Maulānā Pīr Ghulām Habīb

Naqshbandī
Name

His name is Ghulām Habīb. His mother had

suggested the name Habībullāh for him but his
father preferred Ghulām Habīb. The latter name
became popular and he was addressed by it by all
sections of the community.
Birth
He was born on a Friday on 23 Ramadān 1322
A.H./2 December 1904 in a place called Kardhī.
Lineage
His father’s name is Muhīyy ad-Dīn. His lineage
goes up to Hadrat ‛Alī radiyallāhu ‛anhu via Hadrat
Muhammad ibn Hanafīyyah rahimahullāh. Those
who belong to this lineage are generally referred to
as “A‛wān”.
Early education and training
His mother was a righteous woman who was
particularly concerned about the education and
training of her children. She handed over her child
to the famous teacher, Qārī Qamar ad-Dīn Sāhib,
for the sake of memorizing the Qur’ān. She also kept
a watchful gaze on him. Whenever she perceived
any laxity in his studies, she would reprimand him
sternly. Maulānā Ghulām Habīb Sāhib
rahimahullāh himself narrated in one of his
assemblies:
I received the habit of tahajjud salāh
from my honourable mother. My father
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 had passed on when I was a child. I
observed my mother. She was blessed
with a long life and was particular about
performing tahajjud salāh.
Maulānā rahimahullāh said on another occasion:
When I explain the Qur’ān, the verses
come before my mind and it is as though
I become attached to them like a wire.
These are the fruits of the efforts of my
mother. In the course of memorizing the
Qur’ān, if I displayed any laziness due to
my young age, she would hold back my
meals. There were times when she would
also tie me to a pillar and say: “I will
release you once you have learnt your
lesson thoroughly.” Today, despite my
old age, if I am asked to recite from any
place in the Qur’ān, I can recite it by the
grace of Allāh ta‛ālā.
Note: Glory to Allāh! Just look at the fruits of the
training and mentoring of his mother. If only all
children could get mothers of this nature. Countless
other “Ghulām Habīb’s” would be born, who would
then steer and train the ummat and prove beneficial
to the community. (compiler)
Teachers
The following are some of his notable teachers:
1. Qārī Qamar ad-Dīn Sāhib
rahimahullāh.
2. Shaykh al-Hadīth Hadrat Maulānā
Sayyid Amīr Sāhib rahimahullāh.

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 3. Hadrat Maulānā ‛Ubaydullāh Sindhī
Sāhib rahimahullāh.
4. Shaykh at-Tafsīr Hadrat Maulānā
Ahmad ‛Alī Sāhib Lāhorī rahimahullāh.
Bay‛at
Maulānā rahimahullāh accompanied his cousin,
Maulānā Sayyid Amīr Sāhib, and presented himself
to Maulānā ‛Abd al-Mālik Sāhib Siddīqī Naqshbandī.
He pledged bay‛at to him and remained steadfast on
the spiritual practices which he prescribed. At the
same time, he paid particular attention to
maintaining a contact with his shaykh.
On one side, he strove in his spiritual practices and
on the other side, his shaykh showered him with his
special attention. This proved to be an illuminating
union. When the shaykh observed the qualities of
rectitude and guidance in his disciple, he sent him
to his own mentor, Hadrat Khwājah Fadl ‛Alī
Qurayshī rahimahullāh, for further affirmation and
perfection. Hadrat Qurayshī rahimahullāh would
prescribe several days of meditation to him. Hadrat
Qurayshī rahimahullāh eventually received divine
inspiration to confer khilāfat to him. He did this in
an assembly of his disciples on 29 Sha‛bān 1352
A.H. Subsequently, Hadrat Maulānā ‛Abd al-Mālik
Siddīqī rahimahullāh also conferred khilāfat to him.
Hadrat Maulānā Siddīqī rahimahullāh had given
him a general permission in all the Sufi orders, and
then conferred the ‛Ulīyyah Naqshbandīyyah
permission to him so that he may proliferate it.
Maulānā rahimahullāh did his utmost to propagate
it in many countries of Europe and Africa. Many
people were conveyed from materialism to the

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effulgence of spirituality. May Allāh ta‛ālā reward
him with the best of rewards. Āmīn. (compiler)
Statements
(1)
Death is bound to come, and the soul will be
separated from the body. One should therefore
prepare for death before its arrival.
(2)
This world is the place of action. It is a place of tests
and tribulations. But we have turned it into a place
of touring and merrymaking.
(3)

