Initiation into a Spiritual Sufi Order

Out of deep admiration for Imam e Ahle Sunnat, Reviver of the Religion, Shaykh Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (May Allah’s blessings be upon him), Ameer e Ahle Sunnat had longed to make Bait [initiation] into the Shaykh’s Spiritual Sufi Order [Silsilah]. He wrote about this: “Neither was there any shortage of Shuyukh [Spiritual Guides] among the Ahle Sunnat at that time, nor is there any shortage today, but there was only one personality that came to mind (when I decided to become a Mureed and be initiated into a Sufi Order).

Pasand apni apni, khayal apna apna (Different people have different choices) One advantage of having him as my spiritual leader was that he was only one link away from [the great spiritual guide] Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (May Allah’s blessings be upon him). The other thing that drew me to him was that he lived close to (the Green Dome of the Prophet’s [May Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him] Masjid in Madinah). This esteemed person that I am referring to is Shaykh-ul-Fadilah, The Light of Razawiyyah, Beacon for the People, Mureed and Khalifah [disciple and Spiritual successor] of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (May Allah’s blessings be upon him). The Teacher of Spirituality, The Guide of Sacred Law, Shaykh of Arabs and non-Arabs, Host of the Guests of Madinah, Qutb of Madinah, Honorable Shaykh Zia-ud-Din Ahmad Madani Qadri Razavi (May Allah’s blessings be upon him).”

Spiritual Successor-ship and Permissions

Ameer e Ahle Sunnat Hazrat Allama Maulana Ilyas Qadri is the Khalifah [Spiritual Successor] of Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Shaykh Mufti Waqar-ud-Din (May Allah’s blessings be upon him). The Commentator of Sahih Bukhari, Grand Master of Jurisprudence of India Mufti Shariful Haq Amjadi (May Allah’s blessings be upon him) has also granted Ameer e Ahle Sunnat with his Khalifah [Successor-ship] of the four major Spiritual Sufi Orders [Salasil], Qadiriyah, Chishtiya, Naqshbandiyya, and Suhrawardiyya. He also granted him permission of transmission of the books of Hadis, and dissemination of Islamic knowledge etc.

Furthermore, the Khalifah of Sayyidi Qutb of Madinah, Shaykh Fadlur Rahman (May Allah’s blessings be upon him) granted him Khalifah and authorized him with his permission [Ijazah] of transmission of the books of Hadis. Furthermore, he has received Khalifah from other great Shuyukhs and scholars as well.

Initiating Others and Spiritual Guiding

Even though he had the permission and Khalifah to initiate others, out of humility, Ameer e Ahle Sunnat Hazrat Allama Maulana Ilyas Qadri did not make people his own Mureed [disciples of his own Sufi Order] for several years. He would instead initiate them into his Shaykh’s order at the time of initiation. It was only after his Shaykh, Qutb of Madinah, Hazrat Ziauddin Madani’s passing away that he started initiations into his own Spiritual Sufi Order of Qadriyyah, Razawiyya, Attaria, thus making his disciples Attari. Later on, he also began initiations [Bait] in large Sunnah-Inspiring congregations; following the footsteps of eminent scholars such as the successor and the son of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan, Maulana Mustafa Raza Khan (May Allah’s blessings be upon him).

Reference:
Introduction to Ameer e Ahl e Sunnat