The early life of Imam Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqui (May Allah sanctify his secret)

Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam (May Allah shower His mercy on him) was born on 4^th Rab’ee Thani 1264 Hijri in Qandahar in Nanded, Maharahstra.

 

He is a descendent of Hadhrat ‘Umar Farooq (May Allah be well pleased with him) of 39 generations through his father.  Through his mother, he is a descendent of Hadhrat Ahmed Kabeer Rifa’ee Hussaini (May Allah shower His mercy on him).

 

His forefather, Hadhrat Shihabuddin Farkh Shah Kabuli (May Allah shower His mercy on him) had come to India from Afghanistan.  Hadhrat Farkh Shah (May Allah shower His mercy on him) is that great person that Imam Rabbani Mujaddi Alf Thaani and Hadhrat Baba Fareeduddin Ganj Shakar (May Allah shower His mercy on them) were his descendents.  Most of the ancestors of Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam (May Allah shower His mercy on him) were associated with Judgeship (Qazaa't).  They accomplished great religious and social reforms in their respective times.  (Ma’arif Ul Anwaar, Pg. No. 2)

 

After reaching the age of 5, Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam (May Allah shower His mercy on him) started reciting the Holy Quran under the tutelage of Hadhrat Syed Shah Bad’iuddin Rifa’ee Qandahari (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  At the age of 11, he completed his memorization of the Holy Quran under Hafidh Amjed Ali Sahab (May Allah shower His mercy on him), who was a blind saint.

 

Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam (May Allah shower His mercy on him) received his introductory education from his illustrious father Hadhrat Qazi Abu Muhammad Shuj’auddin Qandahari (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  He studied exegesis of the Holy Quran, Hadith and Jurisprudence under erudite scholars like Hadhrat Fayyazuddin Aurangabadi, Hadhrat ‘Abdul Haleem Firangi Mahalli and Hadhrat ‘Abdul Hayy Firangi Mahalli and Hadhrat Shaykh ‘Abdullah Yemeni (May Allah shower His mercy on them) and mastered all the sciences.

 

In 1282 Hijri, he got married to the daughter of Haji Muhammad Ameeruddin Sahab.  In 1285 Hijri, he got appointed in the department of revenue.  He resigned from this job in 1287 Hijri.

 

The incident of his resignation is also strange.  Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam left the job as he was asked to write an interest-based transaction.  The superior officer did not want to accept the resignation and promised that he would never be asked to do so again.  But Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam said:  This leniency is only until you are here.  I cannot expect everyone to be so lenient and this is a job, so I will have to obey whatever the superior says.  Many relatives and friends all tried to talk him out of doing so, but he did not relent.  From then on, he busied himself in teaching and instructing.