The person who sacrifices his desires for the sake of

his Master is the one who will really leave this world
successfully.
(4)
Unfortunate indeed are those who do not read the
Qur’ān. You should read even if it is little. It is an
excellent nourishment. Regrettably, it is not valued
nowadays. Only the one who understands it and
treats it as though it is a royal edict will truly
appreciate it.
(5)
A personality is not developed by external
embellishments and fancy clothes. It is developed by
establishing a bond with Allāh ta‛ālā, engaging in
His remembrance and striving for Him. Nowadays,
attention is paid to external beautification while the
rectification of the internal self is disregarded. If a

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person focuses on internal embellishment, he will
personally experience enjoyment.
Note: Glory to Allāh! These are simple but beneficial
and impressive statements. May Allāh ta‛ālā enable
us to practise. Āmīn. (compiler)
(6)
Nowadays, there is only ritualism and superficiality.
Sincerity has departed. Lectures have become
empty. It is easy for a lecturer to speak for two
hours about the virtues of tahajjud but it is difficult
for him to wake up in the middle of the night and
perform just two rak‛ats of tahajjud.
Note: He is absolutely correct. This is our condition.
May Allāh ta‛ālā inspire us towards blessed actions.
Āmīn. (compiler)
(7)
If a person has servitude, he has a life. If not, he will
experience disgrace. A life which is dictated by
carnal desires and satanic influences is not a life.
Note: This is undoubtedly a great statement.
(compiler)
(8)
Is it possible for a person who bears the Qur’ān,
propagates it and invites to it to still be a slave of
someone else? Whether it is slavery of the carnal
self or of Shaytān, it cannot happen because the
Qur’ān announces its triumph. It says: O Muslims
who believe in me! Why are you failures? Why are
you distressed? Read the Qur’ān so that your
Sustainer may honour you.

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 (9)
If the person reads the following twenty-five times,
inshā Allāh he will be blessed with the death of
martyrdom.
ْ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ ‫ﻤﻮت‬
.‫ﻤﻮت‬ ْ َْ ْ َ
ْ ‫ﺑﺎرك‬ َ
ِ ‫ﻌﺪ ا‬¤ ‫ﻴﻤﺎ‬n‫و‬ ِ ِ ‫ ا‬aِ Ðِ ِ Þ‫ا‬
O Allāh! Bless me in death and what follows
after death.
(10)
The true servants of Allāh ta‛ālā worship Him and
fear Him because they do not know if their worship
has been accepted by Him.
Note: This is certainly the condition of the sincere
and devoted ones.
ٰ َ َ ْ ُ ْ ُْ َ
ْ َ َ َ H
.‫ﻋﻈﻴﻢ‬
ٍ ِ ‫ﺧﻄﺮ‬
ٍ ‫ﻤﺨﻠﺼﻮن‬ِ ‫وا‬
The sincere ones are always in fear.
(11)
Do not become one who practises writing amulets
(ta‛wīdh) and other spiritual incantations. Instead,
become one who practises on following the Sharī‛at
and Sunnat. This is what we learnt from the seniors
of Dīn. Following the Sunnat and the Sharī‛at is the
essence. This is what man must cling to. This is
where perfection lies.
(12)
Practising on the concession given by the Sharī‛at is
an expression of one’s submission; and Allāh ta‛ālā
loves submission from His servants.

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Note: Glory to Allāh! What a beautiful statement!
Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‛alayhi wa sallam said: Allāh
loves man to practise on concessions just as He
loves man to practise on obligatory ordinances.1
(13)

The meaning of dhikr is that a person must be

constantly conscious of his heart. He must not allow
heedlessness to approach it. This is known as
wuqūf-e-qalbī which is an important lesson of our
Naqshbandī order.
Note: May Allāh ta‛ālā bless us with this bounty.
Āmīn. (compiler)
(14)
Take stock of yourself at all times. Consider yourself
to be bad and worthy of rectification. You will
receive guidance in this way.
(15)
A person must himself be able to see or he must
place his hand in the hand of someone who can see.
If not, there will come a time when he will fall in a
hole.
Note: Glory to Allāh! What a beautiful example
explaining the importance and need for a spiritual
mentor. We ought to bear it in mind and practise on
it. Inspiration is from Allāh ta‛ālā alone. (compiler)
Demise
Maulānā rahimahullāh passed away in 1410
A.H./12 December 1989. To Allāh we belong and to

.›åå‹ ‫ ﺣﺪﻳﺚ‬،•Ü†\• :G‫ﺟﺎﻣﻊ ا ﺼﻐ‬1

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Him is our return. The janāzah salāh was led by his
eldest son, Maulānā ‛Abd ar-Rahmān Sāhib
rahimahullāh. As per his bequest, he was buried in
the courtyard of the Chakwāl Masjid. May Allāh
ta‛ālā shower His mercy on him and may He
illuminate his resting place. Āmīn.

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