Shah Niyaz Ahmad
Shah Niyaz Ahmad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1742 |
| Died | 1834 (aged 91–92) |
| Resting place | Khanqah-e-Niazia, Bareilly |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
Shah Niyaz Ahmad (1742-1834) was a Sufi, poet[1] and author from India.[2][3][4] He belonged to an Alvi Syed family through his paternal line and Rizvi Syed through his maternal line.[3][4] His Tomb lies in the city Bareilly Sharif of Uttar Pradesh.[3][4]
Education
His early education took place at home under his maternal grandfather Sa'id-ud-din, who taught him Qur'an memorization. He later attended Madrasa Faqriya in Delhi.[3][4] At an early age, he completed his studies in Qur’an, Hadith, Tafsir, Fiqh, and Arabic grammar in Delhi under Fakhruddin Dehlavi, and later taught at the madrasa before becoming its principal.[3][5]
Works
His primary collection is the Diwan-e-Niyaz (over 50 editions since 1865), compiling poetry in Persian, Urdu, Arabic, and Hindavi on themes of divine love and Wahdat-ul-Wujood.[6][7]
Diwan-e-Niyaz contents
Persian section: 101 ghazals; 1 munajaat (192 couplets); 1 Arabic ghazal; 1 Persian-Arabic ghazal; 2 masnavis (15 couplets each); 5 mustazads (40 couplets each).[8][1]
Other notable works
Risaala Raaz-o-Niyaz[9]
Shams-ul-Ain Shareef (also: Kashf-ul-Ghain Min Shams-ul-Ain)[9]
Tohfa'e Niyaz ba Hazrat-e-Be-Niyaz (Persian treatise on tasawwuf)[9][3][7][2]
Hashiyah Sharah ‘Mulla Jalaal’ (Arabic commentary on religious philosophy)[9][4]
Rekhta and Sufinama also catalog 286 nazms, 862 masnavis, 586 naats, qasidas, and qit'as.[10][11]
Sufi Initiation
Shah Niyaz Ahmad received his initial Sufi training from Syed Fakhruddin Muhammad Dehlvi (Fakhr-e-Jahan) in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.[3] He was later initiated into the Qadiriyya order by Abdullah Shah Baghdadi, a direct descendant of Abdul Qadir Jilani.[3]
He held affiliations across multiple tariqas. Qadiriyya via Abdullah Shah Baghdadi and Mohiuddin Diyasnami, Chishti-Nizami via Fakhr-e-Jahan and Saiduddin; Suhrawardiyya via Fakhr-e-Jahan, and Chishti-Sabri-Naqshbandi via Shah Rahmatullah.[3]
The Sufi order he established is known as the Niyazi Silsila.[3]
Marriage and children
Shah Niyaz Ahmad married twice. His first wife, the daughter of Abdullah Baghdadi, died after several years of marriage.[4] He had two sons, Shah Nizam-ud-Din Husain and Shah Nasir-ud-Din, with his second wife.[4]
Death and legacy
He died on 6 Jumada al-Thani 1250 AH (9 October 1834) in Bareilly, where his tomb is located.[4] His urs (death anniversary) is traditionally observed each year at his shrine in Bareilly.[4]
Successors and disciples
His eldest son, Nizamuddin Hussain, succeeded him as his main khalifa (spiritual successor).[4] Other noted khulafa included Syed Muhammed Sani of Badakhshan, Maulvi Abdul Latif of Samarkand, Maulvi Naimatullah of Kabul, Maulvi Yar Muhammed of Kabul, Mulla Jan Muhammed of Kabul, Maulana Waz Muhammed of Badakhshan, Maulvi Muhammed Husain of Mecca, Mirza Asadullah Baig of Bareilly, Mirza Agha Muhammad of Jabalpur, Maulvi Ubaidullah of Mansehra, and Shah Miskeen Jaipuri.[12][13][14]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi's urdu books | Author Books". Sufinama. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- 1 2 Sultana, Razia (22 March 2026). "The Mystical Legacy of Shah Niaz Ahmad Barelvi: A Comprehensive Study of His Life, works, and the Philosophy of Wahdat al-Wujūd". LECTURES: Journal of Islamic and Education Studies. 5 (1): 58–69. doi:10.58355/lectures.v5i1.196. ISSN 2964-1470.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "The Life and Legacy of Hazrat Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi: A Saint, Scholar, and Poet | Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam". www.newageislam.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Profile of Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi". Sufinama. Archived from the original on 15 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi - Profile & Biography". Rekhta. Archived from the original on 17 July 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "All writings of Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi". Rekhta Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Profile of Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi". Sufinama. Archived from the original on 15 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 Shah Niyaz Ahmad Rehmat Ullah Aleh (1313). Dewaan Niyaz Be Niyaz-3.
- 1 2 3 4 "Hazrat_shah_Niyaz_be_Niyaz". Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi. 10 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "Urdu Books of Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi". Rekhta Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "video of Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi". Sufinama. Archived from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ Zahurul Hasaan Sharib (2006). The Sufi Saints of the Indian sub continent. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN 81-215-1052-X.
- ↑ Zahurul Hasaan Sharib (2002). Sufis of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Kitab Bhavan. ISBN 81-7151-315-8.
- ↑ Dr Bilquis Jafri. Khanqah-e-Niazia, Epitome of Sufism.