In the Footsteps of Sufi Saints: Remembering Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali’s Role in Weaving Together Faith, Scholarship and Service in Bihar

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 18 September 2025 Hazrat Shah Muhammad Tegh Ali, a humble Sufi from rural Bihar, united diverse spiritual traditions, nurtured seekers at Surkanhi Sharif, and left a timeless legacy of devotion, scholarship, and community service. Main Points: 1. Born in Goriyara, Bihar, Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali hailed from a distinguished Sufi lineage. 2. Pursued deep spiritual training under renowned masters across Bihar. 3. Founded the Surkanhi Sharif Khanqah and madrasa. 4. Lived simply, teaching poetry, Qur’anic wisdom, and discipline. 5. United multiple Sufi traditions, leaving a lasting legacy. ---- Introduction In the quiet heart of Surkanhi Sharif, a village where narrow lanes are scented with incense and the gentle strains of devotional poetry drift through the air, lies the resting place of Hazrat Shah Muhammad Tegh Ali Qadri Mujaddidi Aabadani. To the people who still speak his name with reverence, he was more than a scholar or a mystic, he was a guide, a comfort, and a bridge between religions and generations of spiritual seekers. Born in 1300 Hijri (1882–1883) in the modest village of Goriyara, Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali rose from rural obscurity to become one of Bihar’s most respected Sufi saints of the twentieth century. His influence extended far beyond the boundaries of his home district, reaching into Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and touching lives across the eastern subcontinent. A Heritage Rooted in Renewal Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali was born into an illustrious spiritual family, tracing his lineage to Hazrat Sufi Shah Aabadani Sialkoti (d. 18 Rabi al-Thani 1220 AH), a seventh-generation descendant of Hazrat Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi, celebrated throughout the Islamic world as Mujaddid Alf Sani, the “Renewer of the Second Millennium” or “Reviver of the Thousand Years” This Mujaddidi-Qadiri order was more than an ancestral claim. It shaped the way he lived, combining the discipline and inner refinement of the Naqshbandi Sufi order with the generosity and openness of the Qadri order. Family stories tell of his mother observing that even as a boy, he seemed “already guided by an unseen hand”, a child destined for a life of service and devotion. The Quest for Knowledge His earliest lessons came under Hazrat Maulana Shah Muhammad Subhan Ali, before his admission to the renowned Madrasa Aaliya in Kolkata (Now Aliah University), then a major centre of Islamic scholarship. Yet his thirst for learning was not limited to formal study. What he sought was marifah. This longing brought him to Hazrat Maulana Shah Muhammad Sami Ahmad Mungeri, a spiritual master of the Qadri Mujaddidi Aabadani Sufi order. There, Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali pledged bai‘t (spiritual allegiance) and began a long and demanding apprenticeship under Hazrat Maulana Shah Ali Lalganjvi. For 14 years, he immersed himself in mujahida (spiritual struggle), a discipline of worship, fasting, self-restraint, and constant remembrance. It was a period of quiet transformation, culminating in his formal investiture with khilafat (spiritual successorship) and ijazah (authorisation) on 20 Jumada al-Akhir 1341 AH (7 February 1923) at Khanpur, Munger, Bihar. Travels That United Traditions In 1349 AH, Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali began a series of journeys across Bihar that would cement his role as a unifying figure among the region’s Sufi orders. Ara - Received formal authorisation from the successor of Hazrat Farid-ud-Din. Phulwari Sharif - On 28 Rajab al-Murajjab 1349 AH, at the historic Khanqah-e-Mujibiya, Hazrat Shah Muhi-ud-Din Qadri Mujibi bestowed upon him the khirqa (robe of authority) and Ijazahs in multiple orders: Qadriya-Warisiya, Junaydiya, Chishtiya-Nizamiya, and Sabiriya-Qalandariya. Jandaha, Vaishali - Met Hazrat Hakim Shah Jalal-ud-Din Jandahavi and received further khilafat. Through these encounters, he became a living bridge, linking Bihar’s varied Sufi traditions without diminishing the distinct spirit of each. The Khanqah of Surkanhi Sharif In 1326 AH, Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali chose Surkanhi as his permanent base, founding the Khanqah-e-Aabadania alongside a madrasa devoted to Qur’anic teaching and Islamic sciences. Under his care, it became a centre of spiritual discipline, scholarship, and community service. Daily life at the Khanqah moved to a measured rhythm: fajr prayers at dawn, sessions of Qur’anic recitation, discussions on Islamic jurisprudence, evenings filled with poetry and devotional song. For villagers and travellers alike, it was a place to lay down the burdens of the world and turn inward. A Saint of Simplicity Despite his growing reputation, Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali’s life was one of quiet modesty. His clothing was plain, his diet simple. By late morning, after completing his ablutions, he would often sit in the Mehfil with disciples, reciting verses from Hazrat Jalaluddin Rumi, Hazrat Amir Khusro, Hazrat Naseeruddin Chirag Dehlavi, Hazrat Imdad Hadf, or Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Fazil-e-Bareilly. His words were few but carried depth: “Patience and gratitude are the wealth of the seeker. Worship is the mirror of identity, and the mirror must be polished by devotion.” In 1327 AH, he undertook the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah Sharif, an experience that deepened his spiritual insight and broadened his connections within the wider Muslim world. Scholarship and Writings Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali’s contribution was not confined to oral teaching. His handwritten manuscript Abwaab-ul-Qur'an remains an important work, bringing together selected Qur’anic passages with reflections relevant to the Sufi journey. These works serve as both spiritual guides and historical records, preserving the memory of a saint whose influence shaped an entire region. The Final Chapter On 29 Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1378 AH (13 October 1958 CE), as the crescent moon of Rabi‘ al-Akhir appeared, Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali passed away at about 78 years of age. His funeral was attended by devotees from across Bihar and neighbouring regions. He was buried beside his mother in Surkanhi Sharif, where his shrine continues to be a place of waseelah and reflection. Carrying the Torch Forward After his passing, the spiritual leadership was entrusted to his close disciple, Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ibrahim Qadri Teghi (d. 1972 CE). Later, his sons — Hazrat Maulana Shah Ali Ahmad Jayyid-ul-Qadiri and Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ali Qadiri — maintained the khanqah’s traditions, keeping alive its atmosphere of hospitality, discipline, and open-hearted service. His Relevance Today Hazrat Shah Tegh Ali lived through a period of rapid change, from colonial rule and nationalist agitation to the early years of independent India. Bihar, like the rest of the country, was caught between old certainties and new realities. Amid this flux, his khanqah stood as a refuge of stability, offering not just religious instruction but a living example of how tradition and change could coexist. His ability to embrace multiple Sufi orders without diluting their essence, to keep scholarship at the heart of spiritual life, and to welcome seekers from every walk of life, offers a timeless model for spiritual leadership. Even decades after his passing, the rhythm of life he established in Surkanhi Sharif continues, a blend of prayer, poetry, service, and learning. In a world still wrestling with division and disconnection, his example reminds us that humility, gratitude, and remembrance of the Divine can hold communities together in ways no worldly power can match. References: Ma-Ahwal-e-Piran Banam Anwar-e-Sufiya Mazahir-e-Qutub-al-Anam Video of Professor Dr. Syed Shah Shamimuddin Ahmed Munemi ----- Syed Amjad Hussain is an author and Independent research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is the author of 'Bihar Aur Sufivad', a bestselling research book based on the history of Sufism in Bihar. ---- Note: This is the first-ever article available about Hazrat Shah Muhammad Tegh Ali Quadri Aabadani on the Internet. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/sufi-saints-hazrat-shah-tegh-ali-faith/d/136886 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism