Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri - Journeys For Hajj

Journeys For Hajj

Khalil performed seven Hajj in his lifetime. His first Hajj occurred in 1293 AH, while he was in Bhopal. Although he did not possess sufficient money, his enthusiasm compelled him to proceed for Hajj. On reaching Mecca, he presented himself at the home of Haji Imdadullah. After completing Hajj, his intention was to proceed to Medina. Thus, Khalil departed for Medina. He remained there for about two weeks, after which he returned home. During this journey, Khalil received ijaazah in hadith from Shaikhul Haram Ahmad Dahlan and Shaikhul Mashaa'ikh Shah Abdul Ghani Mujaddid An Naqshbandi Ad Dehlvi. The ijaazah from Shaikh Ahmad Dahlan was acquired in Mecca, while that of Shah Abdul Ghani was obtained in Medina in 1294 AH.

Khalil's second Hajj occurred when he was in Bhawalpur in Shawwaal of 1297 AH. When he departed for Hajj, Moulana Gangohi wrote to Haji Imdadullah requesting him to confer the mantle of khilaafah onto Khalil. Thus, on seeing Khalil, Haji became overjoyed. In Muharram of 1298 AH, he presented the document of khilaafah adorned with his seal to Khalil. In a state of elation, Haji placed his turban on Khalil’s head. Khalil presented both of these gifts to Gangohi and said, "I am not deserving of these. This is only your affection and grace for me." Gangohi replied, "May these be blessed for you. He then signed the Khilaafat Naama and handed it with the turban to Khalil. However, the respect of Khalil was such that whenever he would initiate a murid, he would instruct the murid to proclaim, "I have made bay'at to Hazrat Moulana Rashid Ahmad Saab at the hands of Khalil Ahmad".

Khalil's third and all subsequent Hajj journeys were undertaken from Saharanpur. The third Hajj was after the demise of Gangohi. Consolation for the immense grief that he suffered as a result of this event could only be obtained from the grave of Muhammad.

Khalil's fourth Hajj was performed in 1910. He departed from Saharanpur in the middle of Dhul Qa'da and reached Mecca on 8 December. After Hajj, he travelled to Medina via Yambu’. He remained there for twenty-two days and then returned to Saharanpur at the end of Safar in 1329 AH.

Khalil's fifth Hajj was a momentous occasion which occurred in Shawwaal of 1332 AH in the company of Shaikhul Hind. In Mecca, on account of the oppression of Sharif Husain, Khalil was compelled to return before Hajj. He departed from Mecca at the end of Shawwaal and his ship arrived in Bombay on 6 September 1916. However, as he alighted from the ship, him, his wife, and his brother, Haji Maqbul Ahmad, who was his right-hand man, were arrested. All three of them were transported to Nanital with their luggage. They were released shortly after.

Khalil's sixth Hajj occurred in 1920. He departed from Saharanpur on 21 April 1920 and reached Mecca on 29 May. Despite his weakness and dizziness due to seasickness, Khalil led Tarawih Salaah while standing. He would recite half of a para in eight rak'aats. When Khalil arrived in Mecca, Moulana Muhibbuddin Muhajir-e-Makki, while embracing him, said, "Moulana, why have you come here? The greater Qiyaamah is about to be enacted here. Return immediately to India after Ramadan". Thus, Khalil said to his companions, "It was my intention to reside in Medina, but Maulana Muhibbuddin Saab vehemently forbids it. I have already visited Medina several times. Since this is your first Hajj and it is unknown if you will receive this opportunity again, proceed to Medina". Khalil reached Saharanpur in Safar of 1339 AH.

Khalil's seventh Hajj was the journey during which he bid a final farewell to India. On the insistence of his attendants from Hyderabad, it was arranged for Khalil to remain in Hyderabad for a week. Khalil departed from Saharanpur for Hyderabad on 29 April 1926. After his sojourn in Hyderabad, he left for Bombay. He departed from Hyderabad at 9:00 AM on Saturday, 8 May 1926 and arrived in Bombay the following morning. From Bombay, the ship on which he was travelling departed on 19 May 1926. The ship arrived in Kamraan on 29 May 1926, left Kamraan on 30 May 1926, and arrived in Jeddah on 2 June 1926. From Jeddah, the journey to Mecca was by camel. The party reached Mecca on 6 June 1926. Khalil had rented a house on a narrow street opposite Babul Ibraheem, where he remained with three or four of his attendants. On 8 June, they left for Mina. Khalil and his wife rode one camel. In Mina, they remained in the tent of the mutawwif. One tent was for the ladies and another tent was for Khalil and his attendants. After Hajj, they remained in Mecca for a few days. It was then decided to proceed to Medina. The departure was planned for 24 June, but the government confiscated twenty-three camels, which resulted in a delay of two days. They arrived in Medina on Monday, 19 July 1926 at the time of Chasht. Aqdas Moulana Al-Haj Sayyid Ahmad had rented a house in Madrasa Shari'a Qadim. He occupied the ground floor of this house. Khalil occupied the second floor. The third floor was occupied by Moulana Sayyid Ahmad's womenfolk. Adjacent to this was the residence of Khalil’s womenfolk.

After Ishraq Salaah, Khalil would remain in his room for a few hours in complete solitude, engrossed in writing Badhlul Majhud. After the completion of Badhlul Majhud, this portion of the morning was utilised to study Wafa ul Wafa and other kitabs which had accumulated during Khalil’s sojourn in Medina. During Ramadan, Khalil would engage in recitation of the Qur'an after Ishraq Salaah for a considerable time. If it was not Ramadan, he would partake of a meal in the same room thereafter. After his meal, Khalil would rest in the zanaana. If it was Ramadan, he would rest in the zanaana right after he completed his morning activity. After a siesta, he would depart for Masjid un Nabawi before Zawwaal. He would return home after Dhuhr Salaah. There, he would engage in the recitation of the Qur’an for approximately an hour. Thereafter, he would occupy himself by studying Wafa ul Wafa. After Asr Salaah, he would proceed to the home of Moulana Sayyid Ahmad and remain there until Maghrib Salaah. Here, Khalil held a majlis, which was open to the public. In Ramadan, he would leave for Masjid un Nabawi shortly before Maghrib Salaah and partake of iftar there with dates and Zam-Zam water. After Maghrib Salaah, Khalil would recite two paras of Qur'an in Awwaabin Salaah on the roof of Madrasatul 'Uloom Shari'a in a sitting position. After 'Isha Salaah in Masjid un Nabawi, Khalil would return to the madrasa and perform Tarawih Salaah behind Qari Muhammad Taufiq. Tarawih Salaah would end at approximately 12:30 AM. He would then retire to bed at approximately 1:30 AM and instructed his attendants to awaken him at 3:30 AM.

On his arrival in Medina, Khalil engrossed himself in the completion of Badhlul Majhud which had reached a length of four volumes prior to his arrival in Medina. When he arrived in Medina, he commenced Kitabul Jana'iz. The solitude which Khalil had coupled with the baraka of Medina enabled him to complete one and a half volumes in seven and a half months. The work was written in Moulana Sayyid Ahmad’s room. However, for the acquisition of baraka, it was completed at Raudatu min Riyadhil Jannah in Masjid un Nabawi. On the completion of Badhlul Majhud, Khalil was overwhelmed with happiness, so he invited the 'Ulama of Medina for a lavish feast.