Chishty
Sabiree Jahangiri
Khanqa & Research Centre
THE INTERNATIONAL
SACRED TRUSTS
E X H I B I T I O N
SOUTH AFRICA
2019
Message from the Custodian of the Holy Relics
Sayed Ehraz Ahmed
Every day we receive hundreds of people from all over the world to
view the holy relics and seek their blessings at Dargah Aasar Sharif
Jama Masjid the largest masjid of India built by Shahjahan who also
built the Taj Mahal approx 400 years back, the importance of seeking
barakah from the relics has been mentioned in the Quran, Sahih
Hadeeths and numerous of incidents related to auliyah Allah.
365 days a year someone from my family has to be at Jama Masjid to
show the blessed relics to people from all over the world, however
the month of December, January and February are different, because
these are the months when we receive a lot of visitors from South
Africa because of the holidays and also because the weather in India
suits the foreigners most during these three months.
The love we see in the eyes of our South African brothers and sisters
is indescribable. Not just muslims but the non muslims show
tremendous excitement and respect to the relics.
During my last trip to South Africa I met some wonderful people and
decided to return here with the relics because not everyone can
come to India Jama Masjid or go to Turkey Topkapi Museum.
The idea behind this exhibition is to bring the barakat ( Spiritual
blessing) to South African people who cannot travel due to different
reasons.
I would like to thank "Chishty Sabiree Jahangiri Khankah and Research
Centre" and also "Al kaaf foundation" for organising exhibitions in
different parts of South Africa and help me in bringing the barakah to
my wonderful brothers and sisters of South Africa.I am really looking
forward to this trip and hope that more and more people get a chance
to see the relics, know about there importance and help me and
family carry forward this legacy and responsibility bestowed by
Allah s.w.t for the last 400 years.
Message from Chishty Sabiree Jahangiri Khanqa
and Research Centre
All praise is due to Allah Lord and Sustainer of the world's, abundance
of salutations be upon the last and final Messenger Sayiduna
Mohammed Salalahu alayhiwasalam, upon his noble purified household, his
companions and the beloved friends of Allah.
It is indeed by the grace and favour of Allah that the Chishty Sabiree
Jahangiri Khanqa and Research Centre brings to the people of South Africa
" The Sacred Trust Exhibition ". This is verily a historical occasion as it is for
first time in the history of South Africa that the sacred relics of The Holy
Prophet Salalahu alayhiwasalam will be on exhibit nationally.
In an extremely fast changing world preservation of relics and heritage
sites are important for the present and future generations to remind us of
our rich history and culture. It is indeed events of the past that has shaped
our present and will continue in shaping the future of the world.
Preservation of history and items of historical significance connects us to
specific times, places and events that were significant milestones in our rich
historical past. The ability to revisit these preserved items from time to time
immediately places us at a time and place of historical significance
connecting us with our past and present in a single moment giving us an
understanding of how we reached where we are today. When we look at
many of the relics preserved in museums we find items of no material value
but due to the fact it has some link to a glorious past or king it becomes an
item of great value. This link or attachment is a great reality that elevates an
ordinary object and enhances its value. If this connection is removed an
entity becomes worthless.
The Holy Quran attests to this with examples of Mount Safa and Marwa in
Mecca that became the signs of Allah due to the noble feet of Sayida Hajra
(A.S) having contact with them, the Maqam e Ibrahim has been elevated
due to it containing the impression of the feet of Sayiduna Ebrahim A.S.
The water of Zam Zam became sacred due to it having a connection with
the feet of Sayiduna Ismail A.S. and like this there are numerous other
examples.
The Holy Quran has prohibited the worship of any person or object other
than Allah but at the same time it has not negated respect and honour to
places and objects of sacred significance.
It is the practice of true Muslims of every period to respect, honour and
preserve sacred places and relics. This is not a new custom or innovation
that people in the guise of muslims with ideas of terrorism and destruction
would like us to believe. This is a practice of the companions of The Holy
Prophet Salalahu alayhiwasalam themselves that they loved him more than
their own souls that they not only followed his teachings but also collected
material items that had some contact with him as an expression of their
love.
