Ahmad al-Saharandi

Ahmad al-Saharandi (971–1034 AH / 1563–1624 CE) was an Indian Hanafi jurist and Naqshbandi Sufi master, widely known by the honorifics al-Imam al-Rabbani and Mujaddid al-Alf al-Thani (the Renewer of the Second Millennium) al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. He was celebrated for his defense of Islamic orthodoxy, his opposition to religious innovations, and his three-volume collection of spiritual letters titled Maktubat al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Lineage, upbringing, and education

He was Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Ahad ibn Zayn al-'Abidin al-Faruqi al-Saharandi (also vocalized as al-Sirhindi) al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. He was born in Shawwal 971 AH in Sirhind, a town situated between Delhi and Lahore whose name signifies the "lion's forest" al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

He memorized the Quran in his youth and commenced his studies under his father, 'Abd al-Ahad, acquiring foundational disciplines as well as the Chishti spiritual path al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. He then traveled to Sialkot, where he studied rational sciences under Kamal al-Din al-Kashmiri al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. In hadith, he studied under Ya'qub ibn al-Hasan al-Sarfi al-Kashmiri, who transmitted from Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, and received transmission of the primordial hadith (al-hadith al-musalsal bi-l-awwaliyya) through Qadi Bahlul al-Badakhshi from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Fahd al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1. By the age of seventeen, he had completed his formal training in the transmitted and rational sciences, received a cloak of spiritual succession from his father, and commenced teaching and writing al-Budur al-Mudiya fi Tar…+1.

Spiritual path, career, and trial

In 1002 AH, he journeyed to Delhi and was initiated into the Naqshbandi order by Khawaja Baqi Billah (Muhammad 'Abd al-Baqi), under whom his spiritual lineage crystallized, alongside transmissions he held in the Qadiri, Suhrawardi, and Chishti paths Abjad al-Ulum+1. He settled in Sirhind, teaching canonical works across Islamic jurisprudence, legal theory, theology, exegesis, hadith, and Sufism Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…. During his career, he wrote treatises defending orthodox doctrine and Sunnah, including Ithbat al-Nubuwwah (The Affirmation of Prophethood) and Radd al-Rawafid (The Refutation of the Shi'a) al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

His outspoken campaign against deviations and the esoteric interpretations spread in his letters provoked court opponents, who denounced him to the Mughal emperor Jahangir Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…. When summoned, he refused to perform the courtly prostration of veneration (sajdat al-ta'zim) before the ruler, stating that prostrating to anyone other than God was impermissible al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. Consequently, Jahangir imprisoned him in the fortress of Gwalior, where he spent three years and completed the memorization of the Quran Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…. He was subsequently released on the condition that he accompany the royal camp, remaining there until he was permitted to return home to Sirhind to resume teaching Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…+1.

Standing and death

He achieved widespread prominence across the Islamic world, and his Mujaddidi branch of the Naqshbandiyya expanded extensively through his sons and disciples from India into Transoxiana, the Ottoman lands, the Levant, the Hijaz, and North Africa Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bah…+1. Among his foremost students and successors were his sons, Muhammad Sa'id and Muhammad Ma'sum Fihris al-Faharis+1.

He died in Sirhind toward the end of Safar in 1034 AH (1624 CE) at the age of sixty-three, and his funeral prayer was led by his son Muhammad Sa'id before he was buried in the city Abjad al-Ulum+1.