Life History

Chittagong, The Birth Place

Chittagong is a place well known and much -discussed about in this world Emperor Aurangzeb renamed it 'Islamabad.1 On their way to Hast Asia, the Sahabas stayed temporarily in Chittagong and propa¬gate Islam. Next to them a large number of Arabian 'Olis', 'Darbeshes including Tabeyin', Tabey-Tabeyins'. propagated the religion of Nabiji (s). As a result the language of Chittagong took quite a different shape from the Bengali language The Bengali is by nature inseparably mixed up with the culture of Bengal, whereas the language of Chittagong is mixed up with the Arabic language from days immemorial It was true in the past, at present it holds good, and will remain so in

future till the Qeyamat, Inshallah. Many words in the language of Chittagong has their origin in Arabic An original difference between the two languages is that in Bengali the negative word 'no' follows the verb, where as in Arabic, 'no' precedes the verb in the language of Chittagong no (similar to Arabic `la’) precedes the verb like the Arabic. From the sacred land of Arabia descendants of Saved Siddiqi, Faruki Clans and of the Sahabas came to this sub-continent and settled here to propagate the holy Islam, leaving their motherland relations and friends for ever. Following the path of Sultanul Hind Hazrat Khaja Moinuddin Chisti Ajmiri (R.A.) many Arabian families settled in different parts of Delhi, the capital of the sub-continent, and propagated Islam, In Ben¬gal among the Arab settlements, Gaur and Sonargaon stood outstand¬ing. Gaur, the old capital of Bengal was ruled by Muslim rulers for long, hence many Arabians settled there. The first settlers of Chittagong were the Budhists. In past Chittagong part had commercial connections with Arabian ports like Basra, Eden, Alexandria, Akaba. Swis, etc The Arabs were mainly merchants engaged in extensive maritime trade thiough out the world Chittagong port on the sea-linked met karnafuli attracted world attention ior its geographically favourable position It was but natural that Arabs would take the opportunity of operating in Chittagong port. Famous Arabian traveller Ibn Batuta, who visited Chittagong in 135 1 praised the port as a prosperous trade-centre So by the efforts of the Arabin Sahabas. Tabeyins and Tabe - Tabeyins ins began the propa-gation of Islam in Chittagong, by and by Muslim settlements began growing beside the Buddhists. Though Chittagong is called a port of Bengal it has a different history due to its geographical position. The entity called Chittagong is the natural gift of great Allah Pak. It has mountains hills in the east Bay of Bengal in the west m the middle there are more than one rivers and canals including the rever of a strong current Karnafuli. Thus Chittagong is the natural gift of great Allah pak. It has mountains hills in the east Bay of Bengal in the west, in the middle there are more than one rivers and canals including the rever of a strong current Karnafuli. Thus Chittagong is enriched by nature. The Family Father Hazrat Syed Wares Ali (R.A.) father of Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) was a man of high intellect. He was an "Oli" of Aliaha Pak. a spirited and patriotic person. He was a Murid of Hazrat Syed Ahamed Sahid (R.A.). I he oppressions upon his life to the cause of freedom under the leadership of Hazrat Syed Ahamed Sahid (R.A.). Whilespending time in "Jihad", in company of Syed Ahamed Sahid (R.A.) he reached Peshwar in 1826. There from his " Jihadi Kafela" went to Naoshahara under the commond of Hazrat Syed Ahamed Sahid (R.A.) with a view to help the oppressed Muslims of Punjab, ruled by Ranjit Singh. The Kaiela under Syed Ahamed Sahid (R.A.) had to face British & Ranjit’s army, as they protested against oppression. Then began an unexpected battle. in that battle of' Punjatar ofpanjab in 1829 many Sufi 1 Ulemas and Darbesh tooK part. Hazrat Wares Ali (R.A,) Died a death ol martyr in the battle ol Paniatai His age at death could not be ascertained despite investigation It may be mentioned here that the battle of Balakot was fought in 1831and Hazrat Syed Ahamed Brelvi (R.A) died a mamr's death on Friday 13th May that year. Sons & Daughter Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) had two sons and two daughters 1. Hazrat Syed Gulam Mostafa Ali (R.A.). 2 Hazrat Syed Abdullah R. A.). 3. Hazrat SyedaJohraKhatun (R.A) 4. Hazrat SyedaJobeda Ratlin (R.A.). Among them a son Hazrat Syed Abdullah Ali (R.A.) died at the age of only seven and a daughter Syeda Jobeda Khatun (R.A.) died when she was twelve Hazrat Syeda Jobeda Khatun was the "Hafeza' of holy Quran. Hazrat Syed Gulam Mostafa Ali (R.A.) had two sons and two daughters. 