Azam ul Mashayekh Hazrat Allama Qazi Syed Shah Azam Ali Soofi Azam Hasani Husaini Quadri Qibla (May Allah bless his soul), a widely celebrated pious personality among Muslim intellectuals and Sufi scholars in this 21st century well known in the public with the title of ‘Azam ul Mashayekh’ (1931-2020). His life was dedicated to preserve and promote core Islamic knowledge and practices. A rare and widely acclaimed religious figure among various Islamic educational and spiritual circles since last six decades. Born in a renowned righteous Syed (Saadaat) family. A family that was the epitome of deep Islamic knowledge and spirituality. Both maternal (30) and paternal (23) lineages linked to the great Shaykh of Baghdad Hazrat Ghouse Ul Azam Syeduna Shykh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (May Allah sanctify his secret). Hence the honourable title “Najeeb Ut Tarffain” best suits him.
Pious ancestors of Hazrat Azam Ul Mashayekh (May Allah bless his soul) migrated from Baghdad to Narkhoda, near Hyderabad and are resting blissfully in their shrines. To mention, the famous Saint Hazrat Syed Jahangeer Uddin al-Baghdadi Quadri alias Jahangeer Peeran (May Allah sanctify his secret), whose shrine is located at Yelmannarwa, Shadnagar, Telangana State.
His maternal great grand father was a prominent Sufi descendant of Ghouse ul Azam (May Allah sanctify his secret) Saheb Ul Auliya Qutub E Waqt Hazrat Syed Saheb Hasani Hussaini Quadri (May Allah bless his soul) is resting in a shrine at Tekmal, Medak.
Name: Syed Azam Ali Soofi
Kunniyah: Abul Azam
Titles: Azam ul Mashayekh, Misbah ul Mufassireen, Waqaar us Soofia, Soofi Azam Peer, Hazrat Qazi Sahab qibla etc.
Pen Name: ‘Azam’ & ‘Soofi Azam’
Alias: Murshid Peer
Birth:
Hazrat Azam ul Mashayekh (May Allah bless his soul) was born on 16th Rabi-ul-Awal, 1350 Hijri (July 1931), at Tasawwuf Kadah, Kabutarkhana, Hyderabad Deccan.
Madd-e
Glad tidings from Hazrat Soofi Azam Qutub E Deccan (May Allah sanctify his secret):
Hazrat Syed Us Soofia (May Allah sanctify his secret) shares a blessed dream in his diary: “My father & spiritual guide Imam Us Soofia Hazrat Soofi Azam Qutub E Deccan (May Allah sanctify his secret) after his demise, presided in my dream and comforted me with the glad-tidings of a pious child, who would be the bearer of beautiful qualities of his ancestors. Moreover, he will continue the blessed mission of preaching and promoting Islam. Name him after my name, Syed Azam Ali Soofi”. Certainly, the dream came true and Syed us Soofia (May Allah sanctify his secret) was blessed with a son. He named the son on his father’s name “Syed Azam Ali Soofi”.
Islamic & Morden Education:
Hazrat Syed us Soofia (May Allah sanctify his secret) foresighted future challenges and demands of the society. He himself dressed his beloved son Azam Ul Mashayekh (May Allah bless his soul) with Islamic education, transmitted traditional etiquettes and high standard morals, drove him towards spiritual excellence in his own company. On the other side He (May Allah sanctify his secret) encouraged him to achieve modern education.
