Abdul Hakim Ansari
Abdul Hakeem Ansari (Urdu خواجه عبدالحكيم انصاري) (July 29, 1893 – January 23, 1977), Naqshbandi, Chishti, Mujaddadi, Toheedi was a Sufi (ثصوف) of the Naqshbandiya, Chishti Orders. He studied other doctrines of spiritual thought. A student of Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan, who "aligned him with the Vision of Allah" on Uwaisi pattern, he founded the fifth spiritual discipline as Toheedia school.
Life
Family
Born at Farid Abad near Delhi on July 29, 1893, his father was Hafiz Abdur Raheem and his mother Syeda Umat-ul-Aisha. His grand father Maulana Abdul Aziz (مولانا عبدالعزيز) was a religious leader, a well educated visionary who was Senior Sub-Judge at Lakhnao. His forefathers belonged to the 'Ansari' family from the Panipat, the successors of Abu Ayub Ansari (حضرت ابوايوب انصاري).
His maternal grandfathers were from the family of Naseer uddin Shah Roshan Chiragh, successor of Farid Ganj Shakar. They lived in Bally Maran, Delhi.
He had a younger brother, Abdul Aleem Ansari, and a sister, Rafeea Baigum. In his childhood, he played at the shrine of Naseer uddin Shah Roshan Chiragh. His childhood passed in the company of his grandfather Maulana Abdul Aziz. His grandfather taught him the basics of Islam. He learned prayers, creeds and verses of the Holy Quran by the age of five. He passed his matriculation, the Munshi Fazil examination and became a graduate with training as a librarian.
Marital life
He was married to his first cousin. His uncle was the Ali Garh University Alumni. He had a son—Abdul Hadi Ansari, three daughters—Shamsa Baigum, Rabia Baigum, Humayun Baigum. Shamsa Baigum was the eldest while Humayun Baigum was youngest child. Abdul Hadi Ansari died in his life at the age of thirty six and buried at Miani Sahib graveyard. He adobted his nephew—Anwer Aleem Ansari after the death of his son. Shamsa Baigum was married to Fakhr ul Hassan and lived at Karachi. Rabia Baigum was married to Islam Uddin and settled at Lahore after marriage while youngest daughter Humayan Baigum was married to Sheikh Imtiaz Ali Qureshi (Aafaqi) and settled at Islamabad.
His wife was known as Nani Amman (ناني امان) in the community of his desciples.She migrated from Karachi to Islam Abad in 1962 with her daughter Humayun Baigum. She was died at Lahore on April 15, 1965 and buried at F Block, Model Town graveyard.
Business and jobs
He had been living at a forest in close proximity of Delhi for a business. He had to buy the fossils with the help of some workers sold by the villagers. Afterwards, he was appointed as ‘translator’ at Indian Army Headquarter Delhi where he spent most of the time during job. His residence was at Government A class Army Headquarters Tegoor Road Delhi. He served at Bulgam temporarily for a short period on a translation project. This service continued till his migration towards Pakistan with his family.
He secured job as ‘Librarian’ at Pakistan Air Force Base Drig Road (presently known as Shahrah-e-Faisal) Karachi. Soon he transferred to Maleer cantonment library Karachi that came to an end with resignation on January 1955 for permanent settlement to Bannu.
Spiritual life
Spiritual trends
Divine inspiration, noble and excellent deeds were a routine in his childhood. Further, he was inclined to the sufism in childhood influenced by the company of his grandfather—Maulana Abdul Aziz. He sought a clear vision about sufism and sufis by studying hundreds of books from the personal library of Maulana Abdul Aziz. Maulana Abdul Aziz died on 1902 but his company and teachings marked everlasting impact on his life. He started the search of spiritual guide. He visited many mendicants, beggars, saints, careless and inconsiderate persons on many shrines, houses, and tombs but could not find satisfaction anywhere.
Objective of life
His objective of life was 'the closeness and vision of the absolute self of Allah’. He was in search of such saint who should be well educated, of research oriented mind, possessing knowledge of God and of his kingdom. He found many persons with divine inspiration having noble and excellent deeds but persons possessing knowledge of God and his kingdom were rare. He carried on searching for spiritual guide for practical spiritual journey.
Practical spiritual journey
Naqshbandiya-Mujaddidiya and Chishtia Chain have early contributions in his practical spiritual journey. He could not achieve the final objective of his life—the closeness and vision of Allah. Finally he got that in the friendship of Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan.
Oath of allegiance in Naqshbandiya-Mujaddidiya
He met Maulana Kareem uddin Ahmad after eight years of spirited search who had all his desired attributes in his personality. He took the oath of allegiance on his hand on 1911 at the age of eighteen years. Maulana Kareem uddin Ahmad advised him the Zikr and other practices for daily life. It was very difficult to complete them with routine life round the clock. Anyhow, he continued them and tried to complete them as per advice. As a result he failed twice in his matriculation. After seven to eight years of hard and continuous labour, he completed its course. This course developed humility, piety in his nature and he was blessed with noble and excellent deeds and divine inspiration. Despite all he could not get the vision of Allah for which he took the oath of allegiance. Maulana Kareem uddin Ahmad bestowed him with the written statement ‘to take oath for himself’ in the age of thirty three. In addition, he advised him, in this writing, not to take oath before the age of forty. Maulana Kareem uddin Ahmad suggested other things with meditation. He performed as per instructions till the death of Maulana Kareem uddin Ahmad on 1920. He had been attached with Naqshbandiya-Mujaddidiya chain of spiritual thought for nine years. In the early six years he met Maulana Kareem uddin Ahmad ten to fifteen times but attached firmly to his teachings.
Oath of allegiance in Chishtia chain
After the death of Maulana Kareem uddin Ahmad he took oath of allegiance in Chishtia Chain on the hand of a famous saint Syed Muhammad Qasim Ali Kaleemi who was the resident of Murad Abad. He completed his course in five to six years. This course secured elegance, perception of beauty and comeliness and intense feelings of love and affection in his nature. The vision of Allah remained a hard and dream here also. He met twice to his spiritual guide in Chishtia Chain in more or less ten years.
Search for the destination
He did not took oath of allegiance in any discipline of spiritual thought after Naqshbandiya-Mujaddidiya order and Chishtia Chain. He thoroughly studied the courses of Qadiriyyah and other spiritual disciplines but could not see the concept of the vision of Allah in his extensive studies. He kept silence and waited for divine help.
Friendship with Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan
After complete silence of fourteen to fifteen years, he met Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan on 1928 at Balgam. Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan was the resident of a small town—Mahinder Garh of Patyala state. He was the saint whose name was told by his grandfather in a dream. Maulana Kareem uddin Ahmad also told him about his friendship at first meeting. Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan was an Owaisi saint – neither had he taken oath of allegiance from anybody nor he owed allegiance to any person. The era of thi direct friendship is of nineteen years. He received his grace in abundance for twenty to twenty five years. This time the divine course covered in a strange way. He passed the entire way from Nasoot to Zaat-i-Beht seeing and understanding the surroundings all around. First he saw the stages of Hell, and in the succeeding order and moving about the heavens of A’raf, Malakoot, Jabroot, Lahoot, and Hahoot then reached the lower layer of Hoo. At this point he overcame the state of Wahdatul Wajood. This was the state that has been described as reality by Ibn Arabi. When he reached the upper layer of Hoo, he experienced the state which has been called as Zilliyat by Hazrat Mujaddid Alf-i-Sani. He crossed that stage very soon. After that he remained for some time in A’dam but continued proceeding forward till by crossing A’dam entered Alam-i-Amr. At last, after twenty six to twenty seven years he achieved his life’s desire in 1953. During this period, he continued reflecting and reciting of his older Naqshbandiya order and did get grace from Risaldar Muhammad Hanif Khan.
Life in Pakistan
Cross border migration
After partition of Indo-Pak sub-continent, law and order situation was at the worst level. He went to the embassy of Pakistan at Delhi and migrated from Delhi to Lahore by train on September 14, 1947. This journey from Nizam uddin railway station to Lahore was of fire and blood. His stay at Lahore migrant camp was of two week from where he came to his relatives at Karachi.
Stay at Karachi
His first stay at Karachi was with his cousin for some time. After that He shifted to the residence of his son in law. When he was employed by Pakistan Air Force as Librarian then he got residence at Air Force Base camp. He became famous during job. He advised good deeds to those who came close to him. He never liked to be famous as a saint. Few persons proved to be of good fortune and took the oath of allegiance on his hand. Most of the people from his company were from Pakistan Air Force, therefore, the majority of his disciples were from Pakistan Air Force. Soon the circles of Zikr established at almost all cantonments of Pakistan Air Force. Soon the circles of Zikr established at many cities, towns, and villages by the means of these air force officials.
Stay at Bannu
Settlement Commissioner at Bannu, at that time, had some relation with him who invited him many times. He visited Bannu and lived with him for a month. Settlement Commissioner inquired about his claims and allotment on them. He did not have allotted anything on his claims. He provided his claims for allotment afterwards on the demand of that settlement commissioner who ordered to allot him a house at Qasaban Ward of Bannu with a cash of five thousand rupees. During his stay with the Settlement Commissioner he was introduced with Abdus Sattar. Abdus Sattar liked him and became his disciple. Allotted house was not vacant yet and the Settlement Commissioner was transferred from Bannu. Abdus Sattar offered him to stay with him at his family house – Shanti Bhawan. Indian parliament is called ‘Bhawan’. This house was pre-occupied where the close relatives of Abdus Sattar were also living with them.
He shifted to his allotted house in 1962 and invited Abdus Sattar to stay with him. Abdus Sattar accepted this offer and shifted with him along with his wife and a daughter. This house at Qasaban ward was very small with two rooms and a drawing room having stairs for toilet at the roof. Abdus Sattar served him with his family during his stay at Bannu .
