CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF POETRY:
Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah) spent much of his valuable time writing Poetry. His Poetry mostly consisted of Naath Shareef in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and Manqabats. In all the Naath Shareefs that was written by A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah), it is evident that his heart and soul was drowned in the love of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
His Naaths were written within the boundaries of the Shariah. Every stanza was filled with pearls of "I'lhaam". "I'lhaam" is that which is inspired by Almighty Allah into the hearts of the Awliyah Allah. Just as the Ambiya receive "Wahi" or Revelation, so do the Awliyah receive "I'lhaam". Each verse and stanza of his Poetry is the Tafseer (Commentary) of the Holy Quran and the Hadith of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). His Poetry was mainly in the Arabic, Urdu, and Persian languages.
A'la Hadrat's (alaihir rahmah) Poetry was compiled to form the famous, "Hidayake Bakhshish," (Gardens of Forgiveness). This famous Naath Kitaab is used throughout the world. A'la Hadrat's (alaihir rahmah) humble compilations are read by all who wish to express their love for Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
Mawlana Qari Noorul Hassan, quoting the following stanzas from A'la Hadrat's (alaihir rahmah) Poetry:
"Mulke Sukhan Ki Shahi Tum Ko Raza Musallam
Jis Simt Aagaye ho sikhe Bithaa diye hai"
and says that there are many illiterate and ignorant people, who look at the above stanzas and accuse A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) of praising himself in his Poetry. This, he says, is not true and are mere baseless objections. He further explains.
Hadrat Hassan Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah), the younger brother of Sayyiduna A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah), would often send his Poetry to be corrected to Janaab Daagh Delhwi, who was a famous and distinguished Poet of his time. Hadrat Hassnain Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah) used to take the poetry of Hadrat Hassan Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah) to Daagh Delhwi. One day, as he was about to leave for Dehli, A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) presented one of his Naaths to Hadrat Hassnain Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah) and said, "Ask Daagh Delhwi to rectify this Qalaam." The Naath which A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) sent begins with the following stanza:
"Unki Mahk ne dil ke ghunche khila diye hai
Jis Raah chal diye hai kooche basa diye hai."
When Hadrat Hassnain Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah) reached Delhi and presented the Naath to Daagh Delwhi, he looked at it and said, "This does not seem like the poetry of Mawlana Hassan Raza Khan. Whose is it?" Hadrat Hassnain Raza Khan (alaihir rahmah) replied that it was written by A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah). On hearing this, Daagh Delhwi said, "YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE QALAAM OF A'LA HADRAT (alaihir rahmah) TO ME FOR CORRECTION! THIS IS THE QALAAM OF SUCH A POET WHO HOLDS NO PLACE FOR ANY CORRECTIONS. BUT, SINCE IT IS INCOMPLETE, I WOULD LIKE TO WRITE THE FINAL VERSE FROM MY SIDE. PLEASE ASK A'LA HADRAT (alaihir rahmah) NOT TO CHANGE IT AS I AM AWARE THAT HE DOES NOT LIKE ANYTHING WRITTEN IN HIS PRAISE." After saying this, he wrote the verse:
"Mulke Sukhan Ki Shahi Tum Ko Raza Musallam
Jis Simt Aagaye ho sikhe Bithaa diye hai"
So, to those who accuse A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah) of praising himself in his Poetry, will find sufficient evidence to prove that it was Daagh Delhwi who inserted that stanza and not A'la Hadrat (alaihir rahmah)!
Commenting on one of A'la Hadrat's poems, Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Muhaddith Kichauchawi (alaihir rahmah) said: "Once I had the opportunity of reciting the Qasida-e-Me'rajia (A poem of A'la Hadrat radi Allahu anhu regarding the Holy Prophet's sallal laahu alaihi wasallam Me'raj) in my own style, in a select gathering of men of letters at Lucknow. I then asked them about the literary worth of the poem. Everybody was overwhelmed and they all exclaimed that the language is superb, pure and divine."
