Download PDF: [S] Hadrat Khateeb al-Baghdadi (Islamic story)

Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi’s – may Allah be pleased with him – title was “Abu Bakr” and his full name or family lineage is Ahmed bin Ali bin Thaabit bin Ahmed bin Mehdi. He was born on the 24th of Zul Qada 392 A.H. He started to acquire the knowledge of Hadith from the age of only twelve. His search for knowledge took him to Basrah, Kufah, Isfahan, Nishaapur, Hamdan, Rayy, Mecca Shareef and Madina Shareef. Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – was also considered a special student of Haafiz Abu Na’eem – may Allah be pleased with him – the writer of Hulyatul Awliyah. Among his students, the name of Muhaddith ibn Makula is quiet well known.

 

Another amazing miracle is that in Mecca Shareef, Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – completed the study of the Bukhari Shareef in only five days. In another report, this was completed in only three days. Hafiz Dhahbi – may Allah be pleased with him – states that it is difficult to find someone who was so brilliant and intelligent among his contemporaries. Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – also completed about seventy treatises but among all of them, the most famous is said to be “Taarikh Baghdad”. This is a treasure trove of knowledge.

 

It is mentioned that when Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – arrived in Mecca Shareef, he stood at the well of Zam Zam and made three Du’a. The first was that his masterpiece, Taarikh Baghdad, becomes so famous that the ‘Ulama use it as a source material. The second was that he is chosen to teach at Jamia Masjid Mansur in Baghdad. The third was that his grave be next to the blessed grave of Hadrat Sayyiduna Bishar Haafi – may Allah be pleased with him. All three of his Du’as were accepted.

 

In fact, this masterpiece became so famous that one day a person saw a dream and in this dream he noticed that eminent scholars such as Shaikh Nadr bin Ebrahim – may Allah be pleased with him – were also present when the Taarikh Baghdad was being taught. Some even say that they actually saw Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – appear once when this treatise was being taught.

 

His also began to teach at the Jamia Masjid Mansur and such was his status and stature that the Sultan of that period made it clear that no one was allowed to lecture or speak on Islam in public until and unless they were not certified by Khateeb Baghdadi.

 

His third Du’a was also accepted. This incident itself is also very strange. It is mentioned that when Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – passed away, there was no graves available in the cemetery except one single grave which had been prepared and which had been purchased by a certain rich young man in the city. However, when the people asked him to donate this grave, he completely refused to do so.

 

The people of Baghdad Shareef then approached his father to speak to his son. The father then called his son and asked him, “I would like to ask you that if Bishar Haafi was in the world today and there was only one place available in his class, would he have chosen you or Khateeb Baghdadi?”

 

The son replied, “If Khateeb Baghdadi was present, there is no way that I would have been given that seat.”

 

His father then, “In like manner, next to the grave of Hadrat Sayyiduna Bishar Haafi – may Allah be pleased with him – there is only place available. Are you more fit for it or Khateeb Baghdadi?”

 

When the son heard this, he happily donated this grave to Khateeb Baghdadi.

 

It is mentioned that Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – was very wealthy and used to spend a lot of money on his students. When he became ill and since he had no inheritors, he donated all his books and wealth in the path of Allah Allah.

 

Among his miracles is that on his journey for Hajj, Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – used to complete one Qur’an every day. In fact, the people in the caravan used to also listen to him reading the Qur’an. Even when he was very ill or even on a journey, he never missed completing the Qur’an.

 

Hadrat Khateeb Al Bahdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – passed away on the 7th of Zil Hajj 462 A.H. The first person to carry his body was Shaikh Abu Ishaq Shiraazi – may Allah be pleased with him. When he passed away, certain Awliya saw him in a dream and asked him how he had been treated and he replied that he was in Jannah enjoying the rewards of Jannah. (Bustaan Al Muhaditheen)