his time, ash-Shaikh Muhammad al-Baqi, who had been sent from Samarqand to
India by the order of his shaikh, Muhammad al-Amkanaki. He took the Naqshbandi Order
from the shaikh and stayed with him for two months and some days, until Sayyidina
Muhammad al-Baqi opened to his heart the secret of this tariqat and gave him
authorization to train his murids in the Order. Khwaja Baqi Billah's most prominent
disciple was Shaikh Ahmad, popularly known as Mujaddid Alif Sani (reviver of Islam
during the second millennium).

Birth & Early Education

Ahmad Sirhindi was born on the day of 'Ashura, the 10th of Muharram in the year 971 in
the village of Sirhind near the city of Lahore in present-day India. He received his
knowledge and education through his father and through many shaikhs in his time. He

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made progress in three tariqats: Suhrawardiyya, Qadiriyya, and Chistiyya. He was given
permission to train followers in all three tariqats at the age of 17 years. He was busy in
spreading the teachings of these tariqats and in guiding his followers, yet he felt that
something was missing in himself and he was continuously searching for it. He felt an
interest in the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, because he could see by means of the secrets of the
other three tariqats that it was the best and highest. His spiritual progress eventually
brought him to the presence of the Ghawth and Qutb of his time, ash-Shaikh Muhammad
al-Baqi, who had been sent from Samarqand to India by the order of his shaikh,
Muhammad al-Amkanaki. He took the Naqshbandi Order from the shaikh and stayed with
him for two months and some days, until Sayyidina Muhammad al-Baqi opened to his
heart the secret of this tariqat and gave him authorization to train his murids in the Order.

Sirhindi's World view

Sirhindi's worldview focused on the idea that ontologically, the prophethood is far greater
than closeness with God. He believed that Sufi ideas which centered around spiritual
growth beyond the material world, while exhibiting key concepts, fell short of
encompassing Islam as a whole. Sirhindi, still accepting and using these ideas of wilayat,
or closeness with God, focused on a much more human understanding and reality by
focusing on following the sunnah of Muhammad and his companions. His influence went
so far as implementing jurisprudence in the Islamic world by emphasizing the Shariah and
fiqh, integrating both into Indian Muslim government and society. This was accomplished
through his 536 letters collectively entitled Collected Letters or Maktubat, to the Mughal
rulers conveying his ideas.

Start Of Preaching:
Mujaddid started teaching in his town of sirhind at the age of 21 years.many muslims
children got islamic education because of him. In his preaching Syed Ahmad called upon
the people to adhere to the pristine teachings of Islam and discard all the un-Islamic
practices and beliefs. Shah Abdul Aziz who was old and had turned blind also blessed
Syed Ahmad and gave him his cloak. He initiated the people into his order taking Bai-at
in all four popular Sufi orders viz. Naqsh Bandi, Chishti Qadri and Suhrawardi. Since all
these orders had adopted many corrupt practices having no sanctity of the sharait so Syed
Ahmad, after taking Bai'at, initiated his disciples into his new order namely 'Muhammadia
Order'. The disciples, under this order, were required to make a vow that they will strictly
abide by the commandments of the sharait and will not follow anything not proven by the
QQuran and the Hadith. The oath taken under the last or the 5th order would save the
disciples from all the evil practices. That had crept in the four mystical orders

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A survey of Hazrat Mujjadad-alf –Sani services to Islam
In the period of Hazrat Mujjad –alf- Sani enimosity towards Islam was at its peak in the
subcontinent.Raw and Rehman were being considered as one.The followers and creators
concept of Wahdat-ul-wajood ,Bhagti movement ,Suffai-a-karam,Ulema-i-sau and Deen-
i-illahi were busy in anit islamic activites .In these circumstances Mujadddid dedicated his
whole life to keep the candle of Islam buning

The Origin Of The Concept Of Wahdat-ul-Shahood:

In the time of Mujaddid-Alf-Sani the concept of Wahdat-ul-Wajood had become very
strong in the sub-continent.The creator of this idea was Mohi-ud-din-Ibni-I-Arabi.His idea
was closest to the idea of Bhgati movement and Deen-I-Ihhali of Akbar.In the beginning
Hazrat Mujjadid-Alf-Sani was also supporter of the concept of Wahdat-ul-Wajood.later
his leader Hazrat Khawaja Baqi Billah Bairang forbade him from that.At this he gave the
idea of Wahdat-ul-Shahood. Sirhindi's prime concern was to integrate his Sufi ideas with
a Sunni framework. He accepted most of al Arabi's teachings but elevated the concept of
Wahdat al-Shuhud (unity of witness) over Ibn Al-Arabi's Wahdat al-Wujud (unity of
being) as believed by the majority. According to him believers had to realise that
"Everything is from HIM" rather than "Everything is HIM." However, his interpretation
did not replace Wahdat al-Wujud in Naqshbandi- Mujaddidi thinking except that his
emphasis "on obedience to shariah and sunnah as a means of achieving spiritual
realisation was widely accepted by the Naqshbandiyah and was carried by his successors
into Central Asia, Turkey, and the Arab lands, where it has been a source of inspiration."

