From the Courts of Madinah al-Munawwarah to the Circle of Aala Hazrat Barelvi: The Life of Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan al-Mahrasi

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 26 July 2025 Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan al-Mahrasi, a revered scholar of Madinah al-Munawwarah, was known for his deep Hadith expertise and spiritual ties as a Khalifa of Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Qadri Barelvi. Main Points: 1. Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan al-Mahrasi was a distinguished scholar of Hadith in the sacred city of Madinah al-Munawwarah. 2. He studied under prominent scholars of the Hijaz and served in the Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque). 3. His writings and teachings reflected deep love for the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam. 4. He was a spiritual khalifa of Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi, linking two great Sunni traditions. 5. His legacy continues to inspire seekers of sacred knowledge and lovers of traditional Islamic scholarship. ----- A page from al-Kisah Magazine. ----- Introduction In the era of Islamic scholarship’s golden age that blossomed in the two holy sanctuaries of Makkah and Madinah in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one stands head and shoulders above the prominent Muhaddithun (hadith scholars): Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan al-Mahrasi. A North African polymath who became prominent in the Hijaz, he was not only respected for his profound understanding of Hadith sciences and Arabic linguistics but also for his piety, humility, and his association with spiritual masters from across the Islamic world—such as Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi, the grand Hanafi jurist and theologian of India, from whom he obtained Khilafat. This essay follows the life, learning, and religious impact of Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan al-Mahrasi, situating him within the wider frame of the intellectual and spiritual networks which held together the Islamic world in the modern period. Early Life and Pilgrimage to the Hijaz Born in 1292 AH (c. 1875 CE) in Mahra, Tunisia, Shaykh Umar hailed from a family rooted in traditional Islamic learning. Early on, his family undertook the great migration to Madinah al-Munawwarah, the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam’s illuminated city. This early movement was instrumental in determining his future spiritual and intellectual life. At the age of only 11, Umar bin Hamdan began memorising the Qur’an under Shaykh Ibrahim al-Taruf, and later pursued intensive study in Arabic grammar, rhetoric (Balagha), Maliki jurisprudence, and the Prophetic traditions (hadith). His knowledge of the Arabic language was so extensive that he felt like a mujtahid in matters of grammar and rhetoric. His early brilliance in studies did not escape the notice of the scholars of the Haramain. Within just a few years, he was learning at the feet of some of the Hijaz’s leading minds, including: · Sayyidi Muhammad ibn Jafar al-Kattani, the Moroccan muhaddith and authority in hadith sciences · Sayyid Ali ibn Zahir al-Watri · Sayyid Ahmad ibn Isma'il al-Barzanji, a towering Maliki scholar of Madinah · Shaykh Falih ibn Muhammad al-Zahiri al-Mahnawi, under whom he studied mantiq (logic), a subject in which he excelled Through his diligence, spiritual sincerity, and a commanding grasp of the Islamic sciences, Shaykh Umar earned the deep respect of both his teachers and his peers. Hadith Mastery and Teaching at the Two Sanctuaries By the first decades of the 14th century Hijri, Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan was an integral figure in hadith transmission in both the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. He enjoyed the singular and exclusive honour of being known as the Muhaddith of the Haramain (The Two Sanctuaries). This is not a title one receives lightly—it is reserved only for the most learned and devout transmitters of the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam’s tradition. He taught not just the six authentic books of hadith (Kutub al-Sittah), but also Imam Malik’s Muwatta, Ash-Shifa of Qadi Iyad, and numerous musalsal (continuing) hadiths with isnāds (chains of transmission) traceable back to the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam. His students were many and from multiple continents, but most notably included: · Shaykh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani, the Indonesian polymath and master of hadith · Shaykh Ahmad al-Ghumari of Morocco · Shaykh Muhammad al-Amin al-Shanqiti of Mauritius These students would themselves go on to become masters, spreading Shaykh Umar’s scholarly impact throughout North Africa, the Hijaz, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Relationship with Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi One of the most important but lesser-publicised aspects of Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan’s life is his spiritual affiliation with Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Qadri Barelvi (1856–1921)—the Mujaddid (reviver) of the 14th Islamic century and the eponymous founder of the Barelvi movement in South Asia. Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan is said to have been a Khalifah (spiritual deputy) of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan. This Khilafat (spiritual succession) was not merely symbolic—it demonstrated profound mutual respect and shared adherence to traditional Sunni doctrines, deep reverence for the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam, resistance to reformist ideologies that sought to compromise orthodoxy, and a commitment to safeguarding Sufi traditions rooted in the Qadri order. Through this relationship, Shaykh Umar’s influence extended into the Indian subcontinent, where his hadith transmissions and spiritual authorisation were highly regarded among Barelvi scholars and Sufi circles. His Sanad was often referenced in South Asian hadith collections compiled by scholars connected with the Barelvi tradition. Legacy and Scholarly Contributions Shaykh Umar was not prolific in the conventional sense as an author, yet his most enduring legacy is his Isnad—his chain of transmission which now appears in hundreds of Ijazahs (certificates of transmission) around the globe. His name is frequently found in Musalsal hadith compilations and Isnad records, particularly those preserved in the libraries of Fez, Cairo, Madinah, Lucknow, and Bareilly. He was deeply committed to traditional methods of learning and oral transmission, personally overseeing hadith recitation and licensing to ensure proper methodology and Adab. He forcefully defended the Ash‘ari-Maturidi theological tradition, the Maliki-Hanafi schools of jurisprudence, and the Qadri Sufi path, frequently cautioning against the rise of literalist or reformist interpretations of Islam that departed from centuries of scholarly consensus. Despite his towering stature in the scholarly world, Shaykh Umar remained a model of humility. Eyewitnesses described him as soft-spoken, respectful in debate, and deeply in love with the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam. He led a life of simplicity and service, never accepting payment for teaching, and always emphasising ikhlaas (sincerity) in the quest for knowledge. Final Years and Passing Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan passed away in 1368 AH (approx. 1949 CE), most likely in the blessed city of Makkah, though some accounts place his passing in Madinah. His death marked the end of an era—the final chapter in a generation of classical hadith scholars who had witnessed the Ottoman Empire, colonial incursions, and the early emergence of modern nation-states in the Muslim world. Yet, his scholarly and spiritual legacy remains alive. His name continues to appear in Ijazahs granted across Egypt, Morocco, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Numerous contemporary Muhaddithūn trace their isnād through him—connecting present-day scholars with the sacred past through unbroken chains of transmission. Conclusion Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan al-Mahrasi represents a perfect fusion of knowledge and spirituality, orthodoxy and mercy, discipline and humility. His pivotal role in the Haramain, his transmission of hadith, and his spiritual alignment with Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi make him a truly transcontinental scholar, whose influence touched the Maghrib (West), the Hijaz, and the Indian Subcontinent. At a time when fragmentation threatens our intellectual tradition, remembering scholars like Shaykh Umar is not merely an academic exercise, it is a spiritual obligation and a source of Barakah for generations to come. References: al-Kisah Magazine Number 15 (July 2008) Husamul Haramain ----- Syed Amjad Hussain is an author and Independent research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is the author of 'Bihar Aur Sufivad', a research book based on the history of Sufism in Bihar. Note: This is the first-ever article available about Shaykh Umar bin Hamdan al-Mahrasi on the Internet. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/madinah-al-munawwarah-aala-barelvi-hamdan-mahrasi/d/136306 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism