Concept of Revivalist [Mujaddid] in Islam

All praise is to Allah, the Lord Of The Creation. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Owner of the Day of Recompense. Who blessed us being the Ummah of His Beloved Rasool Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam. Who sanctified our hearts with the Love and Affection towards His Beloved Rasool Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam. Who blessed us the with the most precious treasure of Iman (Faith). Countless Salutations, Peace and Blessings be upon the Cream of the Creation... Mercy for all Worlds... Seal of the Prophets Sayyiduna wa Mawlana MuHammadur Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam, His Blessed Parents, His entire Family, His Progeny, His Companions and His Followers!!

Sayyiduna Abu-Hurayrah Radi ALLAHu Anho narrates that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam said:

ان الله تعالى يبعث لهذه الامة على رأس كلّ مائة سنة من يجدد لها دينها
Verily Allah will send at the beginning of every century such a person for this Ummah who will rejuvenate and restore their religion (Deen).

Above stated Hadith is recorded by the following Hadith Masters:

Imam Abu-Dawood, and Imam Hakim in his Mustadrak, Imam Bayhaqee in his Al-Ma'rifah, reported by the great Hadith Master Imam Jalal al-Deen Suyootee in his al-Jama'e al-Sagheer fi Hadith al-Basheer wal-Nazeer, Imam Bayhaqee also narrates in his Al-Mudkhal and Imam Hasan bin Sufyan and Imam Bazar both in their Musnads, Imam Tabranee in his al-Mu'jam al-al-Awsat, Imam Ibn 'Adee in his Kamil and Imam Abu-Na'eem in his al-Hil'ya

Commenting on the authenticity of the above Hadith Shareef, Allama Imam Isma'il Haqqi records in his marginal notes of Siraj al-Muneer Sharh Jame'h al-Sagheer:

"My Shaykh said that there is a consensus of the Hadith Masters that this Hadith is Sahih."

Amongst the later Hadith Masters that verified this Hadith Sharif as Sahih are Imam Allama Abul-Fadl Iraqi and Imam Allama ibn Hajr and amongst the predecessor Masters, Imam Hakim author of Sahih al-Mustadrak and Imam Bayhaqee author of al-Mudkhal.

Blessed Grave of Ameer al-Mu'mineen Hadrat Sayyiduna Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz
Radi Allahu Anhu, the Mujaddid of 1st Century (After the Prophetic Period)

Imam Jalal al-Din Suyooti in his Mirqat al-Saud's marginal notes of Sunan Abu-Dawood records:

اتفق الحفاظ على تصحيحه
It is a consensus of the Muhadditheen (Hadith Masters) that this Hadith is Sahih.

In other the words, when there comes a period in which there is a shortage of knowledge and a deterioration in following of the Sunnah; when there is an increase in false innovations and ignorance; then Almighty Allah will send a person at the beginning or end of every century who will show the difference between Sunnah and Bid'at. He will refute and destroy false innovations and will fear none but Almighty Allah. He will very bravely and sincerely hoist the flag of Deen-e-Muhammadi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). Such a person is known as a "Mujaddid" (Reviver) of Deen.

The author of the book, "Siraj al-Munir Sharh Jame'h al-Saghir", has explained who a Mujaddid is in the following words:

"In other words, to revive the Deen is to revive those teachings of the Quran and Sunnah that are being destroyed and to give command according to the Quran and Sunnah."

Allamah Munaadi (Alaihir raHma) states:

"A Mujaddid is one who separates Sunnah from Bid'ah and one who degrades the status of the Ahle Bid'ah."

Blessed Shrine of Sayyiduna Imaam MuHammad Ibn Idris al-Shafa'ee
Radi Allahu Anhu, the Mujaddid of 2nd Century

Why does a Mujaddid come after 100 years?

A Mujaddid is sent after every 100 years because after every century the surroundings, the environment, the manner of thinking and ways of the people tend to pass through a massive transformation. It has been stated in the Hadith of Bukhari Shareef that during the latter stages of the Prophet's (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) physical life, one night, after performing Esha Salaah, he stood up and said,

"Should I inform you of the importance of this night? From this night onwards, right up to the end of a 100 years, that person who is alive on the earth (presently) will not be alive."

The concept of Tajdeed (Revival) of Deen

The correct meaning or concept of Tajdeed (Revival) is that one or more qualities are found in a person through which Ummat-e-Muhammadiyya benefit religiously e.g. imparting Islamic education, lecturing, and propagation, informing and forbidding people of evil and assisting the truthful.

