Urs Shareef ; Alim-e-Rabbani Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf (Rehmatullahi alaih),Kicchocha Shareef [d.1347 H] :

15th Rabi Al Thani - Urs Shareef ; Alim-e-Rabbani Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf (Rehmatullahi alaih),Kicchocha Shareef [d.1347 H] :

Alim-e-Rabbani, Sultan al-Waizeen, Hadrat Allama Al Hajj

Abu Muhammad Mawlana Sayyad Shah Ahmad Ashraf

Ashrafi al-Jilani Wali Ahad Sajjada Nasheen

Rehmatullahi alaih

Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih was a great saint and revered all over the Muslim world. His knowledge was so vast that great scholars of his time were totally amazed and bewildered.

Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih was one of the most remarkably eloquent orators of his time which earned him the title 'Sultan al-Waizeen'. The eminent scholar and religious personality A'la Hadrat Mujaddid-e-Deen o Millat Imam-e-Ahl as-Sunnat Mawlana Ash Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Radi 'Allahu anhu of Bareilly Shareef used to stand with respect when listening to the speech's of Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih stating that Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf's Rehmatullahi alaih words made him feel closer to Madinah Shareef.

Birth

Alim-e-Rabbani Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih is the son of A'laHadrat Ashrafi Miya Radi Allahu anhu. He is also the maternal grandfather of Hadrat Shaykh al-Islam w'al Muslimeen and maternal uncle and Pir-o-Murshid of His Holiness Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind Rehmatullahi alaih. He was born in Kicchocha Shareef on the 4th of Shawwal 1286 A.H which is 1869.

Education

In keeping with the tradition of Sufia-e-Kiram,the custom of beginning reading in the name of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala - Bismillah Khani - was performed in spiritual surroundings by a well known Muhaddith, Hadrat A'le Ahmad Phulwaree Rehmatullahi alaih who taught the science of AHadith at Masjid-e-Nabiwe for forty years. Hadrat A'le Ahmad Phulwaree Rehmatullahi alaih was already in the house of A'laHadrat 'Ashrafi Miya' Radi 'Allahu Anhu in Chillah (forty day mediation) and as such Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih was able to start his education with such a distinguished personality.

Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih received his early education at home from his illustrious father A'laHadrat 'Ashrafi Miya' Radi 'Allahu Anhu. He went onto receive the best of tuition available at the time from Mawlana Moinuddin Abul Khayr Manekpuri and Ustad al-Ulama Hadrat Muhammad Luftullah Aligarhi Ridwanullahi ta'ala aliahi m'ajmain who took him under his wing.

Dastar-e-Fazilat

It is the tradition that the turban of honour is awarded after the completion of Dars-e-Nizami in the Masjid. However Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih is extremely fortunate that he dreamt that the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam wrapped the turban on his head. As a result of this remarkable dream no Dastar Bandi ceremony took place.This obviously had a profound effect and outcome on him.

Khilafat

After completing his studies and education Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih became a disciple (mureed) of his father A'laHadrat 'Ashrafi Miya' Radi 'Allahu Anhu. Everyone knew Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih was destined for spiritual greatness from birth and the mujahideen he endured for forty days under the spiritual guidance of his Peer-o-Murshid. It was after this that he obtained ijazzat (permission) of Silasil (orders) and Khilafat (successorship).

Marriage

Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih married the daughter of Hadrat Sayyad Shah Ashraf Hussain Rehmatullahi alaih in 1309 A.H. Ustad al-Ulama Hadrat Mawlana Muhammad Luftullah Aligarhi Rehmatullahi alaih performed the nikah ceremony. He had three daughters and one son : Hadrat Sayyad Mukhtar Ashraf 'Sarkar-e-Kalan' Rehmatullahi alaih.

Janasheen

A'laHadrat 'Ashrafi Miya' Radi 'Allahu Anhu nominated Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih as his Wali Ahad Janasheen in1327 A.H (1910) to which he remained for nearly twenty years until he left this world in 1347 A.H. Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih served his mureeds with dignity and humilty and was totally devoted as sajjada nasheen. He travelled effortlessly throughout the sub-continent preaching and guiding the light of Ahl as-Sunnah and Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to every corner he crossed. Together with His Eminence Makhdoom al-Millat Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam-e-Hind Rehmatullahi alaih, Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih were known as the kings of orators of their time.

Through the many journeys of Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih, he acquired many noteworthy khulifa's and disciples.Of the most noteworthy were :

1.Makhdoom al-Millat Huzoor Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind

2.Hadrat Mawlana Sayyad Shah Mustufa Ashraf - Kicchocha Sharif

3.Hadrat Mawlana Mohiyuddin Ashraf - Kicchcoha Shareef

Bhagalpur

Of the many journeys of Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih Bhagalpur and Machipur are special in that since he first arrived there he captivated the villagers with his extraodinary speeches and humility. This region to this day is very much an Ashrafi foothold as a large number of Muslims and their successive families have come into the Ashrafiya Silsila.

Wissal

Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih left this temporary world on the 15th of Rabbi al-Thani (Akhir) 1930 leaving behind one son Hadrat Sayyad Mukhtar Ashraf 'Sarkar-e-Kalan' Rehmatullahi alaih and three daughters and a large number of disciples and followers to mourn. Sadly illness had confined him to bed for nineteen days and he passed away after performing Isha Salat on the 15th of Rabi al-Thani 1347 AH. Thousands attended his Janaza Namaaz (funeral prayer) and his grave is next to the shrine of his father and murshid A'laHadrat 'Ashrafi Miya' Radi 'Allahu Anhu.

In his journal 'Asawad al-A'zam' Sadral-Afazil Mawlana Naimuddin Muradabadi Rehmatullahi alaih paid homage to him with the following words " Today every corner of Islami Hind has turned into a sea of grief and sorrow in which the dashing waves of sadness and distress do not allow to row the boat of patience : the whole world of Islam is dipping in the vortex of grief."

"Hazron sal nargis apni benooripa roti hai

Bari mushkil se hota chaman mai dedawar paida"

This tragedy shook the Ashrafi Dynasty to its roots as Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih was regarded as the flag bearer of the Ashrafi household.However Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih had already groomed his nephew and son-in-law Makhdoom al-Millat Hadrat Mawlana Al-Hajj Abul Muhamid Pir Sayyad Shah Muhammad Ashrafi al-Jilani Kicchochawi Huzoor Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind Rehmatullahi alaih as his natural successor and passed onto him his entire spiritual qualities and characteristics. Hadrat Muhaddith al-A'zam al-Hind Rehmatullahi alaih was showered with blessings from A'la Hadrat 'Ashrafi Miya' Radi 'Allahu Anhu and Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih, and was fortunate enough to receive khelafat from Hadrat Mawlana Ahmad Ashraf Rehmatullahi alaih in the holy City of Madinah Sharif at the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's shrine..