Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri first received the titled of “Shaykh-ul-Islam” from the great saintly and revolutionary figure, al-Mu`ammar Hadrat as-Sayyid Ghulm Rasl Shh Khk of Chakwl (Pr Khk Shh Shib) who had died at the age of 130 years! He was a direct student of Imm al-Hind Mawln ash-Shh Ahmad Rid Khn al-Barlw and was among the main khalfas (spiritual successor) of Naqbul-Ashrf Sayyidun Ibrhm Sayfuddn al-Jln of Baghdad. He also had association with Pr Shh Sharafuddn, Khawja Muhammad Qsim Kiyn Moharw, Sayyidun Mihr `Al Shh Golraw, al-Hfiz Khawja `Abdul-Karm, as-Sayyid Jam`at `Al Shh al-Muhaddith `Alpr, Yahy Qalandar, Mawln Amjad `Al Ridw, Mawln Kifyatullh Dehelw and Mawln Anwar Shh Kashmr. He would give the title of “Shaykh-ul-Islam” to Shaykh Tahir-ul-Qadri and desired only for him to lead his janza prayer. The Shaykh-ul-Hadth of The Minhaj University, al-`Allma Muhammad Mi`rj-ul-Islm (direct student of Hadrat ash-Shaykh Muhammad Karam Shh al-Azhar – quddisa sirruh) narrated directly (mubsharan) that he heard ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid Ghulm Rasl Shh Khk say:
“mujhe HaDrat ghawth a`Zam sayyid `abdul-qdir jln raHmatullhi `alayh ne Hukm diy he ke logo k batd ke muHammad Tahir-ul-qdr shaykh-ul-islm h!”
“Hadrat Ghawth A`zam Sayyid `Abdul-Qdir Jln ordered me to tell the people that Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is Shaykh-ul-Islam!”
He then sent a flag to Shaykh Tahir-ul-Qadri with the following written on it: “Shaykh-ul-Islam Professor Doctor Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri”. This flag was gifted by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri to Shaykh-ul-Hadth al-`Allma Muhammad Mi`rj-ul-Islm who still has it among his possessions. So he was among the first to give the title of “Shaykh-ul-Islam” and that seems to be in the early 1990’s. The above has been reported by abundant witnesses amongst whom is the son of as-Sayyid Ghulm Rasl Shh Khk, as-Sayyid Mahmd-ul-Hasan Shh Khk. The same has been related from as-Sayyid Ghulm Rasl Shh Khk via many of his disciples and you can even ask them today to verify this.
* His son, Pr as-Sayyid Mahmd-ul-Hasan Shh Khk Qalandar writes in his book “Tadhkira e Khk”:
“HaDrat pr sayyid rasl shh khaki ne professor doctor muHammad Thir ul qdr k dn khidmt k malhZ khTir rakthe hone unhe(n) shaykh ul islm ke laqab s nawz. p farmy kartathe ke professor SHib dn k khidmat ka km `aSr HDir ke taqD ki `ayn muTbiq kar-rahh j k waqt k Darrat h. p shar`at e muTahhara k muTbiq chal rah... muSTafaw inqilb ke liye tag o d kar rahh mazd farmth he agar k professor SHib k Himyat nah kart t uss mukhlifat bh nah karn chhy. p farmth ke us js qbil shakhS kmiln e mushkil h. aSl m qdr SHib ke murshid sayyidin THir `al’uddn qdr k un par khS naZar h jis ki waja s in k km chal rahh.”
“Hadrat Pr Sayyid Rasl Shh Khk bestowed upon Professor Doctor Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri the title of Shaykh-ul-Islam after putting into consideration his services for the Dn. He would often say that “Professor Shib’s service to the Dn is exactly according to the times which is the need of this era. He is walking according to the Shar`a. He is striving for Mustafaw Inqilb.” He further said, “If someone is not supporting Professor Shib, atleast he should not oppose him.” He futher added, “Finding someone of his acceptance is difficult. To begin with, Qadri Shib’s murshid, Sayyidin Thir `Al’uddn Qdr’s specific watch/vision is upon him due to which his work is continuing.”
