Madari Media’s esteemed readers!
Hazrat Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi was born in 1203 Hijri, corresponding to 1789 CE. He belonged to a distinguished and wealthy family, because his respected grandfather, Syed Jalaluddin Adil, was the ruler of Golconda and a descendant of Syed Qutb Ali Shah. His mother tongue was Urdu. He learned Arabic and Persian, and later also learned the English language.
He was a handsome man of noble character and excellent disposition. He began his practical life by serving in the army in Hyderabad Deccan. During his service, he observed the British from very close quarters, and at the encouragement of some of his British companions, he travelled to Britain.
He then travelled to Egypt, visited the sacred land of Hijaz and performed Hajj. Afterwards, he travelled through Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan before returning to India. He undertook these travels during his youth.
In short, he was a well-travelled, experienced and courageous personality. Although he had been brought up and educated in a princely and aristocratic environment, from childhood his temperament was inclined towards asceticism and a sincere spiritual quest. He had a special connection with Sufism. This very spiritual quest led him to travel throughout India.
He also spent twelve years in Bikaner and Sambhar engaged in spiritual discipline, ascetic practices and seclusion. When his temperament became inclined towards Sufism, and when he heard from his respected grandfather, Syed Jalaluddin Adil, about the incident of the overthrow of Tipu Sultan, he became deeply distressed. Thereafter, Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi abandoned everything and chose a life of travelling. During his travels, he reached Tonk in Rajasthan.
From Tonk, Rajasthan, he went to Jaipur. When he heard about Hazrat Syedna Mehrab Ali Shah Qalandar Madari, he travelled to Gwalior to seek spiritual blessings from him. Upon reaching the presence of Hazrat Syed Mehrab Ali Shah Qalandar Madari, he presented his request to enter into the spiritual bond of allegiance and become his disciple.
Hazrat Mehrab Ali Shah Qalandar Madari said, “O Ahmadullah Shah, I will accept you as my disciple on the condition that you promise to free the country from the British.”
When Syedna Mehrab Ali Shah Qalandar Madari placed this condition before him, Hazrat Syed Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi gave such an answer that both his love for his homeland and his devotion to his spiritual guide reached their highest point. Hazrat Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi immediately replied, “I accept this condition. Therefore, make me your disciple. I will certainly free the country.”
After making this promise, he launched a movement for freedom throughout the country.
He came to Bundelkhand to seek the assistance and support of Raja Powain. If Raja Powain had agreed to help him, Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi would have received an opportunity to breathe and regroup. But Raja Powain betrayed him—and betrayed him in such a manner that even a hard-hearted tyrant would have been ashamed upon witnessing such treachery.
At first, Raja Powain was unwilling to speak with him. When he finally agreed to meet him, he closed the door of the mansion from inside and ordered so many bullets to be fired at Hazrat Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi that his body was riddled with bullets.
Meanwhile, Raja Balwan Singh severed his head from his body and handed it over to the Collector Sahib, Shahjahan. His sacred body was thrown into the fire, while his blessed head was buried across the river, beside the mosque in the locality of Jahanabad, adjacent to Ahmadpur.
Listeners! The importance of Hazrat Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi’s role in the War of Independence can be understood from the fact that the British Government rewarded those who had attacked Hazrat Ahmadullah Shah Madrasi. They sent Raja Powain a cash reward of fifty thousand rupees along with a robe of honour.
After his martyrdom, a large number of his disciples and successors, as well as the Sayyids of Makhanpur—particularly Syed Khan Alam Miyan, Rooh-ul-Azam Miyan, along with many other respected people of Makhanpur Sharif—continued the movement for freedom.
And, listeners, this great tragedy took place on 13 Dhu al-Qadah 1385 Hijri, corresponding to 5 June 1858 CE.
