Imdadullah Muhaajir Makki was born in
Nanauta,
British India in 1817.[7]: 347 His father Muhammad Amīn named him Imdad Hussain. However, Shah Muhammad Ishaq gave him the name of Imdādullah.[7][8]
Aged seven, Imdādullah lost his mother who wrote her will that none shall touch her kid after her, and kept Imdādullah more beloved to her in those seven years; this became a hurdle that no one took care of Imdādullah's education.[7]: 348 He then started memorizing the
Quran on his own but failed to do so. Aged 16, he traveled to
Delhi with
Mamluk Ali Nanautawi to seek education.[7]: 348
Religious work and travels
At the age of eighteen, his bay'at was accepted by Nasiruddin
Naqshbandi.[8] Later he went to study under Mianji (Noor Mohammad Jhanjhanvi), as an initiate of the Chishti-Sabiri Sufi order, but after Mianji's death he temporarily became a semi-recluse. After wandering in the wilderness for six months he was overcome by a strong urge to travel to
Medina. On 7 December 1845, he arrived at
Banares. From there, he departed for
Ottoman Arabia for
Hajj and pilgrimage of the tomb of shrine of
Muhammad.[8]
After the completion of his hajj, Imadadullah remained with Ishaq Muhajir Makki and others. Shah informed him that, after his pilgrimage to
Medina, he should return to India. Sayyid Qudratullah Banarasi Makki sent several of his murids to accompany him to Medina.
Freedom struggle against the British
In
Thana Bhawan, the local Sunnis declared Imdadullah their leader. In May 1857 the
Battle of Shamli took place between the forces of Imdadullah and the British.[9]
Imdadullah married for the first time at the age of 48. After the death of his first wife, he married a blind widow. Because she was blind, she could not manage all household work, so she requested him to take another wife so all household work. Imdadullah then married for the third time. None of his three wives bore him children.[citation needed]
Literary works
His books include:
Faisla Haft Masala
Kulliyat-e-Imdadiya
Hashiya Mathnavi Moulana Rumi: This is an annotation in
Persian on the Mathnawi-i Ma’nawi by
Rumi. During Imadadullah's lifetime, only two parts could be printed. The remainder was printed after his death.
Ghiza-e-Ruh (The Nourishment of the Soul): Imadadullah wrote this book in 1264 AH. Mianji Noor Mohammad Jhanjhanvi is also discussed. It consists of 1600 verses of poetry.
Ikleelul Quran (Tafseer Quran in Arabi). First Published in
Bahraich by Taj Offcet Press formerly Aqeel Press NazirPura
Bahraich
Jihad-e-Akbar (The Greater
Jihad): He composed this book in 1268 AH. It is a poetic work in
Persian that he translated it into
Urdu. It consists of 17 pages with 679 verses.
Mathnavi Tuhfatul Ushshaq (Mathnavi – A Gift for Lovers): This consists of 1324 poetic verses and was compiled in 1281 AH.
Risala Dard Ghamnak (The Treatise of Painful Sorrow): It consists of 5 pages with 175 verses.
Irshad-e-Murshid (The Directive of the Murshid): This book deals with wadha'if, muraaqabaat, aurad, and shajaraat of the four silsilas. It was written in 1293 AH.
Zia ul Quloob (Glitter of the Hearts): This book is in
Persian. He wrote this kitab in
Makkah in 1282 AH on the request of Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf, the son of Hafiz Muhammad Zamin.
^Makki, Imdadullah Muhajir (1999). Faisla Haft Masala. Muslim Kitabwi. p. 21.
^
abKugle, Scott Alan (2007). Sufis & saints' bodies: mysticism, corporeality, & sacred power in Islam. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
ISBN978-0807872772.