The Historical and Spiritual Legacy of Khanqah Naeemiya Bahraich
The Historical and Spiritual Legacy of Khanqah Naeemiya Bahraich
Bahraich: The Abode of Saints
From ancient times, Bahraich has been renowned as a land of saints and spiritual luminaries. The sacrifices of Sayyid Salar Masood Ghazi and his devoted companions continue to illuminate this soil, embedding it with a deep spiritual heritage. Salar Masood was a disciple of Shah Abul-Hasan Kharaqani and a contemporary of Pir of Herat, Shaykh Abdullah Ansari.
Following Salar Masood, the earliest recorded saint of Bahraich is Shaykh Shamsuddin Bahraichi, who served as Qazi al-Mamlakat (Chief Judge of the Realm) during the reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Muhammad. Another prominent figure was Afzaluddin Abu Jafar Amir Mah Alvi Bahraichi, a disciple of Alauddin Ali Jauri in the Suhrawardi order and a contemporary of Nasiruddin Chiragh Dehlavi.
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| Tomb of Hazrat AmeerMah Alvi Bahraichi |
Qazi Sayyid Ajmal Shah Bahraichi and the Sufi Orders
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| Grave of Mawlana Qazi Sayyid Ajmal Shah Bahraichi |
A particularly distinguished personality of this period was Mawlana Qazi Sayyid Ajmal Shah Bahraichi. He held authorization and succession (khilafat) not only in the four major Sufi orders—Naqshbandi, Qadri, Chishti, and Suhrawardi—but also in several others.
He received direct succession from both Makhdum Jahanian Jahangasht and Sayyid Shaykh Badiuddin Ahmad Shah Madar Makhanpuri. After him, the mantle of leadership passed to his successor Makhdum Sayyid Buddan Bahraichi, whose disciple Shaykh Darvesh Muhammad bin Qasim Awadhi rose to prominence.
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| Grave of Makhdum Sayyid Buddan Bahraichi |
Through this chain, the spiritual lineage extended to Shaykh Abdul Quddus Gangohi, Shaykh Ruknuddin, Shaykh Abdul Ahad Sarhindi, and ultimately to Shaykh Ahmad Farooqi Sirhindi (Mujaddid Alf-e-Sani). From there, the legacy continued through Shah Noor Muhammad Badaiyuni, reaching Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janan Shaheed in Delhi, and then, through his close disciple Mawlana Shah Naeemullah Bahraichi, the spiritual chain returned once more to Bahraich.
Shah Naeemullah Bahraichi
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| Khanqah Naeemiya Bahraich |
Shah Naeemullah Bahraichi occupies a pivotal place in this spiritual genealogy. As one of the closest disciples and authorized successors of Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janan Shaheed, he also became his earliest biographer.
He authored several works, the most significant being:
1. Ma‘mulat Mazhariya
2. Basharat Mazhariya (extant in manuscript form, preserved today in London).
Both are regarded as primary and authoritative sources on the life and teachings of Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janan. Notably, the construction of Mirza Mazhar’s shrine in Delhi was carried out under Shah Naeemullah’s supervision.
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| Tomb of Shah Naeemullah Bahraichi |
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| Grave of Shah Naeemullah Bahraichi |
The Foundation of Khanqah Naeemiya
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| Masjid Moolsari of Khanqah Naeemiya Bahraich |
It was Shah Naeemullah Bahraichi who laid the foundation of Khanqah Naeemiya. His successor was Mawlana Sayyid Shah Basharatullah Bahraichi, also a disciple of Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi.
Shah Basharatullah’s lineage traced back to Makhdum Sayyid Buddan Bahraichi, and he was also the nephew of Shah Naeemullah. Thus, the familial and spiritual legacies of both Buddan Bahraichi and Naeemullah Bahraichi converged through him.
Through his leadership, the four major Sufi orders once again flourished in Bahraich. Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi even issued a deed of custodianship (tauleeyat nama) of the Khanqah Mazhariya in his name. In addition, he was a distinguished student of Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlavi, which testifies to his scholarly stature and spiritual association with Delhi.
Shah Muradullah Thanesri and Shah Abul Hasan Naseerabadi
Among the notable successors of Shah Naeemullah was Shah Muradullah Thanesri (later of Lucknow), whose disciple was Shah Abul Hasan Naseerabadi.
Through these saints, the order spread even further, and the blessings of their spiritual influence (fuyuz wa barakat) remain alive in various parts of the world to this day.
The Successors of Shah Basharatullah Bahraichi
After Shah Basharatullah, his son Mawlana Shah Abul Hasan Bahraichi became the successor. He was a disciple of Shah Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi Muhajir Madani.
Initially teaching Qur’an and religious sciences in Delhi, he later assumed the spiritual leadership of Khanqah Naeemiya after his father’s passing. He had two sons:
Mawlana Shah Abu Muhammad Bahraichi
Mawlana Shah Noorul Hasan Bahraichi (his successor).
Shah Noorul Hasan Bahraichi and His Successors
Shah Noorul Hasan Bahraichi was a disciple of Shah Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi Dehlavi. His son Mawlana Shah Azizul Hasan Bahraichi succeeded him, having studied under Mawlana Naeemuddin Muradabadi and Mawlana Irshad Ali Naqshbandi Muradabadi, from whom he also received authorization. Later, Mawlana Irshad Hussain Mujaddidi Rampuri granted him additional succession.
Following him, his nephew Mawlana Sayyid Muhammad Aslam Shah Nadvi Bahraichi became the spiritual heir. He had received succession from Shah Abdul Ghaffar Khan Naqshbandi Bhonganwavi, whose lineage traced back through Shah Abul Hasan Naseerabadi to Shah Naeemullah Bahraichi.
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| First Page of Book Written By Mawlana Aslam Shah Bahraichi |
Mawlana Aslam Shah was also enriched by the company of Shah Basharat Karim Garholvi, regularly attending his assemblies. After his passing, his cousin Mawlana Hafiz Sayyid Shah Aizazul Hasan Bahraichi became the successor. He combined mastery in both exoteric and esoteric sciences with expertise in homeopathic medicine.
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| Hafiz Sayyid Aizazul Hasan Bahraichi in young Age |
The Contemporary Lineage and Scholarly Contributions
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| Sayyid Zafar Ahsan Nadvi Bahraichi with Writer |
After Mawlana Aizazul Hasan, the leadership passed to his son Mawlana Hafiz Sayyid Zafar Ahsan Nadvi Bahraichi, the present custodian of Khanqah Naeemiya.
He has made major contributions to scholarship and research, authoring two important works:
1. Asar-e-Hazrat Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janan Shaheed – A monumental work of 630 pages, incorporating rare manuscripts and documents, published in both India and Pakistan and highly acclaimed in academic circles.
2. Sultan al-Shuhada: Sayyid Salar Masood Ghazi – A historical study focusing on the life of Salar Masood Ghazi and the connections of Khanqah Naeemiya with his legacy.
At present, the spiritual blessings of Khanqah Naeemiya Bahraich continue under the guidance of Mawlana Hafiz Sayyid Zafar Ahsan Nadvi Bahraichi.
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| Sayyid Zafar Ahsan Bahraichi with His Classmate Ahmad Saeed Sb. and Writer at his home |
The author of this article, Junaid Ahmad Noor, has the honor of being under his guidance and is currently compiling a comprehensive research work on the history of Khanqah Naeemiya, with the aim of presenting its spiritual legacy and authentic history in a documented and scholarly form for future generations.
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