Illustrious Family and Birth
Taajush Shari?ah, Hadrat Allama Mufti Mohammed Akhtar
Raza Khan Azhari al-Qaadiri, son of Mufassir-e-A?zam, Hadrat Maulana Ibrahim Raza
Khan (radi Allahu anhu), son of Hujjatul Islam, Hadrat Maulana Haamid Raza Khan (radi
Allahu anhu), son of Imam-e-Ahle Sunnah, Mujaddid-e-Deen-o-Millat, Ash Shah Imam
Ahmad Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu) was born on the 25th of Safar 1942, in the district
of Saudagran with in the city of Bareilly Shareef, India.
The name given during his
Aqeeqah was ?Mohammed.? He was also given the name Ismail Raza.However, the name
by which he is famously known is Akhtar Raza.
When he reached the tender age of 4
years, 4 months, 4 days, his respected father, Hadrat Maulana Ibrahim Raza (radi
Allahu anhu), who was a great Islamic Scholar of his age, arranged for his ?Bismillah
Kwaani? (Commencement of Islamic Studies). His eminent maternal grandfather, Ghousul
Waqt, Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind, Hadrat Maulana Shah Mustapha Raza Khan Noori (radi Allahu
anhu), performed the traditional ?Bismillah Kwaani?. All the students of the famous
Darul Uloom Manzare Islam, which was originally built by Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat, were
invited to this auspicious function.
Early Education
His mother, who is the blessed
and pious daughter of Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind (radi Allahu anhu), showed great
concern for his study as she was certain that he would be the Khalifah (Spiritual
Successor), of Huzoor Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind (radi Allahu anhu).
Peer-o-Murshid, Hadrat
Allama Akhtar Raza Khan Qibla gained his basic Islamic education within his blessed
home and he completed the basic recitation and study of the Holy Quran under the
guidance of his respected mother. He then studied further under the guidance of his
most respected father.
Having completed his basic studies at home, Hadrat Maulana
Ibrahim Raza Khan (radi Allahu anhu) enrolled him in Darul Uloom Manzare Islam in
Bareilly Shareef. Here, under the guidance of renowned teachers, he studied many
books, commencing with the basics such as, ?Mizaan, Munshaib, Nohmeer and proceeding
to much more advanced books such as Hidaya Akhirain, etc.
Education At The Al Azhar
University
In 1963, at the age 21, he was sent to Cairo in Egypt to study at the
famous Al Azhar University. He studied Tafseer of the Holy Quran and Ahadith foe3
years at this Islamic University. It has been stated that even as a child, he was
very intelligent, a person of great wisdom and possessed an excellent memory. While
studying at the Al Azhar University, teachers and students were surprised when he
conversed with them in superior Arabic. When he spoke to them, they would often look
stunned at his mastery over the Arabic language.
The examinations conducted at Al
Azhar University are mostly done in writing, however the general knowledge sections
are tested orally. It is stated that when the students were asked general knowledge
questions by the examiner, none of them were able to answer these questions. The
examiner used to then direct these questions to Taajush Shariah, Hadrat Allama Mufti
Mohammed Akhtar Raza Khan Azhari al-Qaadiri. He used to
Brief live history of
Taajush Shariah Hadrat Allama Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan
Al-Azhari Al-Qaadiri