The composition of man is nothing more than clay and water, yet the luminous hand of Divine Power refines this earthly body until it becomes a polished vessel. Thus, man undergoes a marvelous transformation and is fashioned into a new mold. When he is granted the blessing of spiritual insight and enlightenment, and begins his journey toward the knowledge of the Almighty, the Hand of Divine Grace transforms this insignificant particle into a radiant sun whose beams illuminate the entire universe. Such a person, adorned with purity of character and excellence of conduct, is known as a Perfect Saint (Wali-e-Kamil), a true Sufi, and an enlightened servant of God.
The greatest distinction of one who has been blessed with such an illuminated heart is that he is adorned with the Divine attributes of noble character. Such a heart is the very abode of Divine manifestations, a sacred trust bestowed by Allah. The body in which such a heart resides becomes a source of blessing and greatness.
Wherever the imprint of such blessed feet is found,
There alone the people of faith bow in reverence.
It is my humble intention to adorn these pages with a glimpse of the life, miracles, and spiritual excellences of one such Perfect Saint. He is the illustrious personality, Qutb-e-Zaman (Pole of the Age), Ghawth-e-Dauran (Succour of the Era), Hazrat Al-Haj Maulana Sayyid Kalb Ali Sahib, Zaigham Abul Waqar Madari (Rahmatullahi Alayh), the revered resident of Dar al-Noor, Makanpur Sharif.
Whatever I have written thus far falls far short of describing his countless virtues. He first visited my native village, Rora, at a time when I had not yet become acquainted with his blessed personality. Yet it is an undeniable fact that through his spiritual influence and Divine grace, he transformed Rora into a land illuminated with spiritual blessings.
When I completed my medical studies, one day my revered uncle, Hakim Abdul Ghafoor Khan (may Allah have mercy upon him), took me into the blessed presence of Hazrat and placed me at his feet. The moment my eyes met the gaze of Hazrat, I found myself in a state aptly described by the Persian verse:
The heart was not slain by the beloved’s beauty before,
Yet the aged master conquered it with but a single glance.
Even today, whenever I recall that memorable occasion, my heart is overwhelmed with emotion. My sincere companions and the devotees of the saints have long urged me to record some of the miracles and eyewitness accounts that I have personally witnessed. However, it is no easy task to confine an ocean within a pitcher, for:
“The capacity of the beholder’s vision is limited, while the flowers of beauty are countless.”
Nevertheless, I shall commit to writing whatever lies within my ability, so that it may serve as a lesson for the deniers of the saints and become a means of reward for myself.
The blessed personality of Qutb al-‘Alam Hazrat Maulana Sayyid Abul Waqar (Rahmatullahi Alayh) needs no introduction. Those who were fortunate enough to attain the honor of his company and spiritual companionship know well that every movement of his was itself a living miracle, and every step he took embodied perfect adherence to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Even today, his spiritual excellences remain a familiar subject upon the tongues of the people.
“The face that grants peace to hearts has no need of adornment.”
Hazrat belonged, both by lineage and ancestry, to the noble Hasani and Husaini Sayyids, being a descendant of the real brother of Hazrat Sayyid Badi’ al-Din Zinda Shah Madar (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu). He was invested with Khilafah and Ijazah in the exalted Madari Sufi Order. He had hundreds of thousands of disciples and thousands of deputies (Khulafa). Among these deputies were remarkable personalities who were not only saints themselves but spiritual guides who nurtured others into sainthood. Every one of his Khulafa was distinguished by wisdom, understanding, and strict adherence to the Sacred Shariah.
Through the tireless efforts of Hazrat and his Khulafa in propagating Islam, hundreds of thousands of people became devoted servants of Allah, while countless unbelievers and polytheists accepted the truth of Islam and, through the transformative influence of his spiritually alchemic gaze, became saintly in character.
I often used to recite:
Even if you are but a stone of rock or marble,
In the company of the people of the heart, you become a precious jewel.
What I had once merely read, I came to experience with the certainty of direct knowledge (‘Ayn al-Yaqin) and the certainty of absolute truth (Haqq al-Yaqin). The everlasting impressions of those experiences can never be erased from my memory. Even today, not only at his blessed shrine but in every street and lane associated with him, the lights of Divine manifestations continue to shower ceaselessly.