1. Hazrat Syed Masudur Rahaman (R.A.) 2. Hazrat Syeda Tamanna Khatun (R.A.) 3. Hazrat Syed Muhammad Jane Alam (R.A.) 4. Hazrat Syeda Fatima Khatun (R.A.) Hazrat Syeda Johara Khatun had two daughters and a son. 1. Hazrat Syeda Siddiqa Khatun (R.A.) 2 Hazrat Syeda Hazera Maulana (R.A.) 3. Hazrat Maulana Syed Ahamed Masum (R, A.) List of the Khalifa's There was a list containing Hit name-of 35 worthy and well known Khalifas of Hazrat Sufi Syed fatheh Ali Waisi (R.A) in his book Diwane Waisi`. It is known that the list was prepared by his affectionate holy daughter Hazrat Johra Khatun (R.A) after Hazrat Waisi(RH)'s death. It is to be noted here that I saw in other books a list contain ing names of 39 Khalifas of Hazrat Waisi (R.A.). In that list the first name of the series was Maulana Abdul Haq, Sijgram, Murshidabad., Hazrat Maulana Golam Salmani, Furfura, Hooghly serial number 2, Hazrat Maulana Abu Bakar Siddiqu, serial number 3, Hazrat Maulana Ekramul Haq. Punasi Murshidabad and in this way there were 35 names serially arranged. But the acceptability of the list was not free from debate. In Dewan E Waisi, there was a list containing the names of 35 bujurg 'Khalifas, with properly arranged serial numbers. The list given here. 1. Hazrat Maulana Abdul Haq (R.A.) Village and Post office Seejgram, District Murshidabad. West Bengal. 2. Hazrat Maulavi Aiazuddin (R.A.) Alipur, West Bengal, India 3. Hazrat Sufi Niaz Ahamed (R.A.), Katrapota District Bardhaman, India. 4. Hazrat Sufi Ekramul Haq (R.A.) Punasi, District-Murshida bad. West Bengal 5. Hazrat Maulavi Matiyur Rahaman (R.A.) Chittagong Bangladesh. 6. Hazrat Hafez Md. Ibrahim (R.A.) Chittagong, Bangladesh. 7. Hazrat Maulavi Abdul Azij (R.A.) Chandra JahanabacL District - Hooghly. 8. Hazrat Maulavi Akbar Ali (R.A.) Sylet, Bangladesh. 9. Hazrat Maulavi Amzad Ali (R.A.) Dhaka, Bangladesh. 10. Hazrat Maulavi AhamadAli Sureshwari (R A.) Sureshwar Faridpur, Bangladesh. 11 . Hazrat Deedar Baksh (R.A.) Padmapukur District Howrah India. 12. Hazrat Shah Bakiullah (R A ) Kanpur District Hooghly, India 13. Hazrat Maulavi Abu Bakar Siddiqi (R.A.). Furfura District- Hooghly. India, 14. Hazrat Samsul Olama Sufi Golam Salmani (R.A.) Furfura, India. 15. Hazrat Maulavi Ganimattullah (R.A.) Furfura, India. 16. Hazrat Munshi Sadakatullah (R.A.) Furfura, India. 17. Hazrat Munshi Sarfiitullah (R.A.) Khatun District Hooghly, India. 18. Hazrat Shekh Korban Ali (R.A,). Bania Talab, Kolkata, India. 19. Hazrat Samsul Olama Maulavi Mirza Ashraf Ali (R.A.) Kolkata. 20. Hazrat Syed Wazid Ali (R.A.) Mehadibag, Kolkata. 21. Hazrat Maulavi Gul Husein (R.A.) Khorasan, Afghanistan, 22. Hazrat Maulavi Ataur Rahaman (R.A.) 24 Parganas, India 23. Hazrat Maulavi Mubinullah (R A ) Rampara District Hooghly India 24. Hazrat Maulana Syed Julfikar Ali (R A ) Titagar District- 24 Parganas. India 25. Hazrat Maulavi Ataye Elahi (R A ) Mongolkat District - Bardhaman, India 26. Hazrat Munshi Sulaiman (R A ) District 24 Parganas, India 27. Hazrat Munshi Nasiruddin (R A ) District Nadia, India 28. Hazrat Maulavi Abdul Qader (R A) Faridpur, Bangladesh. 29. Hazrat Maulavi Kaji Khoda Newaz (R A) Dahasa. District Hooghly, India. 30 . Hazrat Maulavi Abdul Qadir (R A) Baidyabati, District Hooghly, India. 31. Hazrat Kaji Fasahatullah (4) 24 Parganas, India. 32. Hazrat Shrkh Shekh Lal Muhammad (R A) Chinsura, District Hooghly, India. 33. Hazrat Maulavi Syed Azam Husein (R.A.) Madina Sharif. 34. Hazrat Maulavi Muhammad Syed Obayedullah (R.A.) Santipur, District-Nadia, India. 35. Hazrat Maulavi Hafez Md. Ibrahim Saheb (R.A.), Furfura. District- Hooghly. It is noteworthy that among these great 'Olis' of Allaha, Khalifas the names of Matiyur Rahaman bearing number 5 in the serial and Hazrat Hafez Muhammad Ibrahim bearing number 6, both of them were mentioned on the residents of Chittagong. This list came to my notice again andagain through the books published in India. So I tried to find out the address, location, Mazar sharifs of these two great Khalifas of Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) who lived in Chittagong. But I failed to get any information. It seems to me that the graves/Mazar Sharifs of these two great 'Olis' are some where in Mirersarai, unknown to people. The Death, Zanaja and Dafan The Death Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) accepted an earnest invitation from om of his devotees in