Hazrat Hafiz e Millat (Alaihi Rahma)

A group of Hindus once came to Huzoor Ghous e Azam and complained that they can’t cremate a corpse, because the wood won’t burn. Ghous e Azam said move the corpse a far distance from where it is now and then cremate it. The Hindus did what Ghous e Azam said and they were able to cremate the corpse. The Hindus came back to Ghous e Azam and asked why couldn’t we cremate the corpse before? Ghous e Azam smiled and replied, “where you were unsuccessful in lighting a fire before, there’s a bone buried there. The bone belongs to a camel; the camel had belonged to a Hafiz (a person who has memorized the Quran). Whenever the Hafiz would ride the camel he would recite the Quran from memory. Allah Subhanahuwa ta’la has saved the Hafiz and his camel from hell fire, so how can the fire of the world burn there?”

This is just one example of the blessings of Allah Ta’la on a Hafiz. As many of you know Jamadiul Thani has started. This month starts with a very special day, the urs of Huzoor Hafiz e Millat.

Huzoor Hafize millat was born on a Monday in Bhojpur in Moradabad of the state Utter Pradesh (U.P). He was born in a poor house hold. He was given the name Abdul Aziz, but he became famous with the name Hafiz-e-Millat (The Guardian of the Nation.) He was extremely careful about his prayers and fasting.

His father, Hazrat Hafiz al-Haaj Muhammed Ghulam Nur, was also a Hafiz. He was a great lover of the Qur'an. He recited the Qur'an throughout the day. He memorized it very firmly so he wouldn’t get confused. He was known by the name "Barhe Hafiz Ji"   (The grand Hafiz). He was a teacher at a Madrasa in Pipalsana in the district Moradabad. His respected mother was also firm in faith.  Even though they were poor she used to take care of her widowed neighbor, by giving her food.

The father of Huzoor Hafiz-e-Millat desired that his son would grow up and become a scholar of the Islamic faith. Whenever a great scholar would arrive in Bhojpur, Huzoor Hafiz e Millat’s father brought him to them and requested them to pray for his child.

Huzoor Hafiz e Millat states:

On an occasion the beloved Maulana Shah Salamat Rampuri visited Bhojpur. My father brought me to him and requested him to make dua for me. Hazrat Maulana Salamat Sahib stated: "Hafiz Sahib! I pray for everyone, but for him your prayer is needed." then he said, " The prayer and curse of parents for their children has the same influence as the prayer and curse of a prophet!”

In another place Huzoor Hafiz e Millat states:

My father once went to Hyderabad for the recitation of the Qur'an in the month of Ramadan. In the Madinah Mosque a Shabeena started on the 27th. No other hafiz had the courage to stand in his presence and recite the Qur'an. My father read the whole Quran himself. At that time he was 70 years old. The people from there still remember him and say: "We have never seen a Hafiz like him."

Huzoor Hafiz e Millat’s grandfather was also a friend of Allah. The last sentences that he uttered at the time of his death were: 

“Wa Alakumus Salaam, move forward and make room for them!
Wa Alakumus Salaam, move forward!”

The people who were sitting close to him said: "What is the matter?"  

He replied: "Can't you see that these well respected people have come. Make room for them."

As soon as he replied his soul was taken out.

[Hafize Millat Number P. 234]

This was the level of Taqwa in Huzoor Hafiz e Millat’s father and grandfather. Huzoor Hafiz e Millat attained the level of Taqwa and the will and strength to follow Shariah. In 1967, he performed Hajj without having a photograph taken.  He spent eleven days in Madinah Munawwarah. Performing Hajj without being photographed taken is an example of his Taqwa.

He memorized the Quran from his father. He would read the Quran for 6 hours a day. He would also finish a Quran every day.

With his parents prayers Huzoor Hafiz e Millat enrolled at Jamia Naeemiya in Muradabad & stayed there for 3 years. His thirst for knowledge reached a peak. He was searching for a new teacher; his search led him to Hazrat Sadr Al Shari'ah. He arrived at Madrasa Mueeniyah, in Ajmer in 1342 A.H.

The teaching of various different books and subjects were divided by the teachers. With effort & hard work Hazrat Hafiz-e-Millat completed the whole Dars-e-Nizami syllabus. His exam was taken which included a written & verbal test. Hazrat Hafiz-e-Millat Alaihi Rahma answered the questions with such brilliance that the examiner closed the book & stated that he would not examine him any further as his competence had already impressed him.

He completed his studies of Hadith in Ajmer Sharief at the hands of Hazrat Sadr Al Shar'ah but due to some reasons, his graduation ceremony did not take place. He received his certificate of graduation in Bareilly Sharief in 1351 AH.

During the month of Shabaan in 1352 AH, Hazrat Sadr Al Shari'ah (Alaihi Rahmah) summoned Hafiz-e-Millat (Alaihi Rahmah) to Bareilly Shareef & said that because he (Sadr Al Shari'ah) had spent so much time away from his home district of Aazamgarh, it has become corrupted. He wanted Hazrat Hafiz-e-Millat (Alaihir Rahmah) to take up a teaching post at Madrasa Ashrafiya. Huzoor Hafiz e Millat followed the instructions. Hafiz-e-Millat (Alaihir Rahmah) accepted a monthly salary of Rs.35 whereas he was offered Rs.100 in Agra and Rs500 in Calcutta.

On the 29th Shawwal, 1353 AH (January 1934); he was appointed as the head teacher at Madrasa Ashrafiya. Many of the great scholars of Islam today were his students, or are the students of his students.  

Apart from building Islamic institutes, written works were also among his efforts. The valuable treasure of knowledge that he left behind is not counted in quantity but quality :

- Ma'rif-e-Hadith
- Irshad al-Quran
- Al-Irshad
- Anba' al-Ghayb
- Al-Misb al-Jadid
- Firqa-e-Na'jiya
- Fatawa Azeeziya
- Hashiya Sharh Mishkaat

On Monday, 1st Jamadi-al-Akhir, 1396 A.H (May 31 1976), he gave his lesson of Sahih al-Bukhari. He taught from Kitab al-Jana'iz & lectured on the topic of death. During the lecture, he mentioned that today is Monday and this is the day that Sayyiduna RasoolAllah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wassalam) was born and the day he left this world. On the night of the May 31 1976 at 11:55 p.m., this Mountain of Knowledge left this world. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Illayhi Raji'un.