SHEIKH AHMED SIRHINDI

Introduction

• A great Muslim saint of Naqshbandia Order.
• Descendant of Second Pious Caliph - referred as Farooqi
• Born during Muslim Rule at Sirhind, Capital of Easter Punjab on 26 June, 1564

Educational Background

• Prominent disciple of Khawaja Baqi Billah
• Under most prominent and leaned teachers at Sialkot & Sirhind
• Momorized Holy Quran, studied Hadith, Tafseer and Philosophy
• Travelled from place to place
• Came into contact with Abd-al-Fazal & Fazi - did not prolong due to their liberal ideas

Religious Conditions of Muslims in India

• Un-Islamic practices and trends
• Widespread belief in Karamat (miracles of the saints) which misguided people
• Magical and supernatural powers alien to Islam developed in Sufism
• Practices against Sunnah
• Uleme/jurists ceased to refer Quran and Haidth in sermons
• Din-i-Ilahi of Akbar - an attempt to distort the teachings of Islam

Reforms

• Send disciples in all directions to preach true Islamic teachings
• Emphasized to observe Quran and Sunnah in daily life in his sermons
• Opposed atheism and denounced un-Islamic society
• Exposed falasy of Din-i-Ilahi
• Declared mysticism without Shariah misleading
• Denounced the Ulema who left the path of Quran and Shariah
• Influenced upon the nobles of imperial court to mend their ways
• Explained the importance of prayer and utility of fasting to astray people

Imprisonment

• Jehangir was suspicious of Sheikh's political ambitious
• Sheikh appeared in dignified manner to Jehangir in court by refusing to perform Sajdah
• Jehangir imprisoned him in the fort of Gwalior
• Released after 02 years when Jehangir realized his innocence

Release of Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi & acceptance of his conditions by Jehangir

• Compulsory prostration before the Emperor in the court abolished
• Reconstruction of the demolished mosques
• Allowing cow slaughter
• Revival of the posts of Qazis, Muftis, and Muhtasibs
• Re-introducing Jizya
• Removal of innovations in religious practices and enforcing Shariah Law
• Releasing companions of Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi from prison

His Letters (Muntakhibat e Imam Rabbani"

• Wrote to leading nobles of the imperial court
• Written in impressive language
• Reminded the people/nobles about their duties

Wahdat ul Wajud & Wahdat ul Shahud

• Wahdat ul Wajud: innovated by Sufis in the era of Akbar, "Entire Universe is the symbol of Allah (SWT), so no difference b/w man and God. Every particle of universe represented the presence of God and worship of God's creature amounts to the worship of God".

• Sehikh Ahmed denounced the theory of Wahdat ul Wajud and presented his philosophy of "Wahdat ul Shahed" i.e. Creator and creature are two different and separate entities.

Influence of the efforts of Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi

• Purified the religious and practical life of Muslims.
• Iqbal in his poetry paid rich tribute for his efforts and considered him spiritual guardian of Muslims in India.
• His efforts gave new life to Muslims
• Clearly demarcated the boundaries between Islam and atheism
• Prevailed upon Jehangir, change his mindset who abandoned un-Islamic practices of his father.
• Jehangir ordered for recitation of Kutba
• Managed to denounce Din-i-Ilahi
• His efforts infused new spirit in the life of Muslims of the sub continent
• Most powerful personality in the history of sub continent
• Spent 03 years in the court of Jehangir then left for Sirhin where he passed away on December 10, 1624 and buried there.

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No matter how fast i run or how far i go it wont escape me, pain, misery, emptiness.