Hazrat Syed Abd al-Aziz Dehlavi Chose Silence in Madina Sharif, Yet Carried the Sarwari-Qadri Flame Forward

By Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam 23 Aug 2025 Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz Dehlavi (1082 AH or 1671 AD, Delhi) was the second son of Hazrat Sayyid Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlavi and a vital yet silent carrier of the Sarwari-Qadri order. He quietly migrated to Madina in his youth, where he lived in spiritual seclusion. His brief life ensured the Qadri lineage continued through his only son, anchoring Delhi’s legacy in Medina. Main points: 1. Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz Dehlavi migrated young, seeking quiet devotion in holy Medina. 2. He lived without fame, yet carried the Sarwari Qadri legacy with trust. 3. Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz married twice, fathering one son in his later years. 4. He passed in Medina Shareef around 1730 and was buried in Jannat al-Baqi. 5. He silently linked Delhi, Medina, and Bahawalpur’s sacred Qadri chain. ----- Introduction Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz, born in 1082 AH or 1671 AD in Delhi, is a revered saint in the Sarwari-Qadri spiritual lineage. Son of Hazrat Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi, who was the Murshid of Sultan Bahoo, Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz became a critical spiritual link between Delhi and Madina. Though his life was short, his legacy endures through his descendants, especially Hazrat Syed Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani, who revived the Sarwari-Qadri Order in Bahawalpur (present-day Pakistan). Early Life And Family Background Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz was born in Delhi in 1082 AH (1671 AD) to Hazrat Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani and Syeda Zahida Khatoon, both descendants of the noble Jilani Syeds. He was their second son; his elder brother, Hazrat Syed Taj‑ul‑Arifeen, was born in 1070 AH (1660 AD) but passed away from illness at the age of five in 1075 AH (1665 AD). Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz lost his father at the age of six when Hazrat Syed Abdul Rehman passed away in 1088 AH (1677 AD), and his mother died ten years later in 1098 AH (1687 AD), leaving him orphaned at sixteen. Raised by his maternal relatives in Delhi, he grew up amid emotional and financial hardship. Spiritually and genealogically, Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz traced his lineage directly to the Prophet Muhammad through Ghaus-ul-Azam Hazrat Shaykh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani. The Silsila sequence continues from Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani to Hazrat Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani, then Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz, followed by Hazrat Syed Abdul Raheem, and Hazrat Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani. His father, Hazrat Syed Abdul Rehman, was a Qaim Maqam Faqeer who served quietly but deeply in Delhi’s spiritual life. He established a Khanqah and mosque near the present-day Sadar Railway Station, built on his own lands. Migration & Spiritual Journey Around the age of twenty-five (1107 AH or 1696 AD), burdened by personal hardships and driven by a deep yearning for spiritual solitude, Hazrat Abdul Aziz left Delhi and journeyed to Baghdad. Soon after, guided by the esoteric inspiration of his illustrious ancestor, Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, he moved on to Madina in 1109 AH (1698 AD). There, he entered the service of a noble Hussaini Syed named Hazrat Hassan bin Nauman, a trader in agricultural produce and essential goods. Hazrat Abdul Aziz worked diligently during the day in Hassan’s service and spent his nights in worship and silent devotion within the sacred precincts of Masjid al-Nabawi. His unwavering sincerity, humility, and devotion to prayer deeply moved Hassan, who came to hold him in great spiritual regard. Marriage & Family Around 1117 AH or 1706 AD, at about age 35, Hazrat Abdul Aziz married Kulsoom, the elder daughter of Hazrat Hassan bin Nauman (also about age 35). Their marriage remained childless until Kulsoom’s death in (1132 AH or 1720 AD). Three years later, in (1135 AH or 1723 AD), he married Hazrat Hassan’s younger daughter Naila (about 33 years old). They had a son Hazrat Syed Abdul Raheem in 1142 AH ( 1730 AD), seven years after their marriage. Hazrat Hassan bin Nauman, delighted at the birth of his grandson, gifted his entire business to Hazrat Abdul Aziz. Hazrat Hassan bin Nauman passed away shortly afterward, at well over one hundred years of age. Spiritual Chain & Order He belongs to the Sarwari Qadri spiritual order that descends from Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. The Silsila passes in this sequence: Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hazrat Hasan Basri, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani, Hazrat Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi, Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz, Hazrat Syed Abdul Raheem, Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani, and onward to the present day, now led by Hazrat Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman, the 31st Shaykh of the order. Death & Burial Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz passed away tragically in early 1730s, due to a fatal fall from a horse, before his son turned four years old. He was buried in Jannat al‑Baqi, Madina. After his death his wife Naila maintained and managed the family business until her demise, when their son Hazrat Syed Abdul Raheem was about sixteen years old. Legacy & Succession His son Hazrat Syed Abdul Raheem grew into a respected merchant in Madina and fathered Hazrat Syed Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani ( 29 Ramadan 1186 AH / 24 December 1772 AD, Madina), who later moved from Madina to Ahmadpur Sharqiah, Bahawalpur, where he led the Sarwari Qadri Order and became widely revered. Hazrat Abdullah Shah received the Divine Trust (Amanat‑e‑Ilahiya) from Hazrat Sultan Bahoo and is considered the next major spiritual successor in the Sarwari Qadri Silsila, carrying forward the lineage from Hazrat Abdul Aziz and Hazrat Rehman Dehlvi. His shrine in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, remains a key centre of spiritual influence today. Thus, albeit Hazrat Abdul Aziz died young, he served as a pivotal link—Delhi, Madina and Bahawalpur—ensuring continuity of the Qadri/Sarwari Qadri spiritual heritage through generations. Conclusion Hazrat Syed Abdul Aziz’s brief yet historically central life bridges continents, families, and Silsilas. Born in Delhi, orphaned early, he answered the call of divine migration to Baghdad and Madina. There he married, served, and fathered the lineage-bearer of Sarwari Qadri. Though he passed away in youth, his son and grandson carried forward his legacy—ultimately shaping the spiritual path in India and Pakistan. His memory is cherished as the honourable son of Hazrat Rehman Jilani Dehlvi, the respected father of Hazrat Syed Abdul Raheem, and especially as the grandfather of Hazrat Syed Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani, the spiritual guide whose shrine in Bahawalpur stands testament to this revered lineage. ---- Adnan Faizi is a Peace and Harmony activist based in Delhi. He is an alumni of CCS University, Meerut. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/hazrat-abd-al-aziz-madina-sharif-sarwari-qadri-flame/d/136575 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 Feminis