Hadhrat Maulana Aashiq Ilaahi Sahib
A brief Account of Hadhrat Maulana Aashiq Ilaahi Sahib
In Al-Jawaahiriz Zawaahir, the Urdu translation of Al-Basaa-ir, Hadhrat Maulana Ashiq Ilaahi (rahmatullah alayh), himself, describes in detail his early life which I recount here briefly.
His family tree is: Ashiq Ilaahi, the son of Yaad Ilaahi, the son of Rahm Ilaahi, the son of Fadhl Ilaahi. He was born on Friday, 5th Rajab in the year 1298 Hijri corresponding with 3rd June 1881 CE. At the age of four he commenced with Alif, baa (the Arabic Alphabet). At the age of 6 years he had learnt the recitation (naazirah) of the Qur’aan Shareef as well as some Urdu books. He could by this time fluently read newspapers. In the year 1305 Hijri he began the study of Arabic. Thereafter he acquired education for two years in an English medium school. In this way, pursuing education variously, he finally was admitted to the Madrasah in Meerat in Jamaadith Thaani 1311 Hijri at the age of 13 years. From the beginning, the study of Mizaan (a primary Arabic grammar text book), etc. was commenced. In the year 1312 Hijri Mishkaat began. This was a mere ten months after having started the Arabic course. Within two years he completed all the Sahih Books of Hadith and other Books of Deenyat. Hadhrat Maulana Meer Hasan Amrohi (rahmatullah alayh) rendered the Dastaarbandi (the graduation ceremony in which the turban is tied on the head of the student graduating as an Alim Faadhill). He was 16 years at that time.
His first marriage was in Rabiuth-Thaani 1315. In the same year during the month of Rajab, he left for Lahore.
On the 4th Muharram 1316 Hijri he left for Lahore to collect his prize for having been an outstanding student. Along the route he stopped at Gangoh and was initiated as the mureed of Hadhrat Qutbul Alam Gangohi (rahmatullah alayh). He stayed over one night and then left for Lahore. On his return he accepted a post at Nadwatul Ulama in 1317 Hijri. Thus on 26th Muharram 1317 he was employed at Nadwah for a monthly salary of 25 rupees as an Ustadh in Darul Uloom Nadwah. However, on account of climatic conditions and the displeasure of the Akhaabir (senior Ulama), he resigned and returned at the end of Rajab. During the month of Safar 1318, he obtained a loan and opened a printing house, naming it Khairul Mata-bi’. While doing commercial printing he involved himself in the translation of Kitaabs.
The first translation he rendered was that of the Qur’aan Majeed in simple Urdu. In 1319 Hijri the first edition was printed and sold out quickly. A second edition was printed in 1320. He simultaneously printed his work, Al-Islam. The sales of this book were so successful that he was able to pay the loan which he had acquired to start his printing venture. Meanwhile, Hajj also became Fardh on him.
On the 17th Rajab 1321 Hijri he left for Hajj with his mother. After Hajj he was unable to proceed to Madinah Munawwarah because of political disturbances. During Muharram 1322 he returned from Hajj and continued with his printing trade. In Shawwaal 1323 he performed Hajj-e-Badl on behalf of his father. He returned from the Hajj journey in Rabiul Awwal 1324.
In 1326 he published Tathkiratur Rashid. During 1326 when Maulana Shah Abdur Rahim Raipuri (rahmatullah alayh) and Hadhrat Aqdas Maulana Khalil Ahmad Sahaaranpuri (rahmatullah alayh) embarked for Hajj, he suddenly decided to accompany them. In this same journey he visited Syria, Palestine and Egypt.
In the year 1333, he prepared and published this treatise, viz. Irshaadul Mulook, the translation of Imdaadus Sulook.
On 22nd Muharram 1337 his first wife passed away. She left three sons and two daughters. In Rabiul Awwal of the same year he married again. On 21st Shawwaal 1341 he went on his fourth Hajj with his second wife. He returned in Rabiul Awwal 1342. In Zil Qa’dh 1342 he left for his fifth Hajj. After Hajj he proceeded to Egypt to purchase printing equipment. After returning to Hindustan, he printed Jam’ul Fawaaidh. This information was extracted from Al-Jawaahir.
During the year 1346 Hijri when Hadhrat Maulana Khalil Ahmad (rahmatullah alayh) had decided to take up permanent residence in Madinah Munawwarah, he nominated three candidates for the selection of a rector for Madrasah Mazaahirul Uloom. The candidates were: Hadhrat Aqdas Maulana Shah Abdul Qaadir Raipuri, Hadhrat Maulana Ashiq Ilaahi Meerati and Al-Haaj Shaikh Rashid Ahmad Meerati (later Pakistani). These august personalities remained as the overseers of Mazaahirul Uloom until the end of their lives.