The Shaykh of Shaykhs, The axis of the human race [Qutb al-Anaam], The upholder of the Sunnah,
The suppressor of heretical innovation, The pillar of the Shari'ah, The mainstay of the Haqiqah,
The signpost of the Tariqah, The chief of the saints, The leader of the pure,
Shaykh Muhyi ‘d-Din Abu Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani
Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho, the Mujaddid of 5th Century

The Qualities of a Mujaddid

• It is not necessary that a Mujaddid be from the Ahle-Bayt as claimed by the Shias and other sects.
• It is not necessary that a Mujaddid be a Mujtahid.
• What is absolutely necessary is that he be a Sunni with correct beliefs according to the Ahle-Sunnah wa Jamah.
• He be profound Aalim of Deen.
• He be a Master and embodiment of most of the Sciences of Knowledge.
• He be an outstanding Scholar of his time.
• His services for the Deen be purely for the pleasure of Allah and His Rasool and not for greed of wealth and other worldly gain.
• He be fearless of opposition and rulers of his time.
• He will not act or give verdicts to please any person besides Allah and His Rasool.
• He will not fear speaking or advocating Truth in all circumstances.
• He will not use Religion to gain worldly fame.
• He will be a very pious and Allah fearing person.
• He will perfect mixture of the Shari'ah and Tari'qah.
• He will not tolerate any opposition to the Shari'ah.
• And according to 'Allama Imam Isma'il Haqqee, it is necessary for a Mujaddid that both in the last portion of the century he was born in and the beginning of the century he passes away in, he be famous and be a fountain and focal authority of religion for the Ulama of his time.
• It is also necessary for a Mujaddid that the Scholars (Ulama) of his time observe, benefit and be convinced of his impeccable lifestyle and profound knowledge and hence acknowledge and announce in public that he is a Mujaddid.
• Therefore it is important that a Mujaddid be a perfect embodiment and Alim of both the external (Shari'ah) and internal (Spiritual) sciences of Knowledge promoting the protecting the Sunnah and fighting and destroying Bid'ah.

Sultan al-Hind, the Great Master, the Helper, the Patron of the Poor, Hadrat Sayyiduna Khwaja
Mo'in al-Din Chishti Ajmeri Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho, the Mujaddid of 6th Century

Identification of a Mujaddid

Shaykh al-Islam Imam Badr al-Deen Abdal states in his book, Risalah Mardiyyah fi al-Nusrat Madhab al-Ash'riyyah:

"A Mujaddid is recognized by the strong opinion of his contemporary noble Ulama who greatly benefit from his condition and prolific Knowledge. He will be an embodiment of both external and internal sciences of Knowledge supporting and defending the Sunnah and challenging and defeating Bid'ah."

Can their be more than one Mujaddid to a century?

There can be more, and there has already been more than one Mujaddid to a Century. In the Hadith, the Arabic word that is used to explain the coming of the Mujaddid is in the singular tense, but according to the meaning, it is a plural as it has been explained in the Kitaabs of Usool-e-Fiqh. Allamah Mulla Ali bin Sultan Qaari (Alaihir rahmah) who is also said to be the Mujaddid of the 11th Century says,

"From the words, not only one single person is implied, but the implication is towards a group of people, from amongst whom each one is reforming a single type of knowledge or all types of knowledge in his city."

So, Sometimes a single Mujaddid is born in a century and sometimes there are two or a group in one given century when a consensus cannot be reached on one person. There are time when an Alim be in the middle of century who may be more knowledgeable and excellent than the Mujaddid, but he will not be classified as a Mujaddid because he did not get the early stages of the century. This is so because generally when the century ends many of the great Ulama also pass away and great dissension and Fitna engulfs the Ummah. Bid'ah and religious corruption creeps into the masses who tend to deviate from the pristine teachings of Islam. At this crucial period there is a great need for revival and renaissance in matters of Deen. At this critical time Allah sends such an Aalim who removes all evil and religious corruption from the Ummah by publicly announcing and refuting them. He will be the best of people and most awesome amongst the dignitaries of his time.

