Hazrat Sayyid Shah Barkatullah Marehrwi (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho)

Sultanul Munaazireen, Sayyidul Mutakalimeen, Shahansha-e-Taqreer Wa TaHreer Sultanul Aashiqeen, Qudwatul Waasileen, Saahibul Barkaat Hazrat Sayyid Shah Barkatullah Marehrwi (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho).

HIS POSITION IN THE SILSILA: Hazrat Sayyid Shah Barkatullah Marehrwi (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) is the thirty third Imam and Shaykh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qaadiriyah Barakaatiyah Razviyah Nooriyah.

BIRTH:

He was born on the 26th of Jamadil Aakhir 1070 Hijri in Bilgiraam Shareef. [Khandaan-e-Barkaat pg 10]

NAME:

His name is Sayyid Shah Barkatullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), and his titles are Sultaanul Aashiqeen and Saahibul Barkaat.

HIS FATHER:

His father's name is Hazrat Sayyid Shah Uwais (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), who was a very great Wali of his era.

GENEALOGY:

Hazrat Qudwatul Waasileen Sayyid Shah Barkatullah s/o Shah Uwais s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Abdul Jaleel s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Abdul Waahid s/o Sayyid Shah Ibraheem s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Qutbudeen s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Mahreru Shaheed s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Bud'dah s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Kamaaludeen s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Qaasim s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Sayyid Hassan s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Naseer s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Hussain s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Umar s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Muhammad Sughra s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Ali s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Hussain s/o Hazrat Sayyid Shah Abul Farah Thaani s/o Hazrat Sayyid Abul Firaas s/o Hazrat Sayyid Abul Farah Waasti s/o Hazrat Sayyid Dawood s/o Hazrat Sayyid Hussain s/o Hazrat Yahya s/o Hazrat Zaid Saum s/o Hazrat Sayyid Umar s/o Hazrat' Sayyid Zaid Daum s/o Hazrat Sayyid Ali Iraqi s/o Hazrat Sayyid Hussain s/o Hazrat Sayyid' Ali s/o Hazrat Sayyid Muhammad s/o Hazrat Sayyid Esa s/o Hazrat Zaid Shaheed s/o Hazrat Sayyiduna Imam Zainul Abideen s/o Hazrat Sayyidush Shuhada Hazrat Imam Hussain s/o Hazrat Ameeril Momeen Ali-e-Murtuza husband of Sayyidatun Nisa Faatima Zahra (ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim ajmaeen) the beloved daughter of the Most Beloved Rasool Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam). [Khandaan-e-Barkaat Pg.10]

HIS FAMILY HISTORY:

His forefather Hazrat Abul Farah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) came to India and after his wisaal, his grandson Hazrat Sayyid Shah Muhammad Sughra (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) came to India. Sultan Shamsudeen Al Tamish had great respect for him and honoured him with an army equal to the Raaja of Bilgiraam, and sent him to conquer the city. Hazrat Sayyid Muhammad Sughra (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) conquered Bilgiraam and turned the hearts of many towards Islam, firmly planting the flag of Islam in Bilgiraam. Sultaan Shamsudeen Al Tamish was very pleased and gave Bilgiraam to him as his property. Hazrat then summoned the rest of his family to Bilgiraam. 

EDUCATION:

His was born into a family of knowledge. He thus did not have to travel out initially to attain knowledge. He studied Tafseer, Hadith, and the principles of Hadith, Fiqh and Usool-e-Fiqh etc. under the tutorship of his father.' He then attained knowledge under the guidance of his father Hazrat Sayyid Shah Uwais (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). His father blessed him with Ijaazat and Khilaafat of various Silsilas. 

