The Shaykh Who Transformed an Entire Region

In December 1950, this noble Shaykh attended a religious gathering in South Chittagong as an invited guest. Just before beginning his address, he started reciting Durūd (Salawat). To his profound surprise, no one among the attendees joined in—except for his own companions. In that era, the local people of that region were simply not familiar with the practice of reciting Salawat together in such a manner.

Witnessing this in a Muslim-populated region deeply shocked Shaykh Sayyid Aḥmad Shāh Sīrikōṭī (1856–1961). In a moment of righteous concern, he cut his trip short and returned to the city. Upon arrival, he called his Khalīfahs and declared: “There needs to be a madrasah here.” He personally selected the site, established the institution in 1954, and formed the Anjuman Trust to oversee its mission.

What followed is a truly remarkable history of spiritual and educational revival:

• Today, this madrasah has become the largest Sunnī center in Bangladesh. It has produced tens of thousands of ʿUlamāʾ, and the Tarīqah of the Shaykh now counts millions of followers across the region and the globe.
• Under the Trust he founded, there are now more than 200 institutions, including madāris, masājid, khānqāhs, and various charities.
• Most importantly, in the very town where the Shaykh once found a crowd unfamiliar with Salawat, millions now gather for Mawlidunnabī ﷺ, reciting Durūd together in a powerful display of devotion every Rabīʿ al-Awwal.

The Shaykh’s work was not limited to one region. From the late 19th century until 1912, he traveled extensively to Cape Town, Mombasa, and Zanzibar in Africa. Between 1920 and 1941, he traveled to Rangoon, Myanmar, spreading the message of Islam to many in Southeast Asia.

In 1933, he arranged for the publication of his own teacher’s work, Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Chawharvī’s Majmūʿah Ṣalawāt al-Rasūl ﷺ—a magnificent 30-chapter wonder book of Salawat. He also sponsored and managed Dārul-ʿUlūm Islāmia Raḥmānia in Pakistan for many years. This institution formed esteemed Shuyūkh such as Pīr ʿAlāʾuddīn Ṣiddīqī and Shaykh al-Ḥadīth ʿAllāmah ʿAbdul Qayyūm Hāzarvī.

11 Dhū al-Qaʿdah marks the passing of this visionary saint. May Allāh sanctify his secret and allow his spiritual legacy to continue flourishing through the madāris he planted.

Further reading:
Allamah Abdul Hakim Sharaf Qadiri, Tadhkirah Akabir Ahle Sunnat
Dr. Masud Ahmad Qadiri, Iftitahiyyah
Sayyid Muhammad Amir Shah Gilani, Tadhkirah Ulama wa Mashayikh Sarhad
Sayyid Yusuf Shah, Halate Mashwani
Dr. Muhammad Saiful Alam, Great Spiritual Saint Allamah Khwajah Abdur Rahman Chowharvi