Mollasimla village under Nasibpur Railway station of Tarakeshwar route in Hooghly district. Some of his well - known Khalifas were with him. He took rest in the house of his 'Muriel Khandkar Abdur Rahaman, On Saturday 19 Agrahayan 1293 B.S after the end of "Tahajjud Namaj' at midnight, Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) felt unwell then he called all his Murids and Khalifas who were present there and told them that the final moment of his life was approaching. He also told that upon him was coming. “Tanfir's Foyej”., in a word, he was get ting the hints for leaving the world On that night sitting in "Marokab he asked about “Sabak” of everybody but did not give “Towajjo” to anybody except the Khalifa of Furfura. He asked to take him immediately. He advised all to receive "Nesbate Jamiya's Foyej from his holy daughter Syeda Johra Khatun, which he gave her as gift. After this he wanted to know from his worthy Khalifa Ha/rat Sufi Ahamed Ali Sureshwari, who was there at that time, about another of his Khalifas, Maulana Sufi Gulam Salmani with whom Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) had something to say. But he was not there. Then Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) asked his devotees to send him back to Kolkata immediately. With the arrival of the train of Howrah Station Kolkata, Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) died. Just a moment before his death he wanted to know whether there appeared red cloud on the sky. His Khalifas, Murids and companions looked at the sky, saw the crimson clouds there. Hazrat Waisi (R.A ) said that this signalled his parting. The train carrying Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) reached Howrah Station on 8th Rabi-Al-Awwal, 1308 Hijri. 20th Agrahayan 1293 BS. and 6th December 1886 AD. It was Sunday the time was 4 p.m. died ‘Asheke Rasl’ the great ‘Oli’ Allaha Rasul Noma Hazrat Maulana Syed Sufi Fateh Ali Waisi (R.A). Innalillahi WaInna Ilaihey Rajeun. Zanaja and Dafan His ‘Mubarak’ body was taken to his Kolkata residence a room attached to Bibi Salet's mosque at Waliullaha Lane of Taltala, Kolkata. The news of the death of this great ‘Oli’ of Allah, Rasul Noma spread quickly through the country despite the existing underdeveloped communication system. So peoples in bands came crowding in and around Bibi Salet’s Mosque. His Khalifa’s Muris’s and devotees came with eyes filled with tiesrs. Next day, on Monday his first Namaj e Zanaja was performed again. On Wednesday again his Namaj e Zanaja was performed. Then on that night Hazrat Waisi (R.A) was buried in 2, Delhiwala graveyard of 24/1 Munsipara Lane at Munshi Bagan Mahalla at Maniktala, Kolkata. People from Bengal Assam, Bihar and other places came to his zanaja. Among them were his renowned Khalifas and Murids. Besides them were all 'Muhaddes' of Aliya Madrasa Kolkata, the teachers, the khatibs and Imams of almost all the mosques-large or small of Kolkata, including the famous Hafez Jamaluddin Mosque and Tipu sultan mosques. Famous and dignified personalities of the time, from different walks of life such as Nawabs, Pirs, Poets, literateurs, intellectuals joined the zanaja.

The Lifes Tale

Hazrat Syed Hans Ali, grand father of Hazrat Waisi (R, A ) came from Delhi, the capital of the sub-continent, and bagan living in the village of Mallik Sobhan in the Amirabad Union of Lohagara Upajela, South Chittagong. Todays famous Tewarihat is situated in the lohagara upajela on Chittagong, Koxbazar- Teknaf- Arakan high road. The Bara Auliya Degree College is some hundred metre south of lewanhat, attached to the western side of Arakan high road. Along Arakan high road, crossing the Baro Auliya College There appears a small road advancing towards left or eastern side, which leads to the birth place of Hazrat Waisi (R. A.). Its distance from Arakan high road is two hundred or three hundred metre only though the name of

the village was Mallik-Sobhan, many called the house of Hazrat Waisi (R. A.) the house of Fakirs. This house along with some other houses taken together formed Hazipara. Even today a myth is living that the house of Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) was free from the mischievous activi¬ties of robbers and thieves. No thief or robber could venture to enter into the house secretly, openly or by tricks. This tradition is on, even today, On enquiry I come to know that Hazrat Waisi (R.A.) and his brothers were three in numbei and the\ had a sister 1 he name of the sister was Hazrat Syeda Saleha Khatun.