A Man Among the Men of Allah: Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan

By Monawwar Ateeq

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_-- _-'- '- ;--= J-- -= - = ;~ _'-- ;-
= --=- -- Q~=- --- -'-= ,-- - '~,- '= ,-

(By Shaykh Abdul Jaleel Ata, Damascus)
Scholarly Activities

Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan (may Allah preserve him) has produced a number of first-rate
works/translations in various Islamic disciplines. Among them are (non-exhaustive list):

1) [Tafsir] Mufti Akhtar Raza translated al-Zulal al-Anqa Min Bahr Sabaqat al-Atqa into
Urdu which was written by Imam Ahmad Raza Khan in Arabic on the commentary of the
verse those who are most God-fearing will be far removed from it (92: 17). This
scholarly commentary argues to establish that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddique is the
most virtuous companion. It contains arguments against Tafdhili Shiites and requires an
in-depth understanding of Usul al-Tafsir and Usul al-Din.

2) [Hadith] Mufti Akhtar Raza wrote an Arabic commentary to a selection of Hadiths to
Sahih al-Bukhari which is titled Namudhaj Hashiyat al-Bukhari. His strength and
authenticity of arguments is very clear in the way he rebuts Ahmad Ali Saharanpuri in a
number of Fiqh related issues.

3) [Hadith] He also wrote and excellent Usuli commentary to the Hadith of the intention
Actions are based upon intentions which he called Sharh Hadith al-Niyyah.

4) [Fiqh/Hadith] The Shaykh dictated the translation to Imam Ahmad Riza Khans
magnum opus work on the issue of combining prayers titled Haajiz al-Bahrayn al-Waaqi
an al-Jam bayn al-Salatayn into Arabic. The work combines Fiqh with Hadith and
perfectly illustrates how a faqih analyses Hadith evidences. It will perhaps be the largest
work on the topic when published.

5) [Usul al-Hadith] Mufti Akhtar Raza fully dictated the Arabic translation to Imam
Ahmad Raza Khans al-Haad al-Kaaf Fi Hukm al-Diaaf (The Sufficient Guide on Weak
Hadiths). It was published by Dar al-Sananbil of Damascus and Dar al-Hawi of Beirut in
2009. The work uniquely examines the definitions of weak Hadith, and their application
and usage in areas of Fiqh uncovering Wahhabi fallacies in their understanding of their
acceptance and rejection. It is ample with scholarly discussions and is an outstanding
gift for the student and teacher as its signatory Sayyid Yusuf al-Hashimi al-Beiruti (p.
139) clearly points in his endorsement,

" '' ,-- ,---' .,-` -`=- = -, -'- -, --=, ,--
`--' '-,,'' -, ,--' .,,= -='--' , '-' . '-=''- :
, ,-'= -, ' '-' "
This book can be obtained from Dar al-Faqih in Abu Dhabi, Dar al-Dhiya lil-Nashr in
Kuwait, Maktabah Tarim al-Hadithah in Tarim, Dar al-Salam in Cairo, Maktabah al-
Tamam in Beirut and Dar al-Ulum al-Islamiyya in Indonesia. Six Ulama endorsed it with
their remarks. They are: Abu Muhammad Musa Abduh Yusuf al-Ishaqi (from the
Ishaqiyya Ashraf of Somali-Jeddah), Muhammad Anas Muhammad Saleem Murad who
wrote the endorsement on behalf of his Shaykh Sad al-Din al-Murad (Jeddah), Sayyid
Yusuf Muhammad Idris al-Hasani al-Husaini al-Hashimi (Beirut), Sayyid Yusuf Hashim
Rifai (Kuwait), Shaykh Mahmud al-Huwt al-Nabhani (Halab, Syria) and Muhammad
Nazim Ali Misbahi (Mubarakpur, India).

Sayyid Yusuf al-Rifai (p. 240-1) thanks the Shaykh for producing the translation of a
work that was much needed in the Arabic language such that it now fills an empty area
in the library of the Ah al-Sunnah wa al-Jamaah and addressed him saying al-Allamah
al-Mukarram al-Akh al-Shaykh al-Mubajjal al-Shaykh Akhtar Ridha and al-Allamah al-
Hafid al-Daiyah.