Revealing The Reality Of Ram And Rahman:

In this time a hindu name HARDAI RAM raised the slogan that there is no difference
between Romand Rahman.the only difference is that tha Hindus call it as their Dewata
and Muslims as Allah.Hazrat Mujjadid-Alf-Sani replied at this

“To consider Ram and Rahman as one is stupidity because creator cannot be one
with its creations”

Resisting Bhagti Movement

Hindus started the Bhagti movement to stop the dominance of Islam over Hinduism.The
literal meaning of Bhagti are love therefore it was a movement of love.The founders of
this movement were Hindu philosopher Roma Nahaj of South India and a great preacher
Rama Nand.Its followers considered Ram and Rahim,Quran and Paran and Kashi and
Kaaba as one.The founder of the movement Rama Nand has 12 disciples among which

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one was the founder of sikh religion his name was Guru Nanak.The basic aim of Bhagti
movement was to eliminate Islam from Hindu society.Hazrat Mujjadid-Alf-Sani was able
to put an end to this movement because of his expertise in the field of
Quran,Hadith,Fiqah.He did this by writing reformative literature and speeches.This broke
the enthusiasm and strength of Bhgati movement and at last it came to an end.

Opposition Of Deen-i-Illahi
Jalal din Mohammad Akbar’s Deen-I-Illahi was actually a political conspiracy of Bhagti
movement which was consisting of Wahdat-ul-Dayn.This was started in 1528.Its teaching
were not only against Islam but were also enough to injure the feelings of Muslims.The
follwers of Deen-I-Illahi openly expressed their opinion that Islam was the religion for the
ignorant Bedonis of Arabia and it is in no way suitable for a civilized and decent
nation.These pagans openly made fun of Prophethood,revelations,judgment and
punishment,Hell and Heaven prayers,fasting,Hajj,Zakat,and other religious rites.To them
the Holy Quran as revelation of Allah was mentally unacceptable.These pagans bowed to
Akbar.After taking his Oath they adorned their head bounds with his picture.Akbar
himself were Zanan and Qashya like Hindus and every morning recited 1000 names of the
sun in Sanskrit

EFFORTS FOR REFORMING

Hazrat Mujaddaid-Alf-Sani strongly opposing the Deen-I-Illahi made follwing efforts for
reforming the circumstances

Letters:
His works are his letters written to many of his contemporaries known as
Maktubaat.Mujjadid-Alf -Sani wrote 526 letters which consist of 3 volumes for
reformation and promotion of Islam.In these letter he informed the Kings,the dignarites
scholars and mystics of Islam and common Mulsims of the problems of Sharait and
advised them to follow Sharait and to protect themslves from Ulena-I-San.He organized a
group of his caliph and students to spread thses writings in the whole world. Besides
writing several books, Sirhindi addressed many letters to several powerful courtiers in the
reign of Akbar and Jahangir. His MaktiibCtt-i-Imdm RabbanT have been collected and
published in three volumes. According to Professor S.A.A. Rizvi, "Shariat can be fostered
through the sword" was the slogan he raised for his contemporaries. These letters were
meant not only for the individuals to whom they were addressed; they were really "open
letters" and were no less forceful than the poems with which Byron tried to engender
enthusiasm for the cause of Greek independence, or with which Hali tried to reawaken
Indian Muslims. Copies of them were supplied to the shaikh's disciples and admirers, and
given wide circulation

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"Moving to Allah is a vertical movement from the lower stations to the higher stations;
until the movement surpasses time and space and all the states dissolve into what is called
the Necessary Knowledge of Allah. This is also called Annihilation “

"Moving in Allah is the stage in which the seeker moves from the station of Names and
Attributes to a state which neither word nor sign can describe. This is the State of
Existence in Allah called Baqa”

"Moving from Allah is the stage in which the seeker returns from the heavenly world to
the world of cause and effect, descending from the highest station of knowledge to the
lowest. Here he forgets Allah by Allah, and he knows Allah with Allah, and he returns
from Allah to Allah. This is called the State of the Farthest and the Nearest.”

"Moving in things is a movement within creation. This involves knowing intimately all
elements and states in this world after having vanished in Annihilation. Here the seeker
can achieve the State of Guidance, which is the state of the prophets and the people
following the footsteps of the Prophet. It brings the Divine Knowledge into the world of
creation in order to establish Guidance”

Besides writing several books, Sirhindi addressed many letters to several powerful
courtiers in the reign of Akbar and Jahangir. His MaktiibCtt-i-Imdm RabbanT have been
collected and published in three volumes. According to Professor S.A.A. Rizvi, "Shariat
can be fostered through the sword" was the slogan he raised for his contemporaries.

Books
Hazrat Mujaddid Alif Sa'ani was a great writer but his letter proved more popular than his
books. These letters translated in Urdu, not only express his opinion on various issues but
are also fine pieces of language and style. Besides them following are some of the titles of
his books:

Mobada-o-Ma'ad.
Ma'arife-ladqiya.
Makashifaat-e-ghebia.
Sharah Rubaeyat-e-Hazrat Khawaja Baqi-Billah.
Risala-Telilia.
Risala Isbat-ul-Nabuwwat.
Risala Basilsila-e-Aha'dis.

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The Transfer Of Kingdom To Prince Saleem Famous As
(JAHANGIR)
Akbar the great had two sons Khusroo and prince Saleem.Khusro was a supporter of
Akbar ideologies whereas prince Saleem was very close to Islamic teachings.Mujadid-
Alf-Sani along with many dignitaries made prince Saleem the King.Jehangir implemented
Islamic laws and finished Deen-I-illahi right after taking power.He banned all non-Islamic
activites.He took important steps for construction and extension of mosques. In short he
encouraged the publications and promotions of Islam. Because of these steps Mujadid-Alf
–Sani gave the title of Islamic King to Jahangir.His letters written during this period
contain few biographical details, but the entries in Jahangir's autobiography suggest that
during this period the easy-going Jahangir was unusually religious. It would not be
surprising if the emperor's orthodox mood were due to the shaikh's presence in the camp.
For example, in describing the conquest of Kangra and his visit there in early 1622,
Jahangir says: "I went to see the fort of Kangra, and gave an order that the qazi, the Chief
Justice, and other learned men of Islam should accompany me and carry out in the fort
whatever was customary, according to the religion of Muhammad. Briefly … by the grace
of God, the call to prayer and the reading of the khutba and the slaughter of a bullock,
which had not taken place from the commencement of the building of the fort till now,
were carried out in my presence. I … ordered a lofty mosque to be built inside the fort." It
is more than probable that Shaikh Ahmad was one of "the learned men of Islam" who
accompanied Jahangir to Kangra.

Connection With The Dignitaires

Mujadid-Alf-Sani kept a constant link with dignitaries at provincial and regional level for
promotion of Islam and for stopping Tuheed-I-illahi.For this he wrote many letters to
dignitaries. While writing to one Amir Nawab Jehna Khan he said

“You can add the abiding of sharait in your services and do the work of Prophets
which will illuminate the religion. Beggars like us cannot reach any where near your
even if we try for years with pour lives”

Due to Mujaddid-Alf-Sani efforts the dignitaries took effective steps in their region for
ending Deen-i-Illahi and promotion of Islam

Reaching Of Islam In Freedom And In Prison:

In 1619, through the governor of Sirhind, he was summoned to the emperor's court and
asked to explain his statements. The shaikh behaved at the court with great dignity and
courage. He made it clear that there could be no question of his considering himself
superior to the Companions of the Prophet, and gave an explanation of the relevant entry

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in his letters. The emperor seemed to be satisfied with this, but he took offense when
somebody pointed out that the shaikh had not performed the sijdah (deep obeisance),

which Akbar had prescribed for everybody coming in the royal presence. The shaikh's
reply that he was not prepared to perform the sijdah before any human being seemed to be
open defiance, and he was imprisoned in Gwalior fort. Even during his prisonment he
continued his mission of promoting Islam.

After about a year the shaikh was released from the fort, presented with a dress of honor
and a thousand rupees for expenses and given an option of accompanying the royal camp
or returning to Sirhind. The shaikh preferred to remain in the royal camp, and this enabled
him to visit the whole of the empire, and even establish friendly contacts with the emperor

Promotion Of The Naqashbandi Chain:

Mujaddid-Alf-Sani prominent member of the Naqshbandi Sufi order.He opposed such
mysticism which was against Sharait for protecting Sharait-I-Mohammadia.In this regard
he stared the Naqashbandia chain which was closest to shariat compared to other chains.
Naqasbandai order, spread not only in the subcontinent but also in the Ottoman empire as
well. This is remarkable considering that the main order was of Central Asian and Turkish
origin. The influence of the Mujaddid seems to have been a factor in creating those forces
which ultimately led to the rise and widespread aacceptance of Naqashbandia order.

Reforming Scholars And Mystics

The reason for start and promotion of Bhgati movement idea of Wahdat-ul-Wajood and
movements like Deen-i-illahi in the Indo Pak Sub-continent was impractical scholars and
mystics,Mujaddid declared them as Ulemma-Sau and Sufia-i-Khan.He forbade Muslims
to stay away from them and raised his voice against such scholars and mystics. Along
with that he removed the misunderstanding and animosities amongst scholars and made
them realize that the abiding of Quran and Sunnah is the only means of gaining the
blessing of Allah. Besides there is no room for differences in Islam

Opposition Of Biddat
The inventions of any new thing is called Biddat.This destroy the true form of
religion.Hazrat Mujjadid told two forms of biddat.One is Biddat-i-Hasna and the other is
Bidat-i-Sina.He opposes these and forbade Muslims of subcontinent to stay away from
them.

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The Start Of Two Nation Theory:
Mujaddid-Alf-Sani is the first muslim who declred the hindus and muslims as two separte
nations

“If Muslims want to live as nation than they have to quit the talk of shirk and bidet and
stay separate from Hindus. If the awareness of separate national identity is not awakened
in Muslims than it is feared that they would be swept away with the flood of combined
nation hood. Islam would become observed in the soil of and Muslims and would be
destroyed like Buddhism and other religion which have been observed in Hinduism”

Duties Of Indian Muslim Government:

Hazrat Muajaddid-Alf-sani informed Amir Shaikh Farid Bhukhari as King about the
duties of Muslims government

“The position of a king is the same as that of the heart in the body, if the heart will be
pure the body will be pure and if the heart not pure the body will not be pure.Therefore, it
is required that king will be pure so that the people should also be pure.

Sayings:
Abu Dawud related an authentic hadith that the Prophet, upon whom be God's peace and
blessings, said, 'Allah will send at the beginning of every century someone by whom the
religion will be revived,' but there is a difference between the Reviver of the Century and
the Reviver of the Millennium. It is like the difference between one hundred and one
thousand."

In a vision, the Prophet gave me good tidings: 'You are going to be a spiritual inheritor
and Allah is going to give you the authority to intercede on behalf of hundreds of
thousands on the Day of Judgment.' He bestowed on me with his holy hand the authority
to guide people, and he said to me, 'Never before have I given that authority to guide
people.'

Allah unveiled to me the Secrets of the Unique Oneness and He poured into my heart all
kinds of Spiritual Knowledge and its refinement. He unveiled to me the Secrets of the
ayats of Qur'an so that I found beneath every letter of the Qur'an an ocean of knowledge
all pointing to the High Essence of Allah Almighty and Exalted. If I were to reveal one
word of the meaning of it they would cut off my head, as they did to Hallaj and to Ibn

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'Arabi. This is the meaning of the hadith of the Prophet, in Bukhari, narrated by Abu
Huraira, "The Prophet poured into my heart two kinds of knowledge, one of which I have
revealed and another which if I were to reveal they would cut my throat."

"The honour of Islam lies in insulting kufr [unbelief] and kafirs [non-Muslims]. One who
respects those among the kafirs who dishonor Muslims, also dishonours the Muslims ...

The real purpose of levying jiziya on them is to humiliate them to such an extent that they
may not be able to dress well and to live in grandeur. They should constantly remain
terrified and trembling. It is intended to hold them under contempt and to uphold the
honour and might of Islam."

"Cow-sacrifice in India is the noblest of Islamic practices. The kafirs may probably agree
to pay jiziya but they shall never concede to cow-sacrifice

Criticism:
some scholars have criticized his role saying that he steered the intellectual discourse
away from the liberal dogma during the times of Akbar and Jahangir. Others have
criticized him for his alleged role in the assassination of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru of
Sikhism, in 1606 at the hands of Jahangir who suspected Arjan Dev of helping his
rebellious son, Khusrau because he wrote a leeter in which he mentioned

"The execution of the accursed kafir of Gobindwal is an important achievement and is the
cause of the great defeat of the Hindus

Conclusion:
The Deen-i-illah of the Mughals emperor Akbar was an effort to destroy Islam. The
Bhagti movement of Hindus and the movement of Wahdat-ul-wajood against Islam were
also at their peak. Under these circumstances Hazrat Mujaddid-Alg-Sani performed
remarkable services to protect the religion of islam.Hazrat Mujaddid-Alf-Sani is a
remarkable personality of the 16th and 17th century .He was the one who gave the concept
of two nation theory. At last dream of establishment of Pakistan was fulfilled on these
basis.Hazrat Mujaddid-Alf-sani kept fighting against the non-Islamic activities all his
life.Atlast giving religious services for a long period he passed away on 10th December,
1624 in his parental town of Sirhind at the age of 60 year.

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Services of Mujjadid-Alf-Sani