Islamic Education:
Hazrat Azam ul Mashayekh (May Allah bless his soul) completed Nazira of Quran at the age of seven. He Mastered Qiraa’t with Tajweed before His teacher Qari Ashrah (Master of Ten ways of recitation) Hafiz Qari Shaykh Salim Amoodi Soofiyani (May Allah bless his soul) and achieved exemplary grades in aTajweed, Qira’at-e-Imaam Asim Kufi (may Allah bless his soul). He studied ‘Dars e Nizami’ (a globally acknowledged Islamic curriculum) before his father Hazrat Syed us Soofia (may Allah bless his soul). He passed many short-term Islamic courses such as Imamat, Khitabat, Qaza’at, etc. from prestigious Islamic University Jamia Nizamia. Maulana Mahfuz Shareef (May Allah bless his soul) taught Azam Ul Mashayekh (May Allah bless his soul) Arabic grammar and literature (Sarf O Nahu). He was also ‘Munshi Fazil’ a famous Islamic graduate degree from university of Punjab under the supervision of Maulana Salih Al Azhari (Alumni of Al-Azhar University, Egypt). In addition to this, He (May Allah bless his soul) attended various sessions of distinguished scholars of his time at Madrasa Soofiya which was accredited to Jamia Nizamia. Later He (May Allah bless his soul) excelled in Tafseer, Hadith and sciences of hadith, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence and its sciences), Tasawwuf, kalam (Islamic theology), Mantiq (Logic to Islamic philosophy). He (May Allah bless his soul) was awarded authority of hadith (Sanad-e-Hadees) by His father and spiritual master Hazrat Syed Us Soofia (May Allah sanctify his secret).
Modern Education:
Hazrat Azam ul Mashayekh (May Allah bless his soul) primarily studied at Urdu Shareef madrasa, after His secondary school He joined City college, Hyderabad, for His intermediate education. He further got admitted to Osmania University to pursue Bachelor of Sciences. Besides His meritorious academic records at university, His sportsmanship is also admirable. Basket ball team of Osmania University earns victory at national level for the first time in his leadership. Dr Mohammed Azam Khan (General Physician), Dr Mohammed Samsam Uddin (General Physician), Dr Muhammad Abdul Lateef (Botanist), Dr Shahbaz Khan (Zoologist), Dr Khwaja Mohammed Ghouse (Scientist), Mr. Mohammed Abdul Rab and Mr. Inam ul Haq (Superintendent Engineer) etc. were some of His notable university batchmates.
Transfer of Hereditary Blessings:
Hazrat Azam ul Mashayekh was busy in His continuous efforts of pursuing higher education, he came across a spiritual moment at a very young age, Hazrat Syed Us Soofia (May Allah sanctify his secret) his father while departing this temporary world embraced him tightly in his arms, suddenly he witnessed an enormous opening of spiritual grace. During this course of action, Hazrat Syed Us Soofia (May Allah sanctify his secret) departed to the blissful permanent abode. After experiencing this spiritual transmission of hereditary blessings, Hazrat Azam ul Mashayekh (May Allah bless his soul) got unconscious for a while.
Multiple Languages:
In addition to being an expert in Islamic and modern education. He (May Allah bless his soul) held command over four languages Arabic, English, Persian and Urdu. His (May Allah bless his soul) translation works that are mentioned in the upcoming paragraphs are outstanding.
Calligraphy Expertise:
He (May Allah bless his soul) inherited calligraphy skills from his ancestors. He (May Allah bless his soul) too had graceful penmanship skills. His (May Allah bless his soul) regular handwriting was also very beautiful and elegant.
Spiritual Authority:
In the spiritual company of His father, He practised the soul refining and heart purifying process of Tasawwuf. His continuous deep contemplations (muraqaba), struggling against self (Mujaheda) and occupying himself in the remembrance of Allah (zikr) boosted him spiritually. On which, His father Hazrat Syed us Soofia (May Allah sanctify his secret) awarded Hazrat Azam ul Mashayekh (May Allah bless his soul) all spiritual authorities and permissions on a very special occasion held at Tasawwuf Manzil, near High Court of Hyderabad, on 26th Rajab, 1365H. The event held to commemorate the 16th Annual Urs of His grand father Hazrath Soofi Azam Qutub e Deccan (May Allah sanctify his secret). Hazrat Azam ul Mashaikh received spiritual successorship in Quadria Muqarramia, Quadria Nasabiyyah, Chishtiya, Suharwardiya, Naqshbandia, Owaisiya and Shaziliya chains of spiritual orders. He was also awarded the authority on a world-famous book on Salawaat i.e. ‘Dalail ul Khayraat’. An interesting fact about his personality is that after his father’s demise he (May Allah bless his soul) independently managed his and family affairs. He carried out his inherited legacy from the very young age of eighteen.