Many of these relics were passed down by the companions of The Holy
Prophet Salalahu alayhiwasalam to their families and they passed it on
from generation to generation. Others were collected by the Khalifs and
rulers of many dynasties becoming symbols of their rule. These relics were
also donated to museums, historical heritage foundations and masajids
for the believers to view to enhance their love for The Holy Prophet
Salalahu alayhiwasalam.
These relics though silent speak a language without words or sound that
has a direct impact on the hearts and souls of lovers. Viewing these relics
of the past places people of the present in a space as if they could actually
feel the presence of these great personalities and experience some of the
events of their lives.
Imagine for example the sacred sandal of The Holy Prophet Salalahu
alayhiwasalam, what if the sandal you are viewing is the very one he wore
as he descended from the cave of Hira after receiving the first revelation or
the one he was wearing when he stood on a Mount and gave the people
of Mecca the message of Islam for the first time or the one he used during
the Battle of Badr or the Battle of Uhad or maybe it is the one he wore
when entering Madina Munawara for the first time or the pair that he used
during the conquest of Mecca.
What If the pieces of his garment you are viewing is the very one he was
wearing while Sayiduna Imam Hasan RA and Sayiduna Imam Hussain RA
played on his back or the one he wore while helping build the first Musjid
in Quba or the one he wore when he miraculously split the moon.
What if when viewing the dust from the sacred grave of the Holy Prophet
Salalahu alayhiwasalam it reminds you of Sayida Fathima Zahra RAH saying
while placing the dust on her eyes " One who smells the dust of the grave
of The Messenger Salalahu alayhiwasalam would not need to smell any
perfume his entire life, such calamaties have befallen me that if they had
descended upon the day it would have become night".
Every single moment in the life of the Holy Prophet Salalahu alayhiwasalam
is sacred therefore making everything connected to him sacred.
In the recent past and presently we see the destruction in the name of
religion by the notorious Wahabi regime in Arabia of sacred sites in Mecca
and Medina that are connected directly to the Holy Prophet Salalahu
alayhiwasalam, his family and companions which have been protected for
centuries. The call of the majority view of muslims to preserve these sites
were totally ignored.
In this difficult and challenging period we find places like the Topkapi
Palace Museum in Istanbul Turkey and the Dargah Aasar Sharif in Jama
Musjid Delhi making every effort to preserve these holy relics thus giving
the world an opportunity to look through a window in time and view our
glorious past that can inspire generations for the future.
The Ottoman and Mughal Emperors regarded these sacred belongings of
The Holy Prophet that were in their custody as " Sacred Trusts " and
preserved them with dignity and honour . These relics had a privileged
position in all official programs of the state.
The Chishty Sabiree Jahangiri Khanqa and Research Centre is a branch of
the founding body of Chishty Sabiree Sufi Order " Buzme Shah Iqbal
Chishty Saabree of Southern Africa " which was established in 2001 with
the sole purpose of research, translation of ancient Sufi texts and
preservation of historical items.
Understanding the importance and great need for preservation an
invitation was extended to Sayed Ehraz Ahmed the 15th generation
custodian of the Holy Relics of The Holy Prophet Salalahu alayhiwasalam at
Jama Musjid Delhi to host the Sacred Trust Exhibition in South Africa with
the sole purpose of giving an opportunity to people who cannot travel to
Turkey or Delhi to view these sacred relics and become infused with the
love of The Holy Prophet Salalahu alayhiwasalam.
Sayed Ehraz Ahmed was kind enough to accept our invitation to bring this
great bounty of spiritual blessing to our country. We place on record our
sincere thanks and appreciation to him and supplicate in the court of Allah
that he grant Sayed Ehraz Ahmed and his family for many more
generations to come to inspire the people of the world to love our beloved
Prophet Salalahu alayhiwasalam through the medium of the custodianship
of the " Sacred Trusts ".
Naeem Khan Chishty Sabiree
Coordinator Sacred Trust Exhibition
History of the Holy Relics
Old Delhi, walled city of Delhi India, was founded as Shahjahanabad
by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1639. It remained the capital of the
Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty.
As Delhi is the heart of India in the same way Jama Masjid has been
the heart of Delhi, since it was built by the Mughal Emperor
Shahjahan in 1656, and the heart of Jama Masjid are the relics of The
Holy Prophet and his noble family housed in it. The Jama Masjid was
named Masjid-i Jahān-Numā (Splendour of the world ) Mosque and
Dargah Aasar Sharif (where the relics are kept) was named "Rahnuma
e Jaahan Numa", guidance to the world, by the mughals.
The relics have a very strong chain of authenticity. It was in the custody
of the Bani Abbas who are direct descendants of Sayiduna Abbas ibn
Abdul Mutalib RA. His descendants revolted against the Ummayads
and established the powerful Abbasid Dynasty with its capital city
being Baghdad. The relics passed from one Khalif to the next until it
reached the 27th Abbasid Khalif Abdul Qadir.
During this period Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi began to rise in power.
He was invited to Baghdad and handed a robe of honour by Khalif
Abdul Qadir. Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi was handed the authority by
Khalif Abdul Qadir to handle the political affairs of the Abbasid Empire
in his region. When Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi power began increasing
he seized power from Khalif Abdul Qadir and the relics were taken by
him. The relics then passed to Masud Ghaznavi 1st son of Sultan
Mahmud Ghaznavi. Masud Ghaznavi 1st was defeated in the battle of
Dandanaqan in 1040 by the Seljuk Sultan Chaghri Beg. The relics were
then taken by him. After Sultan Chaghri Beg the relics passed to his
son Alp Arslan. Alp Arslan expanded the Seljuk Empire by invading the
Byzantine empire and annexing Anatolia which is modern day Turkey.
Western Anotalia was conquered by Ertrugal Gazi for the Seljuk Empire.
Osman 1st was the son of Ertrugal Gazi who founded the Ottoman
Empire
When the Ottoman Empire was established these relics passed to him.
The relics then passed to his son Orhan Ghazi then to his son Sultan
Murad 1st then to his son Sultan Bayazid Yaldirum 1st . Amir Timur
the founder of the Tirmurid Dynasty defeated Sultan Bayazid Yaldirum
in the battle of Ankara in 1402. The relics were found in the treasury
of Sultan Bayazid Yaldirum and taken by Amir Timur to Uzbekistan
then to Afghanistan. Ever since then these relics remained in
possession of the descendants of Amir Timur. From Amir Timur it
passed to Mirza Jalaluddeen Miran Shah to Sultan Mohammed Mirza
to Sultan Abu Saeed Mirza to Umar Shaikh Mirza to his son
Zahirudden Mohammed Babur. Babur conquered northern India in
1526 and founded the Mughal Dynasty. The holy relics were kept in
Kabul Afghanistan for a long time and then brought to India from
Kabul by Emperor Humayun son of Babur, they remained in the royal
treasury through the rule of Emperor Humayun, Emperor Jalaludden
Mohammed Akbar, Emperor Jahangir till the period of Emperor Shah
Jahan. In 1650 Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned a musjid be built
across the Red Fort which was the Royal residence of Shah Jahan in
Delhi to house the sacred relics. Construction of this musjid
commenced in 1650 and at a cost of 1 million rupees with a work
force of 6000 workers it was completed in 1656. After the completion
of this Musjid Emperor Shah Jahan named it “ Jahan Numa Musjid
( Splendour of The World ) which later came to be known as the
famous Jama Masjid of Delhi. The Holy Relics were then moved from
the royal treasury to the north western verandah to a special chamber
that faced the Holy City of Mecca under the right minaret of the Jama
Musjid. This chamber was named “ Rahnuma e Jahan Numa
( The Guide to the Splendour of the World).
The emperor then sought to hand over the task of taking care of these
sacred relics to somebody of nobility and piety During this period the
emperor was made aware of the piety of Haji ul Haramain Khwaja
Muhammad Qayamuddin also known as Haji Muhammad Arab R.A, a
Naqwi Hussaini Syed, a direct descendant of the Holy Prophet
Salalahu Alayhiwasalam who resided in the blessed city of Medina
Munawara.
He was a pious personality who was so concerned with the spiritual
welfare and prosperity of the general public that the kings of his time
used to visit him. Emperor Shah Jahan invited him to Delhi and
presented himself as a servant infront of Khwaja Muhammed
Qayamuddeen. The emperor honoured him by handing custody of the
valuble treasure of the sacred relics to him. The emperor also gifted
44 villages to him for the upkeep and maintainance of the sacred relics.
Since then his descendants have been looking after the holy relics.
http://dargahasaarsharif.com/
History of the Custodians
A.
Khalif’s of Abbasid Dynasty (Descendants of Sayiduna
Abbas ibn Abdul Mutalib RA)
B.
Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi ( founder of Ghaznavid Dynasty )
C.
Sultan Masud Ghaznavi 1st
D.
Seljuk Sultan Chagri Beg
E.
Alp Arsalaan
F.
Ottoman Sultan Osman 1st son of Erthrugal Gazi ( founder of
Ottoman Empire)
G.
Ottoman Sultan Orhan Gazi
H.
Ottoman Sultan Sultan Murad 1st
I.
Ottoman Sultan Bayazid Yaldirum
J.
Amir Timur ( founder of Tirumad Dynasty)
K.
Mirza Jalaluddeen Miran Shah
L.
Sultan Muhammed Mirza
M.
Sultan Abu Saeed Mirza
N.
Umar Shaikh Mirza
O.
Zahiruddeen Mohammed Babur ( Emperor Babur founder of
Mughal Dynasty)
P.
Emperor Humayun
Q.
Emperor Jalaluddeen Mohammed Akbar
R.
Emperor Jahangir
S.
Emperor Shah Jahan
Upon the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan completing the Jama Masjid in
1656, he took out the most precious treasure from his treasury
(the relics) and placed them in the Jama Masjid. The emperor then
sought to hand over the task of taking care of these sacred relics to
somebody of nobility and piety.
1.
During this period the emperor was made aware of the piety of Haji
ul Haramain Khwaja Muhammad Qayamuddin also known as Haji
Muhammad Arab R.A, a Naqwi Hussaini Syed, a direct descendant
of the Holy Prophet Salalahu Alayhiwasalam who resided in the
blessed city of Medina Munawara. He was a pious personality who
was so concerned with the spiritual welfare and prosperity of the
general public that the kings of his time used to visit him. Emperor
Shah Jahan invited him to Delhi and presented himself as a servant
infront of Khwaja Muhammed Qayamuddeen. The emperor
honoured him by handing custody of the valuble treasure of the
sacred relics to him. The emperor also gifted 44 villages to him for
the upkeep and maintainance of the sacred relics. Since then his
progeny are looking after the holy relics.
2.
After him his son Haji Abdul Raheem R.A a well known scholar of
his time.
3.
His son Haji Muhammad Ikram R.A who spent his whole life in
religious teaching.
4.
His son Haji Muhammad Anwar R.A who was a famous doctor of
the Mughal family.
5.
His son Haji Syed Muhammad R.A, a pious and God fearing man,
famous for his miracles.
6.
His son Hafiz Muhammad Hashim R.A a famous recitor of quran
of his time. His tongue was always busy with recitation of holy quran
7.
His son was Haji Shah Muhammad Mah Qalandar R.A who was
among the sufi elders of the Chishtia, Qalandariya, Madariya
branch of Sufi spiritual orders famous in India. His annual urs
(death ceremony) was celebrated by Mughal king Akbar Shah
Sani (second) and his son the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah
Zafar very pompously. Many people from the mughal family were
amongst his spiritual disciples
8.
His son Haji Muhammad Azam R.A was a Hafiz (one who has
memorized the Quran) and a very famous recitor of Quran. He
used to recite the Holy Quran in Jama Masjid. Mughal Emperor
Akbar Shah Sani (second) used to listen his beautiful quranic
recitation after the morning prayer (saltul fajr).
9.
Syed Muhammad Azam R.A had two sons Hafiz Abdul Aziz R.A
and Hafiz Muhammad Saleh R.A (the later’s family shifted to
Punjab now Pakistan).Hafiz Abdul Aziz was famous to be pious
personality whose prayers and supplications were accepted by
Allah.
10. After him his son the respected Sufi Abdur Rasheed Sabri R.A
got the responsibility of being the custodian of the sacred
relics. He was well versed in Urdu and Persian and also had a
deep understanding of religious knowledge. He was a poet with
a pen name Furqat. After the failure of 1857 revolt in which the
last mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was defeated by the
British invaders he had to leave Delhi with most of the relics
and went to Roohullah Khan ki Sarai (sarai rohilla). In 1862
when the masjid was opened again for muslims he came back
with the relics and sold what ever property was left to get back
some relics which the british army had in their possession. The
difficult period now began with no muslim ruler or income
from the villages they once had to support the expenses of
maintaining the relics.
11.
He had two sons Syed Zulfiqar Ahmed R.A and Syed Mukhtar
Ahmed R.A. The later went to Pakistan at the time of India
Pakistan partition of 1947.
12.
Syed Zulfiqar Ahmed R.A died in a young age leaving his 13
year old son Syed Shamshad Ahmed Hussaini R.A to look after
the Dargah Aasar Sharif ( Chamber containing Holy Relics ).
When most of the people had left Delhi in 1947 during the
partition of India and Pakistan, he remained in Delhi to take
care of the holy relics. Financial conditions were difficult as
most of the muslims had left Delhi and for weeks no one came
to visit the Holy relics and with having the responsibility of
protecting the holy relics he could not leave to obtain
employment. He and his family had to spend many nights
without food during these difficult days. He gave 70 years of
his life in taking care of the relics and went to his final abode
in the year 2003.
13.
He had two sons Syed Aasar Ahmed (an American citizen) and
Syed Vaqar Ahmed. Syed Shamshad Ahmed R.A was unable to
perform the services due to old age his younger son Syed
Vaqar Ahmed came forward. He was successfully running an
Islamic publishing house for 25 years which he closed on the
call of duty.
14.
Now his three sons Syed Faraz Ahmed Hussaini Chishty Qadri,
Syed Ehraz Ahmed Hussaini Chishty Qadri and Syed Ibraz
Ahmed Hussaini are performing their family duties under the
guidance of their father, with a goal in mind to spread the
love of The Holy Prophet Muhammad ( Salalahu
Alayhiwasalam ) and his noble family among muslims through
books and sermons and to help the needy and destitute. May
Allah protect and guide them so that they may continue to
inspire humanity.
Demolition of the Sacred Relic Chamber
In 1857 during the revolt against the British the last Mughal Emperor
Bahadur Shah Zafar was defeated by East India Company and the
British forces invaded and took control of the Jama Musjid. The musjid
was closed for worship and to humiliate the muslims it was used as a
stable for the horses and as a garrison for the sikh regiment. They cut
and cooked pork on the Musjid premises. During this period the
custodian of the holy relics was Syed Abdur Rasheed Sabiri. When the
British soldiers entered the musjid in 1857 Syed Abdur Rasheed
gathered whatever relics he could and fled by jumping the
approximately 10 metre high wall of the Jama Musjid. He broke both
his knees but somehow managed to escape. The remaining relics that
were left behind was confiscated by the british soldiers and the small
building that housed the relics was destroyed. Syed Abdur Rasheed
took most of the relics to a safe place in Sarai Rohilla Delhi. From 1857
till 1862 the Jama Masjid remained in the control of the british and no
prayer was held in the musjid. In 1860 muslims submitted a petition
on the viceroy’s visit to Delhi, that the Jama Masjid should be opened
again for prayers. When the musjid was reopened for worship in 1862
Syed Abdur Rasheed brought back the relics that were in his care and
sold of the 44 villages given to their family by Shah Jahan to obtain
back the sacred relics that were confiscated by the british.
The british organized a committee for Jama Masjid, but some members
of the committee objected that masjid is a place of worship and not for
viewing of relics, the conflict was sorted out and it was decided that the
relics will be shifted from their present place northwestern verandah,
under the right minaret of Jama Masjid to the northeastern side in a
small corner, opposite side of its earlier location. The committee
members did not stop at that, after the demolition of old chamber
that housed the relics they placed locks on the new chamber, a case
was fought in british court which was won by the custodians. After
loosing the court case these members and their like minded people
started propagating falsehood that the relics are fake, through
newspapers and sermons. Due to this over a long period of time people
started forgetting about the holy relics that are housed in the Jama
Musjid Delhi.
THE INTERNATIONAL
SACRED TRUSTS
E X H I B I T I O N
SOUTH AFRICA
FEBRUARY
2019
Naeem Khan
Imtiaaz Khan
Saabir Sultaan
Ziaad Shaikh
Mohammed Ziyaad Cassim
Mohammed Bilaal Dawood
Haneef Parker
Anwar Nagia
Haroon Mohammed
Sayed Faisel Shaikh
Shakeel Fareed
www.chishtysabiree.com