{{Short description|Pakistani Islamic scholar (1903–1962)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox religious biography | religion = [[Islam]] | birth_date = {{birth date|1903|9|22|df=y}}<br />29 Jamadiul Akhir 1321 AH | birth_place = [[Dialgarh]] [[Batala]] [[British India]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1962|12|29|1903|9|22|df=y}}<br />1 Shaban, 1382 AH | death_place = Jhang Bazaar [[Faisalabad]], Pakistan | resting_place = Jhang Bazaar, Faisalabad, Pakistan | name = Sardar Ahmad Chishti | denomination = [[Sunni]] | jurisprudence = [[Hanafi]] | creed = [[Maturidi]] | movement = [[Barelvi]] | honorific prefix = ''Muhaddith-i A'zam'' | students = [[Abul Bashar Al Qadri]] }}

'''Sardar Ahmad Sayhul Chishti Qadri''' ({{Langx|ur|سردار احمد سیہول چشتی قادری}}; 1903–1962) was a [[Pakistanis|Pakistani]] [[Ulama|Islamic scholar]] who is recognized by his followers as ''[[Muhaddith]]-e-Azam'' [[Pakistan]].<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |title=Sunni Ettehad Council chairman Sahibzada Fazle Kareem pases away |url=http://old.paktribune.com/news/Sunni-Ettehad-Council-chairman-Sahibzada-Fazal-Kareem-passes-away-259170.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621082918/http://old.paktribune.com/news/Sunni-Ettehad-Council-chairman-Sahibzada-Fazal-Kareem-passes-away-259170.html|archive-date=21 June 2020|access-date=29 April 2025|website=Paktribune.com website}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|date=16 April 2013|title=Transitions: Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Fazal Karim dies (son of Sardar Ahmad Chishti)|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/536163/transitions-sunni-ittehad-council-chairman-sahibzada-fazal-karim-dies/|archive-date=19 April 2013|author=Shamsul Islam|newspaper=The Express Tribune newspaper|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419005144/https://tribune.com.pk/story/536163/transitions-sunni-ittehad-council-chairman-sahibzada-fazal-karim-dies|url-status=dead|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ps.gcu.edu.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Vol-18-The-Journal-of-Ploticital-Science-.pdf#page=115|title=Ulema and Mashaikh's role in Pakistan movement (see pages 115 to 118)|access-date=29 April 2025|author=Muhammad Sarwar and Hameed A. K. Rai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622111426/http://ps.gcu.edu.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Vol-18-The-Journal-of-Ploticital-Science-.pdf#page=115|date=January 1996|website=The Journal of Political Science - Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan website|archive-date=22 June 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Sufism}}

==Family background== Sardar Ahmad Chisti's father was Choudhry Miran Bakhsh Chishti. He was born in [[Dialgarh]], [[Gurdaspur district]], [[East Punjab]] in a [[Sehol|Sayhul]] [[Jats|Jat]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Qādirī|first=Muḥammad Jalāluddīn|url=https://www.google.com.pk/books/edition/Muhaddis_i_%C3%A0zam_Pakistan_Maulana_Abulfa/qOgqAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22%D8%B3%DB%8C%DB%81%D9%88%D9%84%22&dq=%22%D8%B3%DB%8C%DB%81%D9%88%D9%84%22&printsec=frontcover|title=Muhaddis-i àzam Pakistan : Maulana Abulfazl Muhammad ...|date=1989|language=ur|quote=Shaykh al-Hadith, may Allah sanctify his soul, belongs to a Sayhul Jatt familly.}}</ref> family on 22 September 1903 (29 [[Jumada al-Thani]] 1321 [[Hijri year|AH]]).<ref name="auto3">{{cite journal |last1=Sharaf Qadri |first1=Abdul Hakim |title=Maulana Sardar Ahmad Qadri Chishti |journal=Monthly Daleel-e-Rah |date=June 2013|url=https://www.daleelerah.com/current/june-2013/sardar-ahmad-1306/ |access-date=1 May 2025|archive-date=6 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106124954/https://www.daleelerah.com/current/june-2013/sardar-ahmad-1306/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

