10th Muharram: Birth of Shaykh Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindi, 25th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

The 10th of Muharram marks the blessed birth of Shaykh Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindiق.

Heق was the 25th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain.

Shaykh Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindiق was the Pearl of the Crown of the Knowledgeable Saints. He was the Treasure of those who came before and those who came after. In him were combined all their favors and generosity. He was the Sinai of Divine Manifestation, the Furthermost Lote Tree of Unique Knowledge, and the Fountain of Hidden Prophetic Knowledge.

He was the Genius of Scholars and the Sultan of the Earth, which smiled at his birth and was honored by his presence. He was the perfect Perfected Guide. He was the Caller to Allah’s Presence, the One Qutb and the Unique Heavenly Imam. He was the Reviver of the Second Millennium, Sayyidina wa Mawlana ash-Shaikh Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindiق, descendant of Sayyidina Umar al-Khattabر.

He was born on the day of Ashura in the village of Sihar Nidbasin. In some accounts it is called Sirhind, near the city of Lahore in India. He received knowledge and education from his father and from many shaykhs of his time. He progressed in three tariqats: Suhrawardiyya, Qadiriyya, and Chistiyya. At the age of 17, he was granted permission to train followers in all three paths. Though busy guiding many and spreading their teachings, he still felt something was missing in himself. He kept searching.

His heart was drawn to the Naqshbandi Sufi Order. Through the spiritual insights from the other three paths, he saw that Naqshbandiyya was the highest and most complete. His search brought him to the presence of the Ghawth and Qutb of the time, ash-Shaikh Muhammad al-Baqiق, who had been sent from Samarqand to India by the order of his shaykh, Muhammad al-Amkanakiق.

He took the Naqshbandi path from him and remained in his company for two months and some days, until the shaykh opened to his heart the secrets of the Order and gave him full authorization to train mureeds. He said of him, “He is the highest Qutb in this time.”

The Prophet ﷺ foretold his coming in a hadith: “There will be among my nation a man called Silah. By his intercession many people will be saved.” This hadith is recorded in the collection of Suyuti, Jam‘ al-Jawami‘. Shaykh Ahmad as-Sirhindiق confirmed this by saying, “God has made me the Silah between the two oceans.” Silah means “connection,” and he meant that Allah had made him the link between the two oceans of knowledge — external and internal.

Shaykh Mir Husamuddinق said, “I saw the Prophet ﷺ in a dream standing on the minbar and praising Shaykh Ahmad as-Sirhindiق. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘I am proud and happy with his presence among my nation. Allah has made him a reviver of the religion.’”

Many saints predicted his coming. Shaykh Ahmad al-Jamiق said, “After me will appear seventeen men of the People of God, all named Ahmad. The last of them will be at the head of the millennium. He will be the greatest of them and will receive the state of Unveiling. He will revive this religion.”

Another was Mawlana Khwaja al-Amkanakiق. He told his khalifa, “A man from India will appear. He will be the Imam of his time. You will be the one to train him, so hurry to meet him, because the People of God are awaiting his arrival.” Muhammad al-Baqiق said, “That is why I moved from Bukhara to India.”

When they met, he told him, “You are the one whose arrival Shaykh Muhammad Khwaja al-Amkanakiق foretold. When I saw you, I knew you were the Qutb of your time. When I entered the region of Sirhind, I saw a lamp so bright that its light reached the heavens. Everyone drew light from it. You are that lamp.”

It is said that the shaykh of his father, Shaykh Abdul Ahadق, who was a master of the Qadiri Order, received a jubah (cloak) from his own shaykh. This jubah had been passed down from the Ghawth al-Azam, Sayyidina Abdul Qadir al-Jilaniق. Sayyidina Abdul Qadirق said about it, “Keep this for the one who will appear at the end of the first millennium. His name is Ahmad. He will revive this religion. I have dressed him with all my secrets. He combines both internal and external knowledge.”

Shaykh Ahmad as-Sirhindiق left behind many books. He passed away on the 17th of Safar in the year 1034 Hijri, at the age of 63. He was buried in the village of Sirhind. He was a shaykh in four tariqats: Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Chisti and Suhrawardi. Yet he preferred the Naqshbandi, saying, “It is the mother of all tariqats.”

He passed the secret of the revered Golden Chain to Shaykh Muhammad Masumق.

Tonight, do send gifts of Surah Al-Fatiha and Yasin to our 25th Grandshaykh of the Golden Chain, Shaykh Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindiق.

With Love, Al-Fatiha.

To learn more about the month of Muharram and the day of Ashura, please click here.

Wassalam.