Shaykh Mahmud al-Huwt (p. 244-5) refers to the Shaykh as al-Imam and Taaj al-
Shariah and claims that "he has never seen a work of its kind" saying,

" --'- _-= ----- ---- -,-= -- -' -+- -,== '-
, =' -- -'= -- -= _' ' : _-- '-',- -, '- -- _'=
''-= _,-- ,= '-'- ` ',-- "
Shaykh Musa Abduh Yusuf al-Ishaqi (p. 236) calls the Shaykh Mawlana wa-Ustadhuna
al-Fadhil among other revering names. Here is the Arabic,

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-=-- ` _-'=' _,= -= --=- ---' ='-- ,-' '- ,-` " '+'
'-' = '' " ''- '+,' '- ,-' '' _' ,` '' -
= - `'-= '-- '-' '- '-- --'- --' '-,'- - ,-- ,--
'= - '' '- -= - = -- - _ -- - -, --= -
`-` . - '' '=' -,'- _-- "

6) [Aqidah] Mufti Akhtar Raza dictated the complete Arabic translation of Imam Ahmad
Raza Khans al-Amnu wa al-Ula li-Naaiti al-Mustafa bi-Daafi al-Bala (Protection and
Eminence for the Person who Praises the Chosen One as an Eliminator of Calamity)
which was published Dar al-Numan, Damascus, 2009. This work is a scholarly refutation
of Muftis that considered the Salat Taajiyah shirk on the basis that is impermissible to
call anyone other than Allah Daafi al-Balaa. It categorically refutes the Wahhabi stance
using numerous verses of al-Quran al-Karim and its commentaries and two hundred
and eighteen Hadiths of the Noble Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace)
with their sources on the topic making it an encyclopaedic work. The muqaddima
contains an excellent explanation to the types of Isnad and Nisbah highlighting the
correct usage of this title for the Noble Prophet (may Allah bless him ad give him peace).
The Shaykh put excellent Hadith notes to this work and his student created its
bibliographical references.

It contains a three page endorsement by the great fadhil and adeeb, Abdul Jaleel Ata in
which he addresses the Shaykh with titles such as Fadilat al-Allamah al-Jalil al-Shaykh
Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan, Taaj al-Shariah, Fadilat al-Shaykh al-Jalil al-Murabbi
al-Fadil and praises the scholarly activities of the Shaykh saying,

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= -= -` - - '-,--,= '- .--- ! ,' '= -= -= --= -'
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'-,'- ,-- -,--- '-'= '- . -,- -=- .- -,= -,-'' - -
-,-=- `- '== "

7) [Aqidah] Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan dictated the full translation of Shah Fazl al-Rasul
Badayounis al-Mutaqad al-Muntaqad from the Arabic into Urdu, and its commentary
al-Mutamad al-Mustanad by Imam Ahmad Raza Khan. Those teaching Aqidah know
how difficult of a text this work is. It contains many intricate discussions on Asma wa-
Sifaat yet the Shaykh has effectively translated the work which when read in Urdu
seems as though it was originally written in Urdu! The Shaykh translated this work
throughout the car and aeroplane journey to Sri Lanka in 2003 and completed it within
six months. This single example is sufficient to establish to our readers the immensity of
the Shaykhs knowledge and determined efforts to teach.

8) [Asma wa-Sifat] The Shaykh is currently dictating the translation to Imam Ahmad Riza
Khans Subhan al-Subbuh an Ayb Kadhib Maqbuh into Arabic. I sat in one of awe-filling
majalis to listen to the Shaykhs mastery in the subject and translation of the text. This
will be the largest known work on establishing the sifah of truth (sidq) for Allah Most
Sublime and refuting the view of Imkan al-Kadhib. It shall shatter - by the aid of the
Most Truthful - the Deobandi stance in Arabic when released. The work is a masterpiece
in Asma wa-Sifat containing a wealth of rational and transmitted proofs. The translation
is near completion, wal-hamdulillah. None other than an expert can embark such a task.

9) [Hadith/Aqidah] The Shaykh dictated the translation of Shumul al-Islam li-Usul al-
Rasul al-Kiram by Imam Ahmad Raza Khan into Arabic on the Iman of the parents of our
Noble Prophet (upon him peace and blessings). This was published along with the
Shaykhs study on the Father of Sayyiduna Ibrahim in Arabic titled Tahqiq Anna Aba
Ibrahim Tarih wa-laysa Azar. These works were endorsed by the following Ulama:

Sayyid Abdullah Fadaq Hashimi (Daiyah of Makkah and student of the late Sayyid
Muhammad Alawi Maliki), who referred to the Shaykh as Fadilat al-Imam al-Shaykh
Muhammad Akhtar Ridha Khan al-Azhari al-Mufti al-Azam fi al-Hind

Shaykh Isa Mani al-Himyari (Muhadith of Dubai) who referred to the Shaykh as al-
Shaykh al-Aarif billah al-Muhadith Muhammad Akhtar Ridha al-Hanafi al-Qadiri al-
Azhari

Shaykh Waathiq Fuad Ubaydi (Baghdad) who called him Shaykhuna al-Jalil, Sahib al-
Radd al-Qati, Murshid al-Saalikeen, al-Mahfouz bi-Rabb al-alameen, al-Aalim al-Fadhil
and Taaj al-Shariah
Mufti Jamal Abdul Kareem al-Dabban (Baghdad) who referred to him as al-Imam al-
Allamah al-Qudwah Sahib al-Fadhilat al-Shaykh

10) [Qasaid/Madih] During my stay in Jeddah in Dhul Hijjah (2009) after the completion
of Haj, I visited Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan in Jeddah and witnessed his knowledge and
piety. He gave his daily commentary on Qasidah Burdah (verses 90-91) fluently in Arabic
which was being recorded (I personally possess 3 unedited audio cds).