(Mahmdul-Hasan Shh Khk, Tadhkira-e-Khk, Section 3)
* In August 2005 Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri was announced as “Shaykh-ul-Islam” in a gathering of Syrian scholarly and saintly authorities at Jmi`a Muhaddith al-Akbar (Damascus, Syria) which I myself was present in. Jmi`a Muhaddith al-Akbar was opened by Hadrat Muhaddith al-Akbar al-Imm Badruddn al-Hasan (quddisa sirruh) one of the top two greatest Hadth authorities in Syria during his life. The awarding of the title of “Shaykh-ul-Islam” was headed by the following scholars who also pledged to work for the mission of Minhaj-ul-Qur’an for the uplift, unity and revival of this Ummah:
* The head imam (khatb al-a`zam) of the famous Jmi`a Masjid Umawi ash-Shaykh al-Muhaddith al-Faqh As’ad Muhammad Sa`d as-Sgharj. He taught Hadth in al-Madna al-Munawwara for 8 years and is a prolific author, having written some important works such as “al-Fiqhul-Hanaf wa adillatuh” (also translated into Urdu), “Zawjtun-Nab (s)”, “Sayyidun Muhammad Raslallh (s) al-Uswah al-Hasanah”, “Muhabbah an-Nab (s)”, “Hajj wal-`umrah” and “Shu`abul-mn” which are taught as part of the core syllabus of courses in al-Azhar and many universities and centres of learning in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, India and Saudi Arabia. He is the grand khatb (khatb al-a`zam) of Jmi`a Masjid Umaw which has 9 khatbs in total selected from the highest authorities of that land. This shaykh also conferred the title “al-`rif billh” in addition to “Shaykh-ul-Islam” to Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.
* The headmaster of al-Jmi`a al-Muhaddith al-Akbar, ash-Shaykh Abul-Khayr ash-Shukr is also an imam of the renowned Jmi`a Masjid Umaw (Umayyad Mosque) and is among Syria’s highest Hadth authorities. There is a type of exam held to select a khatb for this mosque. Ash-Shaykh as-Sayyid Muhammad al-Ya`qb together with other erudite Syrian scholars also applied for the position at the same time as ash-Shaykh Abul-Khayr ash-Shukr but only ash-Shaykh Abul-Khayr was selected. This shaykh also gave the title “Shaykh-ul-Islam”.
* ash-Shaykh `Abdur-Razzq ash-Shurafa and ash-Shaykh Shihbuddn al-Farfr (son of Muhaddith ash-Shm ash-Shaykh Slih al-Farfr, founder of Jmi` al-Fath) also spoke to make similar announcements. ash-Shaykh `Abdur-Razzq ash-Shurafa began his lecture describing briefly certain aspects of the life of Hadrat Muhaddith al-Akbar al-Imm Badruddn al-Hasan explaining how he became a mujaddid. He explained the criteria of a “Shaykh-ul-Islm” and “mujaddid” during his discourse and concluded by saying that having studied the life and works and achievements of Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, he felt that he was the “Badruddn Hasan of this age” and that “our reliance is upon him”! Then the status of “Shaykh-ul-Islm” was confired.
I myself and the 300 other brothers and sisters who travelled with Shaykh-ul-Islam on this unforgettable spiritual tour all witnessed this event, al-Hamdulillah. I am prepared to perform mubhala with anyone who disputes whether or not the above event took place (I can’t lie about what my own ears heard – anyway, it is on video). So this was a gathering where the scholarly (Qur’nic term: “Those Who Know”) explained why they had applied this title to Shaykh-ul-Islam.
Ash-Shaykh Ahmad az-Zubaydi of Syria who is from the family of Imam al-A`zam Abu Hanifa reports that he personally heard his shaykh, the great saint and sage of the past century, Sayyiduna as-Sayyid Tahir `Ala’uddin al-Gilani referring to Sayyidi Shaykh-ul-Islam as “Mujaddid (Reviver of Islam)”. Ash-Shaykh az-Zubaydi is a leading scholar whose father’s standing was such that he was known as Abu Hanifa as-Saghir.
There are hundreds of pages of such announcements. The words of a few ignoramuses carry no weight and they should fear Allh.
