Muhammad Sirajuddin Naqshbandi

Muhammad Sirajuddin Naqshbandi
Born	15 Muharram 1297 AH (30 December 1879) Mussa Zai Sharif, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Died	26 Rabi al-Awwal 1333 AH (12 February 1915) Mussa Zai Sharif, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Region	Islamic scholar/Sufi
School	Sunni Islam, Hanafi, Sufi, Naqshbandi
Influences Ahmad Sirhindi, Khwaja Muhammad Usman Damani
Influenced Pir Fazal Ali Qureshi, Muhammad Tahir Bakhshi

Khwaja Muhammad Sirajuddin Naqshbandi (Urdu: خواجہ محمد سراج الدین نقشبندی‎) was a prominent Islamic scholar and Sufi shaikh of Naqshbandi Sufi order in South Asia (present day Pakistan). He was born in 1879/1880 and died in 1915 at Mussa Zai Sharif, Dera Ismail Khan (present day Pakistan). His legacy and influence is still widespread in the world in the form of his followers and methodology.

Short biography

He was born on 15 Muharram 1297 AH (30 December 1879) at Mussa Zai Sharif, Dera Ismail Khan (present day Pakistan). He was son and successor of the famous Naqshbandi shaikh Khwaja Muhammad Usman Damani. He studied with Mulla Shah Muhammad and graduated at the age of 14. He took the Sulook (spiritual guidance) from his father and also studied books of Tasawwuf from him such as Maktubat (letters) of Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmed Sirhindi and Maktubat (letters) of Khwaja Muhammad Masum.

His father awarded him Khilafat (Ijazah in Sufism) on 3 Zul-Qada 1311 AH (10 May 1894) and gave him written Ijazat-nama (Sanad).

In 1324 AH, he went to Makkah and Madinah for the Muslim pilgrimage Hajj and visiting the Roza of the Islamic prophet Muhammad with 36 other companions. His companion Haji Mulla Sadr narrates that when he was visiting Madina, one day the shaikh took bath and went to visit the grave of the Prophet. He met with the Mujawirs (persons responsible to maintain a shrine) and talked to them; they gave him an Arabic dress which he wore, and gave him a burning candle. He lighted two cressets from that candle and entered the Rodha (inside of the shrine of Prophet Muhammad) in that Arabic dress. After praying for long, he came out and expressed gratitude to the Mujawirs.

Khwaja Sirajuddin awarded 34 or 36 persons with Khilafat. His most famous Khalifa and successor was Hazrat Pir Fazal Ali Qureshi, who was a prominent shaykh who spiritual legacy is still active throughout the world.

Khwaja Sirajuddin fell severely sick while he was 35 years old. He also consulted Hakim Ajmal Khan but could not recover and died due to Peripneumonia and Fever on Friday 26 Rabi al-Awwal 1333 AH (12 February 1915). He was buried alongside his father's grave at Mussa Zai Sharif in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.

His letters written to various persons are published with Urdu translation. The collection is part of the book in which letters of his father are also included.

Spiritual chain of succession

Main article: Naqshbandi Tahiri Golden Chain

Khwaja Sirajuddin Naqshbandi belongs to the Mujaddidi order of Sufism, which is the main branch of Naqshbandi Sufi tariqah. His spiritual lineage goes to Prophet Muhammad, through Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, the Mujaddid of eleventh Hijri century.

His Khulafa

From his 36 Khulafa, a few names are following:

• Hazrat Mawlana Hafiz Muhammad Ibrahim siraji Qlanadar (his son)
• Hazrat Khwaja Pir Fazal Ali Shah Qureshi. He is the most prominent of his Khulafa and his followers are widespread today in the whole world. He received his first Khilafat from Sayyad Laal Shah Hamdani and later from Khwaja Sirajuddin Naqshbandi.

• Hazrat Abu Saad Ahmed Khan
• Hazrat Mawlana Hussain Ali
• Hazrat Mawlana Ghulam Hasan
• Hazrat Mawlana Abdul Ahad
• Hazrat Abu Muhammad Barkat Ali Shah

External links

• Jalwa Gah-e-Dost (Urdu) 2nd edition (2008) by Khwaja Muhammad Tahir Bakhshi
• Short biography in Urdu by Mukhtar Ahmed Khokhar