Despite considerable pressure of work, Hadhrat Meerati (rahmatullah alayh) attended to the affairs of Mazaahirul Uloom with great enthusiasm and diligence. Regarding it as a memory of his Shaikh (rahmatullah alayh), he applied himself with such zeal to the affairs of Mazaahird Uloom that he repeatedly visited the Madrasah. He would also sit in the classes where the Mudarriseen (teachers) imparted lessons. He carefully scrutinised the financial records of the Madrasah since he was well-versed in book-keeping and examined the treasury. During the course of the year he would make numerous appearances, sometimes having been called and sometimes arriving suddenly without prior notification.
Towards the end of 1338 Hijri he left for his sixth Hajj. He returned on 20th Muharram 1339 from Hijaaz.
In Al-Jawaahir, Hadhrat Meerati (rahmatullah alayh) mentioned his five Hajj. Thereafter I recall one more Hajj. It is possible that Maulana may have performed another Hajj which I cannot recall.
Maulana was highly intelligent, exceptionally wise, witty and possessed a benign disposition. However, evil angered him profoundly. Sometimes his anger for evil would engender in him harshness. Initially he was bay’t to Hadhrat Aqdas Gangohi (rahmatullah alayh). After the demise of Hadhrat Gangohi (rahmatullah alayh), Maulana Meerati (rahmatullah alayh) turned towards Hadhrat Aqdas Maulana Khalil Ahmad Sahaaranpuri (rahmatullah alayh) from whom he later acquired khilafat to initiate mureedeen.
After the demise of Hadhrat Aqdas Sahaaranpuri (rahmatullah alayh), he compiled the biography of his second Murshid in the same way as he had written the biography of his first Shaikh. He named the biography of Hadhrat Khalil Ahmad (rahmatullah alayh), Tadhkaratul Khalil. In this biography he briefly narrates the lives of Hadhrat Maulana Muzaffar Husain Sahib Khandalwi, Shaikhul Hind Hadhrat Maulana Mahmudul Hasan Sahib, Hadhrat Aqdas Shah Abdur Rahim Sahib Raipuri, Hadhrat Maulana Siddique Ahmad Sahib Ambethwi and Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Yahya Sahib Khandalwi (rahmatullah alayhim).
Besides these, there are also other well-known works of Maulana.
On 1st Sha’baan 1360 Hijri (25th August 1941) at 6 a.m. on Monday, Maulana passed away. He was interred at about 4 p.m. in the family qabrustan which was in close proximity to his home.
A wonderful event occurred on the occasion of his demise. Hadhrat Aqdas Maulana Abdul Qadir Sahib Raipuri (rahmatullah alayh) had returned to Sahaaranpur after a journey. He said to me (Hadhrat Zakariyya Sahib):
“News of Hadhrat Meerati’s severe illness is being heard. I intend to visit Meerat before going to Raipur provided that you also accompany me.”
I accepted. It was decided to first spend Sunday in Deoband in the service of Hadhrat Aqdas Madani (rahmatullah alayh) and then depart for Meerat on Monday morning. Accordingly, we spent Sunday in Deoband. On Monday morning when permission to leave for Meerat was requested from Hadhrat Madani (rahmatullah alayh) he said:
“Today is Aqiqah. I shall have a goat slaughtered immediately. After eating you may leave.”
Anyhow, whether it is a miracle of Hadhrat Meerati or of Hadhrat Raipuri, we nevertheless, sought permission and left (i.e. before participating in the Aqiqah feast) for Meerat. On our arrival in Meerat we learnt that Hadhrat Meerati (rahmatullah alayh) had passed away at 6 o’clock that morning. A telegram had already been sent to Sahaaranpur notifying of Hadhrat’s demise. A second telegram had also been despatched requesting my presence for the Janazah Salaat because Hadhrat Meerati (rahmatullah alayh) had made a wasiyyat for this humble one to lead his Janazah Salaat. A telegram had also been sent to Deoband notifying Hadhrat Madani (rahmatullah alayh) of Hadhrat Meerati’s demise. On our arrival, the Janazah was ready in the Musjid which was adjacent to the house. A large crowd had gathered. At this juncture the regret which I felt for having been unable to abide by the request of Hadhrat Madani (rahmatullah alayh) was cleared. Later, Hadhrat Aqdas Madani (rahmatullah alayh) also confirmed the correctness of our having departed (i.e. before participating in the Aqiqah feast).
Hadhrat Meerati (rahmatullah alayh) had written a number of books. Besides being within the grasp of general understanding, the Deeni content and exceptionally high standard were very beneficial. Alas! All his books are out of print. This treatise, Irshaadul Mulook is also his work. May Allah Jalle Shaanuhu grant its benefit to the readers. May Allah Ta’ala award the thawab of the readers to the holy soul of Hadhrat Meerati (rahmatullah alayh) and to his Murshid Qutbul Alam Hadhrat Gangohi (rahmatullah alayh) and may Allah’s mercy cascade in abundance on these illustrious souls. The original kitaab and its translation are highly beneficial to the Saalikeen (those journeying along the spiritual path).
الله يو فقنا لما يحب وير ضئ
“May Allah grant us the Taufeeq for that which He loves and (with which) he is pleased.”
[extracted from - IRSHAADUL MULOOK]