The Shaykh has memorised the entire Qasidah Burdah and Dalaiil al-Khayrat by heart.
Every morning after Fajr, he recites the entire Burdah till sunrise. After every Asr prayer,
he recites a section from Dalail al-Khayrat. This has been his wird-occupation since
teenage years. I witnessed this on the 13th morning of Dhul Hijja in Mina and after
Asr in Jeddah. The Shaykh has a Diwan to his name titled Safinah-e-Bakhshish which
contains several qasaid and madaih on the Noble Prophet (upon him peace and
blessings) and the chosen people, some of which are in Arabic too. One of his famous
Qasidahs is which he recited in his majlis with the Ulama of Damascus in August 2008
and in Jeddah 2009 (partial):

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When the Shaykh recited the last verse, Sayyid Abdul Aziz Khatib (Damascus) began
profoundly saying (as heard from students that were present):

'--,- - '--,- -= !

Expressing his yearning for the Noble Habib (may Allah give him peace and blessing)
Mufti Akhtar raza writes (partial):
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'= . -', '-' -+'
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A Notice: The reader must keep in mind that Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan is visually impaired
and cannot read or write. He listens to a text and dictates the translation and those
occupied in translating know how difficult of a task this is especially when translating
difficult texts in Islamic disciplines!

Acclaim Among Contemporary Arab Ulama

1) Shaykh Abdul Jaleel Ata (Damascus) recited the following qasidah in praise of the
Shaykh in Damascus in the presence of numerous scholars and students who gathered
to join the Shaykh, every letter of which lustres with love and truth,

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_-~-'- ,--- - Q--- J -~- _--=-- - ~-;- --

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-- Q~=- --- -'-= ,-- - '~,- '= ,-= --=-

This majlis was attended by Shaykh Abdur-Razzaq Halabi, Shaykh Hussam al-Din Farfour,
Shaykh Abdul Fattah Bizm, Shaykh Abdul Aziz Khateeb, Shaykh Hisham Burhani, Shaykh
Abdul Hadi Kharsah and many others.

2) In his first-rate work on the defining the manhaj of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan titled
Insaf al-Imam, the Egyptian author Shaykh Muhammad Khalid Thabit (p. 114-5)
speaks of his encounter with Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan in Egypt in the following words,

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-'-' =,=- ,-= '- - '- --- -` , - - =- ---=, ,--' ='
, : - '=-- ... - - '+-- , "

3) The Azhar Journal titled Sawt al-Azhar (May Issue 2009) referred to the Shaykh as
Mufti al-Hind (see attachment). In this visit, the Shaykh met with Shaykh al-Azhar in
his office for an hour and who presented him an Azhar award for his scholarly
achievements and activities.
See endorsements by Arab ulama above for more.

Among Those Who Visited Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan in Bareilly

1) The late Muhadith of Makkah, Sayyid Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki (may Allah have
mercy on him) travelled to Bareilly in April 2004 during Rabi al-Awwal. They engaged in
a number of scholarly discussions with Shaykh Akhtar and in his talk addressed Shaykh
Akhtar with the title al-Mufti al-Azam bil-alam. When he studied the Shaykhs Arabic
Hashiya on Sahih al-Bukhari titled Namudhaj Hashiyat al-Azhari he regarded the
Shaykh as Muhadith Hanafi before those that were present.

2) Sayyid Muhammad Umar ibn Saleem al-Mahdi al-Dabbagh of Baghdad was appointed
as the Head of Arabic literature at Jamiat al-Ridha in Bareilly in 2007. He showed
immense love for the Shaykh and wrote a qasidah in his praise which he publicly recited
on the Imam Ahmad Raza Conference in Bareilly on the 24
th
Safar, 2007.

3) The Mufti of Damascus, Shaykh Abdul Fattah Bizm visited Mufti Akhtar Raza at his
residence twice during the last Haj season (2009) in Jeddah and in Madinah Tayyibah. I
personally witnessed the amount of love these Shuyukh had for one another on both
occasions. In his talk in Jeddah, Mufti Abdul Fattah expressed his feelings about the
Shaykh and spoke of his previous meetings with him in Syria and Bareilly. He said,
When the Shaykh came to Damascus the first time round, I heard about him and
wanted to visit him. Some people prevented me but I went to meet him and at the first
sight Allah made me realise that he is from the people of Allah (ahlullah).

