Saturday, June 21, 2025

From Marehra Sharif to IRS to Urdu Canon: The Inspiring Journey of Syed Muhammad Ashraf

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 21 June 2025 Syed Muhammad Ashraf, lovingly called Hazrat Sharf-e-Millat, is a rare blend of civil servant, Sufi thinker, and celebrated Urdu writer, whose life reflects humility, scholarship, service, and timeless inspiration. Main Points: 1. Born into a noble Sufi family, Syed Muhammad Ashraf was nurtured in Islamic scholarship and spirituality from childhood. 2. He excelled at AMU, became the first to clear Civil Services in Urdu, and retired as Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Kolkata. 3. A celebrated Urdu author, poet, and Sahitya Akademi awardee, his works are widely respected and studied. 4. As Vice President of Al-Barakat, he shaped modern Islamic education while upholding traditional values. 5. Known for his wisdom, compassion, and devotion to the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam, he lives a life of sincerity and grace. ----- Introduction Among the radiant universe of contemporary Indian Urdu literature and the mystic halls of the Qadiriyya-Barkaatiyya silsila, a single name evokes the distinctive combination of piety, literary excellence, and administrative skill, Hazrat Sharf-e-Millat, Syed Muhammad Ashraf Miyan Qadri Barkati. A renowned name not only in the spiritual sphere but also among civil service and literary circles, his life is an epitome of the convergence of tradition and modernity. A Noble Birth Rooted in Scholarship and Spirituality Born on 8 July 1957 (14 Shaban 1374 Hijri) in Sitapur in his maternal grandmother's house, Syed Muhammad Ashraf comes from a highly venerated family of scholars. His father was Ahsanul Ulama Hazrat Syed Shah Muhammad Mustafa Haidar Hasan, a great scholar in his own right. He was named Syed Muhammad Ashraf by Sayyidul Ulama Hazrat Syed Shah Aal-e-Mustafa Barkati, the start of a life that was meant to be exceptional. Right from the childhood days, his life was filled with religious education. His Bismillah Khwani, the Islamic initiation to read the Qur'an Sharif, was performed by his saintly father Hazrat Syed Shah Muhammad Mustafa Haidar Hasan. His Qur'anic learning was taught by a group of learned and close relatives like Hazrat Syed Muhammad, Hafiza Syeda Ayesha Khatoon, Hafiza Syeda Zahida Khatoon, and Hafiz Abdur Rahman. His Urdu was taught by Munshi Saeeduddin and Munshi Naseer Ahmad. Academic Brilliance and Civil Services Excellence He finished his initial studies at Madrasa Qaasimul Barkaat and matriculated from his native place before enrolling at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), the then-topmost academic institution in India. He did his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and afterwards did a Masters of Arts, for which he received a Gold Medal for his scholastic brilliance. Syed Muhammad Ashraf has a pioneering distinction in the history of Indian civil services. He is the first candidate to pass the Civil Services Examination in the Urdu medium. Initially, he was selected for the Indian Police Service (IPS), but he chose not to join as per the wishes of his father. He later passed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) test again and joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). Rising through the ranks with humility and commitment, he finally retired as Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Kolkata, a position that carries tremendous respect and responsibility. Spiritual Lineage and Reluctant Leadership Though deeply rooted in the Qadiriyya-Barkaatiyya Sufi tradition, Syed Muhammad Ashraf has always maintained humility in matters of spiritual authority. He was granted Khilafat (spiritual succession) by Ahsanul Ulama Hazrat Syed Shah Muhammad Mustafa Haidar Hasan, Sayyidul Ulama Hazrat Syed Shah Aal-e-Mustafa Barkati, and other Sufi saints in all the major Sufi orders. Regardless of these religious authorisations, he did not accept individuals into the Sufi order, a reflection of his contemplative and non-commercial attitude towards spirituality. He is wary because of an intimate grasp of spiritual responsibility and seekers' inquisitiveness, which he feels necessitates absolute sincerity and direction. Family and Personal Life He is married to Syeda Nishat Ashraf, a daughter of late Professor Syed Ali Ashraf, a former Vice Chancellor Jamia Millia Islamia and an esteemed Islamic scholar. Syeda Nishat Ashraf is a Master in Chemistry from Aligarh Muslim University Women's College. They have two sons — Syed Nabeel Ashraf and Syed Nazim Ashraf, and a daughter, Syeda Shifa Ashraf. Whereas the younger kids are still seeking education, the older son, Syed Nabeel Ashraf, has cleared the