IBAADAT:

He kept fast for 26 years. He used to fast for the entire day, and make iftaar with one Khajoor (date). His condition of Roohaniyah was such that for three years, he only ate minimum food and lived only off the water strained from the rice. He would be in spiritual ecstasy for weeks on end and he used to be completely out of contact with the material world and that, which is within it. He would spend lengthy nights in the Ibaadat of Allah.' It was his manner, that he recited the Holy Quran after Zohar Salaah. He would only stop on hearing the Azaan of Asr Salaah. He would be engrossed in wazifas from Fajr Salaah right up to the time of Ishraaq. He used to go to the Madrassah at the time of Chasht and teach all his students and devotees that were present at the time. Between Asr and Maghrib, he showered his spiritual blessings upon those present. 

SHEIKH-E-TARIQAT:

He is the mureed and Khalifa of Hazrat Shah Fazlullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho).

HIS EXCELLENCE:

His personality was so dynamic, that any person who saw him would immediately recognize that he was a Wali Allah or the Qutb of his time. This quality of his was more evident than anything else. He spent his entire life serving the cause of the Ahle Sunnat Wa Jamaat. He filled many empty hearts with the love of Allah and His Rasool (Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam). He assisted thousands of people to find the path towards Allah. Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) blessed him spiritually and placed the crown of Wilaayat on his blessed head. He was a master in various branches of learning, including Tafseer, Hadith, Fiqh, Mathematics, Logistics, Philosophy, History etc. He was also a poet and a dynamic orator. His lectures and words of wisdom brought hundreds of thousands of unbelievers into the folds of Islam. for thirty years he did not move from his position of being the Sajaada Nasheen. He took care of this position with complete responsibility. He used to make jihad against his desires and reached such an exalted position in Roohaniyah, that he only took two physical breaths in a day.

ARRIVAL IN KALPI SHAREEF:

Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) heard about the excellence of Hazrat Shah Fazlullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) and thus traveled to Kalpi Shareef to meet him. When he arrived in Kalpi Shareef, he presented himself before Hazrat Shah Fazlullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). When Hazarat Shah Fazlullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) saw him, he immediately walked towards him and embraced him with great love and emotion. He held Hazrat Shah Barkatullah close to his chest and said, 'The Sea has met with the sea.' He continued saying these words, and' in just a few moments,Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho)' reach a very exalted spiritual level

RETURN FROM KALPI SHAREEF:

Hazrat Shah Fazlullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) blessed him with Ijaazat and Khilaafat. When he was about to leave Kalpi Shareef, Hazrat Shah Fazlullah placed his blessed sight upon him and adorned him in the garb of mysticism. He then made dua for him and told him that he had already reached a very exalted level in spiritualism. He also said that there was no need for him to teach or to go out to learn. He then blessed him with certain wazaa'if and gave him the Ijaazat and Khilaafat in the Qaaderiyah, Chishtiya, Naqshabandiya, Suharwardiya and Madaariya Silsila's. He also presented him with the certificate of Khilafat. He then said that his personality would be a means of great blessings for all those who came to him, and that there was no need for those who came to him, to go to Kalpi Shareef.

MAREHRAH SHAREEF:

Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) arrived in Marehrah Shareef after his spiritual exercises which took place from the year 1111 Hijri up to 1117 Hijri. This was during the rule of Muhiyudeen Aurangzeb. Marehrah Shareef is approximately 16 miles east from the city of Eta, in the Northern Province of India. It is a town of Ulama, Awliyah and Sufis. Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) once dreamt of Huzoor (Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) and Hazrat Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) who commanded him to live in Mahrerah Shareef, in the area where the Khanqah-e-Barkaatiyah is today. A house was then constructed for Hazrat and he lived therein. Hazrat then summoned the rest of his family to join him in Marehrah Shareef. Due to Hazrat's arrival in Marehrah Shareef, people from all over began to live in and around Marehrah Shareef. By 1118 Hijri, there was a complete population of people living around the Khanqah Shareef.

THE BLESSINGS OF HUZOOR GHAUS-E-AZAM (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho):

He had great love and respect for Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam Jilani (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). Even though he was blessed with the Ijaazat and Khilaafat of five silsilas, he entered his mureeds into the Qaaderi Silsila and he paid more attention to the Qaaderi order. He attained a very exalted glad tiding from the Darbaar of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) said, 'I am responsible for the intercession of those mureeds linked to your khandaan. I will not enter Jannat, until I do not enter the mureeds and those linked to your Khandaan into Jannat.'

