Some incidents from the life of Hadhrat Abul Barakaat (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

Some incidents from the life of Hadhrat Abul Barakaat

(May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

 

Hadhrat Abul Fida Dr. Muhammad ‘Abdul Sattar Khan Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), the caliph of Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) says:

 

On seeing the admirable qualities and spiritual states of Hadhrat Maulana Abul Barakaat (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), I feel like relating a Hadith of Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to the readers.  This Hadith sufficiently expressed the qualities of Hadhrat Abul Barakaat (May Allah shower His Mercy on him):

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Khallad (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When you see a believer in a state that he has been granted asceticism and speaks only when necessary, then keep close to him (and draw benefit from him), because wisdom is bestowed on him.  (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 4240; Tabaqaat Ibn Sa’ad, 6/130; At Taqreeb, 2/148)

 

In light of this Hadith, an incident of Hadhrat Abul Barakaat, which happened with myself (i.e. Dr. Abdul Sattar Khan Sahab) is related:

 

For 3½ years, I had been a lecturer in Dept. of Islamic Studies.  This was terminated in 1950 due to downsizing of the department.  Fourteen months later, orders came to me that I was appointed as a Musahhih in Daairatul Ma’arif Al Osmania on Rupees 80 to 125 per month instead of Rupees 300 to 800 (which I was receiving earlier).

 

I took this letter to my spiritual guide and mentor.  Our Shaykh also agreed that appointment in the same department at such a lower salary was indeed worrying.  He then said to me:  Son!  Syed Khaleelullah is man of opinion and foresight.  You please ask him for advice.

 

As per the orders, I went to Hadhrat Abul Barakaat.  He said:  Maulvi Sahab!  Don’t worry about the salary.  It is purely scholarly work.  Take it up!

 

I accepted the advice.  As a result, in 1960 I was reappointed to the Dept. of Arabic and by the grace of Allah, I kept progressing and became a professor of Arabic and eventually became the head of the department.  I was also awarded the President’s Award for service to Arabic.  (Tadhkira Muhaddith-e-Deccan, Pg. No. 279-281)

 

Like Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), Hadhrat Abul Barakaat (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) was also very generous.  He would be especially generous with those who were facing difficulties.  He would grant them so secretly that no one else would know of it.  Only one incident is being related in this regard:

 

A brother of the order relocated to the city from his native village.  He took up the duties of an Imam in a small mosque.  The management of the mosque was handled by Syed Shah Muhammad Qadri, the maternal grandson of our Shaykh.  He had appointed this brother as the Imam.  In his free time, he would do some small business.  He bought a piece of land and had to give Rs. 800 immediately for it.  He went to Hadhrat Abul Barakaat (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) and related this to him.  That brother says that the moment Hadhrat Abul Barakaat (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) heard this difficulty of the brother, he got up, went inside, brought the full amount of Rs. 800 and gave it to the brother.