Who Is Mawlana Khalid- i-Baghdadi RA ( 1779-1827) ? - Shaykh Osman Nuri Topbas Naqshbandi

Mawlana Khalid-i Baghdadi R.A [1779 – 1827]

Mawlana Khalid Baghdadi (may Allah have mercy on him) was the renewer of his age, and was an ocean of both inner and outer knowledge. His lineage goes back to Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) on his father’s side, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them him) on his mother’s side. His title was Ziyauddin and he was known as Uthmani.

Mawlana Khalid Baghdadi was born in the town of Zur in the north of Baghdad. Even from a very young age he possessed a sharp intelligence, strong memory, strong will and was extremely hard working so that he reached a very high station in both the rational and traditional sciences of that time. He specialised in practically all fields including mathematics, engineering and astronomy. Whenever he was asked a question about any of the sciences he would reply immediately, and leave everyone in awe of his superior intelligence and deep knowledge. He learned from many of the great scholars of the time and took his licence from them. He thus became the highest of the scholars and masters of tasawwuf of that period. Mawlana Khalid Baghdadi lived a life of abstention and taqwa and became aware of the mysteries of the Holy Qur’an. He was the scholar of scholars. He was known as the ‘Shamsu as Shumus’ that is, the sun of suns. He had knowledge of the mysteries of reality and of the reality of mysteries.

Even before he received his ijaza and while he was still a student, he became distinguished in his knowledge and drew the attention of all around him. One time when Abdurrahman Pasha, the administrator of Suleymaniye visited him, he was amazed by his knowledge and wisdom and made him the following offer:

“Take your pick of any of the madrasahs of Suleymaniye and you may be its teacher”.

However Khalid Baghdadi did not accept this offer due to his elevated zuhd and taqwa. Since he had not yet received his ijaza, he said out of respect for the traditions of scholarship:

“I am not competent for this service…”[1].

A little while later his teacher died of tuberculosis and he was forced to take his teacher’s position.  Many famous scholars from various lands came to him and benefitted from him by having their various difficulties solved. However, since Mawlana Khalid desired to turn to Allah with supererogatory prayer, in addition, to the obligatory duties, he would not sit with the judges, governors or rulers and would behave independently towards everyone.

Mawlana Khalid’s words had a great impact on all people, be they common or knowledgeable. He lived an upright life that was admired by even the greatest of scholars. He was a true Friend of Allah, loved by all, very patient and content. He was an extremely honourable man, teary-eyed, his heart full of divine

 attraction, and the traces of his deep contemplation could be seen on his face[2].

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