THE REALITY OF SHEIKH SADOO THE CURSED:

Hazrat Sayyiduna Shah Ache Mia (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) writes as follows in Aa'in-e-Ahmadi: 'Sheikh Sadoo was a human. He lived around the middle of the eleventh century, during the rule of Hazrat Muhiyudeen Aurangzeb Alamgir. He used to do a very powerful amal, that used to be done on the hair of a camel. He was a very sinful person and enjoyed sinning. He spent his days and nights committing major sins. He used to make use of his amal, to lure one woman to him self every night. He used to attain the most beautiful women, through the use of his muakils. He would then commit adultery with them. This action of his was disliked by his muakils but they were now in his control. When he intended to commit zinna, he would draw a Hisaar (fortification circle) around him and keep water inside this hisaar. One day, when he completed making zinna, he realized that he had forgotten to keep water inside his hisaar for ghusl, so he asked his muakils. The muakils were waiting for an opportunity like this, to kill him. The muakils caught hold of him and threw him from the top of a mountain. Because, Sheikh Sadoo's asr (venom) was already in the hearts and minds of many, he caused them to worship him and do things for him. This evil of Sheikh Sadoo reached Marehrah Shareef and this was because, many people who lived in Marehrah Shareef had relatives who lived in the town where Sheikh Sadoo used to live."

When Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat arrived in Marehrah Shareef; he saw some amazing behavior. He found that the people of Marehrah made the niyaaz of Sheikh Sadoo, some of them presented things on his behalf etc. He commanded the people to leave their false ways and to stop showing respect towards an evil person. He explained to them that their actions were against the Shariah. Hazrat's words made a difference, and the people now rectified the false practices. Once Sheikh Sadoo came to Hazrat and said that Hazrat was not one of his followers and he was causing those who followed him to leave his way. He thus said that he wished to challenge Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat reprimanded him in a very harsh voice, and Sheikh Sadoo ran away. It was Hazrat's manner that every year he went twice into seclusion for forty days. Once whilst in seclusion, he needed to make ghusl. Hazrat was on his way to the river to make ghusl, when the khabees Sheikh Sadoo confronted him. He said, 'You have caused great harm to me and insulted me. I am now going to cause you to burn.' Hazrat then reprimanded him and asked him not to confront a true faqeer. Hazrat then said, 'You must burn me when you want to, but now you must see the way I burn' Hazrat then made ghusl and took Sheikh Sadoo into a very powerful hisaar (grasp). He continued to make the hisaar tighter, until he brought sheikh sadoo very close to him. He then said, 'Look how I cause you to burn and how I destroy you in a moment.' Sheikh Sadoo began to cry and begged to be released. Hazrat then promised to leave him on condition that:

(a). He will never trouble any mureed or any person who is linked to the Barkaati Khandaan

(b). He will never enter, even by mistake, any area where Hazrat or any member of Hazrat's family is present

(c). If I enter anywhere, and if you or any member of your family comes there, then I will leave. (Hazrat thus released him on these conditions).

POETRY:

Hazrat had a deep love for poetry and wrote many Naats in praise of the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam). His pen name in the field of poetry is Ishqi.' A few stanzas of his world renowned Salaam is being presented for the sake of blessings: 

Ya Shafi al Waraa Salaamun Alaik

Ya Nabi Al Huda Salaamun Alaik

Khaatimul Ambiya Salaamun Alaik

Sayyidul Asfiyah Salaamun Alaik

Ahmadun laisa misluka Ahadun

Marhaba Marhaba Salaamun Alaik

Waajibun Hubuka alal Makhlooq

Ya Habeebal Ulaa Salaamun Alaik

Matlabi Ya Habeebi Laisa Siwaak

Anta Matloobina Salaamun Alaik

Sayyidi Ya Habeebi Maulaaee

La ka Roohi Fidaa Salaamun Alaik

Haaza Qaulu Ghulaamikal Ishqi

Minhu Ya Mustafa Salaamun Alaik

BOOKS AND TREATIES:

Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) wrote various books and treaties. The power and excellence of his works can only be seen after reading some of them. A few of his works are as follows:

1. Risaala Chahaar Anwaa'

2. Risaala Sawaal wa Jawaab

3. Awaarif hindi'

4. Diwan-e-Ishqi

5. Masnawi Riyazul Aashiqeen

6. Wassiyat Naama

7. Biyaaz-e-Baatin

8. Biyaaz-e-Zaahir

9. Risaala Takseer

10. Tafseer Surah Faateha'

11. Irshaadus Saalikeen etc.

HIS KARAAMATS:

The greatest karaamat of Saahibul Barkaat (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) was his firmness in the matters of Deen. Ahsanul Ulama Hazrat Sayyid Shah Hassan Mia Barkaati (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) says, 'The grands/o Hazrat' Makhdoom Shah Barkaat, Hazrat' Sayyid Shah Hamza (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) recorded a few of Hazrat's karaamats in Kaashiful Astaar Shareef and then wrote, 'If the karaamats of my grandfater Saahibul Barkaat have to be written, then one complete volume would not be enough.'' A few Karaamats of Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat are being presented for the sake of attaining blessings. 

It is in Kaashiful Astaar Shareef, Shuja'at Khan; the servant of Nawaab Muhammad Khan always presented himself at the annual Urs of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), which used to be commemorated in Marehrah Shareef. Once he went to the Urs in Ajmer Shareef, and the date of the Urs of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) had drawn very near. He traveled from Ajmer Shareef until he reached Marehrah Shareef for the Urs. He went to Marehrah Shareef, where he saw a light, which changed his life. He now intended to become a Darvesh (Dervish). He then said that he would accept Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat as a great mystic, if he gave him some food when they met. The time of Asar Salaah arrived and Shuja'at Khan went to meet with Hazrat. Hazrat had just emerged from his home to make wudhu. Hazrat had some bread and methi and mutton curry in his hands. He saw Shuja'at Khan and smiled. He gave this food to Shuja'at Khan and said, 'There is no need to become a dervish. The servants of Allah are attaining benefit from you even without you being a Dervish.' When Shuja'at Khan heard this, he immediately knew that Hazrat was a great mystic.

One of his Karaamats that during his era, even the Hindus of Marehrah Shareef used to make the Zikr of Allah. Hazrat Sayyid Hamza (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) says that even the birds could be heard reading the Kalima-e-Tauheed. 

RESPECT AND HONOR:

All those who knew him respected Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat. People came from far and wide to Marehrah Shareef to meet this great saint. Even Sultans and Kings of the Moghul Empire came to take his duas and blessings. Amongst those who visited his Darbaar, were Hazrat Aurangzeb Alamgir (rahmatullah alaih), Bahadur Badshah, Farkh Seer, Jahandaar and Shah Muhammad Saleem. 

RELICS:

Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Mia Marehrwi (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) says, 'The Khanaqah attained the blessed hair of the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) in the time of Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). Hazrat's Khalifa Shah Roohullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) brought this blessed hair from the belongings of Nawaab Khair Andesh Khan Alamgiri. The certificate depicting how the blessed hair reached Khair Andesh Khan is written in detail in Aasar-e-Ahmadi and in Kashiful Astaar Shareef. Alhumdulillah, this blessed hair of the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) is still present at the Khanqah and ziyaarat takes place during the Urs.' Hazrat also had the Cloak of Hazrat Ali (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) and the hair of Imam Hussain (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) amongst the Tabarukaat. 