Probationary Officer (PO) exam and had served as a Manager at Indian Overseas Bank. A Literary Giant of the Subcontinent Syed Muhammad Ashraf's contribution to the literature of Urdu is colossal. Not only a Sufi scholar or bureaucrat, he is one of the Indian subcontinent's most celebrated short story writers. A prolific author and a renowned poet, particularly famous for Hamd, Naat, and Manqabat, his literary work has left an unforgettable impression on Urdu literature. His notable literary contributions are: 1. Sallu Alaihi Wa Aalihi: A renowned book on Hamd, Naat, and Manaqib, this work gained extensive accolades from the admirers of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam and has become a reference point for Naat literature. 2. Baad-e-Saba Ka Intezaar: This seminal short stories collection, released in 2001, was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, one of India's most prestigious literary awards. The novel was also awarded a ₹1 lakh cash award and a provincial certificate. 3. Dar Se Bichhde: A strong collection of imaginative stories now part of the Urdu syllabus of different colleges, confirming his contribution to scholarly literature. 4. Nambardar Ka Neela: A remarkable novel, praised for its sensitive rendering of varied human characters. It received great acclaim from India's top Urdu critic Shamsur Rahman Farooqi, who proclaimed, "I have not read such a novel even in English." 5. Suno Mir Amman Ki Kahani: A brilliant four-part novel, revealing his creative storytelling ability and expertise in historical narrative format. Outside books, his contribution to literature lies in scores of articles, ghazals, and poems that appear regularly in top Urdu magazines in India as well as overseas. He has also been translated into various languages, and his writings are being researched at PhD and M.Phil levels at renowned institutions such as AMU, Delhi University, and Kashmir University. Literary Leadership and Campus Activism While at Aligarh Muslim University, he was popular among students and educators. He swept the All India Sir Syed Debate Competition twice, was Secretary of Anjuman Urdu-e-Mualla, and was Editor of Aligarh Magazine. His literary impact went even beyond this as he became Secretary of the University Literary Club and helped to bring the richness of Urdu literary life to campus. Organisational Leadership and Educational Contributions Continuing the family legacy of ilm (knowledge) and khidmat (service), Syed Muhammad Ashraf is the Vice President of Al-Barakat Educational Society. His vision and administrative acumen find expression in the establishment of Madrasa Jamia al-Barakat, a world-class Islamic educational institution which today is a shining example of modern Islamic learning. He operates in close association with his elder brother Sajjadanasheen of Khanqah-e-Barkaatiyya, Hazrat Ameen-e-Millat Syed Muhammad Ameen Miyan Qadri, both sharing the duties of planning, development, and administration of the society. At his behest, the organisational matters of the Khanqah and Dargah Sharif, such as building, Urs preparations, and public relations, are effectively implemented. Personality of Grace and Wisdom In spite of his top government service and literary fame, Syed Muhammad Ashraf is eminent for his humility, wisdom, and sympathy. His personality is characterised by respect for Ulama and Mashaikh, great devotion to the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam, and real concern for the poor and the needy. His skill in conveying big messages in limited words is a feature of his interpersonal communication. Awards and Recognitions Apart from the Sahitya Akademi Award, he has been awarded: Katha Award Lifetime Achievement Award for Fiction Awarded for the coveted Iqbal Samman by the Madhya Pradesh Government These are but a testimonial to the great heritage he is continuously creating, with words, with wisdom, and with unshakeable commitment to service. Conclusion Syed Muhammad Ashraf Miyan Qadri Barkati, affectionately called Sharf-e-Millat, is an unusual personality where piety, scholarship, literary flair, and administrative acumen meet. Wherever in the realm of books or within the fortress of bureaucracy, he stands as a shining image of the Indian Muslim nation, admired, honoured, and recalled. In an age when identities have tended to be fractured, his life is a congruent nexus between the heritage of yesteryear and the hopes of tomorrow. It is not simply to be related, it is to be valued. ----- 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. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/marehra-sharif-irs-urdu-canon-syed-ashraf/d/135940 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

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