2018-04-13 Fri

Ahmed Raza Khan, commonly known as Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, Ahmed Rida Khan in Arabic, or simply as "Ala-Hazrat" was an Islamic scholar, jurist, Sufi, and reformer in British India, and the founder of the Barelvi movement. Raza Khan wrote on numerous topics including law, religion, philosophy and the sciences.

He belonged to the Barech tribe of Pushtuns. The Barech formed a tribal grouping among the Rohilla Pushtuns of North India who founded the state of Rohilkhand. Khan's ancestors migrated from Qandahar during the Mughal rule and settled in Lahore.

Khan saw an intellectual and moral decline of Muslims in British India. His movement was a mass movement, defending popular Sufism, which grew in response to the influence of the Deobandi movement in South Asia and the Wahhabi movement.

He was a poet also who dedicated the beauty of his selected style called Naat to sing the glories of the Holy Prophet. His devotion elevated his poetry, making it ecstatic and rich. He passed away in 1921 and his mausoleum is situated at Bareilly.

The Department of India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Ala Hazrat Barelvi. The stamp reflects the beautiful dome of the Dargah of Ala Hazrat Barelvi.

Image source: Mintage World