To be a saint does not require extraordinary mystical unveilings or miraculous powers. True sainthood and spiritual leadership lie in one’s words and deeds being in complete conformity with the Qur’an and Sunnah, without violating the commandments of Allah in any aspect of life. Nevertheless, were I not to relate those miracles and spiritual manifestations that I personally experienced, it would amount to ingratitude for Allah’s blessings.
Long before, I had already accepted the lofty virtues of Hazrat in my heart and had firmly resolved to pledge allegiance (Bay’ah) at his blessed hands. However, owing to the distractions of worldly life, I delayed until, sadly, Hazrat passed away. I then made a solemn resolve that within forty days, whichever person Hazrat directed me toward in a dream, I would take Bay’ah at his hands. By then, I had become well acquainted with the deceptions and pretenses of the world and often reflected upon the saying:
Many a devil bears the face of Adam;
One should not place one’s hand into every hand.
At last, one night in a dream, Hazrat took my hand in his blessed hand and placed it into the affectionate hand of his eldest son, Sultan al-‘Arifin, Sayyid al-‘Ulama, Hazrat Mawlawi Al-Haj Sayyid Zulfiqar Ali Sahib Qamar (Abu al-Anwar), Khatib of the Jami’ Masjid, Makanpur Sharif.
When I awoke the following morning, I found an indescribably beautiful fragrance lingering upon my hand. Before long, the interpretation of that dream also manifested in the physical world exactly as I had seen it.
How can I ever say that Hazrat is no longer with me? He has remained alive in every breath I take and in every beat of my heart. Indeed, his spiritual excellences are eternal and everlasting. His virtues live on, his goodness lives on, and his noble qualities continue to illuminate the lives of those who love him.
Life continues to bring its share of upheavals. After some time, I was afflicted with hypertension, high blood pressure, and a heart condition. I sought treatment from the finest physicians and hospitals, yet these stubborn ailments refused to leave me. As if this were not enough, cataracts also developed. Soon thereafter, severe mental stress led to the bursting of a blood vessel in my brain, causing paralysis that affected my eyesight. Harmful fluids and deposits accumulated in the lower portion of my eyes, and eventually I lost my vision altogether. At home, my wife was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the lungs, while my only son fell victim to typhoid. Friends and acquaintances turned into strangers—and perhaps that is the way of the world.
In times of hardship, even close companions become strangers;
When the decanter is emptied, the cup is set aside.
I cannot say whether all this was a punishment for my sins or merely a divine trial. Yet I thank Allah that neither did the cup of my patience overflow nor did I lose hold of the garment of perseverance. These adverse circumstances drove me from one reputed hospital to another, but every effort proved fruitless. I sought treatment at Arsala, Hallet Hospital, Khairabad, Sitapur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Gandhi Eye Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Jawahar Lal Rohatgi Eye Hospital, Agarwal Eye Institute in Delhi, and many other renowned institutions. One after another, they all failed to cure me. At last, the most distinguished doctors unanimously declared that my illnesses were incurable.
Meanwhile, there were people who taunted me, saying, “Manzoor is merely suffering the consequences of his own deeds.” Their sarcasm and ridicule pierced my heart like arrows and daggers. Yet, despite everything, there seemed to be an unseen force compelling me to remain alive. Amid my desolation, I felt as though a mysterious voice kept whispering in my ears:
One day you must surely pass into the season of spring;
If today your path is strewn only with thorns, so be it.
Eventually, I lost all desire for food and drink. I survived only on tears of sorrow and constant supplication to my Lord. Yet it seemed that even the prayers of a sinner like me carried no effect. At times I contemplated ending my life, but I knew that suicide is among the gravest of sins, leaving no hope of salvation. Some unseen divine power stood between me and my destructive thoughts, overpowering them and preserving me.
After enduring these trials, a kind and compassionate friend listened to my tale of grief and advised me:
“Manzar! You used to take such pride in your patience and steadfastness. What has become of you today? Were you not the one who often recited:
The saints possess the power to remove afflictions;
Even an arrow already released may return from its course.
The gaze of a true believer can change destinies. If Allah Almighty is not accepting your supplications directly, why do you not approach Him through the spiritual mediation (tawassul) of the saints and elders of your Madari Order? Humble yourself before His court with complete submission and implore Him to awaken His boundless mercy. Allah’s mercy often seeks a means through which it may descend upon His servants.
‘The Mercy of Truth seeks a worthy pretext.’”
