Gausul Azam Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Ahmad Ullah Maizbhandari
(K) belongs to the tribe of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW). With the
passage of time the descendants of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) came
to Baghdad, from Baghdad they came to Delhi and from Delhi they came to
Gour, the then Capital of Bengal. In 1575 A.D. epidemic broke out in
Gour and as a way of escape Kazi Syed Hamiduddin Gouri came to
Chandanaish of Chittagong. Bangladesh and settled there. His son Mr.
Syed Abdul Quader came to Azim Nagar of Fatickchari Thana of Chittagong
district with a view to performing the duty of an 'Imam' in a mosque.
Mr. Syed Ataullah was Syed Abdul Quader's son and Mr. Syed Ataullah's
son was Mr. Syed Taibullah. Mr. Syed Matiullah, the father of Gausul
Azam Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Ahmad Ullah Maizbhandari (K), is the
second son of Mr. Syed Taibullah. Mr. Syed Matiullah settled in the
village Maizbhandar and ultimately became fortunate in havin g the
illustrious son Hazrat" Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K). Hazrat Gausul
Azam Maizbhandari (K) was born on Wednesday afternoon, 1826 A.D.; Magh
1, 1233 B.S.; 1188 Maghi, and 1244 Hljri. The primary education of Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) began in the village Maqtab. He completed his secondary education under Moulana Mohammad Shafiullah, an inhabitant of village Azim Nagar under Fatickchari Thana of Chittagong district. Moulana Mohammad Shafiullah was a spiritually developed Alim (Saheb-e-Kasf). After secondary education, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) went to Calcutta Aliya Madrasa in 1260 Hijri and he passed the Kamil Final Examination of the Madrasa with distinction and deep knowledge over the Holy Qur'an, Al-Hadith, Tafsir, Fiqh etc.in the year 1268 Hijri. During his study in Aliya Madrasa of Calcutta, India, he used to stay in the residence of Sufi Nur Mohammad Saheb (R) who was an enlightened Alim (Mujahid-e-Alim).In 1269 Hijri Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) was appointed Kazi (Judge) of greater district of Jessore in Bangladesh. After sometime he resigned from the post and started his career as a Professor of Munshi Bu-Ali Sahebs Madrasa in Matia Buruz of Calcutta, India. During this time Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) came in close contact with Sultanul Hind Gaus-e-Kaunain Shaikh Syed Abu Shahma Muhammad Saleh Al-Quaderi Lahori (R), a descendant and Spiritual caliph of Hazrat Gausul Azam Piran-e-pir Dastagir Shaikh Syed Muhiuddin Abdul euader Gilani (K). Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) for the highest spiritual blessings (Bil Birachat Faiz of Gausiat) from Hazrat Abu Shahma (R) and became Hazrat Abu Shahma (R)'s spiritual caliph. Later on, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) also got spiritual blessings (Faiz of Ettehadi Tabiat) from Hazrat Shah Sufi Syed Delwar Ali Pakbaj Muhajir-e-Madani Lahori (R) who was a confirmed bachelor. Hazrat Shah sufi Syed Delwar Ali Pakbaj (R) was the elder brother of Hazrat Syed Abu Shahma Muhammad Saleh AI Quaderi Lahori (R). Hazrar Abu shahma (R) was the Pir-e-Tariqat (guide who showed path of God) and Hazrat Delwar Ali Pakbaj (R) was the Pir-e-Tafaiuz (guide who gave blessings) of Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K). Being blessed by two great spiritual saints, Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) became a perfect (Kamil) saint with the power of distributing divine blessings (Khudai Fazilat) to mankind. Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) was a born saint (Bil Asalat) through love and dedication to his Pir-e-Kamil Hazrat Abu Shahma (R).He acquired the highest status of Belayet (Bid Darasat) through both mundane and divine knowledge (Faiz-e-Ettehadi and Ilm-e-Ladunni). He became the global saint (saint of the world by attaining the highest stage among the four stages of Belayet (Malamia Masrab) through great sacrifice, self-control, devotion and dedication and by fighting against all human creeds and evil motives. According to the predictions of Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Akbar Allama Muhiuddin lbn-e-Arabi (R) as stated in his famous book, Fasusul Hekam, Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Ahmad Ullah Maizbhandari (K) may be termed as the Khatemul Awlia (descendant saint of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Khatemul Alad (last greatest saint Fardul Afrad (mobilizer of both visible and invisible things), Din-e-Matin (protector of Sacred religion), finisher of the restricted Belayet (Chained divine love to Belayet-e-Makaiyeda-e-Muhammadi), and propounder of the open Belayet (unchained divine love or Belayet-e-Mutlaka-e-Ahmadi), Nisbatain-e-Admee (enclosure of all the circumstances - present, past and future) and Gausul Azam (greatest saint or leader of the saints in the age or era of Belayet-e-Mutlaka (unclaimed divine love). It should be mentioned here that Shaikh Syed Muhiuddin Abdul Quader Gilani (K) is the first Gausul Azam for the age of restricted Belayet (Chained divine love or Belayet-e-Mukaiyeda-e-Muhammadi) and Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Ahmad Ullah Maizbhandari (K) is the Gausul Azam for the age of open Belayet (Belayet-e-Mutlaka-e-Ahmadi or unchained divine love). Six hundred years after the departure of Hazrat Gausul Azam Shaikh Syed Abdul Quader Gilani (K) from this mundane world, difference of opinion appeared in the religious world of Islam. With a view to relieving people from this darkness through the appropriate and simple spiritual means, Almighty Allah changed restricted Belayet into open Belayet which is unrestricted and all-embracing. It is a special power of Belayet. It embraces all people irrespective of caste, creed and religion who at least believe in the oneness of Allah (Tawhid-e-Adyan). The era of Belayer is the best era which takes into consideration all normal and evoutionary processes of social lives and spiritual world. This open Belayet may be termed as the most effective force for establishing world peace which is the truest essence of Islam. Under this open Belayet Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) introduced seven Methods of relief for the emancipation of mankind and purification of soul which include three stages of destruction of human instincts such as, (i) Self-reliance (Fana Anil Khalk), (ii) Avoidance of Useless things (Fana Anil Hawa), (iii) Total surrender to God (Fana Anil Erada) and four types of death of human aptitude like (i) Self-control (white death or Mout-e-Abyaz), (ii) Self-criticism (black death or Mout-e-Aswad), (iii) Avoidance of sexual desire and greed (red death or Mout-e-Ahmar) and (iv) Sacrifice of luxurious life (green death or Mout-e-Akhjar). Many contemporary intellectuals, Alim-e-Din (learned in religious studies) and eminent personalities like Hazrat Shamsul ulema Moulana Zulfiqar Ali Saheb of Calcutta, India; Moulvi Ayub Ali, Hazrat Moulana Shah Sufi Syed Saifullah, Hazrat Moulana Abdul Gani Kanchanpuri (R), Mufti-e-Azam Hazrat Moulana Aminul Huq Farhadabadi (R), Hazrat Moulana Azizul Huq Al-Quaderi (R) (Sher-e-Bangla) passed very high remarks about Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) after seeing him personally and knowing him in different ways.All the eminent personalities mentioned above admitted about the greatness of his sainthood (Gausul Azmiat) claimed by Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) himself and predicted by Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Akbar AIlama Muhiuddin Ibn-e-Arabi (R). About two hundred Alims became perfect saints with the blessings (Faiz) of Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K). Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) is the spotless gift of God (Faiz-e-Mujarrad) to mankind. He showed thousands of miraculous events (keramat) as God desired for the emancipation of the masses. Ail thirsty people come to him with their respective pot of eligibility and rake blessings from him in accordance with the size of the pot. The Tariqa propounded by Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) is known as Maizbhandari Tariqa. Some of his famous sayings may be cited here to form an idea about his spiritual greatness :
(a) "In the Day of Judgment I shall be the first to say, "La Illaha Illallah" (There is no God but God)(b) "I went to Mecca and saw the bosom of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) as an endless ocean. I myself and my elder brother Hazrat Abdul Quader Gilani (K) dived into that ocean."
(c) "Out of his (Hazrat Muhammad (SAW)) two caps, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) put one cap on my head and the other one on the head of my elder brother Hazrat Gausul Azam Abdul Quader Gilani (K). My name has been written in golden letter with the name of Piran-e-Pir Hazrat Gausul Azam Shaikh Muhiuddin Abdul Quader Zilani (K)."
(d) "I have twelve stars, twelve domes (bastion) and twelve conference rooms."
(e) "I have four cushions, four paths (Majhabs) and four leaders (lmams)."
(f) "The dead people are crying. So I have come to this graveyard. You go home. genii, fairies, snakes, tigers etc. will do no harm to me. They are loyal to me."
(g) "I offer prayer in Baitul Muqaddas."
(h) "You remain in your religion. I have made you Muslim."
(i) "Eat self-cooked food. Do not eat food cooked by others' I keep fasting for twelve months. You also practise fasting."
Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhandari (K) gave importance to moral religion over religious rituals and preferred calling people to the path of God through good advice, technique like divine songs and other scientific means. He gave Importance to the establishment of social justice (Adal-e-Mutlak) and human welfare (Hakkul Ebad). This great saviour of mankind departed from this mundane world at the age of 79 at 1 A.M. on Tuesday, January 23, 1906, Zilqad 27, l323 Hrjri, 10 Magh, 1313 B.S. and 1268 Maghi.