Stay at Lahore
He sold his house at Bannu and left for Lahore on October 1964. Abdus Sattar with his wife and daughter also joined him for his settlement at Lahore. His earlier stay was at Fazal building and at cantonment residences but later he shifted at Gulberg Lahore. He lived there for nine years. In 1973 he came at the Model Town residence with Abdus Sattar, his wife and daughter. He remained there until his death.
Foundation of Silsilah-e-Alia Toheedia
He never liked to be known as a saint. He became famous during his job as Librarian at Karachi. His colleagues and friends were convinced of his wisdom. They started consulting him for their life problems. He advises them good deeds and prays for them. Some people insisted him for practical spiritual journey. Thus, few from those people took oath of allegiance at his hand on 1950. His stay was at Karachi and his social circle was in Pakistan Air Force. Very soon the circles of Zikr were established at all bases of Pakistan Air Force. His teachings spread across the cities, towns and villages by these people. He laid down the foundation of his Silsilah on 1953 at Karachi and name Toheedia (Touheedia, Tawhidia, Tawhidyah, توحيديه).
Litrary contributions
Tamir-i-Millat
His comprehensive book on spiritualism that described the distinct PREview of spiritual journey from earth to heaven published on 1957. This book introduced the concept of 'vision of Allah' before death, first time in human history. Further more it defines the means and procedure for the 'vision of Allah'.
Chiragh-e-Rah
This book is the collection of his speeches. Its first edition was published on 1967 and second on 1977. It explains the concept and issues on the way of light.
Tareeqat-e-Toheedia
This book has distinction of its contents on Sufism. Any founder of Silsilah did not write the full contents of his sufi order. He was the first who completely wrote the full contents and proceeding of his spiritual discipline on 1962.
Haqeeqat Wahdatul Wajood
Wahdatul Wajood emerged as a spiritual conflict in sufi world. Many sufis and theoligians wrote on the subject but a minute number of them described it after their spiritual experience. He was one of them who described the reality of Wahdatul Wajood on 1969.
List of authorized persons
Authorized person is one who has excellent morality and spiritual power and has capacity to bestow grace to those who are under his supervision, and can understand and remove the spiritual hurdles of the disciples of his spiritual guide. Few selected persons are declared, in writing by the spiritual leader, to be eligible for the purpose. These authorized persons can take oath of allegiance on their hand for their spiritual leader rather than for themselves.
He declared the following persons as his 'Authorized persons':
1. Abdus Sattar Awan
2. Muhammad Siddique Dar
3. Muhammad Murtaza
4. Sheikh Ali Asghar
5. Abid Ali
6. Choudhry Ghulam Qadir
7. Raja Ali Akber
8. Qazi Gayoor Ahmad Ansari
9. Malik Bukshish Ilahi
10. Syed Atta Ullah Shah
Announcement of Successor
He consulted his authorized persons for the succession. Finally he decided for Abdus Sattar Awan to be his successor. He announced his decision of succession during his speech at the annual convention of Silsilah Alia-e-Toheedia at Lahore on 1968. He ordered all his disciples to take oath of allegiance of his caliphate at the same meeting. Some mjazeen had adverse react on his announcement and they did not act upon his advice.
Annual conventions
He conducted fifteen annual conventions in his life. The series of annual conventions started on 1959. First four were hosted by his disciples at Noshehra Virkan. He gave his first annual address in the fourth convention. Another annual convention on 1966 was also at this town. Three annual conventions were conducted at Multan. Six annual conventions were at Lahore – five conventions at Prince Hotel Lahore and one at the Astana-e-Aalia Toheedia – his residence at Model town Lahore. Muhammad Siddique Dar read his annual address at the single annual convention at Astana-e-Aalia Toheedia on 1974 in compliance of his orders. Another annual convention was conducted at Sheikhupura that was incomplete due to heavy rain.
Astana-e-Alia Toheedia
Silsilah-e-Alia Toheedia had no place to serve as a head quarter. His disciples insisted and proposed the idea of a society for the collection of monetary resources to visualize the dream of a head quarter at Lahore. They contributed and bought a piece of land at B Block Model Town. Soon they sold it and bought another piece of land of six canals that was of 92-G, Model Town Lahore. They presented him the proposed design of Silsilah-e-Alia Toheedia for final approval on 1971. He approved this design and construction started on it that completed in three steps. First step ended on 1973 and he shifted there with Abdus Sattar, his wife and daughter. All the three steps of construction completed till 1977. He declared Astana-e-Alia Toheedia to be the official residence of the president Silsila-e-Alia Toheedia for all successors on their turn as the personal property of non of them and a center of all activities under control of the president Silsilah-e-Alia Toheedia. Astana Alia Toheedia became a place to serve all disciples and guests in search of the teachings of Toheedia doctrine. One annual convention of Silsilah-e-Alia Toheedia was conducted there on 1974 in his life.
Death
He recorded his will on May 25, 1975 with retired Justice Rustum S. Sidhwa who registered it in court.. Ansari died on January 23, 1977 and was buried at 92-G, Model Town Lahore. Abdus Sattar took oath of allegiance as his successor after his death.