His advice brought me immense comfort. Suddenly, a faint smile appeared upon my withered lips. I resolved to follow his counsel. That very night, lying humbly upon my bed, I became deeply absorbed in prayer. At that moment, my thoughts were occupied by none other than my supreme spiritual ancestor, Hazrat Sayyid Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar (may Allah be pleased with him), my revered grandfather and spiritual guide Hazrat Maulana Al-Haj Abul Waqar Sayyid Kalb Ali (may Allah have mercy upon him), and my own spiritual master. Through these blessed saints, I beseeched the Self-Sufficient Lord for His mercy. It felt as though all of them stood before me while I poured out my heart in their presence.
In that state of complete spiritual absorption, I fell asleep. In my dream, my eyesight had been restored. My spiritual master appeared with tears in his eyes, perhaps moved by the suffering I had endured, while my gracious benefactor smiled warmly—as though bringing me the glad tidings of spring after a long season of autumn. Overwhelmed with joy, I fell at his feet. He placed his blessed hand upon my head and said:
“Manzoor Hasan, do not grieve. You have now attained acceptance in the Court of Qutb al-Madar. The Master has accepted you into his spiritual service.”
No words can truly express the immense joy and consolation that this glad tiding brought to my heart.
Immediately thereafter, I saw that someone placed a luminous, soft, and delicate hand over my eyes, one after another. From those blessed hands emanated cool and radiant rays of light. Then I witnessed beams of نور (Divine Light) emerging from the golden finial of the blessed dome of Sarkar-e-Madar (may Allah be pleased with him), falling directly upon my eyes. At that very moment, the pain in my eyes subsided considerably, although my eyesight had not yet returned.
When I awoke the next morning, my anxiety and restlessness had completely vanished. I initially dismissed it as a mere dream, thinking that a person often dreams of what occupies his mind. However, as events unfolded, it became evident that it was not merely a dream but an undeniable reality.
The physicians who had declared my condition incurable and left me in despair were approached once again. I requested them to resume my treatment and assured them with complete confidence that I would certainly recover. They assumed that the hardships I had endured had disturbed my mental balance. I repeatedly reassured them that I was in full possession of my senses.
Upon hearing this, all the doctors remarked, “Mr. Manzar! We have been treating you for three months without any improvement. How is it possible that overnight you have become fit for surgery? Until your diabetes, blood pressure, and other conditions return to normal, performing eye surgery would be completely against established medical principles.”
I replied, “Please examine me once more. I shall bear all the expenses.”
Fortunately, through the spiritual attention (tawajjuh) of my spiritual master and because of the cordial relationship that had developed between us during my treatment, the doctors treated me with patience. Otherwise, they would certainly have rebuked me for insisting upon something contrary to accepted medical practice.
At last, they conducted a thorough examination—not once, but several times. When all my medical conditions were found to have returned to normal, every one of them was left astonished and deeply perplexed. They exclaimed, “This is indeed an extraordinary mystery! A patient who was declared incurable until yesterday has suddenly become fit for treatment today.”
I had become the center of everyone’s attention. Upon their repeated insistence, I finally narrated the entire incident to these distinguished ophthalmologists. Such was its impact that even those who relied solely upon material science came to acknowledge the reality of spiritual power.
At that point, it almost seemed as though they were my students and I their teacher; they appeared like my disciples while I stood as their spiritual guide. Before the reality of spiritual healing, the limitations of medical science had become unmistakably evident.
Thereafter, every surgical procedure was successful. In truth, the real operation had already been performed spiritually; what followed in the operating theatre was merely the completion of formalities.
Sadly, in this age of disbelief and materialism, there are even those within the Muslim Ummah whose deviation has reached such an extent that they refuse to acknowledge the spiritual influence and unseen workings (tasarrufat-e-batini) of the Friends of Allah. Such people can hardly hope to benefit from the blessings of the Awliya Allah and the great Sufi saints.
Even today, through the hearts and souls of people, he continues to shower Divine mercy like the refreshing clouds of spring. His blessed shrine remains a living center of Islamic spirituality, a fountain of noble character and inner purification, a source of Divine love, a spring of guidance and felicity, and a flowing river of spiritual truths and sacred knowledge.
Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Khan “Manzar”
[Reference: Quarterly “Rahbar-e-Noor, Makanpur Sharif” (2022)]