THE CLOAK OF HAZRAT ALI (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho):

It is reported that Hazrat's cloak belonged to Hazrat Ali (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) and was worn by Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), Hazrat Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaaz (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), Hazrat Qutbudeen Bakhtiyaar Kaaki (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), Hazrat Baba Fareedudeen Ganj Shakr (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), Mahboob-e-Ilaahi Hazrat Nizaamudeen Awliyah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), Hazrat Naseerudeen Chiragh Delhwi (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho), Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Bare Makhdoom, Shah Safi, Hazrat Meer Abdul Waahid Bilgiraami, and then from one generation until the next, till it reached Hazrat Sayyid Shah Barkatullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). This cloak is still present in Marehrah Shareef and is kept on the shoulder of the Sajjada Nasheen at the time of the Urs. There are also various other tabarukaat in Marehrah Shareef, which can be seen even today at the time of the Urs-e-Qaasmi. 

With the exception of the above-mentioned Tabarukaat, seven beads and one turban was blessed to the Khanqah. It is state that Hazrat Saahibul Barkaat (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) attained these from Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) through Hazrat Bu Ali Shah Qalandar (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). Hazrat was informed through muraqiba (spiritual meditation) that he was to attain some gifts through Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). This was the time of the Urs of Hazrat Al'au'deen Ali Ahmed Saabir Kalyari (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). Hazrat sent a Darvesh to Hazrat Saabir Paak's (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) Urs. On the way, the Darvesh met a person who gave him seven beads and a turban and said, 'Yahi Payaam Yahi Risaala Kaihoo Barkaat Marehrah Waala' This is the message, This is the letter. Say this to Barkaat, The one from Marehrah). When the Darvesh returned to Marehrah Shareef, he handed everything over to Hazrat Sahibul Barkaat (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) and asked about the person whom he met. Hazrat said that it was Hazrat Bu Ali Shah Qalandar (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) and the gifts were from Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho). [Khandaan Barkaat Pg.10]

HIS NIKAH:

He married Waafiyah Bibi, the daughter of Hazrat Sayyid' Maudood Bilgiraami bin Sayyid Muhammad Faadil bin Sayyid Abdul Hakeem Bilgiraami.

HIS CHILDREN:

Almighty Allah blessed him with five children. They are:

Burhanul Waasileen Hazrat Shah Aale Ahmad,

Asadul Aarifeen Hazrat Shah Najaatullah

And three daughters.

HIS KHULAFA:

there are many Khalifas of Hazrat Shah Barkatullah (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) who spread their rays of knowledge and wisdom where ever they went. Some of them are:

Hazrat Shah Abdullah

Hazrat Shah Meem

Hazrat Shah Mushtaqul Barkaat

Hazrat Shah Mannal laahu

Hazrat Shah Raju

Hazrat Shah Hidaayatullah

Hazrat Shah Roohullah

Hazrat Shah Aajiz

Hazrat Shah Nazar

Hazrat Shah Saabir

Hazrat Shah Jamiat

Hazrat Shah Hussain Biraagi

Hazrat Shah Saadiq

Hazrat Shah Sayyid Aale Muhammad (Ridwaanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajmaeen).

GEMS OF WISDOM:

From amongst his gems of wisdom, are those things which he commanded his children Hazrat Sayyid Aale Muhammad and Hazrat Najaatullah (ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim ajmaeen). He said,

* Remain engrossed in the remembrance of Allah

* Do not turn to any worldly leader for your personal needs

* Do not ever visit those who waste their time in worldly fun and games

* Always meet with those who are adorned in the garb of Deen and faithfulness

* Always be sure to visit the graves of the deceased

* The greatest Jihad is to fight against your desires

* Give preference to knowledge and practice and do not have pride over your knowledge

* Always speak gentle words to the servants of Allah

* Always have this hope that you will attain knowledge only through the Help of Allah and the Wasila of the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam).

WISAAL:

He passed away on the 10th of Muharram 1142 Hijri (1729) at the time of Subh Saadiq at the age of 71 years.

MAZAAR SHAREEF: 

His Mazaar Shareef is in Marehrah Muqadassa.