Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi

Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, born on June fourteenth, eighteen fifty-six, was a prominent Indian Islamic scholar and a pivotal figure in the establishment of the Barelvi movement. Hailing from Bareilly, British India, he was deeply rooted in the Qadiri order and received his early education under the guidance of his father, Naqi Ali Khan. His spiritual journey was further enriched by his authorization in Sufism from Shah Al-i Rasul, leading him to found the Manzar-i Islam in Bareilly in nineteen oh four.

A prolific writer and poet, Khan was known for his staunch opposition to the Ahmadiyya, Deobandi, and Wahhabi movements, which he critiqued in his influential work, Husam ul-Haramayn, published in nineteen oh six. His literary contributions include the celebrated poetic collection Hada'iq-i Bakhshish, released in nineteen oh seven, and his translation of the Quran into Urdu, titled Kanz ul-Iman, which came out in nineteen eleven. His magnum opus, Fatawa-i Razawiyya, serves as a comprehensive compilation of legal edicts from the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam.

In nineteen twenty, Khan established the Jama'at Raza-i Mustafa, an organization dedicated to the propagation of Islam through dawah. Following his passing, his eldest son, Hamid, took over as president of the organization, while his other son, Mustafa, published a collection of his father's teachings and responses in Malfuzat-i A'la Hazrat. Barelvi followers regard Khan as a mujadid, or reformer, of his era, and his legacy continues to resonate with millions.

His shrine, located at the Bareilly Dargah, attracts numerous Barelvis who visit during the annual urs, commemorating his death anniversary in the Islamic month of Safar. Today, the Barelvi movement boasts a following of over two hundred million, a testament to Khan's enduring influence and the impact of his teachings.