He then added, speaking of a miracle he experienced, that when the Shaykh invited him
to Bareilly he was in two minds about travelling even to the moment of submitting his
passport. For some reason, the visa was not issued. Upon collecting the passport, he
mentioned that Shaykh Akhtar rang him and said, If you make a firm intention, Allah
will make the means easy. Mufti Abdul Fattah said, This struck my heart and I came to
realise that the Shaykh is aware of the state of my heart. Thereafter, I made a firm
intention and re-submitted my passport and received the visa.

He also said, When I travelled to Bareilly and saw the thousands of people that are
attached to Shaykh Akhtar, it brought joy to my heart that the people of India are still
connected with their shuyukh and illustrate immense love and respect for them. This is
what I remember from his comments. If anyone requires an audio recording of this talk,
Insha Allah, I can try to facilitate it and perhaps others too. See the al-Fath al-Islamis
website for Mufti Abdul Fattah Bizms visit to Bareilly which also contains some pictures:

http://www.alfatihonline.com/news/india.htm
http://www.alfatihonline.com/news/india3.htm

Acclaim in Indo-Pakistan

Bareilly, as all of us know, has a massive Sunni following in and around the world. Mufti
Akhtar Raza Khan has been the Shaykh of the silsilah and head Mufti there for many
years. The claim that he is not known among Indias people is clearly a lie intended to
discredit the Shaykh. A 700 page book has been compiled on the life, works and
activities of the Shaykh titled Tajalliyaat Taaj al-Shariah containing the comments,
letters, articles of hundreds of ulama from around the world to the Shaykh and their
views about him. Majority of these articles, letters, qasaid are in Urdu by scholars of
India and Pakistan. It includes articles on the Shaykhs travels within India and meetings
with its people that shatter the false notion. Mufti Abdul Fattah Bizm has witnessed the
annual urs event at Bareilly in the month of Safar whose remarks I presented above

The Manhaj of Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan in Love and Hate

It would be not be a hyperbolic comment if I were to assert that Mufti Akhtar Raza is an
embodiment of the Hadith Love for the sake of Allah and Hate for the sake Allah. He
loves the awliya of the entire world and hates the enemies of Allah and His Messenger
(upon him peaece and blessings). He does not unite with those who offend Allah and
His Messenger with comments that are by nature repulsive, repugnant, below the
standards of scholarly discourse, indefensible breaches of proper respect and thus
unacceptable to Muslims around the world and neither does he have compassion for
those who shamelessly destroy the graves of the companions and Ahlul Bayt, demolish
Muslim sites and heritage whilst preserving Jewish landmarks and relics of their Kings in
their museums, and speak with minimal respect about the Noble Habib (may Allah bless
him and give him peace), his companions, kin, and the majority of the Ummah whom
they consider misguided. He has no love for those who consider it permissible to shout
out Shirk and kufr slogans to those who recite the Burdah and Dalaiil. He has written
and spoken against such people and their beliefs as this is the duty (wajib dini) of every
upright scholar from Ahlus-Sunnah wa al-Jamaah, and is not a hobby as some may
assert, to warn people from wavering and falling into the trap of the Shaytan.

As for the claim that the Shaykh makes takfir of everyone other than himself and those
affiliated with him is another exaggeration, rather, a lie that stems from animosity. The
Shaykh has replied to this accusation in Arabic in his Miraat al-Najdiyyah published by
the name Haqiqat al-Barelwiyyah, which is the reply to Qadhi Atiyyahs endorsement
to Ihasan Ali Zahirs al-Barelwiyyah (Published in Egypt by Dar al-Muqattam, 2009)
asking him to produce a single nas of our ulama in which they have made takfir of Ibn
Taymiyya, Ibn Abdul Wahhab and their followers. Rather, it is these people who make
takfir and tadlil of the entire ummah. This accusation is the popular one found in
Nuzhat al-Khawatir and al-Barelwiyyah about Barelwis and is false.

Conclusions
On these premise, our conclusions therefore are that Shaykh Akhtar Raza Khan
a) is a scholar, a Mufti and one who possesses immense knowledge Allamah of the
Shariah
b) is a tireless teacher of the Islamic sciences, valuing time and teaching throughout his
travels
c) has excellent command on the Arabic language and translation skills
d) is beloved to the Ulama of the Arab world and has been received with warm hearts
and love
e) produces works in various scholarly disciplines which have brought immense benefit
to the Ahlus-Sunnah
f) is not just a scholar of the outward sciences but a man of Allah whose presence is
awe-filling and a person of karaamat
g) is on the manhaj of the Ahlus-Sunnah Wa al-Jamaah
h) is well-known in India and its people of the Ahlus-Sunnah