Blessed Shrine of Imam ar-Rabbani, Mujaddid Alf-e-Thani Shaykh Ahmad Sarhindi
Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu, the Mujaddid of 11th Century

List of Possible Mujaddids (Revivalists)

First Century (after the Prophetic period) [August 3, 718]

Ameer al-Mu'minin Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (682 - 720)
Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa an-Nu'man (699 - 767)
Ibn Sireen (8th century)

Second Century [August 10, 815]

Imam Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i (767 - 820)
Imam Hasan al-Basri (642 - 728 or 737)
Imam Malik ibn Anas (715 - 796)
Imam Muhammad bin Hassan Shaibani

Third Century [August 17, 912]

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780 - 855)
Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari.

Fourth Century [August 24, 1009]

Imam al-Bayhaqi
Imam Tahtaawi
Imam Isma'eel bin Hammaad Ja'fari
Imam Abu Jaafar bin Jareer Tibri
Imam Abu Haatim Raazi

Fifth Century [September 1, 1106]

Hudrat Ghawth al Azam Shaykh Abdul-Qadir Gilani
Imam Al-Ghazali (1058–1111)
Imam Abu Naeem Isfahani
Imam Abul Hussain Ahmad bin Muhammad Abi Bakr-il-Qaadir
Imam Hussain bin Raaghib

Sixth Century [September 9, 1203]

Hadrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Garib Nawaz
Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi
Shaykh Ahamd Kabir Rifa'ee
Allamah Imam Umar Nasfi,
Imam Qaazi Fakhrud'Deen Hassan Mansoor,
Imam Abu Muhammad Hussain bin Mas'ood Fara'a

Seventh Century [September 5, 1300]

Imam Taqiyuddin As-Subki
Imam Shaykh Shahbuddeen Suharwardi
Imam Shaykh Akbar Muhi'yuddeen Muhammad ibn Arabi
Allamah Imam Abul Fadhl Jamaaluddeen Muhammad bin Afriqi Misri
Imam Abul Hassan Uz'zuddeen Ali bin Muhammad Ibn Atheer,

Eighth Century (September 23, 1397)

Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Imam Taaj'uddeen bin Ata'ullah Sikandari
Kwaja Nizaamuddeen Awliyah Mahboob-e-Ilahi
Imam Umar bin Mas'ood Taftazaani

Ninth Century [October 1, 1494]

Imam Hafiz Jallaluddeen Abu Bakr Abdur Rahmaan Suyuti
Imam Nooruddeen bin Ahmad Misri
Imam Muhammad bin Yusuf Karmani
Imam Shamsuddeen Abul Kheyr Muhammad bin Abdur Rahmaan Sakhawi,
Allamah Imam Sayed Shareef Ali bin Muhammad Jarmaani

Tenth Century [October 19, 1591]

Imam Shahabuddeen Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Muhammad Khatib Qistalaani
Imam Muhammad Sharbini,
Allamah Sheikh Muhammad Taahir Muhaddith

Eleventh Century [October 26, 1688]

Imam-e-Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Sani Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi
Sultaanul Arifeen Imam Muhammad Baahu
Imam Ali bin Sultaan Qaari

Twelfth Century [November 4, 1785]

Sultan al-Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abul Muzaffar Muhiyy al-Din Muhammad Aurangzaib Alamgir
Imam Abdul Ghani Naablisi
Sheikh Ahmad Mulla Jeewan
Al-Qutb Abd Allah al-Haddad
Allamah Mawlana Imam Abul Hassan Muhammad bin Abdul Haadi Sindhi,

Thirteenth Century [November 12, 1882]

Allamah Imam Ahmad bin Ismaeel Tahtaawi
Allamah Shah Abdul Azeez Muhaddith-e-Delhwi
Imam Abdul Ali Luckhnowi
Imam Sheikh Ahmad Saadi Maaliki

Fourteenth Century [November 21, 1979]

Shaykh al Islam wal Muslimeen, Mujaddid al-Aazam AlaHadrat Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadiri
Shaykh Yusuf bin Ismail bin Muhammad Nasir al-Din an-Nabhani
Muhaddith al-Akbar Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Hasani

-[Ridwanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een]-

Mujaddid al-Din wa al-Millah, Faqih al-Ummah, Mufassir al-Islam, Muhaddith al-Zaman,
Shaykh al-Islam, Hujjat al-Muhaddithin, Sanad al-Muhaqqiqin, Imam al-Mutaqqin,
Imam Ahl as-Sunnah, AlaHadrat ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Rida Khan
Alaihir raHmah wa ar-Ridwan, the Mujaddid of 14th Century