THE SHEIKH: BIOGRAPHY

Hazrat Syed Shah Mohammed Abdul Qadar Jeelani Sahab was born on the 27th of Muharram 1372 AH, corresponding to October 18, 1952 CE in Hyderabad. He traces his lineage to Hazrat Syedna Jalaluddin Meer Surkh Bukhari Suhrawardy (R.A), who himself is the descendant of the king of martyrs Syedna Imam Husain (RZ), the grandson of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and successor (mureed & khalifa) of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya Multani (RH), whose predecessor was Hazrat Shahabuddin Suhrawardy (RH). All his (Hazrat’s) ancestors possessed the true knowledge of the Holy Quran and had committed it to memorization (hafz-e-Quran). His esteemed father Hazrat Syedna Muhammad Anwaar-ur Rahman Chishti Nizami Kaleemi (RH) was a very pious man, who preferred prayer to any worldly pursuits. He was so loyal to the sharia that from the age of 13 years till the age of 75, he performed all his prayers in congregation (ba-jamaat) with loud takbeers.

Hazrat received his early training from his esteemed father, memorized the Quran and learned the true way (tareeqa) from his father. Alhamdulillah, he memorized the entire Quran in a mere six months, and then became a great calligrapher (qaari). He learned the true art of declamation of the Quran (qirat) from Dr. Syed Kaleemullah Hussaini (Rahmatullah alaih) and got certified in the month of Ramadan 1392 AH. After this he learned Arabic grammar from Maulana Altaf Husain Farooqi sahib, where he “developed interest in pursuing further Islamic studies.” Then for many years, he immersed himself in the study of hadith and jurisprudence (fiqh). He learned knowledge of hadith (learned Mishkat Shareef) from Sheikh ul Hadith Hazrath Abu Turab Ali Siddiqi (RH) son of greatest sufi scholar Behrul uloom Allama Abdul Qadeer Siddiqi hasrath (Rh) and learned Muatta Imam Azam, Imam Malik, Imam Mohammed, And Kitab Ul Asaar from Sheikh ul Hadith Mufti Abdul Jaleel Nayeemi (RH) (Jamia Ashrafia). He learned knowledge of jurisprudence (fiqh) and hadith (like Mishkat Shareef, Qudoori, Kanzud-Daqaiqh, & book of tasawwuf Risala-E-Ghousia etc.,) for 11 years from Mufti Abdul Hameed sahib (RH) former head of Jamia Nizamia, Hyderabad. He also learned high levels of Urdu, Arabic, acquired religious training and Quranic interpretation. He learned Tafseer-e-Baizavi from Maulana Osman Sahab. According to him, his father’s training was the most important lesson of religious knowledge he imbibed.

Hazrat received authorities (khilafat) and permissions (Ijazaat) in Chishtia and Qadiriya silsila (Tariqa orders) and all other 29 Tariqa orders of this esteemed clan for the transmission of knowledge of Tasawwuf (Ihsan), from his eminence father Hazrat Syed Muhammad Anwaar-ur-Rahman Chishti (RH) and uncles; Sheikh ul Hadith Maulana Abu Turab Ali Siddiqi, Hazrat Maulana Abul Qasim Siddiqi, Hazrat Maulana Hussain Shujauddin Siddiqi (RH).

ACADEMICS

Hazrat completed his matriculation from Government High School Daarul Uloom, and did his Intermediate (B.P.C) from Government Aliabad Junior College and BA Part II in Islamic Studies, History and Arabic from Osmania University.

SERVICES TO THE HOLY QURAN 

In 1971, Hazrat started a religious school in Masjid-e Husaini, Irani Gali, where every day after the Asr prayer, students would be taught knowledge about the Quran and religion. Also, every day after the Fajr prayer as well as after the Maghrib prayer, there would be religious instruction at Masjid e Mahboob Shahi. In Alijah Kotla, religious education for women was provided every day. Many men and women became hafiz of the Holy Book at these different sites, and learned the proper qiraat, or the art of correct pronunciation and recitation. Hazrat spent many years teaching the knowledge of Quran and religious conduct to a diverse array of people. He paid special attention to imparting religious education to women; for he believed that a woman would be able to influence many family members if she had the proper education in religious matters. His greatest strength is his ability to communicate complex religious thoughts and philosophy in language that common people can understand.

PUBLICATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF HADEES 

Along with knowledge of Quran, Hazrat is extremely well versed in the knowledge of the Prophet’s sayings (PBUH). In Masjid-e Mahboob Shahi and Masjid-e Mandi Mir Aalam, he would give lectures after prayer on different aspects of the Prophet’s Ahadees (PBUH). Hazrat is especially good at combining the knowledge of Quran and Hadees to produce a holistic understanding of religion, and to present it in a way that people can incorporate religion in their daily life.

KNOWLEDGE OF JURISPRUDENCE (FIQH) 

Along with his formidable teachings in the area of Quran and Hadith, Hazrat is especially adept at the knowledge of Fiqh or Islamic jurisprudence of the Hanafi tradition. He has given several lectures on Kanzud-Daqaiqh and Qudoori Shareef. He is able to relate issues to the modern world. He wrote a very easy-to-understand book on these matters titled Dars-e Fiqh (Lessons of Jurisprudence), which has been produced in thousands of copies and has provided guidance to countless people. You can find the book in many mosques all over Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Barkas and Golconda, and in many Muslim households, as well as towns all over the region such as Sangareddy, Zaheerabad, Warangal, Raichur, Aurangabad and many other places.

TOURS TO OTHER REGIONS 

From 1981 to 1983, Hazrat was a resident Aalim at the Jama Masjid in Houston, USA as the Imam and the Qateeb. In 1994, he toured Saudi Arabia, leading Taraweeh prayers in Jeddah and lecturing on the Quran. He also toured Pakistan, where he was invited to lecture in mosques. In 2023, Hazrat toured Canada, had several of his lectures and book reading sessions at various religious events in Ontario.