History
Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi was born on 14 June 1856 in Muhallah Jasoli, Bareilly Sharif, British India. His birth name is Muhammad. He used the appellation "Abdul Mustafa" (slave [or servant] of Mustafa) prior to signing his name in correspondence.
His father Mawlana Naqi Ali Khan (d. 1297/1880) and grandfather Mawlana Raza Ali Khan (d. 1282/1866) were celebrated theologians recognized as such by academic circles of the entire subcontinent. Due to the extraordinary intelligence bestowed upon him by Almighty Allah, Alahazrat (radi Allahu anhu) completed his Islamic education at the very young age of 13 years, 10 months and 5 days.
He was well versed in more than fifty branches of learning pertaining to Ancient Sciences, Modern Sciences, Current Sciences and Oriental Learnings and left contributions in all these academic disciplines.
In 1294/1877 he went with his father to visit Shah Al-e-Rasul (d. 1297/1879). He was admitted to the Qadiriyya Order and was permitted to enrole and train neophytes. He had similar authority in thirteen other orders. In 1295/1878 he went with his father for the first pilgrimage and got diplomas from famous Arab scholars at Mecca. In 1323/1905 he proceeded for his second pilgrimage. During his stay at Mecca and Madina he won the respect of noted scholars who visited him and received from him diplomas and Fatawa. On 14th Sha'ban 1286/1869 he started issuing Fatawa and gave verdicts on Muslim jurisprudence. At that time he was only a boy of less than 14 years old. Afterwards he attained such eminence in this field that the scholars of the Indo-Pak subcontinent and also of the Islamic World acknowledged him as a great Jurist. He had full command over Muslim Jurisprudence. Though he was well versed in scores of branches of knowledge yet in the later years he restricted his interest in the following branches of religious learnings : To support and defend the Holy Prophet (Sal Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) To uproot the innovations prevalent in Muslim society. To issue Fatawa according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
Ahmad Raza Khan contributed towards the translation of the Holy Quran in Urdu language. Many people have translated the Holy Quran into the Urdu language, but the translation of the Holy Quran presented by AlaHazrat (radi Allahu anhu) - called "Kanzul Imaan" is proven to be the most unique translation in the Urdu language. In his translation one sees that AlaHazrat (radi Allahu anhu) used only those words in his translation that are worthy for the Attributes and Qualities of Almighty Allah and of His beloved Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).It is said that the translation of the Holy Quran by AlaHazrat (radi Allahu anhu) is not merely a literal translation, but is also the commentary of the Holy Quran.
On Friday 25th Safar 1340/1921, he left this mundane world for heaven. His mausoleum is situated at Bareilly (U.P., India) His death anniversary is commemorated all over Indo-Pakistan Sub-continent on 24th and 25th Safar
He reviewed and revolutionized the Muslim Society, especially the Muslims of Indo-Pak Sub-continent, that is why the Arab scholars like Shaykh Isma'il bin Khalil and Shaykh Musa Ali Shami commended him as the Revivalist of the 14th Century A.H. Lean and thin yet he possessed a gigantic personality. He left a profound influence over his epoch. None among his contemporaries was so powerful as to influence the majority of Muslim population of Indo-Pak Sub-continent all alone from East to West and from North to South. Ahmed Raza Khan infused the zeal of preaching and missionary work to his Caliphs, disciples, and pupils.
Although he did not take any active part yet he paved the way for freedom with his brilliant philosophy based on the Holy Quran and Hadith. He was against Hindu-Muslim Unity. This was the basic idea that can rightly be called the foundation of Pakistan.