Sham-Ul-Arefeen Hazrat Mawlana Syed Mukhlisur Rahman Jahangir Huda Shah Sahab Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu

HAZRAT SHAH JAHANGIR (I) MAWLANA MUKHLISUR RAHMAN (QSA) Hazrat Shah Jahangir (I) Shaikhul Arefin Mawlana Mukhlisur Rahman (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu). He was born on 15 Dhul Hijjah, 1229 A.H. (November 28, 1814). His blessed father passed when he was only 2 and a half years old, so his blessed mother took care of him in his early years. As a teenager, he left home and went to Calcutta, India for higher Islamic studies at Aliah Madrasah. He had such sharp memory that he once said that after he went through a subject, he remembered it for 14 years. He later earned the highest formal degree, “Mamtazul Muhaddithin” in 1259 A.H. (1843). He was highly respected by both Muslims and Non-Muslims as “Bade Mawlana” (Big Scholar). Later in his life, he was in search of a shaykh (spiritual guide). He was advised that this illuminated soul was in city of Bhagalpur, India. He immediately went and presented himself for service to Hazrat Shah Syed Imdad Ali (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) who was a Chief Judge at the time. Hazrat Syed Shah Imadad Ali (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) showed great love and affection to Hazrat Mawlana Mukhlisur Rahman Jahangiri (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) and gave him Khilafat and Ijazat after only six months in 1266 A.H. (November 26, 1849). Hazrat Syed Shah Imdad Ali (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) later also gave him the title “Shah Jahangir.” Hazrat Mawlana Mukhlisur Rahman Jahangiri (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) then visited his grand shaykh, Hazrat Shah Mohammad Mahdi Faruqi (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) in Chapra, India who also received him with great love and affection. Hazrat Mawlana Mukhlisur Rahman Jahangiri (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) spent 30 years in hard and tireless spiritual exercise while keeping distance from the people. He did not sleep much, and would instantly respond when called by anyone while he was asleep. He also famously traveled to Ajmer Sharif, India from Chittagong, Bangladesh which was a journey of 6 months. He was known as the greatest scholar of his time due to his mastery in both Shari’ah (Islamic Law) and Tariqah (Spiritual Path). He had such a high spiritual station that he received the message of his passing away three times, which is only reserved for the khas o khas (special of special) awliya (saints). He passed ahead on 12 Dhul Qaidah, 1302 A.H. (August 24, 1885) at the age of 73 years old. His resting place is in Darbar Mirzakhil Sharif in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It must be noted Darbar Mirzakhil Sharif in Bangladesh is of extreme importance for our spiritual lineage as it holds the tombs of the great saints, Hazrat Shah Jahangir (I) Mawlana Mukhlisur Rahman (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu), Hazrat Shah Jahangir (II) Fakhrul Arefin Abdul Haye (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) and Hazrat Shah Jahangir (III) Shamsul Arefin Mawlana Mohammad Maksusur Rahman (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu). Dua Hum Sab Ko Apni Bargah-e-Ahdiyat Mai Kar Qabool, Hazrat Mukhlisur Rahman Jahangiri E Huda ke Wasthey Ya Allah, accept us in your court of Guidance, For the sake of Hazrat Mukhlisur Rahman Jahangiri (Ref: Hazrat Ashraf Jahangir Simnani (R.A) and his odd encounters in Sultanat-i-Bangalah: Mirzakhil Darbar Sharif - a case study, pages 18 to 28)