(1564-1624)
The first of the great reformers, Sheikh Ahmad Sarhindi al-Farooqi an-Naqshbandi, was
born in Sarhind on June 26, 1564. He belonged to a devout Muslim family that
claimed descent from Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA). His father Sheikh Abdul Ahad was
a well-known sufi of his times. Sheikh Ahmad received his basic education at
home. His initial instructions in the Holy Quran, Hadith and theology were
rendered in Sarhind and Sialkot. Later, he devoted most of his time to the
study of Hadith, Tafseer and philosophy. He worked for some time in Lahore as
well. But the greater part of his life was spent in Sarhind, where he was to
become the champion of Islamic values. It was not until he was 36 years old
that he went to Delhi and joined the Naqshbandiya
Silsilah under the discipleship of Khawaja Baqi Billah.
During this period the Muslims in
India had become so deficient in the knowledge of true Islam that they had more
belief in Karamat or miracles of the saints than Islamic teachings. The Ulema
and theologians of the time had ceased to refer to the Quran and Hadith in
their commentaries, and considered jurisprudence the only religious knowledge.
Akbar, the Mughal king had started a series of experiments with Islam,
propagating his own religion Din-i-Ilahi, an amalgamation of Hindu and Muslim
beliefs. In these circumstances, Sheikh Ahmad set upon himself the task of
purifying the Muslim society. His aim was to rid Islam of the accretions of
Hindu Pantheism. He was highly critical of the philosophy of Wahdat-ul Wujud,
against which he gave his philosophy of Wahdat-ush-Shuhud.
He entered into correspondence
with Muslim scholars and clerics and laid stress on following the true contours
of Islam. To him, mysticism without Shariah was misleading. He stressed the
importance of Namaz and fasting. Through preaching, discussions and his
maktubat addressed to important nobles and leaders of religious thought, he
spread his message amongst the elite in particular. As he and his followers
also worked in the imperial camp and army, he was soon noticed by Jehangir.
Jehangir, unlike his father, was a more orthodox Muslim. But he still insisted
on full prostration by all his subjects. Sheikh Ahmad refused to prostrate
before him, as result of which he was imprisoned at Gwalior Fort for two years
until the Emperor realized his mistake. Jehangir then not only released Sheikh
Ahmad, but also recalled him to Agra. Jehangir thereafter retracted all
un-Islamic laws implemented by Akbar.
Sheikh Ahmad’s greatest
contribution was undoubtedly the task of countering unorthodox Sufism and
mystic beliefs. He organized the Naqshbandiya order
to reform the society and spread the Shariah among the people. He wrote many
books, including his famous works, Isbat-ul-Nabat and Risal-i-Nabuwat. His
greatest work on Islamic philosophy was the Tauheed-i-Shuhudi. Sheikh Ahmad
continued preaching Islam till the end of his days. He urged people to adhere
to the accepted and clearly laid down path of Islam. He passed away in 1624.
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