Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Who is Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barailwi ? 

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Answer:

Who is raza khan barelwi

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Ahmed Raza Khan Fazil-e-Barelvi (1856-1921) was a Sufi scholar, whose works influenced the Barelvi movement, the name itself derived from his birth place, Bareilly, in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is recorded that Raza Khan was a prolific writer producing nearly 1,000 works in his lifetime on numerous topics, including law, religion, philosophy and the sciences.

Ahmed Raza Khan was born on 14 June 1856 (1272 AH) in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, and the name assigned to him by his mother was Amman Miyān. Raza Khan used the appellation "Abdul Mustafa" (slave of Mustafa) prior to signing his name in correspondence. He studied Islamic sciences and completed a traditional ‘dars-e nizami’ course under the supervision of his father Naqī ءli Khān, who was recognized as a legal scholar. It is reported that he went on the Hajj with his father in the year 1878.

Ahmed Raza Khan claimed to base his beliefs on the Qur'an and the Sunnah, in monotheism, and the Last and Final Prophethood of Prophet Mohamed (saws). Barelvis follow the Ash'ari and Maturidi schools of aqidah, the Hanafi school of fiqh, and the Qadri, Chishti, Naqshbandi or Suhrawardi Sufi orders.^[

Ahmed Raza Khan promulgated several beliefs regarding the Last Messenger of Allah (saws), amongst them were:

• He is noor ("light"), rather than bashar ("human").
• He is hazir (present in many places at the same time).
• He is nazir (witnessing all that goes on in the world).
• He has ilm-e-ghaib (knowledge of the unseen/unknown).
• He is mukhtaar kul (having the authority to do whatever he desired).

Ahmed Raza Khan encouraged several practices which was and is considered by other scholars as ‘bida’ (innovations) or even a manifestation of ‘shirk’:

• Public celebration of the Mawlid (the birthday of the Prophet (saws)).
• Praying to awliyā' (saints) for intercession to Allah Subhanah on behalf of the living.
• The recitation of Urdu and Arabic praise poems, such as salat-o-salam, durood and naat, after Fajr (dawn) and Jumu'ah (Friday) prayers.
• Visiting and invoking the mazar (tombs) of notable Muslims.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan