BAI'AT AND KHILAFAT:
In the year 1294 A.H., at the age of 22 years, Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) became the Mureed (Disciple) of Imam-ul-Asfiya, Sayyiduna Shah Aale Rasool Mahrerwi (alaihir rahmah). The incident surrounding the Bai'at (Spiritual Allegiance) and Khilafat (Spiritual Successorship) of A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) is as follows:
Once Hadrat Mawlana Abdul Qaadir Badayouni (alaihir rahmah) came to Bareilly Shareef. He invited A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) to go to Mahrera Shareef with him. Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) accepted his invitation and they both set off to Mahrera Shareef. When they arrived at the station in Mahrera Shareef, A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) said, "I AM RECEIVING THE SCENT OF MY MURSHID."
When they reached the Khanqah-e-Barakaati and entered, Sayyiduna Shah Aale Rasool (alaihir rahmah) saw A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) and said, "COME IN. I HAVE BEEN AWAITING YOUR PRESENCE FOR A LONG TIME."
SAYYIDUNA SHAH AALE RASOOL (alaihir rahmah) IMMEDIATELY MADE A'LA HADRAT (alaihir rahmah) A MUREED AND BLESSED HIM WITH KHILAFAT AND I'JAZAT IN ALL THE SUFI SILSILAS. Thus, A'la Hadrat's (alaihir rahmah) Peer-o-Murshid (Spiritual Guide) was Hadrat Sayyiduna Shah Aale Rasool (alaihir rahmah).
Hadrat Sayyiduna Abul Hussain Noori Barakaati (alaihir rahmah), who was also the Peer-o-Murshid of Moulana Mustapha Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah), was also present in this spiritual gathering. He was also a great Awliya Allah and needed no introduction to Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah). For the benefit of the others who were present and to make them aware of the exalted calibre and status of A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah), he asked Hadrat Sayyiduna Shah Aale Rasool (alaihir rahmah) a question. He asked, "HUZOOR! THE RITUAL HERE AT MAHRERA SHAREEF IS THAT IF ANY PERSON COMES HERE, AND AFTER BECOMING MUREED DESIRES TO GAIN KHILAFAT AND I'JAZAT, THEN WE ASK HIM TO PERFORM MUJAHIDA (STRUGGLE IN THE PATH OF ALLAH). WE ALSO GIVE HIM DRIED BREAD TO EAT AS PART OF HIS SPIRITUAL TRAINING. AFTER THIS, IF WE FIND HIM WORTHY ENOUGH, THEN WE GRANT HIM KHILAFAT AND I'JAZAT IN ONE OR TWO SILSILAS, BUT YOU HAVE BLESSED THIS YOUNG MAN WITH KHILAFAT AND I'JAZAT OF ALL THE SILSILAS, AND EVEN COMMANDED HIM TO LOOK AT AND VERIFY ALL THE KITAABS WHICH YOU HAVE WRITTEN. WHY IS THIS SO?"
Sayyiduna Shah Aale Rasool (alaihir rahmah) answered with the following words: "O PEOPLE! YOU DO NOT KNOW AHMED RAZA. OTHERS WHO COME HERE NEED TO BE PREPARED BEFORE GAINING I'JAZAT AND KHILAFAT. BUT AHMED RAZA KHAN HAS COME PREPARED FROM ALMIGHTY ALLAH. ALL HE NEEDED WAS A LINK AND THIS IS WHY I MADE HIM MUREED."
"I ALWAYS TEARED THROUGH THE FEAR OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH THAT IF ON THE DAY OF QIYAMAH, HE QUESTIONED ME CONCERNING WHAT I HAD BROUGHT FOR HIM FROM THE WORLD, THEN I WOULD HAVE NO ANSWER. BUT, TODAY, THAT FEAR NO LONGER EXISTS. IF ON THE DAY OF QIYAMAH THE ALMIGHTY ASKS, 'O AALE RASOOL! WHAT HAVE YOU BROUGHT FOR ME?' THEN, I WILL IMMEDIATELY PRESENT IMAM AHMED RAZA KHAN (alaihir rahmah) TO MY CREATOR."
This highly spiritual incident alone explains the status of A'la Hadrat, Azeemul Barkat, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah).
A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) possessed immense love for his Peer-o-Murshid and for the family members. He also displayed his love for all those who had contact with them and respected them. Whenever A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) went to Mahrera Shareef to gain blessings from his Peer-o-Murshid, he would remove his shoes at the station and walk bare feet in Mahrera Shareef! Whenever any person or representative from Mahrera Shareef arrived in Bareilly Shareef to deliver a letter or parcel to A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah), he would treat that person with great respect and dignity. He addressed the person with words of respect, such as, "Most Respected Representative," and would not allow that person to leave without giving him something to eat. A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) would personally go into the house to bring out food for that person. He even used to carry the dish or plate of food on his head!
If this is the respect that A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) showed towards the representatives of his Peer-o-Murshid and his family, one cannot imagine or fathom the respect which he showed towards them personally!