His son [[Fazal Karim]] was a member of the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] (NA-82 Faisalabad) and the founding chairman of [[Sunni Ittihad Council]] (SIC).<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/16-Apr-2013/sahibzada-fazal-karim-the-man-he-was|title=Sahibzada Fazal Karim – the man he was (son of Sardar Ahmad Chishti)|date=16 April 2013|newspaper=The Nation newspaper|access-date=29 April 2025|author=Arshad Bhatti|archive-date=6 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106061059/https://www.nation.com.pk/16-Apr-2013/sahibzada-fazal-karim-the-man-he-was|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Education and life== He attended primary school in [[Dialgarh]] village in [[Batala]] and Islamic high school in [[Batala]], matriculating in govt school 1924 (1343 AH). He came to [[Lahore]] for the preparation of FA, i.e. two years degree programme, and when he attended a speech of Hamid Raza Khan in Masjid Wazeer Khan Lahore he decided to join seminary [[Manzar-i Islam]] in Bareilly city.<ref name="mahnama">{{Cite web|url=http://mahnama.ahlesunnat.net/webshaban1433/khususisardarahmed/khususisardarahmed.htm|title=- Iss Mah Ka Khususi Mazmoon .: Muhaddis-e-Azam Pakistan Maulana Mohammed Sardar Ahmed Chishti Qadri ::..|website=mahnama.ahlesunnat.net|access-date=29 May 2020|archive-date=30 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530173316/http://mahnama.ahlesunnat.net/webshaban1433/khususisardarahmed/khususisardarahmed.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There he met [[Hamid Raza Khan]], son of [[Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi]], and decided to join the centre of Islamic sciences and art by abandoning his English education at Manzar-i Islam at Bareilly. He gained instruction from [[Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri]], Amjad Ali Azmi and Muhammad Husain.<ref name="mahnama"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aulia-e-hind.com/dargah/azamgard.htm|title=Azamgad Sufis of India, Dargahs of india, indian dargah, wali of allah, aulia allah, indian mystics|website=Aulia-e-hind.com website|access-date=29 April 2025|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217015819/http://www.aulia-e-hind.com/dargah/azamgard.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Qadri became leader of Mazhare Islam Bareilly when Amjad Ali left seminary for Dadu district, Aligarh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.awaztoday.pk/profile_Sahibzada-Haji-Muhammad-Fazal-Karim_95.aspx|title=Sahibzada Haji Muhammad Fazal Karim|website=www.awaztoday.pk|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107202927/http://www.awaztoday.pk/profile_Sahibzada-Haji-Muhammad-Fazal-Karim_95.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Followers and admirers bestowed upon him the title of Muhaddis-e-Azam-e-Pakistan.<ref name="mahnama"/> He headed the Islamic seminary Mazhar-e-Islam Jamia Rizvia in Jhang Bazaar, Faislabad.<ref name="auto2"/> He was a patron of the [[All India Sunni Conference]] and supported the Pakistan movement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailypakistan.com.pk/05-Apr-2019/948103|title=محدث اعظم پاکستان ابوالفضل مولانا محمد سردار احمد چشتی قادری ؒ ؒ ایک مثالی استاد تھے!|date=5 April 2019|access-date=29 April 2025|archive-date=21 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621152315/https://dailypakistan.com.pk/05-Apr-2019/948103|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Shami|first1=Mujeebur Rehman|title=محدث اعظم پاکستان ابوالفضل مولانا محمد سردار احمد چشتی قادری Maulana Sardar Ahmad Chishti|url=https://dailypakistan.com.pk/05-Apr-2019/948103|newspaper=Daily Pakistan newspaper|date=5 April 2019|publisher=Roznama Pakistan 5 Apr 2019|access-date=29 April 2025|archive-date=21 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621152315/https://dailypakistan.com.pk/05-Apr-2019/948103|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Sufism== He became a disciple of Shah Muhammad Taj-ul-Haq Chishti in the [[Chishti]] order and received successorship and teaching licenses from [[Hamid Raza Khan]], [[Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri]] and Amjad Ali Azmi, who gave him teaching permissions and successorship in all saintly orders. He was a disciple of [[Ahmad Raza Khan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/TazkiraMuhaddisEAzamPakistanMaulanaMuhammadSardarAhmadR.a.ByAllamaJalalUdDinQadriVol1|title=Tazkira Muhaddis E Azam Pakistan Maulana Muhammad Sardar Ahmad R.a. By Allama Jalal Ud Din Qadri Vol 1/ تذکرہ محدث اعظم پاکساتن مولانا محمد سردار احمد قادری رح جلد 1|date=6 January 2019|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>{{dubious|date=June 2020}} His student was Islamic scholar [[Muhammad Ibrahim Siddiqui]], who formed the Sunni Razvi Society in [[Mauritius]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sunnirazvi.net/society/dedication.htm|title=dedication|website=sunnirazvi.net|access-date=16 June 2020|archive-date=12 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212134943/http://sunnirazvi.net/society/dedication.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was close to [[Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi]]. They had both studied with Hamid Raza Khan.<ref name="The Daily Telegraph">{{cite news|title=Preachers of hate on British TV: what they said that broke the broadcasting rules|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/9859822/Preachers-of-hate-on-British-TV-what-they-said-that-broke-the-broadcasting-rules.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph (UK newspaper)|date=9 February 2013|access-date=29 April 2025|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925165507/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/9859822/Preachers-of-hate-on-British-TV-what-they-said-that-broke-the-broadcasting-rules.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Rulings== According to one [[fatwa]], a person must wear clothes that cover the parts of the body which must be concealed according to Shari’ah. It is recommended to wear clothes for adornment and to express the blessings of God which he has granted.<ref>Bahar-e-Shari’at, part 16, page 52 of 312 pages, published by Maktaba-tul-Madina, Karachi, Pakistan.</ref>

==Death and shrine== Sardar Ahmad Chishti died on 29 December 1962 (1 [[Sha'ban]] 1382 AH). His shrine is in Sunni Rizvi Jamia Masjid, [[Faisalabad]] city, Pakistan.<ref name="auto3"/>

==Works== '''By him''' <ref name="auto3"/> *Fataawa-e-Muhaddis-e-Azam published by Maktaba Qadria Faislabad 2001 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesunniway.com/ebooks/urdu/file/116-fatawa-e-muhaddis-e-azam|title=Urdu &#124; اردو - Fataawa-e-Muhaddis-e-Azam|website=TheSunniWay.com website|access-date=29 April 2025|archive-date=21 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621023946/https://www.thesunniway.com/ebooks/urdu/file/116-fatawa-e-muhaddis-e-azam|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Sayyidna Ameer Muawia published by Maktaba Qadariya Faislabad 2018, Pakistan *Shan E Rasool ( Sallallhu Alaihi Wasalam) Bazuban E Fana Fil Rasool published by Bazm-e-Raza-e-Mustafa Pakistan *Islami Qanoon-e-Wirasat or Law of Inheritancein Islam published by Maktaba Qadariya Faislabad, Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bookslibrary.net/lib/book/qanoon-e-wirasat|title=قانونِ وراثت|date=22 November 2012|access-date=29 April 2025|archive-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622091931/http://bookslibrary.net/lib/book/qanoon-e-wirasat|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Tabsara-o-Mazhabi about Allama [[Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi]] *Radee-Mirzayiyat, Refutation of Ghulam Ahmad Qadiyani

'''About him''' *Mohaddise Azam Pakistan- Maulana Muhammada Sardar Ahmad Chishti Qadri by Saeed Jalal-ul-Deen, published by Maktaba Qadria Faislabad 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marfat.com/BookDetailPage.aspx?bookId=b7af9dc4-9634-4635-985f-17a29ae379e1|title=Marfat Library|website=Marfat.com website|access-date=29 April 2025|archive-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622040016/http://www.marfat.com/BookDetailPage.aspx?bookId=b7af9dc4-9634-4635-985f-17a29ae379e1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Baba Lasoori Shah]] *[[Baba Noor Shah Wali]] *[[Baba Qaim Sain]] *[[Barkat Ali Ludhianwi]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Sufi mystics]] [[Category:Pakistani Sufis]] [[Category:People from Faisalabad]] [[Category:Punjabi Sufi saints]] [[Category:Sufi shrines in Pakistan]] [[Category:1903 births]] [[Category:1962 deaths]] [[Category:Pakistani Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam]] [[Category:Hanafis]] [[Category:Barelvis]] [[Category:Sunni imams]] [[Category:Chishtis]] [[Category:Manzar-e-Islam alumni]] [[Category:Students of Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri]] [[Category:People from Gurdaspur district]]